Everyone now knows that North Korea detonated a smaller nuclear device underground in defiance of the world community.

The U.S. Geological Survey said it had detected a 4.2 magnitude tremor in North Korea at 10:35 local time (0135 GMT). The Japan Meteorological Agency said its data showed a tremor took place around Gifu, on the peninsula’s northeast coast around 110 km (70 miles) from the Chinese border.

But what does it mean and what steps should be taken?

President Bush said the “United States condemns this provocative act.” The UN security council met once already and will meet this afternoon; the UN prepares to review a US draft resolution. And no one on the security council has made any noise of support for North Korea. Oddly enough both China and Russia have condemned the test.

But there’s more to the mix — politics, naturally. South Korea, Taiwan, Japan — are extremely concerned about this test because, of course, the likelihood of nuclear tipped missiles pointed in a given direction — well, that direction will be at them — and us as in US. North Korean missiles potentially targeted at Russia or China? Not a chance.

Kim Jong-il wants to force reunification with South Korea. And the only way to achieve this end is militarily. NK already invaded South Korea once and Seoul was demolished. KJi has an army of more than a million soldiers and they predominantly exist near the southern border. Would KJi think twice about going nuclear against the south? I am not confident he has the ability to understand the ramifications of such a move and that places him into the “beyond dangerous” category.

KJi’s NK has a rancid economy and hundreds of thousands of his countrymen and women have perished due to starvation, executions and in “labor” camps. With North Korea now being, what, the 8th Nuclear Nation? — and dying for cash, what is the “logical extension?” I fear the logical extension may be for NK to sell one of their upcoming nuclear devices to another rogue state or, worse, to terrorist factions such as al Qaeda, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority — you name it.

What should be done?

Some will consider “economic sanctions” too harsh, due to the overall poor condition of the North Korean populace. I would suggest that is only a place to begin.

We should, in addition, make it clear that we are monitoring NK’s airspace, and any missile sites indicating preparations for launch will be hit in a pre-emptive strike.

We should also make it clear that future missile launches, now that North Korea is a nuclear power, will be considered an active attempt at a nuclear strike against the surrounding states (more than likely South Korea) and perhaps even the United States, and will be met with military retaliation up to and possibly including a nuclear response.

And where is China in all of this?

I am unsure. I am, however, sure that China is doing its overt and covert best to ensure the diminishment of the United States; some believe that there will be a war between ourselves and China. We have sworn to defend Taiwan — and China has sworn to bring Taiwan into line.

China wants to be the world Superpower and has expanded its military shockingly. It too is becoming not only a military powerhouse but an economic one and will, resultingly, more and more want to confront us not only in the petroleum market but with petroleum-producing nation-states. It has to; there is no other option. And do not think that it is not eyeballing the oil under Russia. A Russian/China link? Japan went to war with us when we limited their oil and steel. And China?

These are dangerous, dangerous times. But sooner or later we will have to fish or cut bait. How will we meet this clear and obvious threat and the overarching global threats?

BZ

I’m going to summarize the GOP in a few sentences or paragraphs and then let loose what may.

This is an overview of impressions and facts.

For the previous 8 years:

Elections were won; get the fuck over it.

Republicans won the House and the Senate. And then they let these institutions languish.

They had power and then refused to, first, coalesce it and then, second, utilize it.

My President exelled in some areas and not in others; communication would not be GW’s strong point.

In the meantime GOP concerns exploded into the mainstream.

On Sunday one usually leaves the day open for specific posts.

My muse ran from yard line to yard line and then to other places.

I did my wash today; I cleaned the deck and loaded wood into my interior rack. I then loaded more wood into the outside rack. I watched my Star Jasmine wind its tendrils towards other hanging pots and then towards the wood overhang.

I heard trains all day.

Sunday is a day of relaxation for me. I usually sleep in to 10 or 11 AM. I ended up doing the previous night’s dishes. I then inserted some continuous DVDs. I am watching the Rome series from HBO, and the second season DVDs from Deadwood.

