Miss Belle @theurbanpixie

Greg Burgess writes.... So apparently Jill and I are on a plane to China with Trump, Elon Musk, half the Cabinet, and a collection of CEOs whose combined net worth could probably refinance the moon. Totally normal day for Gen X. And I just can’t stop laughing at how the media spent YEARS telling us: - China hated Elon - Trump was “finished” - America was collapsing - capitalism was dead - and everybody important was abandoning the U.S. Meanwhile, here we are somewhere over the Pacific looking like the cast of Succession meets Top Gun: Retirement Plan Edition. Remember when China sanctioned Marco Rubio back in 2020 and everybody acted like the geopolitical chessboard had permanently shifted? Now suddenly everybody’s still showing up to the table because — shocking development — nations tend to like: - money - technology - manufacturing - trade - AI - energy - semiconductors - and not being economically irrelevant Who knew. The best part is the internet meltdown cycle never changes. Trump: “America needs stronger trade relationships.” Media: “HITLER.” Elon: “I make electric cars, rockets, satellites, AI, and robots.” Internet activists: “Yeah but we posted an angry hashtag.” Cool. I’m sure Beijing is trembling before your TikTok resistance movement. And flying with this group is exactly what you think it would be. Trump walks around the cabin narrating reality like it’s an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Geopolitical: “Great flight. Powerful people. Very high IQ. The Chinese are saying they’ve never seen anything like it.” Elon looks like he hasn’t slept since 2019 and is simultaneously calculating orbital trajectories and wondering if the beverage cart could be automated. Meanwhile Jill and I are sitting there like two exhausted Gen Xers who survived dial-up internet, chain-smoking restaurants, lawn darts, and drinking from garden hoses… wondering how in the hell we became side characters in the weirdest timeline imaginable. Honestly, at this point if Trump walked into Beijing blasting “Danger Zone” while Elon live-streamed it from orbit, I wouldn’t even blink. Because the people who told us America was over are still tweeting from iPhones, driving Teslas, using Starlink during hurricanes, and cashing checks tied to the same capitalist machine they claim to hate. Gen X translation: The world’s still running. The adults are still making deals. And the internet is still confusing hashtags for accomplishments. Carry on.

Canada IS NOT a democracy. Explained in under three minutes with receipts 👇

Seven dogs stolen from their owners have gone viral after escaping their captors and making their way home The group is believed to have travelled around 17 km together led by a corgi across highways and fields

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@Brooketaylortv @lsferguson Took maybe 5 mins total coming through DFW Terminal D general security.

As one of the officers assigned by @SECNAV to execute this guidance from Secretary @PeteHegseth, I have a quick story to tell. Last week I spoke to a young woman who had refused the shot because of fertility complications at a time when her and her husband were trying to conceive. They did successfully conceive, but not before being kicked out of the military by Navy leadership. Life after the military had been hard on her. Her husband divorced her, left her with their two-year-old child, and she is barely making ends meet with a near-minimum wage job. I had the great honor of sharing with her that the Navy was looking to bring her back to service. She wept on the phone with me in gratitude for the opportunity that she did not know was there before our team reached out. We are giving her nothing that she did not already earn by her moral courage in the face of significant unlawful adversity. But in her current situation, the backpay alone will be life-changing, not to mention the steady meaningful employment and the military retirement. It’s stories like these that make me incredibly grateful to be part of the team making these calls and bringing our brothers and sisters back into the family that should have never abandoned them in the first place.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth @SecWar

3 months ago

UPDATE ON COVID-19 REINSTATEMENTS. We are extending the Department’s “reinstatement and return to service” guidance by an ADDITIONAL YEAR, allowing our Warriors of Conscience to return through April 1, 2027. We will continue correcting the wrongs of the Biden administration.

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"You'll never become wealthy while your home lives in poverty." // Thread //

This is probably the most incredible example yet of FSD saving a life, and the amazing software that Tesla has developed that enabled Jack to remotely help his Dad's Model Y navigate to the hospital on FSD.

