Quote:For those who have followed my interviews with the GRS contractors who survived the Benghazi attacks, you may have noticed a recurring theme—one that Tig recently revisited when speaking about Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty being thrown from the roof by Delta Force operators.

I was recently contacted by one of the GRS members known as “Jack Silva” from 13 Hours—the only contractor who has not yet spoken out publicly. Below is Jack’s response to Tig’s recent episode addressing the Benghazi attacks.

Jack Silva Letter

Quote:

What to Expect in the Next Iteration of MREs

Sept. 18, 2025 | By Katie Lange, Pentagon News

The old saying "variety is the spice of life" is especially true when it comes to food. While service members in combat will eat whatever they're given, having good meals that match what they might eat at home is important for morale and readiness.

Every year, food scientists at the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center's Combat Feeding Division in Natick, Massachusetts, work to develop new components for meals ready-to-eat. They're based on warfighter feedback received by each service to add variety or replace unpopular items. Researchers also look at trends in the commercial sector to see what might play well on newer menus.

What's Coming, What's Going

The next iteration of MREs is MRE 46, which is expected to come out in 2026. The menu's developers said that in MRE 46, they plan to replace the beef taco filling, pork sausage patty and jalapeno pepper jack beef patty — all of which were not rated high among surveyed service members — with a Cuban-style beef picadillo with vegetables, buffalo-style chicken, and a Thai-style red curry with chicken and rice.
"Buffalo chicken is something that [soldiers] have requested. It's a popular item … so we're hoping that this item will be longstanding," explained Julie Edwards, a Combat Feeding Division senior technologist and registered dietitian. 



More protein-filled snacks will round out the MREs, including new s'mores recovery bars and freeze-dried chocolate peanut butter bites. Another big focus of the newest iteration is more caffeinated products.


"What we've noticed is caffeine is one of the least consumed items in the MRE," Edwards said. "Previous generations were big coffee drinkers, but the newer generation of soldiers are not."

As replacements, researchers looked to develop new beverage options, as well as energy chews, energy gels, caffeinated gum and even caffeinated jelly beans.

Edwards said service members also requested a larger, more durable towelette.


"Any new item that we get that can help bring variety and increase acceptability is important," Edwards said. "We know that eating an MRE isn't everyone's No. 1 thing, but we want to make it safe to eat — that's our No. 1 priority — and then to make it taste good as well."

Like with the new close combat assault ration, developers also focused on reducing the weight and volume of the new MREs without cutting calories or nutritional value.

Passing the Military Grade

All new items being considered for MREs must meet shelf-life requirements before they can be evaluated by warfighters, meaning they have to still be edible after spending six months in 100 degrees Fahrenheit and three years at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.



Edwards said a lot of commercial items that could be considered for MREs wouldn't pass muster. For example, she said it's been a challenge to find snacks — aside from nuts — that provide 10 grams or more of protein. Many of them have a chemical reaction over time that gives them an unappetizing appearance. She used beef jerky as an example.

"I know in the commercial sector, you see lots of beef jerky that's shelf stable. However, it has a very short commercial shelf life," Edwards said. "What happens to jerky over time is it gets dark in color and becomes unappealing. So, we had a challenge of finding jerkies that meet our shelf-life requirements."

MREs also have to meet specific nutritional requirements under the DOW-wide Army Regulation 40-25. Those requirements are different than nutritional needs for civilians and can often depend on environmental factors.

After shelf-life requirements are met, operational testing can begin. Teams of researchers go out and work with warfighters in the field to determine what they like, then behavioral psychologists hold focus groups to elaborate on the data. Edwards said it's important they get honest feedback from everyone at every rank.

"We want you to give us this feedback because it does help. It does make a difference," she said. "Operational tests are very expensive and time-consuming. So, we want to make sure that we're being good stewards of investing money in the right areas."


From there, the feedback is analyzed and presented to service leaders who are part of the Joint Services Operational Rations Forum. Those folks decide which new items to implement.

"From start to finish, it's about a four-year process until the soldier actually sees [the new meals]," Edwards said.

Meanwhile, items for MRE 47, which is expected to come out sometime in 2027, are already in development. One service request was to include more plant-based items, Edwards said. For snacking, the Combat Feeding Division has developed plant-based animal crackers, a new recovery bar, a protein bar and fruit-flavored cereal. Edwards said the four vegetarian meals currently available to troops will be replaced with plant-based entrees.

There are kosher and halal meals available for service members, too, but they're managed by Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, not the Combat Feeding Division.

Is this why Starmer and their last colonies Canada and Australia are formally recognizing Palestine?

or is this a rent to own type of deal...

Why isn't this applicable...









The British Patriot

@TheBritLad


BREAKING: Palestine Seeks £2 Trillion in Reparations from UK

Following its recognition as a state, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas demands reparations from the UK for its 1917-1948 rule, citing international law.

This is an absolute disaster.


