Boyd

Just here to read the news and make a comment now and then. I've never made a post other than this one and likely won't for the foreseeable future.

@RockChartrand There have been monopolies in the US but it has been very exceptional. In fact AT&T and Standard oil are about the only two that come to mind.

I find it funny how for centuries people have claimed you can’t compete with big businesses because they supposedly become permanent monopolies, and then when you ask for examples they usually point to companies that have only existed for 10 or 20 years. The average “unstoppable corporate empire” barely survives a generation before being replaced, disrupted, or forgotten.

@pouyan_k_jan "Iran is highly unlikely to bargain away its nuclear capability through a negotiated settlement." Allrighty then. Bomb them back to the stone age it is!

Iran is highly unlikely to bargain away its nuclear capability through a negotiated settlement. Let me explain why: Suppose Iran gives up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, dismantles key enrichment sites, and agrees to postpone enrichment for 20 years. The midterms pass. Netanyahu arrives at the White House with new intelligence on Iran rebuilding its missile program—now its only remaining means of deterrence. Trump, no longer constrained by the election calendar and with little political cost, reimposes sanctions and threatens additional strikes against Iran’s missile program. Iran could close the Strait again. But this time, Trump may have more time to absorb higher oil prices. And with no nuclear leverage left to trade for sanctions relief, Tehran would be pushed toward limiting its missile program next. Step by step, Iran’s disarmament would embolden its historic competitors and adversaries: Israel, GCC states, and even separatist or extremist militias along Iran’s eastern and western borders. Iran knows the endgame. The nuclear program was always the shield and leverage protecting its more critical military assets. By that logic, if Iran retains the capability to do so, it is difficult to see why Tehran would refrain from building the bomb after a third round of strikes, or if negotiations collapse without a deal that limits—rather than dismantles—the program. In short, if the U.S. insists on capitulation, sanctions remain in place, and closing the Strait fails to deter further strikes, then for many in Tehran, the bomb itself becomes the only remaining means of restoring a credible degree of deterrence.

@IranIntl_En A fact that does not come as a surprise to Trump or his Administration. Surly no one thinks this never occurred to them do they? Like the are sitting around pointing fingers asking why no one thought Iran might just drag out any negotiations? Please.

Iran's leadership appears more inclined to "hunker down and wait out this president, rather than strike a deal with this president", Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies told an Iran International townhall held in Washington DC on May 14.  Watch the full program on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=-5oZlA…

@Alihashem Since everything internet in and out of Iran is blocked I assume anyone operating out in the open as you are to be a part of Iran's regime. As we have seen, you will say anything.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz could ultimately become America's "Suez moment," exposing a critical gap between declared US military objectives and actual achievements. This has prompted Gulf Arab states to recalculate their security arrangements in light of a potential post-Hormuz order.

@Alihashem Which gulf states are recalculating and what have they said that you would consider a recalculation? The only one who has made an obvious recalculation considers Irans chances of surviving this so poor they left OPEC to strike out on their own.

@dantypo I mean it only makes sense. It takes quite a while to cut down and process a single tree. A single guy can plant hundreds of them in a day.

I always laugh at the “plant a tree” folks. Interesting Fact: Since 1990, the Canadian and U.S. forestry industry have planted more trees than they’ve cut down.

@HiFourPac @Zazi1761868 LOL. I had that experience in a casino in Carson City. A woman walked through behind me looking just like that and my wife exclaimed, "honey you just have to turn around and check this out". Yes, we have a very secure and now very long (45 years) relationship.

@Zazi1761868 Are you asking why the hot woman is out walking? Or are you curious why the girlfriend or wife signaled to her man to turn around and look?

Why did she do that? 😂

@brivael The premier example of this in the US was LBJs Great Society

Tu confonds deux choses, et c'est exactement le piège que la French Theory a tendu. Liberté, égalité, fraternité — égalité *de droits*, égalité *devant la loi*, égalité *de dignité*. C'est la promesse républicaine, et personne ici ne l'attaque. Le wokisme, ce n'est pas ça. C'est l'égalitarisme des résultats. Et l'égalitarisme des résultats, contrairement à l'égalité des droits, n'est pas un élargissement de la liberté — c'est sa négation. Quelques exemples concrets : — San Francisco supprime les classes de maths avancées au collège pour "réduire les inégalités". Résultat : les écarts entre élèves explosent, les familles aisées prennent des cours privés, les pauvres se font enterrer. L'égalitarisme a creusé l'inégalité. — Les politiques de discrimination positive à Harvard : étudiants admis avec des scores très en dessous de leurs camarades, taux d'échec dispropportionné, sentiment d'imposture, ressentiment généralisé. On a saboté ceux qu'on voulait aider. — L'aide humanitaire qui distribue du riz gratuit pendant 30 ans en Afrique : effondrement des filières agricoles locales, dépendance institutionnalisée. Donner un poisson, c'est empêcher d'apprendre à pêcher. Le wokisme ne détruit pas l'humanité dans le sens dramatique. Il fait pire : il dessert systématiquement ceux qu'il prétend protéger, et il génère du ressentiment des deux côtés — ceux qu'on infantilise et ceux qu'on culpabilise. La fraternité républicaine dit : tu es mon égal, donc je te traite en adulte capable. Le wokisme dit : tu es ma victime, donc je dois te protéger de toi-même. L'un élève. L'autre infantilise. Ce n'est pas la même chose, et confondre les deux est exactement le tour de passe-passe qu'on dénonce.

@shipwreckedcrew Bet on it. They will all line up in suicide vests and the other teams will forfeit every match.

Iran. Book it.

Hmmm. The issue I have with your analysis is it has become more clear to me all the time that experts in one field seem to not be in others. Especially jumping beteen finance and matters of war. You are a trusted expert in military matters but the ability to judge to economic fallout from a China blockade? Let me put it this way, near every time I see a boneheaded analysis of military matters it always seems to be some sort of high finance type vulture capitalist doing it. It's uncanny how often this is true.

The economic effect of the distant blockade of China post Taiwan invasion is going to result in a world wide depression and associated general stock/bond market & banking system financial collapse. It will make the US Dollar even more of the world reserve currency than it is right now. 2/2

This is President Trump telling the world that "Distant Naval Blockade" is the US Military Strategy for defeating China when it invades Taiwan in 2027. There are world wide economic implications to this US strategy. 1/

@whatever Catcalled? Are we still in 1952? I spent my entire working life as an Ironworker or owner/working foreman of steel fabrication crews. A rough a bunch as you'd likely ever meet. NEVER, not even once did I ever hear such a thing as a catcall. Not once. It's a myth today.

"WOMEN ARE OPPRESSED!" because of... cat calling?!

@IranIntl_En Not an unreasonable negotiating position. So why don't they bring that one to the table with the US instead of Death To America?

Iran’s UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said resolving the Strait of Hormuz crisis depends on ending military action against Iran and lifting what Tehran calls a maritime blockade. He blamed the crisis and its global economic fallout on “those who started the war against Iran and their regional partners,” saying Iran remains ready to help restore stability and energy security if “aggression and military escalation stop and the maritime blockade is lifted.”

@AlexBerenson At this point ...

And the left has now reached the “sure, it’s true, but it doesn’t matter” stage of the Covid lab leak coverup Congrats, James!

@shipwreckedcrew Well you're no fun.

The only meaning behind a Thomas Massie loss is that more voters in his district preferred his opponent to him. All of you reading more into this are being politically dense. He's won multiple re-election campaigns. If he loses it means the voters in his district have grown tired of him. That's it.

You should see International at LAX. Flew in from Chengdu China non-stop a month ago. It was utter bedlam at the airport. Got out to the curb and saw a "psst, hey buddy", kind of guy who knew people with money when he saw them. 30 mins later we are in our hotel room. Just spend the money. You'll be glad you did.

The AI robot taxis will fix this problem soon. Until then, do one of these: 1. Skip rideshare at the airport and take a taxi. 2. Request your ride while walking through the terminal. Don't wait until you're at the pickup zone. 3. Pre-book a private shuttle or use Uber Reserve.

@rocknrollofall Led Zeppelin I

What album made you fall in love with rock music?

@WesternLensman He reminds me of James Traficant. Probably will meet the same fate.

😂😂😂

Not only did Steve Cohen gnaw on some KFC out of a bucket in congress, he then walked out of the room and gave a press statement while holding a ceramic chicken. Man what will the people in Tennessee ever do without this guy.

@BrettErickson28 @TankerTrackers Finance guys. Often wrong but never in doubt.

Two things: 1) If you are not following @TankerTrackers, we can’t be friends. 2) The lack of Kharg loadings in recent days DOES NOT MEAN IRAN IS OUT OF STORAGE CAPACITY

@IRIMFA_SPOX Looks like BRICS is about to become BRS.

مَن خانَ في السرِّ، سيُفضَحُ في العلن

@IranIntl_En What esle would he say? We have no chance? America and Trump have crushed us? I and the rest of the leadership of Iran will be turning ourselves over to the Hague for a war crime trial? Come on guys, give us some news!

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States has no path to victory.