Thursday, February 20, 2020

Age: 13; Sex: Boy; Occupation: VC hunter: Lost in 1972

 


Been looking for him since 2013 and finally found the unfortunate news today.

- The ark found a relative of Ta Thai Manh, 13 years old, received the medal of Anh Dung Boi Tinh of the Republic of Vietnam
 
- "Uncle, I'm Ta Ta Manh's niece, if you have any notes or photos of your uncle, can you share them with me?"
 
- A young friend of Manh's grandson sent to Dome 2 images of Manh's altar.

More @ BIENXUA   

How to File Your Taxes For Free in 2020

Via Billy

 

Yes, you can file your 2019 federal taxes online for free — but it pays to be smart about it.
The IRS struck a deal with tax preparation software companies in 2002 to ensure middle class taxpayers can file for free, but the rules are wonky and complicated, which might be one reason for the program’s underuse.

About 70% of taxpayers qualify to use free tax prep software through the Free File Alliance, a joint effort between the IRS and several private tax preparation software companies, according to the IRS. But statistics show only about 2.7 million returns — out of about 134 million individual returns total — were filed using the IRS’s Free File program for fiscal year 2018, according to IRS data.

More @ Money

The USAF Created M4 that Fits in Ejection Seats @ U.S. Army Is Testing a 'Guaranteed Hit' Gunsight

 Via Billy

image

The U.S. Air Force developed a new assault rifle that breaks down into two pieces, allowing it to be stored in the ejection seat of modern jets. The GAU-5A carbine is designed to provide the firepower necessary for aircrew to defend themselves until rescue.

The GAU-5A was designed by the Air Force Gunsmith Shop, which, according to Military.com, was formed in 1958 to repair and refurbish all small arms for the Air Force, from pistols to .50-caliber machine guns. The Air Force maintains a large arsenal of firearms carried by security forces, mounted on vehicles, and packed away for aircrews.


******************************

 image

Judge Jackson: The 7 to 9 years sentence originally recommended was excessive.

 

Trump loyalist Roger Stone was sentenced Thursday to more than three years in federal prison, following an extraordinary move by Attorney General William Barr to back off his Justice Department's original sentencing recommendation.

More @ Star Tribune

Polls

Via Billy

 View image on Twitter

New Poll Shows Trump Beating ALL 2020 Democrats In Must-Win Wisconsin

President Trump’s approval rating among small business owners hits all-time high of 64%,

Rasmussen: Voters ready 'to jail' those who illegally targeted Trump


2020 Democrat Tom Steyer: Trump Won Wednesday's Debate

 Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer participates in a LULAC Presidential Town Hall at The College of Southern Nevada on Feb. 13, 2020, in North Las Vegas, Nevada.

One 2020 Democratic presidential candidate who did not qualify for Wednesday’s debate in Las Vegas declared President Donald Trump the winner.

Tom Steyer fell short of the Democratic National Committees threshold for the debate Wednesday night by failing to hit 10 percent in four approved polls or winning a delegate out of Iowa or New Hampshire, according to Politico.

However, the billionaire declared Trump the winner of the debate in an appearance Thursday morning on CNN.

More @ WJ

Appalachian Settlers and Their Dwellings

Via Wirecutter


Wednesday, February 19, 2020

[Illustrations] Everyday Life in 1923 Northern Vietnam Through 10 Rare Sketches

 

Special Services Depot, Phan Dinh Phung/Cong Ly, Saigon

It was a simpler time in Vietnam 100 years ago — just people going about their life without a single phone in sight.

This set of rare sketches takes us to the villages of northern Vietnam in 1923, filled with craftsmanship, camaraderie and just some good ol’ fashioned loincloths. The illustrations were archived by BnF digital library Gallica, which aims to preserve French written heritage. They depict the everyday life of past Tonkinese — residents of what is now northern Vietnam. Details regarding the identity of the artist were unavailable, but the works still retain much of their original brushworks and sketches after almost a century.

More @ Saigoneer

Meet Ta Anh Dung, The One Legged Martial Arts Master of Tao Dan Park, Saigon


If you’re a frequent visitor of Saigon's Tao Dan Park, you might have crossed paths with a martial artist who can usually be spotted doing pushups, engaging in graceful sword dances or coaching students — all on one leg and his trusty crutch. The man is 60-year-old Ta Anh Dung, one of Saigon’s most prominent masters of the Kim Ke Tay Son Nhan discipline, a traditional Vietnamese martial art.

The Presidential Campaign of 1860: Mostly about Tariffs versus Free Trade rather than Slavery

 President Abraham Lincoln  elected November 2, 1860. Favored high protective tariffs and corporate subsidies.

My G, G Grandfather - Tariff Must Be Reduced
Mr.Pippen adverted to the importance of the present election - important in many respects, but chiefly in respect to the Tariff and Texas. The Tariff  must be reduced; it was grinding the South to powder. The northern manufacturers were declaring dividends of 25 and 30 per cent per annum, while the poor farmer at the South could scarcely "make both ends meet." The Tariff must be reduced - it made the rich richer and the poor poorer. (1845)
 23. Quotes 

            "Tarif "
When the Saracens and Moors, in the 8th century invaded and devastated the rich and beautiful provinces of Spain, they were commanded by a general whose name wasTarif  who had but one eye (See Anquetil's Universal History) - Our Tariff must be a descendant of this infamous destroyer, and inherits his defect of having but one eye, as it can see but one interest, and in one direction."
(I found the above quote on microfilm at the Tarboro Library, but I either failed to write down the source, or there was none. Also, I failed to write down the date, but remember that it was well before the War, 1823/1833 sticks in my mind. BT)

********************************

The photo accompanying last week’s article was an 1860 Republican poster urging voters to vote straight Republican the next Tuesday, November 2 [1860]. In the top third of the poster were these words:

$  IN YOUR POCKET  $

Protect Your Job—Your Farm—Your Business
The Only Issue Before the Voters is The PROTECTIVE TARIFF
 
Please note carefully that the poster says:

“The Only Issue Before the Voters is The Protective Tariff.There was nothing on the poster touching any issues with slavery. As stated by Lincoln and the Republican Platform of 1860, the Republican objective regarding slavery was only to limit its geographic expansion to states that already permitted it. 
The Protective Tariff here refers to the Morrill Tariff introduced in the U.S. House in 1858 and finally passed by the House on May 10, 1860. Only one Southern Congressman of 40 voted for it.