Jack Brandt @JJackBrandt

5 months ago

x.com/i/article/2019…

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Americans think they need $1.8 million to retire Gen Z thinks they need $9 million But the median retirement account for people in their 50s is $185,000 One of these groups is going to work until they die. And it's not the one you think. A Charles Schwab study found that the average American believes they need $1.8 million saved to retire comfortably. Meanwhile, people with $650,000 saved... 3.5 times more than the typical American their age... are convinced they can't retire yet. They're sitting on more money than 90% of the country and they're terrified it's not enough. The goalposts keep moving. Have $500,000? Suddenly you need $1.5 million. Have $1.5 million? Now you're convinced you need $3 million. The number is never enough because the number isn't based on math. It's based on fear. Here's the actual math: Retirement isn't about some arbitrary balance. It's about income. Let's say you need $60,000 per year to live comfortably. That's your number. Not $1.8 million. Not $3 million. $60,000 per year. Now work backwards. Social Security pays you $30,000 per year. That's already half covered. You don't need to generate that from your portfolio. You need to generate $30,000 per year from your investments. At a 4% withdrawal rate (the standard retirement math), you need $750,000. Not $1.8 million. $750,000. But wait. What if you have a pension that pays $15,000 per year? Now you only need to generate $15,000 from your portfolio. At 4% withdrawal, that's $375,000. See how this works? The person with $375,000 and a pension can retire more confidently than the person with $800,000 and no plan. Because retirement isn't about the biggest number. It's about matching your income needs. Here's the part that really messes with people... The 4% rule doesn't mean you run out of money in 25 years. If you withdraw 4% per year and the market averages 10%, your portfolio keeps growing. You're only touching the gains. The principal stays intact. You'll have MORE money at 80 than you did at 70. MORE at 90 than 80. The longer you live, the richer you get. But nobody explains this. So people work an extra 10 years "just to be safe." They call it "one more year syndrome." Every banker I worked with had it. "Two more bonuses and I'm out." I heard it from 15 different people. None of them ever left. The tragic part is they're wasting the best retirement years. The years when you're healthy. When you have energy. When you can actually do the things you've been dreaming about. By 75, half that stuff is off the table. So here's how you actually think about this: 1. Calculate your actual annual spending (not some random scary number) 2. Subtract Social Security and any pensions 3. Divide what's left by 0.04 4. That's your real number For most people, it's dramatically lower than they think. The people who retire confidently aren't luckier. They're not taking crazy risks. They've just done the income math instead of chasing some arbitrary balance. SAVE THIS: The retirement formula: - Annual spending needed: $60,000 - Social Security: -$30,000 - Gap to fill: $30,000 - Divided by 4%: $750,000 needed With a $15,000 pension: - Gap to fill: $15,000 - Divided by 4%: $375,000 needed The myths: - Average American thinks they need: $1.8 million - Median 50s retirement account: $185,000 - Gen Z thinks successful = $9 million The truth: - 4% withdrawal = portfolio keeps growing - You get richer the longer you live - The number is about income, not balance

Mike Rowe: “We’ve been telling kids for 15 years to learn to code.” “Well, AI is coming for the coders.” “It’s not coming for the welders, the plumbers, the steamfitters, the pipefitters, the HVAC, or the electricians.” “In Aspen, I sat and listened to Larry Fink say we need 500,000 electricians in the next couple of years—not hyperbole.” “The BlueForge Alliance, who oversees our maritime industrial base—that’s 15,000 individual companies who are collectively charged with building and delivering nuclear-powered subs to the Navy … calls and says, we’re having a hell of a time finding tradespeople. Can you help?” “I said, I don’t know, man … how many do you need? He says, 140,000.” “These are our submarines. Things go hypersonic, a little sideways with China, Taiwan, our aircraft carriers are no longer the point of the spear. They’re vulnerable.” “Our submarines matter, and these guys have a pinch point because they can’t find welders and electricians to get them built.” “The automotive industry needs 80,000 collision repair and technicians.” “Energy, I don’t even know what the number is, I hear 300,000, I hear 500,000.” “There is a clear and present freakout going on right now. I’ve heard from six governors in the last six months. I’ve heard from the heads of major companies.”

