The Off Topic Topic

[Richard Hakluyt]

For all that beef and pork, makes sense.

[mongers]

Shell detonated over California highway during Marine exercise, officials say
The mishap sent shrapnel toward Interstate 5 and California Highway Patrol officers who were part of Vice President JD Vance's protective detail, officials said.
October 20, 2025 at 1:15 p.m. EDT1 minute ago





Signs warn drivers on Interstate 8 approaching Interstate 5 of "live weapons over freeway" in San Diego on Saturday. (Patrick Fallon/AFP/Getty Images)
By Kelly Kasulis Cho
and 
Kyle Rempfer
An artillery shell detonated prematurely during a U.S. Marine Corps ceremony in California over the weekend, sending shrapnel toward Interstate 5 and California Highway Patrol officers who were part of Vice President JD Vance's protective detail for the live-fire exercise, the California Highway Patrol said Sunday.

Kinda mad.

[crazy canuck]

I just learned that Iowa produces more wheat than all of Canada.

Didn't seem right so did some quick googling. According to Statista Iowa isn't a top ten producer, so isn't listed, but the 10th state produced 32 million bushels in 2024, so Iowa would have to have produced less than that. Can't find stats for Canadian wheat in bushels but Cereals Canada says we produced 35 million tones which at 1 bushel per 0.0272 tonnes gives roughly 1.29 billion bushels. So just a *little* bit more than Iowa


Usual caveat about Google and not vetting so my data might be wrong

Turns out some guy on a podcast made the claim. If Yi had thought about it he may have wondered where the farmland would be found that is not already used to grow corn, to outproduce Canadian wheat farmers.

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

Kinda mad.

It was closed at the time, since there was at least one adult in the room, but still ridiculous.

[Tonitrus]

Mostly animal feed.

And subsidized ethanol.

[Josquius]

Being shared around social media today......
https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/private-tutor-london-england-oxfordshire-2256768

Private Tutor - London, England
Tutors International logo
Tutors International

Oxfordshire

£180,000 per year
New
Salary:
£180,000 per annum
Job type:
Full Time, Fixed Term
Start date:
01 December 2025
Apply by:
16 November 2025
Job overview
A family based in north London seeks an exceptional and experienced Tutor to guide their youngest child on his first steps toward becoming an English gentleman.

This is a truly unique position working with a one-year-old child. Given that there are clear academic intentions behind the role, it should be considered distinct from that of a nanny, and applications from nannies will not be considered as the family have this element of the child's care already covered. Although formal classroom learning would be inappropriate at this stage, the position calls for an Early Years specialist—classified here as a Tutor, for want of a better word—dedicated to creating a quintessentially English, culturally enriching environment. The aim is to foster early intellectual curiosity and development through thoughtfully designed, age-appropriate activities and experiences.

The role centres on immersing the child in British culture, values, and subtleties before any cultural bias takes hold. It seeks to harness a one-year-old's innate curiosity and capacity for absorption, ensuring that what is learned is of the highest quality. An Early Years specialist Tutor is best placed to design and implement this intentional, bi-cultural development plan.

The Student
The child, who is just one, is in an important stage of early development. He comes from a multilingual family and his parents are looking to cultivate a truly bicultural child. Having started at age 5 with this child's older brother, they felt that even this was too late to achieve their goal, hence their search for a tutor now. At this stage the boy is too young to have developed any cultural bias, which makes it the perfect time to begin exposing him to the activities and knowledge which will set him on a course to dual culturalism. Like any 1-year-old, the child enjoys sensory play, music, and activities that involve imitating speech. He is already curious about his world and experimenting with proto-speech. He is a typical little boy for his age – into everything and already learning at an astonishing rate.

Role of the Tutor
Between them, the family can provide all the elements which will comprise the boy's domestic cultural education, but they are searching for a tutor to provide a comprehensive British cultural environment. Their ideal Tutor will be someone well educated, with an extensive vocabulary, and who speaks with Received Pronunciation. They will be Early Years trained, bright and engaging, and highly creative with the activities that they plan. This is a long-term role, continuing for several years, and the Tutor should be able to support a range of activities and learning strategies for this period of his life.

There is no expectation that the Tutor speaks any additional languages, but an understanding of language in general and language acquisition specifically might be helpful. While a second language will be looked upon favourably, given the number of languages he is already learning it is likely that this will be enough cognitive load for the young boy. Indeed, even bilingual children often start speaking later as they have twice the amount of information to process, so having a Tutor with the ability to support multilingual learning would be hugely beneficial.

At this age, music is often a key part of a child's education, and the Tutor must be comfortable incorporating regular musical activities that enhance the child's growth and expose him to classical music from Western composers. The Tutor should have reasonable music theory and be able to help the boy explore music and rhythm. As the years pass, the child should understand instruments and how different sounds are made, hopefully developing an interest in learning an instrument at an early age.