For the first time in at least six years, I somehow managed to light the pilot for my major source of heat on Friday morning. When the temperature dips to 36 degrees at night now, I at least have a source of HEAT.

I finished four fence holes this weekend. I hurt all over. I’ve taken Excedrin and Ibuprofen. I’ve thrown some beer in on top of that.

Life is going well for me; I have heat in terms of my pilot. I also have a clean shed and a refurbished hard drive and an inroad for my lower fents. I want to have my fence repaired before the rains commence. Two more weekends and I hope to have this accomplished.

For me, Winter means propane and heat and drifts and difficulties and wood and preparation. Do you have any goals before Winter?

BZ

How many American five-star generals have existed?

Historically, this designation only occurred during World War II, as an answer to the horde of generals appointed by the German military, and as an answer and response to an American being responsible for the allied forces.

The German military designated so many generals in an attempt to make allied forces believe the great number of generals were required to control a much larger force — a force the Germans did not have. Their numbers were a sham and a ruse to confuse.

But in truth, how many American designated five-star generals existed?

Initially, that 5-Star rank was to be called Field Marshal, but the designator was withdrawn due to its similarity to Germany’s FeldMarshal. General George C. Marshall was the greatest objector to this designator — due to his name.

The Army had four 5-Star generals:

– General George C. Marshall (see photo)
– General Douglas MacArthur
– General Dwight D. Eisenhower
– General Omar N. Bradley

The US Navy had four 5-Star Fleet Admirals to include:

– Admiral William D. Leahy
– Admiral Ernest J. King
– Admiral Chester Nimitz
– Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey

The United States Air Force (then the US Army Air Corps) had one:

– General Henry “Hap” Arnold

To his everlasting regret, Gen. George Smith Patton only acquired four stars.

The only rank above this would be a General of the Armies of the United States — the highest military rank of all time, hands down — beyond even that of Eisenhower.

To date, only George Washington and John J. Pershing have held this position.

BZ

So here I am; finally clean, upstairs, and writing for my blog.

Today, the first of my three days off (I am lucky enough to work a 4/10 schedule), was spent at “hard labor.” Hence I am not posting for Friday until late in the evening because I was, shall I say, “otherwise occupied” for the bulk of the day.

Some asshole in my community managed to back his dually pickup into my fence (I noted the dual acceleration tracks), breaking his taillights, and then left four of my fence posts broken. I can only hope that the damage to his truck ran into the millions of dollars but I suspect not.

In any event, in anticipation of winter approaching, I had to repair my fents (common spelling) but needed assistance. Finding same, he and I took two complete days over the past two weekends to merely demo the fents and attempt to dig out the concrete for the four broken posts.

I live at the 4,000 foot level in the Sierra Nevada mountains. All around me there was mining, hydraulic and otherwise — to the tune that, earlier this year, a man living in his house, following some rains, was killed when, whilst watching TV downstairs in the living room, the entire floor collapsed beneath him into an extant mining pit sinkhole. Emergency responders were not even able to retrieve his body for two days until the site became manageable and more stable. He left behind a new wife, pregnant with their first child. It was so completely tragic.

And therein lies the problem: this area is rife with round rock mining tailings and worse. Yes, I live in the proverbial Red Dirt area. We tried to dig down over a number of hours and encountered first red dirt, then round rock cobble, then hard-assed clay. It rained over the past weekend so — instead of what one might first think — the rain only served to make the clay more determined and resolute against our two modern shovels and two breaker bars. One breaker bar was taller and damned near heavier than me.

I only had to excavate and remove four posts and their concrete footings. Four holes took me two weekends.

With help. Good help. No, great help. Inspired help. Fabulously welcomed help.

Man. Things like this remind me that not only am I not in Kansas anymore, but I’m not 25 anymore. Two guys pushing 60 — yeah, we were raining sweat. We took some water breaks and shot some shit. But you know what?

We made four holes and we were proud of them.

Where’s my Ibuprofen?

BZ