A New Year Prayer Heavenly Father, as we stand at the threshold of this new year, we pause to thank You for Your faithfulness over the past months. You have been our guide, protector, and provider, even in moments of uncertainty, struggle, and doubt. We acknowledge that every breath, every opportunity, and every blessing comes from You. Thank You for the gift of life, for the love of family and friends, and for Your unending mercy that has carried us through each day. Lord, as this new year begins, we ask for Your continued guidance. Illuminate our path so that we may walk in Your wisdom and make choices that honor You. Help us to be mindful of our words and actions, and to bring hope, love, and encouragement to those around us. May we seek Your will in all things and remain steadfast in faith, trusting that You are working all things for our good. Father, we pray for strength in challenges. Life may bring trials, uncertainties, or moments of sorrow, but let us face them with courage, patience, and unwavering trust in Your plan. Protect us from harm, deliver us from fear, and grant us peace in our hearts, even when circumstances are difficult. May we be resilient, compassionate, and forgiving, remembering that Your love covers all our shortcomings. Lord, bless our families and communities. Keep our homes safe, our relationships strong, and our hearts united in love. Inspire us to serve others with generosity and kindness, to comfort the hurting, and to be instruments of Your peace in the world. May this year bring opportunities for growth, reconciliation, and the pursuit of justice and righteousness. Gracious God, we also pray for our personal growth and spiritual journey. Deepen our faith, expand our understanding of Your Word, and draw us closer to You each day. Help us cultivate gratitude for the blessings we often overlook, humility in our successes, and compassion in our interactions. May our lives reflect Your light and love, so that others may see Your goodness through us. Finally, Lord, we dedicate this year to You. May it be a year marked by hope, joy, and purposeful living. Let Your presence guide our steps, Your wisdom shape our decisions, and Your love fill every corner of our lives. We commit ourselves to serve You faithfully, honor You in all we do, and trust You in every circumstance. Thank You, Father, for this new beginning. May Your glory shine through this year and forever. Amen. #NewYear2026

RFK Jr: Why did "gluten allergies" go up so much in 2006? "we discovered that Roundup was a desiccant. And what that means, if you spray it on a crop, it will actually dry out the crop. And one of the big enemies of the farmer is that if there's rain around the time of harvest, their crops can get wet, and they get moldy, and then it ruins the entire silo." "What Monsanto did is they began telling farmers, spray this on the crop, on your wheat, right before harvest or at the time of harvest. And it was so popular that about 85 % of the Roundup that has been used in history has been used since 2006. A large part of that is as a desiccant. And what that meant, is for the first time they're spraying it on food right at harvest." "Not early in the season when they have a chance to wash off, but actually just before you're going to eat it. And they're spraying it for the first time on wheat because there was no such thing as Roundup Ready Wheat. They started spraying it on wheat as a desiccant. And so 2006 marks the day when suddenly these gluten allergies began exploding. The celiac disease and all these kind of wheat problems that we started seeing in this country." If you measure it back and say, when did it start? You can look and draw a red line at this 2006 and it's the year that they began spraying it on.

Well it is official now.. I want to again express my sincere appreciation to President Donald J. Trump @POTUS for nominating me to lead NASA, and to the United States Senate--and Chairman Cruz @tedcruz - for their diligence and fairness throughout the confirmation process. I am grateful to Secretary Duffy @SecDuffy for his leadership as Acting Administrator during this transition, and to my wife Monica, my family, my friend Senator Sheehy @TimSheehyMT and everyone who offered their support along the way. As I step into this role, I make these personal commitments: – Mission: I will champion the bold objectives of human space exploration, scientific discovery, and a thriving orbital economy that ensures America’s leadership in space. We will never again give up our capabilities to reach for the stars, and we will never settle for second place. – Integrity: I will serve responsibly, transparently, and without personal gain, covering every cost I am legally permitted to, and fully adhering to my ethics agreement. My loyalty is to my country, my President, and the space agency that has inspired me since I was a child. – Urgency: I will intensely focus the agency on achieving the near-impossible, the very reason NASA was established in the first place. We will eliminate the bureaucracy that impedes progress and empower the best and brightest to take ownership, move quickly, accept smart risks, and act with a relentless focus on mission success. – Inspiration: Every launch, every scientific breakthrough must inspire the next generation to dream bigger, to reach higher, and believe that anything is possible. In addition to my existing philanthropic efforts, I will donate my salary as Administrator to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp to help prepare the pioneers of tomorrow. I am humbled by this opportunity, proud to serve, and ready to work alongside the most talented minds in America as we continue the greatest adventure in human history. Sincerely, Jared Isaacman NASA Administrator

