17D_guy

Need a damn heart emoji on here.

Microsoft caught yet again not informing users about the massive amount of tracking they do. Tracking that 3-letter agencies can use to target any individual using a windows based platform. They, like all tech companies, aren't interested in consumer protections, privacy, or capitalism: fair competition, better product, etc. I'll leave the political rant there, but I will not be using Windows 11 at home. Once Windows 10 dies (Oct 2027) I'm going to another platform, either Apple or Linux. I have a Apple Air laptop right now and it's just lovely. Fuck the guy that got caught in this article. He and his crew have caused a lot of turmoil and pain. I'm constantly surprised that this Administration hasn't declared these crews as either terrorist orgs, or as dangers to national security (economic/critical infrastructure). https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/07/10/you-cant-fully-disable-microsofts-gdid-windows-11-tracker-but-these-settings-limit-what-it-captures/

Even Buttigieg? The most normal of that lot. Local politics, so it's even worse.

Y'all wanna talk blue collar...fucker is in deep with a guy so rich, he isn't sure the human race should continue to exist. He's holding "discussions" on his view of Christianity. This isn't a Gates, Cuban, or even Ramsaway. While I believe there's few/no "good" billionaires, Thiel is extremely concerning to me. I'm in politics, I know the money game. But the true "tech bros" involved in politics have some extreme beliefs. Maybe it's because I deal with people like them everyday for work that I'm too deep in that environment. The tech bros are like finance bros squared. Same with Tucker and his "blue collar" appeal. Dude is deep with a family fortune. Fuckers on both sides of the aisle being poverty/blue collar tourists for some reason pisses me off probably more than it should. Vance went to Yale. No idea on next president. Shit, I might even support Rand Paul, at least he has values I can appreciate and isn't gonna steal from America. Same with Rubio depending on how Trump 2.0 stinks him up. Depends who the Dems put up. Am I likely to vote R? No, but I have in the past and likely will in the future, especially locally.

Vance is deep into the pockets of billionaires. https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/07/16/jd-vance-and-peter-thiel-what-to-know-about-the-relationship-between-trumps-vp-pick-and-the-billionaire/

What a idiot

I kinda don't care. But also, it reads like he has never really interacted with a Chappy before. Literally never had an issue with one, nor heard of one either throwing rank around, or having an issue being in high or low ranking environments. I'm a probably a bit biased, but I loved Chaplains - no homo. Seems like change for the sake of change? So, I reread it because I just kinda skimmed it before. Seems like he wants them to stop focusing on counseling and support. "Ministry" should be the focus. Well, with what he did with the re-categorization seems to me (with conspiracy glasses on) it's getting into "christian nationalism" proselytizing. With out conspiracy glasses on...see first response. Worst SecDef ever? I think McNamara still takes it.

Bombing's back on the menu - https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2222408/trump-launches-new-strikes-iran Has this ever worked without deep intel assets ready with a replacement, a la our forays into S. America? We just need to burn the rest of the world's economies to the ground and ours will be fine. K.

Update - https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2026-03-04/floridas-high-court-weighs-rico-charge-against-a-jackson-deputy-who-planted-drugs-on-innocents

Guess you got your wish? Note, not serious on this one. It's just one of the most popular posts I saw when readying M2's newest one. GEN Donahue sounded like an awesome leader. Damn shame.

How does this impact our relationships with the other Arab countries? Is our "defensive shield" worth anything to Saudi, UAE or Qatar? They took the vast brunt of the damage outside of Iran. Thinking that those relationships maintain through this MOU (doubly so with Israel fucking things up) is naive at best IMO. Will this require additional treasure in the region to hold this status quo? Iran has proven their strategic capability to control a vital resource and not surrender to the most advanced military in the world. Who gets froggy next with the "winning?" North Korea? China?

https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025.12.8_ICE-Report-revised-FINAL.pdf https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-dhs-american-citizens-arrested-detained-against-will https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/ice-deports-3-u-s-citizen-children-held-incommunicado-prior-to-the-deportation Groks answer attached.

Wild read. Miller is a fucking ghoul independent of this article. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/15/us/politics/trump-scharf-habeas-corpus-insurrection-act.html?

Their cyber operations are also good and getting better.

I wish we'd be alive 150+ years from now to (hopefully) get a look at this period with (again, hopefully) clearer eyes on the totality of the last decade in relief. I think the Biden pardons now make sense given the multi-failed indictments from the DoJ. I thought it was shitty at the time, and while I still don't agree (bad policy, worse precedent) I understand. I'm expecting tons of pardons and an attempt at a self pardon out of the current admin. Always appreciate your comments even if we disagree.

Isn't that equally good though? Either no calls on flops, or cards for flops. I'll take a violent game of futbol over a flop fest with lots of whistle.

"The target have always been military things..." K. We could go back and forth on Hunter, should I bring up the BILLIONS of dollars Jared got from the Saudis at this point? Either way, this MOU seems like a giant white flag flown above the Stars and Stripes. But I'm sure someone will tell me how we're actually winning.

Think the dead girls school would beg to differ on "always." What deals did Hunter do in behalf of the us govt? What deals has Kash done? Apples and F22s here. Also, wtf is this MOU? This is winning? Trump says deal to end war will be signed on Sunday, Iran questions timing | Reuters https://share.google/hB6xIBxBUw7A8UzRZ

Thanks for the book recommendation. I'd also add Persia was once the one doing the conquering, with a vast empire. Everyone I've dealt with from a culture like that has a long memory. Chinese, Greek/Turks, and Persians. I'd say the only difference is the Brits, but I suppose since empires fell out of favor and they "gave up" the empire it's kinda different. Either way I've never thought Trump was a "good" negotiator. He's just had some form of "fuck you" money before and now is finding out the GDP isn't his fuck you money specifically. And Kash is the Dir of FBI, What appointed office was Hunter holding in the Obama Administration?

Saw that video. Wild to see that technology evolve so quickly. Good to see efforts towards non lethal employment as well Warfronts had a video on YT that was going over the ongoing disfunction with their campaign. I knew there was grifting and theft, but the video had receipts I hadn't heard before. As always, grunts paying the price.

New studies coming out about building out a Cyber Force. Still working through it, this was an interesting article about it - https://defensescoop.com/2026/06/05/a-cyber-force-without-enlisted-new-report-poses-model-for-standalone-military-cyber-organization/ Of note is they're leading with a Officer, Warrant, Civ and no enlisted force. Study - https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2026-06/260602_Stiefel_Commission_Cyber.pdf?VersionId=pgsvIgJ5pgEwBl0WCFripVqbQeQ7z7eZ

It's always the management causing the issues. I've worked with engineers from all the main contractors. Some got more of the 'tism than I care to interact with, but they're working hard for the nation. It's always the damn managers, and execs, that delay, ask for more money, etc. Also, some gov civs fucking hate contractors even if they're kicking ass, solving problems, and creating/improving capes. That was a new one for me in my brief time in DoD contracting.

Thanks all.

Can someone explain why Cuba is a national security threat?

Was an attempt as a joke at the crusader tats. You get your Trump phone yet?