Update no.1240

 Update from the Heartland

No.1240

13.10.25 – 19.10.25

Blog version:  http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/

 

To all,

 

At 18:23 [S] CDT, on Monday, 13.October.2025, SpaceX launched its IFT-11 experimental super heavy lift booster and the Starship second stage into sub-orbital flight from their Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas. All phases on the ascent, boost-back to booster splash down in the Gulf of Mexico, and the in-space tasks were completed successfully. Starship opened its payload bay door and deployed eight Starlink simulator mini satellites, completed its vacuum relight of a raptor engine, and reentry to splashdown in the Eastern Indian Ocean near Northwest Australia. There appeared to be at least one burn through on the underside along the centerline and midway down the body that was presumably initiated at the site of an intentionally removed thermal protection tile. Despite the thermal damage to the vehicle, it performed as designed and intended, making a wide turn in flight to evaluate maneuverability during approach and then a controlled landing in the northeastern Indian Ocean. After a successful splashdown, presumably the Flight Termination System was activated to destroy the craft.

The existing Starlink network of communications satellites provided incredible images from multiple on-board cameras of each of the Starship’s experimental activities. Watching the plasma field evolve during reentry was absolutely fascinating.

The IFT-11 launch was the last of the version two configuration to be launched. Version 3 will have numerous changes moving the vehicle closer to the orbital and interplanetary configuration. In the next series, we will see more orbital work like on-orbit refueling and the anticipated tower catch of the Starship to achieve near total reusability of the design.

 

Earlier on Monday, 13.October.2025, the living hostages remaining in Gaza held by Hamas since 7.October.2023, were finally released in the first phase of what will hopefully become a ceasefire and eventually a lasting and bountiful peace in the Middle East. Of course, the orange one claims he has solved world peace and thus deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.

While he was in Israel, no name spoke to the Knesset, repeating his exaggerations and outlandish claims. Among all that, he called for the president of Israel to pardon Prime Minister Netanyahu for his crimes. Can anyone imagine such a thing, pardon a sitting political leader for crimes he has committed.

Gloating is such an unattractive trait, and yet it is a very common facet with the orange one. So revel in the exaggerations and embellishments of our current employee who is our president.  This will not last forever.

I want to see the ceasefire agreement become a lasting peace for the region, but just in my lifetime, we have seen so many of these ceasefires, all of which ultimately did not last. There is always hope until there isn’t.

 

It is rather rich that [the person who shall no longer be named; AKA no name, the orange one, the Felon, et al] has pushed the Attorney General to indict John Bolton, who was charged with mishandling classified material. To my knowledge, Bolton was not in possession of any classified materials. On the other hand, no name’s Mar-a-Lago residence was discovered to have a trove of classified material [1074, 1084, 1124/5]. And, worse, no name repeatedly resisted the government’s efforts to reclaim the government’s documents (not his). No name’s violations were far more egregious than what Bolton is accused of. That said, if anyone violates the Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) [PL 96-456; 94 Stat. 2025] [548]. Bolton is charged with 18 counts of violating various laws:

-- Transmission of National Defense Information, 18 U.S.C. § 793(d) {Espionage Act of 1917 [PL 65-I-024; 40 Stat. 217; 15.6.1917]}

-- Retention of National Defense Information, 18 U.S.C. § 793(e) {Crimes and Criminal Procedure [PL 80-772; 62 Stat. 683; 25.6.1948]}

-- Forfeiture under various laws including of all things the Controlled Substances Act [PL 91-513; 84 Stat. 1236 (84 Stat. 1242)].

From the president to John Bolton to John Q. Citizen, they should be prosecuted and pay the price for violations of our national security. When I handled classified material back in the day, I was careful, perhaps overly cautious, to ensure that material was protected and properly secured. I hold no sympathy or forbearance for anyone from the president to a private whom exposes classified material to disclosure for any reason—full stop!

 

Comments and contributions from Update no.1239:

Comment to the Blog:

“If we cut through the noise, immigration hasn’t been a major factor in crime, employment, or much of anything. Attacks on minorities (immigrants, in this case) are a common distraction in authoritarian regimes. The border issue is guns southbound paying for drugs northbound.

“Most of the GOP Congressional maneuvers are meant to delay or distract from justice for Epstein’s victims. (Some Democrats are surely also among the predators.) Also, I have seen a picture that purports to be a younger Bondi in Epstein’s company, and I’d already noticed a visible resemblance among Bondi, Karoline Leavitt, Ivanka, and the victims. Other Felon targets, such as Stormy Daniels and E. Jean Carroll, fit the same picture. Curious.

“I’d like to remind Democrats that to prevail in the midterms, they must first reach November 2026 with voting and other civil rights intact. Democrats need to take to the streets and the courts, as well as campaigning on real issues, as Mamdani and other progressives do. Sitting in DC whining won’t help any more than it ever has since 1992.”

My response to the Blog:

Only the orange one and his MAGAts have tried to equate immigration and crime. I cannot subscribe to your attributing the border issue to guns and drugs; that is an unacceptable generalization. No nation should be open to uncontrolled migration for any reason, period. We need rules and an ordered process. The Founders and Framers set down those rules early in our history with the Naturalization Act of 1790 [PL 1-II-003; 1 Stat. 103] [556]—the third law passed by the first Congress. We need rules for entry, and in today’s mobile world, we must control that entry process. Where I quibble with the current administration is in the excessively aggressive methods they are using at the border inward.

