The Frankish Reich

Do I have to take both? To her credit, Charlize has had less cosmetic surgery.

So how's that anti-police state thing working out?

On the Boer refugees: I had a little exposure to this about 15 years ago. I don't know what's in their hearts regarding race, etc, but their outward actions show strong (and often large) family ties, an interest in living the rural life, and a willingness to live in some pretty marginal farmland that is otherwise depopulating. So they seem to be good additions to the United States even if the manner in which they're being allowed to jump the line is questionable at best.

Good thing he didn't say this while on a Harvard student visa: https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/middleeast/saudi-mbs-accuses-israel-genocide-gaza-intl/index.html

Just as the first glimmers of Spring always gives way to full light of Summer, comments about Dalton Kincaid being too skinny will surely give way to comments about Dion Dawkins being too fat. The Great Cycle of Bills Fanlife.

It's funny how that can happen when you get out of your own way and let people who know what they're doing (Bessent) take charge. Kind of like how brain-dead Biden managed it. A good example, I guess, for brain-dead Trump. hey, where's Peter Navarro?

Beside the point. This is about refugee processing abroad.

The point here shouldn't be that white South African farmers are privileged and shouldn't be eligible for refugee status/asylum. Some have been violently targeted based largely on their race and not on some kind of orderly land redistribution law. Rather, the point should be that Trump has essentially shut down refugee processing except for white Boer farmers. Are they really the most victimized people in the world right now? Why the special treatment? I know of only two logical answers: (1) their race; (2) Elon.

I don’t see the issue. It’s a gift from the emir of an Iran-aligned country to the American people, and then to a library in honor of a nonreader. And Trump’s chief legal officer says it’s kosher. She is definitely a neutral arbiter.

When men were men: Hakeem Olajuwon fasting (not even drinking water) during Ramadan playoff games. https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/g1uy1n/hakeem_olajuwons_stats_while_fasting_during/

No, this one is garden variety bullcrap.

I thought this was amusing.

Yep. As everyone actually reads the EO and processes what's happened, it's a big nothingburger.

Well, the markets are certainly calling bs on this latest EO: https://www.investors.com/news/technology/drug-prices-most-favored-nations-pharmaceutical-stocks/ All bark, no bite. Honestly, it's just government by press release. Nothing here is enforceable. Any fool who tweeted "we finally got Big Pharma" should slink away in shame. Won't get fooled again. Except they always are.

Well, I guess you’re right, they’re competing on who can be the most socialist here. Does this allow importation of gray market drugs? Not that I can see. So what if Novo Nordisk says no, we’re not gonna sell Ozempic for $50/month (what it costs in France) in the US? Will it be embargoed? What happens? I do see room for a vigorous FTC to file suit. Is there price fixing, or is it just dumb luck that Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound all cost pretty much the same but compounding pharmacies can make and sell it for a fraction of the price? But you’ve got to prove collusion, and that ain’t easy when Big Pharma has the resources they do. So will I (well, my fat cousin) be able to get Ozempic for $50/month next month? Something makes me think “no.”

The uniquely American tradition of The Embarrassing Brother apparently applies to popes as well as to presidents. https://nypost.com/2025/05/11/us-news/new-pope-leo-xivs-brother-shared-gross-post-calling-nancy-pelosi-a-drunk-c/

No one knows. He most recently pulled a new number - 80 percent - out of his behind.

You seem to have studied this. What is the enforcement mechanism?

Well, we knew the game of chicken part of this would end with Trump (particularly) backing down. Good. But 30 percent is still outrageous. Paul Krugman's headline sums it up: https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/when-an-arsonist-poses-as-a-firefighter

I read the actual Executive Order. I have no idea how this is supposed to be enforced if drug companies don't voluntarily play along. My guess is it will be through antitrust actions, which isn't exactly the same as "immediately." Still, I hope it works... eventually. This is a rare Trump initiative that almost everyone seems to like, at least in concept.

Seems to me they're fighting over Americans having to pay more - a lot more - for stuff.

Blessed be those who hunger and thirst for justice. (Jesus the SJW)

"Unrelated" - https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/qatari-diar-dar-global-introduce-trumps-first-real-estate-development-qatar-2025-04-29/

Vet starts small business selling a clever Shark Tanky playmat for high chairs. Product catches on. Manufactured in China, growing warehouse/supply business in Minnesota. Takes out SBA and personal loan to grow as she signs deal to supply Target and Walmart. Personal loan is secured by her family's home. Tariffs hit. Would have to pay $320,000 to get her next shipment from China. That's completely beyond the company's ability to pay. Inventory shrinks. Has no idea if the company will survive. Can't pay back loans with no future revenue stream. Now looking to see if she can go international - maybe sell in Canada, Europe (no special China tariffs) but that's a longshot. American dream/small inventor destroyed by silly tariff games.

The Noble Family Farm idea is still true for many, many farmers. For lots of others, not so much. Corporate owned farms are expanding rapidly. They’re not even called “farmers” anymore; they’re “growers.” And yes, the bundle of subsidies and price supports are with taking a close look at. Maybe your attempt to educate me wasn’t fully successful. Maybe you were relying on an antiquated view of American farming.