If they are carving up Israel, then all borders outlined by the Treaty of San Remo become void. This means Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq. We need a safe country in the ME for Christians, Druze, Yazidis, who did I miss?

General Flynn is posting something by Laura Loomer (that is about him)...saying there is an uptick in concern over some coordinated 'strikes', by Al Qaeda (et al, I'm sure) in a number of major cities...to kill as many Americans as possible.

Quote from article: "...National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) has officially determined that Islamic terrorists affiliated with Al Qaeda have infiltrated U.S. soil and are actively planning a series of coordinated Islamic terror attacks."

I did not watch the video, attached, but found the 'article' to be rather terroristic in quality - I do not feel 'easy' about this.

What say you (if anything)?

https://joehoft.com/general-flynn-shares...ities-now/

DISCLAIMER: This isn't some personal revelation or conclusion about myself, but a farce. This thread is more along the lines of how anyone, even a conservative, could easily become the poster boy for the left, a liberal Charlie Kirk if you will.

With a little practice at giving speeches and live debate, anyone could be the Charlie Kirk for the left, even I could. As an old while male, I would be the opposite of a young handsome conservative and have the liberal democrat leader look. I just need to grow my hair longer, gain some more weight, and become less healthy. I wear glasses already; however, I may want to try a little makeup, it couldn't hurt. Below is a sample of a propaganda speech I worked up while going into a trance and channeling liberalism.

Quote:Get Trump "By All Means Necessary" because he's a tyrant. "No More Kings!" We can't allow this Nazi-like dictator, this modern Hitler, to destroy our "democracy" and usurp the will of some people who matter more than the rest.

It's time for asymmetric warfare with this Trump tide that is washing away all these years of infiltrating and "building back better" the "deeply flawed" American culture to make it equitable and inclusive for every kind of thing you may identify as.

Once this poison MAGA movement has been eradicated and cleansed from our "democracy", we can freely live however we want, as whatever we identify as, and create our socialist utopia that will unite the entire planet like an inter-racial gay transgender couple lovingly embracing their global family.

It's party conference season in the UK and this week it's the turn of the completely irrelevant Liberal Democrats who are polling around 15% in the latest voter intension poll , today their leader Sir Ed Davey shows just how bad his comprehension skills are by accusing Elon Musk of inciting violence at last weeks Free speech march when Musk said....
"This is a message to the reasonable centre, the people who ordinarily wouldn't get involved in politics, who just want to live their lives. 

They don't want that, they're quiet, they just go about their business.
"My message is to them: if this continues, that violence is going to come to you, you will have no choice. You're in a fundamental situation here.
"Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die, that's the truth, I think."


Clearly Mr Musk is talking about the violence being brought to the people of the UK by the tens of thousand undocumented young men being allowed to roam the streets unchecked and undocumented and how the British people must stand up for themselves in this 2 tier Country , he is clearly not calling for people to be violent but rather to protect themselves from violence.

Davey also hit out at X for not doing enough to protect children rather than focus on parents dereliction of their duty to protect their children from perceived social media threats saying Musk should be arrested if he comes to Britain under Labours Online Safety act , have to say I agree with Musk's characterization of Davey as a "Snivelling Cretin.

Quote:Sir Ed is expected to reiterate his call for Mr Musk's arrest at his conference speech on Tuesday.

He will accuse Mr Musk of being motivated by "his own ego, power and wealth, rather than the rights and freedoms of the British people".
The Lib Dems will also table a parliamentary motion summoning Mr Musk to the House of Commons "to be reprimanded for his actions".
Sky News has approached X and Elon Musk for comment, but as of publication has received no response.
X maintains it has "zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material" and claims tackling those who exploit children is a "top priority".
https://news.sky.com/story/sir-ed-davey-...n-13435165

https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraf...aft-design

Quote:Skunk Works Unveils Stealthy Collaborative Combat Aircraft Design
Brian Everstine September 21, 2025

Skunk Works rendering of Vectis collaborative combat aircraft.

Credit: Skunk Works

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is taking work it did to compete for the U.S. Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter and applying it to a new stealthy, survivable Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) design for both U.S. and international customers.
The new Vectis uncrewed combat aircraft will fly in two years, with the goal of providing air-to-air, air-to-surface and surveillance missions alongside crewed aircraft.
O.J. Sanchez, vice president and general manager of Skunk Works, told reporters the Vectis design takes work from the sixth-generation prototype that the company built and flew, along with the RQ-170 low-observable uncrewed aircraft vehicle (UAS) and “other systems in the classified spaces.”
“Skunk Works is charting a critical path with this Vectis program to unlock new integrated capabilities at an ultracompetitive speed and price point,” Sanchez says. “Vectis provides best-in-class survivability at the CCA price point.”