🇺🇸 FLORIDA IS QUIETLY BECOMING THE LAUNCHPAD OF A MULTI-PLANET CIVILIZATION SpaceX isn’t just tinkering with rockets anymore - it’s rebuilding the coastline of Florida for the next century. The company is now constructing two new Starship launch pads at Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 37, each designed to withstand the absurd, building-shaking force of the Super Heavy booster’s 16–17 million pounds of thrust. For comparison: NASA’s Space Launch System - the “most powerful rocket ever built” - clocks in at 8.8 million. Starship casually doubles it. It’s the kind of scale that makes your brain short-circuit. A machine louder than thunder, heavier than skyscrapers, built to return to Earth, land, refuel, and fly again - like a 400-foot airliner that yeets itself to orbit. These new pads are more than just construction sites. They’re throughput. They’re cadence. They’re the difference between “one giant leap” and “a giant leap every Tuesday.” With multiple Starship launch complexes on the same coast, Florida is about to become a literal highway to space - not just for satellites, but for Artemis, lunar cargo, and eventually the heavy logistics chain needed for Mars. Starship is the hardware. This? This is the infrastructure. The part of the story people forget until it suddenly changes everything. We’re watching the foundation of a multi-planet species being poured in concrete, steel, and flame trenches - in real time. And it’s only the beginning. Source: @XFreeze, CNBC

We’ve received approval to develop Space Launch Complex-37 for Starship operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Construction has started. With three launch pads in Florida, Starship will be ready to support America’s national security and Artemis goals as the world’s premiere spaceport continues to evolve to enable airport-like operations. We’d like to thank the Department of the Air Force (@usairforce), 45th Space Force (@SLDelta45), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife (@USFWS) for their effort on the environmental review