Well now, you do raise a curious twist on the Epstein affair. The journey toward the truth continues.

I can agree with your counsel to Democrats for next year’s elections. We shall see if they heed your advice. I expect the mid-terms to bring out the potential candidates for 2028. I eagerly await something.

 . . . Round two:

“I'll note that undocumented immigrants are an important asset to several industries in the USA. Maybe that's the ‘problem’ with the border. Any way I can see it, immigration's not as important as the MAGAts make it.

“The resemblance between current officials and past victims might imply a honey trap still playing out.

“Candidates in special elections and Zohran Mamdani are examples of how to run on progressive issues and win.”

 . . . my response to round two:

There is no question that we need temporary migrants for important labor tasks. When my father was alive and running our vineyard, he needed a large number of temporary laborers to harvest the grapes and produce raisins. I do not understand why we do not have a means of easily dealing with and tracking temporary labor. From my perspective, it appears the GOP/MAGAts do not want to solve the immigration issue; they want an issue that enables them to militarize our cities and violate the Constitution.

Now, there is an interesting thought. I have seen no evidence.

I suppose so. Mamdani is an accomplished speaker. His politics are a little too far to the left for me. I look forward to his moderation when the realities of representative governance sets in.

 . . . Round three:

“My question is whether immigration is an issue worthy of more energy than climate change, gun deaths, or feeding and housing our people. People are misled by speeches and other P.R.

“If we wait for proof of a crime, it's already been committed.

“Mamdani's pretty much my kind of leader. I doubt he'll accomplish all of his goals (nobody does in a democracy), but that's exactly the direction I want to go. And he's a bit more than a good speaker; he's united many of the non-wealthy in the city, and that takes a whole collection of skills.”

 . . . my response to round three:

We need to work on them all at the same time. They are all too important for sequential effort.

That is our system.

He is indeed a good speaker. Clear, concise, and heaven above, complete cogent sentences. Quite so. The citizens will vote for who they want to run the city. In a few more weeks, the tally will tell us the conclusion.

 . . . Round four:

“It’s necessary to set priorities in any enterprise, from making breakfast to operating a major nation. Resources are always limited. I see immigration as a lower priority.

“My point is that if we passively wait for someone to prove an operation is underway, we’re victims.

“You seem very interested in people’s speech-making ability. It matters, but so do other traits and skills.”

 . . . my response to round four:

If we had a workable immigration system, I would agree with you. We bear witness to the abuses of a broken system by a malevolent Executive. The militarization of American society by no name is a grotesque abuse we must not tolerate.

I am not arguing your point. I agree. However, we need more than a conspiracy theory to act. We need probable cause. At present, I do not see probable cause in that segment of the Epstein Affair to which you refer.

Speech is the means to influence citizens, voters, and others. So yes, I am very interested in speech, but that does not mean speech is exclusive to all other traits. For example, I place considerable weight on humility and respect for others. Yes, other traits matter a lot as well. No argument.

 . . . Round five:

“Show me evidence that immigrants have been doing more harm than homelessness, corruption, or climate change.

“Epstein’s misdeeds are not a conspiracy theory. We have criminal convictions, dozens of outspoken survivors, and mountains of supporting evidence. The specific possibility of a honey trap to control the pedophiles warrants investigation. There’s no other rational basis for the operation to exist.

“I also value the traits you mentioned, but in a political setting, policy insight and coalition building also count, and those are the skills Mamdani has shown. So have other progressives winning in ‘red’ states.”

 . . . my response to round five:

There is no such evidence that I am aware of. However, that does not alter the fact that individuals are coming into this country without an invitation. They have not been vetted. We do not know who they are or what value they may be to the United States. Immigration is not about harm; it is about contribution to the good of the nation.

We were talking about good looking young women being given cushy jobs in the administration as a form of compensation for being an object in the Epstein affair. There is no question of Epstein’s guilt.

I sure hope so. We shall see. There is always hope, until there isn’t.

 . . . Round six:

“As a national priority, no. Immigration isn’t there.

“The problems about the “cushy jobs” are that most of them are important to the nation and also the people could be operatives, particularly Bondi.”

 . . . my response to round six:

I do not agree. Immigration control is an essential element of sovereignty. It most certainly is a national priority, especially given the dysfunctional state of our immigration system.

Of course, they could be. Remember an essential precept of our system of governance and jurisprudence—innocent until proven guilty.

 

Another contribution:

“Well said, Cap and your correspondent, 100%!

“Now, let's brace ourselves for the news of the first Nobel Peace Prize ever awarded to a convicted felon, unrepentant male chauvinist, and one way deal maker.

“Plant and fence your own garden soon, folks, and keep your powder dry. It's gonna get ugly.”

My reply:

I cannot imagine the Nobel Peace Prize Committee ever awarding their prize to the orange one for myriad reasons. You noted only a few detractors the man carries. He can yell and scream all he wants. I do not think the committee will be swayed by no name’s antics. That Felon has never been what he has tried to get people to believe, thus my label of him as a conman and snake-oil salesman.

Wise counsel! It is going to get much uglier before we can hope to reach those ‘sun-lit uplands.’

My very best wishes to all.  Take care of yourselves and each other.

Cheers,

Cap                  :-)