Make Smoot Hawley Again

[accelafine]

Is your name Charles, by any chance?

[FlashDangerpants]

As the winter nights draw in, news breaks that Trump has now officially cancelled the next set of GDP figures covering Q3 2025, a period of federal shutdown, trade imbalances worsened by trade wars, growing national debt, falling tax receipts and continuing price rises in the face of faltering job creation. One can only surmise the hidden numbers were negative.

So it is time to consider more frugal money saving tips to help our American chums through this dark winter of the soul. Good news, Philbert78943549873w4523 has been at it again. His latest poverty enhancement is to run one Windows computer into ... 3 Windows computers. None of that funny stuff with Ubuntu or Arch for this crusty relic, just 3 completely properly licensed copies of Windows for some reason...

My Internet computer is a triple boot system.

One system is this one, Windows 10 22H2. This is my main internet connection. I can turn VPN on or off. It is a good idea to set your maximum cpu usage on the internet computer to 99%, this will keep turbo mode off, increase speed, decrease temp in case someone tries to max your puter out.

The second is Windows 11 21H2. This is my VPN internet connection. I make a point of always turning VPN on. I am not a registered user on any site on this computer.
The third is Windows 11 25H2. I do not install any programs on this system, nor do I modify it in any way. It is for emergencies. Always available.

I only back up this system for complete restore. I use the Windows back up and I back it up to the larger drive on this system. I also use the Windows back up for swapping out the boot drive on my other computers, it works without flaw. I used it last week to swap out the NMVe on my primary work computer. The original was down to about 65 percent good, it is now back up to 100.

I use EasyBCD, it is a free program. You can fuck up with it, I did, I deleted the boot record, just to see if I could use the restore tools to fix it, and I did.
I make a point of buying a good low end computer for the internet, they do not cost much, and they are easy to fix.

My Home Network is not connected to this computer. This computer is air gapped for security.

All of the windows systems are up to date.
Basically, I use the Net for a library and I contribute to that library. A very simple life.

How do you set up your computer/s ?

You go Filbbert34534643t4565474, save your pennies, lead the way towards a cost efficient future for all.

[accelafine]

I don't know why people obsess over GDP. It's a poor indicator of standard of living. The US has the highest GDP in the world, with millions of homeless and a health care system that is out of reach for most ordinary people. Mass immigration can also increase GDP--which is why politicians love it so much. It doesn't take into account all the social costs that come with it.

[FlashDangerpants]

As the NY Fed confirms what anybody with an education already knew - that American tariffs are paid for by Americans not foreigners. And the United States Supreme Court rules that presidential authority doesn't extend to massive random "emergency" powers of taxation... The big orange loon has sadly responded by switching to section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act to impose new tariffs.

In further good news for those who enjoy frugal sports and low cost dinners amidst a general background of economic turmoil, US GDP fourth quarter numbers are horrible. US inflation is way above targets with personal consumption expenditures price index up by 3% in December and 2025 US jobs reports received another giant downward revision. An increasing number of analysts are now predicting stagflation for the US, and possibly global economies as a result of all this silliness.

So while we wait for filpot 8675309 to return to the recently reinflated forum and share more of those desperate poverty recipes that got him and his children through the last Great Depression... here's some top tips from an achingly positive blog called "Yes and Yes" on the topic of free stuff to do when you are broke...

...
4. Have a picnic (indoors if necessary)
Food tastes better when it’s eaten outside, on a blanket, in the company of ants. Or in the arboretum. Pack up your favorite nibbles and head somewhere lovely and green – here are some great ideas for easy, delicious picnic food.

...
6. Host a clothing swap
Invite your favorite ladies to your place, bringing over the clothes and accessories that they’re no longer feeling to trade with each other. Borrow a few full length mirrors, put on some RuPaul, throw together some cheap appetizers and you’ve got a super cheap, really fun party.
...

12. Karaoke
I looooove karaoke. Largely because I’m (erroneously) convinced that I can rock ‘Heart of Glass’ like no other. If you’re too shy to take part, at least you can be entertained by the group of ladies yelling out ‘I Will Survive’ or the fifteen dudes who are going to sing that song about having friends in low places. Here are 10 karaoke songs for bad singers.

Sadly for lovers of bad karaoke, the site linked to is defunct, probably a victim of increasingly dire economic circumstance. Never mind, you can write and host your own blog for virtually nothing. Perhaps we can explore that option when Trump bombs Iran, the Hormuz Straits get closed down, and oil prices soar. I always like to end the post with something to look forward to.

[FlashDangerpants]

The Straits of Hormuz have indeed now pretty much closed, so Oil and Gas prices are spiralling, soon we we can all join in the global phenomenon of Trumpoverty. Hooray.

How should we best celebrate our newly impecunious situation? The answer comes of course from legendary roadkill gourmand and Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert Brainworm Kennedy Jr. Who recently reminded us that being broke is really just an opportunity to eat more offal.

So today's recipe combines minced liver with stale bread in a thin lukewarm Central European broth, mmm mmmm mmmm.

Leberknödelsuppe (Liver dumpling soup)
https://www.quick-german-recipes.com/li ... lings.html

Ingredients:

• ½ pound (227 grams) calf or beef liver

• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter

• 1 small onion

• 2 tablespoons (8 grams) chopped fresh parsley, plus more to garnish

• ¼ teaspoon (0.1 grams) marjoram

• ¼ teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt

• freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 1 cup (150 grams) breadcrumbs, plus more if needed

• 2 large eggs

• 6 cups (1.4 liters) well seasoned beef broth

Instructions:

• Place the liver, butter, onion, parsley, and seasonings in the bowl of a food processor, and process until smooth.

• Add the breadcrumbs and eggs and process until well mixed.

• Form the dumplings, adding a bit more breadcrumbs as needed to help hold them together.

• Bring the broth to a boil. Add the dumplings, reduce the heat, and simmer for about 20 minutes. The dumplings should be floating when they’re done.

• Serve the soup garnished with fresh parsley.

Mouth watering!