@Matt_Pinner Idris or Tom Hardy

Today I turn 55. I’m the fittest, sharpest, and happiest I’ve ever been. If I’m an outlier, it’s not because I’m built different or discovered a secret formula. The truth is far less glamorous: It’s a million tiny choices, compounded over decades. Here are 55 of them: 1. Walk 15+ miles a week, even if you do other exercise. Humans are uniquely made to move slowly over long distances—it’s critical to longevity. 2. Develop a writing practice. It’s the single best way to sharpen your mind. And remember, you don’t have to be a good writer to write. Start with 10 minutes a day. 3. Swap out your toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, soap, shampoo, and other personal care products for natural versions. Here’s a rule of thumb: Don’t put anything on your skin that you couldn’t safely eat. 4. If you have a positive thought about someone, don’t keep it to yourself—share it immediately. Encouragement defies the laws of physics: When you give energy, you also receive it. 5. Wear shoes with a wide forefoot (I like Topo Athletic) and wear toe spreaders around the house (search “yoga toes” on Amazon). Spine health begins with the feet. 6. Get sunlight regularly. Moderate sun exposure (without sunscreen) is hugely important for overall health. 7. Do a 3-minute deep (“ass to grass”) squat every morning. Deep squats are often called the anti-aging exercise. It’s been said that, “It’s not that you can’t do deep squats because you’re old, it’s that you’re old because you can’t do deep squats.” 8. Explore minimalism (it’s not what you think it is). 9. Set boundaries on toxic relationships. We tend to cling to relationships past their expiration date, and it takes a bigger toll on our health than we recognize. 10. Eat real food. Not too much. Don’t eat garbage. Binge occasionally. Fast occasionally. That’s the diet. 11. Learn about FIRE. It’s a great framework for financial success. 12. Don’t take antibiotics except in emergency situations. They’re massively over-prescribed and aren’t needed in most cases. Antibiotics have done untold damage to our guts, which is where health begins. Great natural alternatives are out there. 13. Get 8 hours of quality sleep each night. To optimize sleep: —Don’t eat after 6pm —Get blackout shades and cover LEDs with black tape —No screens 2 hours before bed —Try ashwagandha (an herb) to calm the nervous system 14. Stop drinking, even in moderation. People find all sorts of ways to justify drinking, but there’s no escaping the simple fact that alcohol is a toxin and it limits your potential. 15. Travel as much as possible. Nothing expands the mind like seeing the world. And travel doesn’t have to be expensive—the best experiences happen outside of fancy resorts, when you live like a local. 16. Let go of resentment. When you forgive someone, you release the prisoner, and the prisoner isn’t them… it’s you. 17. Show up on time, every time. Poor time management limits success more than most people realize. If you struggle with punctuality, stop everything else and fix that first. 18. Spend lots of time in nature and touch the earth. Humans evolved over 300k years to live in harmony with nature, and only recently have we retreated indoors. If you don’t spend time outside, you’re fighting biology (hint: You won’t win.) 19. Stop doing dumb things. As Leo Tolstoy said, “People try to do all sorts of clever and difficult things to improve life instead of doing the simplest, easiest thing—refusing to participate in activities that make life bad.” 20. Find your happy place and (eventually) move there. Most people live where they live because... that's where they live. We are products of our environment—choose yours carefully. 21. Find a hobby and pursue mastery. You can’t have a happy life without a passionate pursuit that isn’t your vocation. Your work—even if you enjoy it—isn’t enough. 22. Avoid mainstream medicine except as a last resort. The results are in—our healthcare (or more appropriately, sick care) system is badly broken and only makes people sicker. 23. Have a mindset of abundance. There is no advantage to being a pessimist—even if you’re right, it’s a miserable way to live. In a very real way… whatever you believe, you’re right! 24. Do hard things. Choose courage over comfort. Everything you want is on the other side of fear and hard work. As Jerzy Gregorik said, “Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” 25. Ignore haters. Hurt people hurt people. Negative/toxic people live in a prison of their own design. Don’t join them! 26. Say no. Protect your time and energy like it’s your most precious asset… because it is. 27. Become a water snob. As an alien said on Star Trek, humans are “ugly bags of mostly water.” You are what you drink—literally! We have Mountain Valley Spring water delivered in glass 5-gallon jugs and also have whole-house water filter (Aquasana Rhino). 28. Stop drinking sodas and sugary energy drinks. After a few weeks you won’t miss them, and a few months later they’ll seem disgusting. Refined sugar causes inflammation, which is the root of most disease. 29. If you’re over 35, find a good functional/longevity medicine doctor and start tracking your hormones. Modern life is hell on the endocrine system and restoring healthy hormone levels can change your life. As we get older, we either accept a slow decline in performance or we do something about it—choose the latter! 