In time, the family hope their son will be accepted at a top-flight school such as Eton, St Paul's, Westminster or Harrow. It is important that boy's education, even at the Early Years stage, starts to prepare him for this kind of life. He should be exposed to a wide range of quintessentially British experiences to help hone his habits, outlooks, tastes and sporting preferences. Living in London. There is no reason why the boy can't visit Lord's, Wimbledon and Twickenham for example, and be taught age-appropriate understanding of cricket, tennis, rugby and other sports such as equestrianism (including polo) and rowing. The Thames has many rowing clubs which could be visited on a formal or informal basis, helping to build the boy's awareness of these traditional sports and their place in society. The Tutor may also want to help the boy try some of these sports, perhaps attending pony club or junior tennis lessons when the time is right.

Museums, art galleries and theatre visits could all be incorporated into his education, making learning a by-product of a day's rich activities. Although only one year old, the Tutor can use venues like these – and even simple venues such as the local park, café or library – as starting points for learning colours, numbers, letters, stories, flavours and music. The boy should become very comfortable in these sorts of places, setting the foundation for more targeted learning as he grows.

The child is at a critical stage in his development, filled with curiosity and an eagerness to explore. As such, the family expects the Tutor to offer more than conventional academic support. They are looking for an adaptable, nurturing, and culturally enriching individual who can engage their son actively and provide a stimulating learning environment. The Tutor must foster a supportive atmosphere that focuses on early language learning, hand-eye coordination, development of fine motor skills and good manners, before moving on to encourage creativity, problem-solving, and cultural awareness as the boy develops.

Tutor Background
The successful applicant will be someone very special. A consummate professional with several years of elite experience, the Tutor will be someone qualified to support the educational and developmental needs of children from ultra-high-net-worth and royal families. He or she will likely have attended the best schools and universities in England. They must be able to combine pedagogical expertise with the discretion and cultural sensitivity required for high-profile households.

Previous positions must have included roles within private residences, embassies, or royal households, working with young children to deliver bespoke, holistic learning programmes rooted in the EYFS and enhanced with elements of Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and emotional intelligence frameworks.
With a demonstrable track record in supporting school readiness, early literacy, numeracy, and bilingual development, the Tutor must also be experienced in developing tailored curriculums, managing structured daily routines, and liaising with other household staff to ensure continuity of care and learning. In addition, he or she must have received training in paediatric first aid.

Culturally astute, well-travelled, and fluent in English, the right candidate will have a natural understanding of the importance of confidentiality, flexibility, and professional boundaries in VIP households. They will have experience with travel tutoring, are comfortable with security protocols, and are accustomed to adapting to dynamic family schedules across multiple residences.

Known for their warm yet composed presence, the Tutor must be able to foster a nurturing, engaging environment where young children thrive – academically, emotionally, and socially.

Accommodation and Travel
This role is live-out, and no car is provided. There is parking at the family home, and as the nearest tube station is a 15-minute walk away, it may be best if the Tutor brings their own car. The family will provide a car and driver for excursions.

The successful candidate will offer more than the minimum requirements of this position and must have been raised in a socially appropriate background. They will be excellent practitioners and good role models: educated and polished, with superb manners and personal values.

The Tutor must be a fit, healthy and a non-smoker – active and energetic with a love for the outdoors.

Hours and Holidays
While the boy is so young, it is expected that the Tutor will work between the hours of 10 and 3, with preparation time in addition. As the boy grows, these hours will expand so that more complicated activities and longer excursions can be undertaken. The Tutor should not go too far too fast – the boy is very young for any formal tuition, and a more explorative Montessori style will likely be more appropriate, allowing him to develop his own interests through having been exposed to a wealth of different activities.

The Tutor will work primarily during weekdays but should be prepared to work occasional weekends as the child grows. Initially, the role is expected to remain in London, but the Tutor should be prepared for occasional travel both as the child becomes more aware of his world.

The Tutor is entitled to two consecutive days off per week.

The Tutor will have a minimum of four weeks off per annum, at times agreed convenient to the Client. They must be flexible regarding any changes in schedule and adapt accordingly. The Client will strive to give up to two weeks' notice of any planned alterations.
 

Yes. Sounds about right for London.

[Valmy]

Damn. I would think I would be smart enough to tutor a one year old but I am not an English gentleman so probably not qualified to help raise one.

But how hard can it be to teach binge drinking?

[Tonitrus]

The contradictions are amusing of course.  "Bi-cultural, but mostly British".

[grumbler]

Kinda mad.

It was closed at the time, since there was at least one adult in the room, but still ridiculous.

Artillery at Pendleton has been firing over the highway since the highway was built between the two halves of the range. When it was decided that the route of the highway was so important that it was worth the almost-insignificant risk, this became inevitable and has happened before.

[crazy canuck]

I drove that stretch of highway in the past, and heard the boom of the guns. There are lot of signs warning drivers what they are driving through - so it was actually kind of cool.