Vectis comes from extensive operational analysis within Skunk Works, where the company modeled the system flying with Lockheed’s F-22s and F-35s. As the U.S. Air Force is determining requirements for the next increment of its CCA program, specifically how survivable and capable the aircraft should be, Skunk Works has decided to proceed with a reusable design that appears to be on the high end of the spectrum. Though Skunk Works did not provide a cost estimate, it is likely to be more expensive than other designs that focus more on being attritable.
“Should the Air Force find they need a highly survivable platform with the flexibility that Vectis enables for Increment II, I think it’ll be a great candidate,” Sanchez says.
The aircraft is large for the CCA class. Sanchez says it is smaller than the company’s F-16 but larger than the comparatively low-cost Common Multi-Mission Truck—an air vehicle designed to be launched from the company’s Rapid Dragon palletized system off the back of a cargo aircraft.
Sanchez would not identify the engine that will be used in Vectis, just that it is “sized appropriately to be able to fly alongside and work with” crewed aircraft. The company’s operational analysis shows that the ability for the aircraft to be supersonic is not necessary, he says.
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say supersonic is what we see is needed in this space,” he says.
While the company is pitching the design potentially for the Air Force’s CCA program and timing the announcement with the beginning of the Air and Space Force’s convention, Sanchez says it is also potentially applicable for the U.S. Navy’s similar program and international partners. The latter point appears to pit Vectis against the similar Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat.
Sanchez says Vectis is “aligned with” the U.S. Air Force’s government-reference architecture that is used to bring on independent mission systems for CCAs. The company is designing it to be flexible for different missions, he says.
“I would see Vectis’ flexibility that’s being built in, along with its survivability, being very attractive to multiple mission problem sets, and then the agility and the way we’re doing flexible payload design can be tailored toward specific countries or programs as they need,” he says.
The stealthy, survivable design that is capable of being a daily flyer appears to be a shift in the Skunk Works’ approach to CCAs. Last year, Sanchez’s predecessor John Clark told Aviation Week that the group’s operational analysis (OA) showed CCAs largely becoming expensive targets—surviving just long enough to do their designated role and then at best becoming decoys. Sanchez says that analysis was done for the specific CCA Increment I competition at the time. Since then, OA has evolved with different designs and tactics in mind.
“Operational analysis is robust,” he says. “It’s not a singular point in time. There are design trades that we’ve made in this and mission applications where we clearly see the opportunity for a reusable, highly survivable and flexible platform like Vectis.”

Hi all. 

I think we all like to save money and I think it's fun to read what other's do to try to save more money.
So I will go first, just a few I can think of at the top of my head:

* I've been using a toilet seat bidet (roughly $40 on Amazon) for years now. It save a ton of money as you dont need to buy toilet paper (or baby wipes if you were using those for yourself ) . You can use soap and water or just water and is actually clean  , in comparison to a dry piece of shredding paper. 
* I use one time shopping bags for garbage 
* I eat food even when far expired past their expiration date. I will eat dry foods that are more then a year out of date np
   Same with dairy , even if it's a few weeks past it's date, it's often still fine.
* I bring my own coffee or drinks if I'm out all day or a few hours. I will skip lunch before I waste money on lunch out on the run/go when I'm busy. 
* I always cook at home, I rarely get a take-out and never delivery. I will go out for lunch 1x a month as a treat, but that's it.
* I always compare shop  , online as well, and stock up when items are on sale or bogo.

I do more , but it's a start. Most of these are boring ,that most know, but well. Come with better ideas then.


Toilet seat bidet in case people are wondering

The comments are interesting 
amazing how after time some of the biggest conspiracy theories are actually true... 

Footage filmed by aviator Jacques Marie Charles Trolley de Prévaux over the killing fields of the Western Front in Ypres ,  Belgium following the Armistice in early 1919 , the 5 minute film remained unseen by the public until 2010 and has now been upscaled to 4k , colourised and sound added.

Quote:Following the Armistice, in early 1919, Trolley de Prévaux and Le Saint undertook a pivotal flight over the devastated Western Front, from the Belgian coastline to the French citadel city of Verdun. They meticulously recorded the war-torn landscape for posterity. This footage, a testament to the horrific destruction of the First World War and it serves as a grim warning of where the world is possibly heading today. This footage would remain unseen by the public for nearly a century until a 2010 BBC documentary presented by Fergal Keane called The First World War From Above introduced is to the Resistance hero Trolley de Prévaux. His daughter Aude Yung-de Prévaux who was a baby when her parents were taken by the Gestapo, had never seen her fathers image until this film was shown to her.

How silent footage is HD colorized and brought to Life

I take early fragments of silent 16fps footage and restore them to life by a combination of manual frame by frame colorization as well as the use of deep exemplar-based video colorization techniques. The footage is upscaled and the frames interpolated to a higher frame rate ( in most cases 60 frames per second.) Finally I produce a soundtrack which helps build a new immersive experience for the viewer.
Together, these processes revive old fragments of footage,  offering audiences a more
vivid and engaging glimpse of lives long since lived in the distant past