A Walk Through the Mind

DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) has made the news recently slashing spending in the US Gov't, and most recently, the shutting down of USAID for receipts for things that the current administartion does not feel aligns with our country's stated mission. Was it the appropriate thing to do? What can we look at in the past to see if things can be effectively utilized and not squandered?

Executive Producers:

Dame Slamy

Kyle of the "Pocket Parley" and "Light Tickle" podcasts

https://justthenews.com/government/congress/blackburn-drafts-doge-act-legislation-will-limit-federal-agencies

https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/2/issues/jobs-and-economy/blackburn-introduces-doge-acts-to-make-federal-government-more-efficient-and-slash-wasteful-spending

Commission to Relocate the Federal Bureaucracy Act:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/202/text

https://justthenews.com/government/congress/senate-report-unveils-only-six-percent-federal-employees-work-person

https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/few-federal-employees-work-regularly-office-wasting-taxpayer-dollars

https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2025-01/011525_Telework%20Staff%20Report_FINAL.pdf

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/us/politics/usaid-funding-trump-fact-check.html

https://thenationaldesk.com/news/americas-news-now/list-insane-priorities-of-usaid-spending-during-biden-administration-foreign-assistance-president-donald-trump-karoline-leavitt-condoms-in-gaza-elon-musk-department-of-government-efficiency

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/08/usaid-trump-musk-doge-00203191

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/09/world/global-war-against-aids-runs-short-of-vital-weapon-donated-condoms.html

https://crisismagazine.com/vault/dirty-little-secret-why-condoms-will-never-stop-aids-in-africa

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/2-decades-ago-senators-probe-usaid-funding-led-government-transparency-reform

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14355251/shocking-ways-usaid-spent-money.html

https://dotchuoinon.com/2024/12/24/swapping-gas-for-batteries/

https://selex.vn/en/swapping-gas-for-batteries/

https://www.bbc.com/mediaaction/documents/bbc-media-action-impact-report-2023-24.pdf

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/02/even_a_short_list_of_how_usaid_spent_our_money_is_outrageous.html

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/usaid-was-spending-268-million-fund-6000-approved/

USAID commits to reducing its carbon footprint and improving its operational sustainability:

https://medium.com/usaid-2030/doing-our-part-54ac6204a32

https://www.usaspending.gov/explorer/agency

https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/1888975907567903075

https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/1888612732230090863

https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/1888438050231103559

USAID Funding Summary FY 2023:

https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/agency-for-international-development?fy=2023

USAID Funding Summary FY 2024:

https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/agency-for-international-development?fy=2024

USAID Funding Summary FY 2025:

https://www.usaspending.gov/agency/agency-for-international-development?fy=2025

https://2017-2020.usaid.gov/climate/publications

https://datarepublican.com/award_search/

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME (Build Back Better in Iraq):

https://www.usaspending.gov/award/ASST_NON_72065621IO00001_7200

https://apnews.com/article/usaid-foreign-aid-freeze-international-development-325c807f4f3930adbaa5c42dfef69c69

https://www.usaidstopwork.com/

https://www.globalaidfreeze.com/

NGOs and money laundering:

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2015/551323/EPRS_BRI(2015)551323_EN.pdf

https://www.fatf-gafi.org/content/dam/fatf-gafi/guidance/BPP-combating-abuse-non-profit-organisations.pdf

https://www.sanctions.io/blog/aml-considerations-for-ngos

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/revealed-the-charities-making-billions-off-of-the-border-crisis/ar-BB1mnIQi

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-politicians-use-nonprofits-hide-dark-money

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

From the research I did for the last episode, Price at the Pump, I did a deeper dive into the additives we add into fuel, mostly revolving around the effects, and countering effects, of the addition of ethanol to our fuel.

Executive Producers:

LadyGetOverIt

Steve E

Daniel W

Dame Slamy

https://en.demotor.net/heat-engine/fuel/gasoline/physical-and-chemical-properties

https://thepetrosolutions.com/properties-of-gasoline-fuel/

https://classicmotorsports.com/articles/fuel-facts-why-there-ethanol-our-gasoline/

https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2014/january/three-ethanol-myths-clarified

https://www.bellperformance.com/blog/4-things-you-need-to-know-about-ethanol-fuel

Is Non-Ethanol Gasoline Really Better? See the PROOF!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEf9Fdvx_Sc

Is HEET better than SEafoam for Water in Fuel? Let's find out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC4hlcZz5DM

Is Techron better than Seafoam? Let's see the proof!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPdz6BMj8EA

THIS Is The TRUTH About Diesel Additives...:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_iGOXq7DCM

Many Brands Tested - Which Ones Worked after 19 Months?:

[Watch for gel in fuel bowls. Starting around 15 minutes; 26 minutes in, fuel bowl with no gel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWL7p0Pnb8Y&t=60s

Motor Oil & Fuel Additives: Just a WASTE of MONEY?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAGT5inQScE

Seafoam--can't believe what it did to my engine episode 6--Seafoam vs ATF!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT0TTGO2CUY

Shell V-Power NiTRO+ vs Cheap Gasoline. Is it better? Let's find out!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uIsbRaArvk

Klean Strip Lacquer Thinner MSDS:

https://content.interlinebrands.com/product/document/10159/3585264_SDS_E.pdf

Seafoam MSDS:

https://seafoamworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Sea-Foam-Motor-Treatment-SDS-v20161205-ENG.pdf

HEET MSDS:

https://sds.fmpco.com/images/fmp_msds/584402_HEET_Gas_Line_AF.pdf

Minwax Clear Brushing Lacquer MSDS:

https://www.msdsdigital.com/system/files/027426155008_MSDS_English.pdf

Lucas Oil Fuel Treatment MSDS:

https://www.lucasoil.com/pdf/SDS_Lucas-Fuel-Treatment.pdf

https://www.goldeagle.com/tips-tools/what-are-the-effects-of-ethanol-in-gasoline-and-how-to-protect-your-engines-against-it/

**EASY** Lacquer Thinner FIX P0420 Code Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py0D8Gu6jiQ

SURPRISING Result | Lacquer Thinner vs Cataclean O-Ring Test Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w980ssnID0

https://neutrium.net/articles/properties/specific-energy-and-energy-density-of-fuels/

https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/RoxanneGarcia.shtml

https://transportgeography.org/contents/chapter4/transportation-and-energy/combustibles-energy-content/

Alternative Fuels Data Center - Fuel Properties Comparison

https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/fuel_comparison_chart.pdf

https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/ethanol_basics.pdf

Enertech Diesel Water:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3py2g7O2C70

Products that removes water from gas tanks:

(This was the original video I wanted to find to start this whole rabit hole off)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElbgPhujl_M

IS alsohol soluble with water PART 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7CLalKVIXE

Fuel Treatment Results Best Phase Separation & Water Control In Gasoline Powered Carbureted Engines:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvXB8OXac9o

https://riddhisiddhichemicals.com/butyl-cellosolve/

How Solubility and Dissolving Work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGkmGQ89_SE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol

https://petroclear.com/resources/dont-be-phased.php

https://www.southeastpetro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Veeder-Root-Ethanol-Water-Phase-Separation-Facts.pdf

https://enertechlabs.com/phase-separation-in-ethanol-blended-gasoline/

https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/waterphs.pdf

What Is Phase Separation?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--HUhYrFLyo

Storage and Temperature Stability of Emulsified Biodiesel–Diesel Blends:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsomega.2c04711

Diesel Engine Fuel and Fuel Emulsion Influence on Diesel Engine Performance and Emission:

https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1146232

https://www.billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

From a passing conversation with the coworker about the price of gas, I have decided to dig in, a bit, into the intricacies of why it is what it is.

Executive Producers:

Dame Slamy

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/motorfuel/aboutmf.cfm

https://www.api.org/oil-and-natural-gas/energy-primers/gas-prices-explained

https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/604688/how-gas-prices-are-determined

https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/state-tax/603259/states-with-the-highest-gas-taxes

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/gasoline/factors-affecting-gasoline-prices.php

https://www.dieselplace.com/threads/lubricity-additive-study-results.177728/

https://lendstart.com/blog/gas-stations-make-a-lot-of-money-but-how-much-do-they-actually-make/

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/economics-gas-station-rcna19516

https://dor.wa.gov/taxes-rates/tax-incentives/deductions/motor-vehicle-fuel-tax-rates

https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/motor-fuel-taxes.html

https://www.tn.gov/tdot/finance/gas-tax1.html

https://www.driveelectrictn.org/what-tennessee-drivers-pay-in-state-gas-tax-state-ev-registration-fees/

https://www.salestaxhandbook.com/tennessee/gasoline-fuel

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/excisetax.asp

Current price of crude:

https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/oil-price?type=wtitarget%3D&op=1

US Energy Information Admin; Petroleum and Other Liquids:

https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/

https://fastercapital.com/content/Price-per-flowing-barrel--Understanding-the-role-of-refining-costs.html

https://www.resilience.org/stories/2020-05-28/shutting-down-oil-wells-a-risky-and-expensive-option/

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=PET&s=8_NA_8O0_NUS_C&f=A

https://www.cstoredive.com/news/buc-ees-advertising-how-much-it-pays-its-staff-labor-wages/688700/

https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/publications/the-1973-oil-crisis-three-crises-in-one-and-the-lessons-for-today/

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a20970380/how-leaded-gas-came-to-be-and-why-we-dont-miss-it/

https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/11/why-lead-used-to-be-added-to-gasoline/

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shaleoil.asp

https://thepetrosolutions.com/shale-oil-production-uses-composition-advanatges/

Crude oil cracking in deep reservoirs: A review of the controlling factors and estimation methods:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1995822623000730

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/oil-embargo

Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/senate-bill/1570/text

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Petroleum_Allocation_Act

https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/executive-order-12287-decontrol-crude-oil-and-refined-petroleum-products

https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/29/us/president-abolishes-last-price-controls-on-us-produced-oil.html

https://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/25/business/lifting-of-gasoline-controls-changing-sale-pattern.html

https://www.eba-net.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/3-Vol2_No1_1981_After_the_EPAA_What_Oil_Allocation_a.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumpjack

Oil Well Financial Analysis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC0zvefXfeQ

Maintenance on a 101 Year Old Oil Well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evmuD06nlT0

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

Get yourself a Podcasting #2

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

Apparently, I make bougie ramen, and it all started from looking at the back of the packaging of regular ol' instant ramen noodles and my attempt to veer away from MSG in my ingredients. But it appears that MSG isn't as bad as it has been portrayed in the past.

Executive Producers:

LadyGetOverIt

Dame Slamy

Boolysteed

Øystein Berge of the "Mutton Mead and Music" podcast

https://foodinsight.org/msg-a-brief-history/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/monosodium-glutamate-msg-what-it-is-and-why-you-might-consider-avoiding-foods-that-contain-it

https://daily.jstor.org/tasty-story-msg/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate

https://msgdish.com/what-is-msg-and-is-it-made-from-seaweed/

https://news.colgate.edu/magazine/2019/02/06/the-strange-case-of-dr-ho-man-kwok/

Umami: A History of Monosodium Glutamate:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT-rI5kkv0I

MSG is neither terribly dangerous nor perfectly fine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-POAKKH5IM

How MSG is made - Ajinomoto commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gilL5Ly7QMk

Process of making AJI-NO-MOTO®:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaMmLNVgvRY

The Truth About MSG and Your Health:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERVRjAYBOp0

How YOU can MAKE MSG at HOME:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffdCrygPu5E

The seaoning I use in my ramen:

https://jacobsensalt.com/collections/jacobsen-co-seasonings/products/ramen-seasoning

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/blog/3914/types-of-asian-noodles.html

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

Get Yourself a New Podcast App!

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

I am giving up on New Year's Resolutions this year. They always seem to fall through, even with as easy of the one I made last year. This year, I am looking more towards filling out a Bingo card worth of accomplishments to see if I can achieve.

Executive Prodcuers:

Sir Sean of the Allegheny Valley

Dame Slamy

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

From the gift of a Christmas ornament to me, I decided to look a little bit into the Amanita Muscaria mushroom. A mushroom that is popular this time of year for decorations.

Executive Producers:

Nanopot

Steve E

Dame Slamy

https://inoculatetheworld.com/amanita-muscaria-christmas-legend-santa-claus-mushroom/

https://www.spores101.co/santa-claus-magic-mushrooms-and-the-psychedelic-origins-of-christmas

https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/how-a-christmas-tree-ornament-may-solve-the-mystery-to-santa-s-flying-reindeer-1.5710970

The Deceptive Mushroom: Accidental Amanita muscaria Poisoning:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7977045/

https://cisgenesis.com/health-and-wellness/amanita-muscaria-toxicity/

https://www.acslab.com/mushrooms/amanita-muscaria-history-toxicology

https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/13347487#13347487

https://www.audubon.org/news/spring-air-and-so-are-intoxicated-birds

It's been a busy two weeks during the holiday time of the year. I'd like to share some of the reflections I've had as I rediscover the season.

Executive Producers:

Dame Slamy

Kyle Pickens of the "Light Tickle" and "Pocket Parley" podcasts

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

It was Thanksgiving weekend, and I took a road trip. Here's my reflections on going up to see family as well as on my return trip. All from the Captain's Chair.

Executive Producer:

LadyGetOverIt

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

I have recently added a furry companion to my household, and it's been quite the experience going from an older dog that lived a lifetime with me, to beginning of a new one.

Executive Producers:

Steve E

Øystein Berge of the "Mutton, Mead, and Music" podcast

Dame Slamy

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

https://modernpodcastapps.com/

This past month has been quite involved for me, and it feels like I am both on top of the world and down in the rut. I would like to share some of my experiences today.

Executive Producer:

Dame Slamy

https://billybon3s.com/

https://www.tabletopwoodworks.com/

https://modernpodcastapps.com/