30. Develop a morning routine and follow it faithfully. Win the morning, win the day! 31. Invest in experiences, not things. People frequently regret buying things, but rarely regret investing in great experiences (especially when shared with loved ones). Remember, there’s nothing you can buy in a mall that you’ll remember in ten years. 32. Explore spirituality. It’s arrogant and small-minded to believe there’s nothing going on in our universe that is beyond our comprehension. We know less about our universe than an ant meandering on a sidewalk understands about this planet. 33. Have a strong bias toward action—doing rather than talking. If you ask a bunch of old people about their regrets, they’ll talk about the things they *didn't* do—the shots they didn’t take—more than the things they did do (even if it went wrong). As Wayne Gretzky famously said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Most people don’t take enough shots. 34. Stay lean. Men in particular are obsessed with muscle mass these days, but bulk doesn’t age well. The goal is to be strong but lean. The fittest guys in their 50s and beyond aren’t meatheads, they’re lean guys who are serious about a sport. 35. Curate your inner circle carefully. Surround yourself with people you admire and who challenge you to grow. Remember, we’re the average of our 5 closest relationships. 36. Be the fittest version of yourself. Your body is your only vessel for experiencing life—so treat it as such. Fitness isn’t working out a few times a week, it’s a lifestyle. The older you get, the more time you need to devote to your health. 37. Take the time to appreciate art and beauty in all its forms. 38. Think globally, but act locally. Too many people put their energy into far-away problems they don’t understand and can’t impact, while ignoring problems right under their nose. Want to change the world? Start at home. 39. Try psychedelics. It’s one of those things everyone should do at least once, and it might be the breakthrough you’ve been looking for. 40. Limit bad habits, including unhealthy thought patterns. We all have them—practice avoidance and find substitutes. Get professional help if needed. 41. Be a lifelong learner. Your brain is just like a muscle—if you don’t feed and flex it regularly, it will atrophy. 42. Find your purpose. People with a strong sense of purpose are happier and live longer. Lack of purpose sucks energy and magnifies depression. 43. Only take advice from people who embody the traits you want to have. Talk is cheap—emulate those who have DONE it. 44. The goal is not to retire and do nothing, it’s to build a great day-to-day life that you don’t need to escape. A life of leisure is a slow death. Happiness isn’t possible without a little struggle, uncertainty, and skin in the game. 45. Have fun! Do frivolous and silly things that make you smile. As George Bernard Shaw famously said, “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” 46. Whatever you want to do or achieve in life, start NOW. Don’t fall victim to “someday thinking” because someday never comes. 47. Accumulate assets—things that grow in value over time. It’s the #1 habit of rich people, and it can be done in tiny chunks. Instead of spending $100 on an impulse purchase that has no lasting value, put that money into an index fund or Bitcoin. It becomes addictive (in a good way). 48. Don’t ignore the big 3 canaries in the coal mine for health: —Low libido (and ED) —Frequent sinus & respiratory issues —Depression These usually aren’t medical conditions in themselves, they’re symptoms of an underlying problem. Find a good doc (outside of the mainstream) and figure out the root cause. 49. Have a clear vision for your future. How can you decide which direction to go if you haven’t clearly defined the destination? It sounds obvious, but 95% of people haven’t defined their “Ideal End State” in detail and in writing. (Check out my thread on this topic.) 50. Make your own decisions. We live in an era where most of what society tells us is wrong. Don’t be afraid to break from societal norms—if people say you’re crazy, it’s a sign that you’re doing something right. 51. Get hardcore about mobility exercise. As you age, it’s usually the knees, hips, and lower back that limit physical performance. 30 min a couple times a week can spare you a lifetime of pain. YouTube is a great resource. 52. Go all in on family. Get married, stay married, have kids. Burn the boats. In the end, family is all that matters. 53. Be ruthless with your time. Money comes and goes. Time only goes. Audit your calendar ruthlessly—cut the trivial, double down on the meaningful, and spend your hours like your life depends on it. (Because it does.) 54. Have a strong bias toward action. Be curious, try things, meet people—it’s how you increase your surface area for serendipity, the most powerful unseen force in our lives. 55. Reinvent yourself every decade. Over time, we slowly drift off course from our priorities, values, and true identity. Take stock and don’t be afraid to hit the reset button. Bold, calculated moves made for the right reasons almost always pay off—usually even more than you can imagine. 🎁 P.S. If you enjoyed this post, would you give me a birthday gift? Repost or comment with the item number(s) you liked best?

@beffjezos I would believe this is real but why are you all at a Comfort Inn?

@AgKnocks Both my husband and sis-in-law weren’t able to watch the game, and I couldn’t get a stream to work, so I followed the Aggies, texted D&J X posts with the updates as often as I could from the start of second half, and pledged myself as a 12th Man inductee. #GigEm