April 2025 – Page 2 – Splendid Isolation

Revenue Streams

April 29, 2025 Kim du Toit Taxes and Theft

As any fule kno, when a government is strapped for cash they will perforce come up with new ideas for “tax revenue streams” (a.k.a. “innovative methods to steal money from the public”). Needless to say, they can’t just come out and say “we’re going to steal more of your money” because that might lead to public hangings…

…sorry, I went off to a warm and happy place there for a few moments.

Anyway, the theft has to be concealed beneath a maskirovka of some sort, and the best one (apart from “national interest”) is “public health”, which shouldn’t fool anybody but it does, repeatedly and regrettably.

Examples of this abound, the latest being that of Head Thief, U.K. Division — sorry, I meant Chancellor of the Exchequer — Rachel Reeves, who wants to tax (wait for it) milkshakes.

The Chancellor has drawn up plans to impose a sugar tax on milk and yoghurt-based beverages for the first time, after concluding that they are damaging public health.

The levy will drive prices up by as much as 24p per litre, with officials expecting 93 percent of drinks on the market to be affected unless they change their recipes.

I think the British public should express their ~~rage~~ profound disappointment at this proposal by reverting to an age-old mechanism:

But they won’t, because as long as it’s for people’s health, you see, it’s acceptable. (That sound you hear in the background is the bleating of sheep.)

News Roundup

April 29, 2025 Kim du Toit Bad News

And you’re going to need that slug of gin to survive this roundup.

…ah yes, the “experts” at the International Monetary Fund, with their stellar track record of global financial predictions and management. [/snark]

In :

...and about damn time, too.

More Political Stuff:

...it’s Illinois, so he’ll just be replaced some other terrorsymp Commie asshole. And the only “torch” I’d like to pass is the one I’d use to light his execution bonfire.

And still on the topic of Commies:

...and to think she was once my “representative” back when I lived in Chicago. I used to write to her often, but she always ignored me — possibly because my salutation was “Dear Commie Bitch”.

...let’s embrace the healing power of “and”, shall we?

From the Police Blotter:

…well, so much for her Secret Service protection detail. Also:

In International News:

...just another day in Merrie Olde England. As is this one:

…

...crappy car, nobody cares.

In Sad Business News:

...no matter how famous the backer: if the product is shit, nobody’s going to buy it.

Finally:

...I’m sorry, but “Whoopi Goldberg” and “going down” should never appear in the same headline.
#VomitAlert

And speaking of vomiting:

...I was unaware that lesbian porno movies required the services of a fluffer, but there ya go.

And in today’s

And in our weekly stroll down :

Liz Hurley Is Now Bonking Billy Ray Cyrus
...well, after Shane Warne, nothing can be too disgusting, I guess.

And if he thought his heart was all achy-breaky, wait till he sees what she can do to his nether appendage.

It’s Not Just Humans

April 28, 2025 Kim du Toit Drive Time

Yeah, people in the Western world have been getting taller (and fatter) over the past century or so, mostly as a result of improved diet — or a fuller diet, so to speak — and as a result, the widthwise expansion is seen as A Very Bad Thing by the Perpetual Scolds who bedevil our society.

I don’t know whether this growth is a good thing or a bad thing — I mean, the skeletal look is deemed attractive by the fashion designers and homosexuals [some overlap] and by the very rich, who despite looking like they’re starving, are of course in no danger thereof.

However, in doing some research for a future post, I came across this pic of Range Rovers, as introduced and what they look like today:

…and it triggered an immediate flashback to my earlier post on bloat, in which I took aim at pretty much everything.

Am I the only one who thinks that the Range Rover on the left is almost dainty — a word which could never be applied to any Range Rover of any generation — and subsequently more attractive?

I know, I know: the modern Rover is drenched with wondrous technology and (mostly government-mandated) safety devices compared to its predecessor — and I leave it to you to decide how desirable / necessary those additions are — but seriously?

Have we humans — or, to be more specific, the target demographic for Range Rovers — got so much fatter that we now need a double-wide to accommodate our Lizzo-like asses?

Quit Messing With The Formula

April 28, 2025 Kim du Toit The Gun Thing

And then there’s this development:

The Henry SPD HUSH Series is a bold evolution in lever-action rifle design, purpose-built to be run suppressed. Developed by the Henry Special Products Division—our new R&D initiative focused on forward-thinking innovation—this inaugural release reimagines what a lever gun can be in modern hunting and shooting applications. Offered in five time-tested calibers—.45 Colt, .357 Magnum/.38 Spl, .44 Magnum/.44 Spl, .30-30 Win, and .45-70 Gov’t—the HUSH Series strikes the perfect balance of traditional feel and modern performance.

Lever actions already offer excellent balance and speed, with the added suppressor-friendly benefit of a closed action during firing. Our HUSH Series takes this a step further. Every component forward of the receiver is optimized to minimize weight, keeping the rifle’s natural center of gravity intact—even when a suppressor is mounted. The result is a no-compromise suppressor host that retains the instinctive handling and quick follow-up shot capability that lever guns are known for.

So far, so good. Then we see what this new paragon of balance and innovation looks like:

As Reader Mike S. (who sent me the link, thankee) says:

Just give me a threaded muzzle and leave the blue steel and walnut alone!

Can’t much argue with that. But that wouldn’t make the SPD HUSH more popular with the Tacticool Set, would it? And that means no additional rifle sales.

Still, I can’t fault Henry for doing this kind of thing — from a marketing perspective. But let me tell you: if they start discontinuing any of their existing models in favor of this new flavor-of-the-month, they deserve everything they get.

You see Henry already makes a wood ‘n steel that’s ready for a suppressor: