#Axis secret technology

[zentarablog]

The Secret Labs of WWII: Innovations in Warfare

World War II was a conflict fought on battlefields, in the skies, and across the oceans. But it was also a war fought in the shadows, in laboratories hidden away from prying eyes, where brilliant minds raced against time to develop technologies that could turn the tide of the conflict. These “secret labs” were hotbeds of innovation, where scientists, engineers, and researchers worked on projects…

[fsaxjack]

I know I'm not the first person to say this, especially since I played the games because of Jacob Geller's video, but I really, really love BJ Blazkowicz as a character and the Machine Games Wolfenstein series as a whole.

Not a lot of devs would be brave enough to have a Polish-American Jew (albeit seemingly non-practicing) be their main character. They even make him a blond-haired-blue-eyed badass who any Nazi not in the know mistakes for a perfect Aryan - a demonstration of just how asinine Nazi beliefs really are.

He's a kind, gentle, loving man who adores his wife and daughters, he never lets his pride get in the way of the mission and goal, and he truly tries his best to be a true ally of the revolution, accepting orders without complaint or hesitation and showing respect to the diverse groups that the Nazis oppress. He's vulnerable, human, and gives everything he has to the causes he cares about.

But he extends none of this kindness to Nazis - unless someone's disavowed the ideology outright, he will gladly slit Aryan throats without a second thought. His sheer hatred of their ideology, of their footsoldiers, leaders and hate, wakes him from a vegetative state to slaughter an entire platoon of the Wehrmacht, perfectly ready to continue World War II where he left off!

On the same note, not a lot of devs would demonstrate that White America in the 40s-50s was more than willing to accept the Nazi worldview, even as their conquerors treat them like backwards hicks and turn minorities into second-class citizens at best and outright slaves or corpses at worse

For that matter, there's certainly something cathartic about having a black man thoroughly lecture BJ on how the American ideal he fights for has never been a real ideology, the high-minded ideals tainted from day 1 - the Nazis borrowed American frameworks for racial segregation and marginalization to construct their own atop its foundations after all.

The games aren't perfect - there's one particular death that feels a bit fridge-y, Max feels a bit mishandled at points (kinda evokes the idea of, uh, I've heard it described as r-word strength) even if I do appreciate that those familiar with his needs do what they can to respect his sensory needs and triggers, and something about a Jewish mystical secret society who devised crazy advanced technology doesn't sit fully right with me (it makes sense thematically - the Nazis steal that technology to help them conquer the world, basically acknowledging that the Nazis and their ridiculous ideology wasn't realistically going to win without a big leg-up, but it still feels a bit iffy). But it's a rare treat to have a game that acknowledges why the Nazis were and are truly reprehensible, idiotic, and doomed to fail in one way or another, and that despite their belief otherwise, white America is not so above those noxious beliefs...

Watch Jacob Geller's video - "Judaism and Whiteness in Wolfenstein." It's a fantastic breakdown of a lot of these ideas and outlines what Jacob - being a Jewish man himself - would like to see in the next game.

I have some similar feelings about the mod TNO: Last Days of Europe - I find the premise of the mod really interesting: basically, it gives the Axis plot armor right up until they win the war and bring the remaining powers to the negotiating table, and shows just how unstable they would be once that plot armor is taken away and the absurd ego projects of a bunch of self-important genocidal druggies start blowing up in their faces. It acknowledges the horrors of the Nazi regime, of their use of slavery and genocide and war profiteering/looting, and demonstrates that these are not sustainable in any way. But the inherent jingoism of the HOI4 foundation does undercut the message at times, IMO - I've seen people on Youtube fight tooth and nail to actually conquer the world during that one Germany path even though you're supposed to hit a wall where expanding any further will start a nuclear war, but not expanding any further will collapse your economy.

[dcdreamblog]

How did supervillains during the war years fight the mystery men of the time, and not end up either being treated as Axis agents by the governemt, even if they weren't, or drafted to some World War 2 version of Task Force X?

Simply put because at the time that sort of corruption simply might not have occurred to anybody. Which sounds naive, this is the US government we're talking about but there's two different ways to explain what I mean.

(A propaganda/wanted poster for the "Injustice Society" 13 of the most dangerous and high profile villains of the era) As far as being treated as Axis agents, well that's just not how that system worked. While the first generation of costumed villains were recognized as being especially dangerous compared to the regular criminal they were considered just that, more dangerous criminals. While truly bizarre villains like Solomon Grundy or Per Degaton probably rated a higher layer of security, neither was ever arrested and held by the legal system during the war itself. More "mundane" criminals like Icicle, Sportsmaster or The Fiddler were treated as those whose means and skills made them especially dangerous not some sort of existential threat. People still got arrested and charged with crimes during the war without being labeled as Axis sympathizers . The idea that anyone who committed a high profile offense would be marked as a Nazi would just be a tad outlandish. Even to this day supervillains are charged as regular criminals most of the time because that's what they are. The vast majority of supervillains are guilty of assault, robbery, murder, regular run of the mill crimes committed via superhuman ability. As for your more specific "what if" well...Task Force X as it was constructed is illegal as hell. Yes, yes I know. The government does illegal and shady stuff all the time but every moral horizon has to be crossed by someone at some point. The idea of taking convicted criminals and using some sort of violent threat to turn them into secret agents of some internal government affair is the sort of thing that sounds beyond the pale until someone actually does it. Not to mention the technology to control supervillains just didn't exist at the time. It's not like a remote controlled explosive was going to be miniaturized and then surgically implanted in the early 1940s and any handler that was sent along was going to become an instant sacrificial lamb for whatever sociopaths you sent out with them. The government had no way to coerce them and certainly had no reason to trust them. On top of that there were no specialized government organs for dealing with superhumans at that time. the DEO wouldn't be founded for decades and Amanda Waller herself had yet to be born, much less begun working her way up in politics. The only official service that could use superhuman agents and deploy them for military purposes would have been the military itself...or the All Star Squadron. Which would have IMMEDIATELY blown up in their faces. This isn't like the Creature Commandos, a tiny gaggle of superhuman assets that could be kept totally in the dark because the Squadron had no inkling they existed. Superheroes tend to be the sentimental sort. I should know, I work in a building surrounded by the crap none of them could throw away and that means most of them checked up on the people they put behind bars every so often. If supervillains started going missing en masse (which wouldn't have needed that many of them, there were only so many at the time) then the Squadron would have started sniffing around and the Squadron infamously ALWAYS found what it was looking for no matter how far down the military tried to bury it. More than one crooked army officer found themselves dragged into the waiting arms of the free press because the Squadron happened to trip over a tiny thread left out of place. The idea just didn't work. Which is probably because the idea STILL mostly doesn't work despite what the people taking kickbacks would tell you.

[tomorrowusa]

Elon Musk, Donald Trump's chief pompom boy, has been secretly communicating with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin for the last few years.

A report that Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been in regular contact over the past few years with President Vladimir Putin will not come as much of a surprise to officials in Ukraine—or to the frontline troops fighting a brutal war of attrition with Russian forces. In the few months after Putin’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the South African-born billionaire was hailed a hero by the country’s defenders as they used Musk’s Starlink satellite terminals to coordinate their military operations. Freely provided by Musk in a gesture of solidarity, the terminals gave Ukrainians a crucial battleground edge against the numerically superior Russian forces. Since then, however, relations between Musk and Ukrainian leaders have deteriorated significantly. The Wall Street Journal report on the regular contact between Musk and the Kremlin—the newspaper says Putin even asked Musk not to activate Starlink over Taiwan as a favor to China’s Xi Jinping—will only confirm suspicions in Ukraine that, if not yet a full-blown Russian asset, Musk is becoming a Russian ally. And Starlink is the key. The portable satellite terminals, allowing reliable and secure internet access, remain the backbone of Ukraine’s frontline communications—although the bill is now picked up by the Pentagon rather than Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk’s SpaceX. Increasingly, however, the Russians are using them too. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces are deploying thousands of the terminals in captured Ukrainian territory, closing the technology gap and enabling their grindingly slow and brutal offensive in the Donetsk region. Because of international sanctions, Starlink cannot sell its hardware in Russia and its satellite do not cover Russian territory. But the Russians appear to have a reliable supply of smuggled Starlink terminals through a third country, which its forces can then use in Ukraine.

Well, now we know how Putin obtained those Starlink terminals.

While Russia illicitly using Starlink in communications networks and drones is an alarming sign that they can access American technology to make their drones better, they might not become commonplace. Russian forces on the ground are in desperate need of stable communications and the military might prioritize giving them Starlink access over putting the hardware in a drone that will more than likely be shot down after a single use. Even if Starlink is put in some Shahed variants, it’s unlikely that every single one of the dozens of drones launched per month would have it. Even so, Russia’s use of Starlink to coordinate its forces and drones create new worries for Ukraine and SpaceX alike.

It's deeply troubling that somebody with close ties to America's space program should be playing footsie with one of America's enemies.

With Election Day 10 days away, what are YOU doing in real life to defeat the Trump-Musk-Putin Axis? You can inform low information voters, you can help people vote, and you can shoot down bullshit you hear being publicly spewed by MAGA cultists.

If you don't have a bone spur or something, see how you can help in the final stretch of the campaign.

Volunteer | Kamala Harris for President

[thevalleyisjolly]

no vacant stares (no time for me)

"Enough with the games," she said. "You are the rebel agent known as Axis. For years, you have coordinated an underground network to steal top-secret Imperial technology, provoke insurrection, and undermine the stability of the Empire. Do you deny it?" Dedra uncovers the rebel agent known as Axis.

Just in time before Arc 4 airs! I've been thinking about Dedra and Luthen as character mirrors for a while, so it was fun to write a hypothetical confrontation between the two (alternative title: Spy vs. Spy).

Featuring the interoffice politics of the ISB, Dedra and Luthen playing multidimensional psychological chess as only two sunless manipulators can, Supervisor Heert having a really bad time in general and forever, a bit of cathartic revenge, and the versatility of Kleya's eye-shadow palette.

[akira-the-ak47]

THE FOLLOWING FILES HAVE BEEN CLASSIFIED

TOP SECRET

BY ORDER OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

GENERAL NOTICE 001-Rēsh: In order to prevent knowledge of the administrators real identity from being leaked, All files concerning the nature of the Administrator, are protected by a memetic kill agent designed to immediately cause cardiac arrest in any nonauthorized personnel attempting to access the file. Revealing the true nature/natures of the Administrator.

WARNING:

ANY NON-AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ACCESSING THIS FILE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED THROUGH BERRYMAN-LANGFORD MEMETIC KILL AGENT. SCROLLING DOWN WITHOUT PROPER MEMETIC INOCULATION WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE CARDIAC ARREST FOLLOWED BY DEATH.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

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MEMETIC KILL AGENT ACTIVATED

CONTINUED LIFE SIGNS CONFIRMED

REMOVING SAFETY INTERLOCKS

Welcome, authorized personnel.

The Administrator — Profile

Full Name: Unknown (prefers "The Administrator")

Designation: Administrator 0

Codename: The consciousness

Nickname: The Observer Eternal

Species: Khaelethean

Apparent Age: Unknown (appears mid 20-40s)

Actual Age: Unknown (Estimated to be over 5 billion years)

Gender: Unkown (appears to be have no reproductive systems, no gender characteristics.)

Height: 13 ft (396,24 cm)

Weight: 12 tons

Eye Color: black & white

Skin Color: black & white

Status: Active (location classified)

Function: Original founder of the SCP Foundation; retains ultimate emergency authority

Clearance Level: Level 7

Origin: Confirmed to be from a higher-dimensional reality; R-Rēsh-TPTR-000/0 "Axis Prime"

Distinguishing Features:

Species Origin:

The term Khaelethean refers to a class of higher-dimensional humanoids that predate or exist adjacent to baseline human evolution.

Evidence suggests the Administrator’s species exists outside traditional linear time and space, possessing innate dimensional adaptation. The four-arm morphology may be standard for Paragenitors, or a selective adaptation for interaction with three-dimensional space.

History & Foundation Involvement:

The Administrator is believed to have founded the precursor to the SCP Foundation sometime between 10,000 BCE and 1800 CE, depending on the source document. Sightings and mentions of an anomalous four-armed figure advising secret societies, early monarchies, and global cults have been recorded throughout ancient history.

He is directly responsible for:

Drafting the first containment protocols

Establishing the O5 Council structure

Creating Containment Priority Codexes still in use.

According to Classified Memo A-001-A, he has only intervened 17 times in modern history — always during XK-class scenario threats or foundational schisms.

Abilities:

Hyperdimensional Awareness: Appears to perceive time non-linearly

Cognitohazard Immunity: Immune to all known memetic, infohazardous, and cognitohazardous anomalies

Teleportation/Phase-Walking: Observed appearing and disappearing without conventional technology

Omnilingualism: Communicates fluently in all known (and several extinct) languages

Thaumaturgic Resistance: Nullifies magical or reality-bending effects in close proximity

Protocol:

The Administrator is not to be engaged or questioned without unanimous O5 approval.

If encountered, all personnel are to stand at attention and refrain from initiating contact and contact the O5 council.

No attempt should be made to track, restrain, or test the Administrator under any circumstances.

The Administrator is must be contained in Alternative reality "The Place That Remembers"

_______

Thank you for reading, remember this isn't the cannon Administrator. This is the SCP: the third silence AU Administrator.

Authors Note:

I will probably add more in the future.

[squirrels-are-sleeping]

COUNTER/Weight 29: Three Conversations, Liveblog

There's been so much new music since we've set out from Counterweight, I'm so happy!

AUSTIN: … It is a mistake to think the graduate of the new stratus program is merely a weapons platform or some sort of fantasy pulled from the  neurovids. They are the embodiment of a new mode of being. In time, they’ll reveal not only the secrets of corporate labs, not only the workings of your holy divines, but the interiority of interiority itself.

Whoa whoa whoa, Austin Walker, you get back here and tell me some more about the state of scholarship on modes of being in the Golden Branch Sector! Where does Maryland September stand in relation to the ontological turn in science and technology studies? Is "Modes of Existence" by Bruno Latour still cited, *as it should be*? Please tell me this, it's very important.

Also, I assume Attar Rose is Ibex before Righteousness, that's cool.

KEITH: (typing and copying Austin) When my smartass mouth ruins the mission. ART: So we’ve just decided that Keith gets infinity XP, is that what we’re doing here? AUSTIN: This is the problem with this is, so often the case his smartass mouth, for whatever reason, ends up going into a roll he succeeds at, which means he probably won’t get experience from it.

I can already picture it. Mako: "I am actually the Divine Smoothness, it's weird that you haven't heard of me" NPC: "That tracks, let me tell you all my secrets"

KEITH: I want to be sort of grumpily doing a chore AUSTIN: You’re like, rearranging the food rations in the kitchen alphabetically, because Orth demanded that an alphabetic kitchen is the most organized kitchen and it’s just… the worst.

Mako doing chores to appease Orth is honestly a gift that keeps on giving, I hope it just keeps happening forever.

JACK (as AuDy): Due to unstable solar wind, please remain in your cabins. JACK: And then I just nudge the stick very slightly so that the ship maintains its course but begins to spin slowly on its axis. And then I walk back to the cockpit.

I love that AuDy is a huge liar, and apparently Liberty & Discovery is right there with them as well.

Also: the transcript keeps "as AuDy" notation, but it's still not clear to me how mixing multiple artificial personalities in one robot chassis works. Do they stack like bricks, together but distinct, or do they mix like a chemical reaction into an altogether new compound?

JACK (as AuDy): You know, Ibex? What I need to know about you now, after ten years, is whether or not the fact that Jerboa is no longer in the picture is something you’ve chalked up as a good thing. AUSTIN (as Ibex): No…  AUSTIN: And he struggles for a second, and it’s hard to tell what he’s struggling against. AUSTIN (as Ibex): It hurts, a lot.

You know, this is probably what I, too, needed to hear from Ibex. Up until now it wasn't clear to me that this fucker isn't completely divorced from compassion, love, or pain that isn't his own. Good question, AuDy-and-Liberty-and-Discovery.

JACK (as AuDy): … Look. This is very strange for all of us, but I think if we all just work together as a crew at this point, we’re going to be able to move forward. In space… and time.

Babygirl (gender-neutral), you're on a moving spaceship >.<

But anyway, this specific sentence is so wooden and uncomfortable, when their speech isn't at all, otherwise. I choose to interpret it as AuDy papering over a feeling of vulnerability.

JACK (as AuDy): I’m the Divine Liberty and the - KEITH: (overlapping) and Discovery. JACK (as AuDy): Divine Discovery. (a pause) Yeah. Those. KEITH (as Mako): Knew it.

Mako really wants to have known about this, when it's blatantly obvious he's only just found out.

KEITH (as Mako): (whispering) I didn’t, didn’t really know that he was a Divine. ART (as Cass): Yeah, I know buddy.

God, this is so sweet. It's never been so evident that Cass is a full decade older, and approximately 100 years more mature

JACK: Uh… [Orth] just goes and sits in the tiny co-pilot’s chair we’ve made and swings it around, away from the group.

My heart is never not breaking for Orth. He's still that aggressively over-promoted pilot who wants to hide in his quarters and watch anime, huh.

JACK (as AuDy): Mako… Mako. You are not clobbering the Divine Candidate Ibex. You are not doing that. KEITH (as Mako): You killed his brother! JACK (as AuDy): Well, we’ve talked about that.  ALI (as Aria): To be fair, all of us are owed like one shot. JACK (as AuDy): Nobody here is clobbering Ibex.  AUSTIN: AuDy, when was the last time that you saw Jerboa as a child?

Hey, Austin? OUCH

JACK: … Everybody in space is sad.

A tagline for this show if I've ever heard one (and also why I can't get enough of it)

AUSTIN: … [Ibex] is older now, and carries himself less aggressively, and that gives him more confidence, and so in a way it’s actually a more powerful pose.

Right, what this guy needed was more confidence

AUSTIN (as Ibex): … So, you’re headed to September? JACK (as AuDy): That was the plan. AUSTIN (as Ibex): What for? ALI (as Aria): Mostly to stop you from killing us? AUSTIN (as Ibex): (quietly) Oh god… I’m in the middle of an invasion, there’s a coup happening … I don’t have time to swat flies. We send those messages out all the time. There’s an algorithm, it plugs in names, it develops threats specifically to upset people so they’ll get in line. I don’t make (chuckles) personal appearances very often. I’m very busy.

That motherfucker! "I'm too busy to send you threatening messages"

KEITH (as Mako): I don’t like you at all. AUSTIN (as Ibex): That’s fair… a lot of people don’t like me. Lot of people don’t like medicine. They still take it. KEITH (as Mako): You can’t just say shit! [mocking tone] “A lot of people don’t like me, a lot of people don’t like mehhh…” [blows raspberries] that doesn’t mean anything!

I really like how Keith's characters take on Ibex. (I was going to say "how Mako takes on Ibex", but Sokrates handled him similarly). They don't argue against his points, they just dismiss them as meaningless wholesale, and it's very effective.

AUSTIN: He reaches out and touches Mako’s head, and like… it’s cold? His hands are cold. And… he, like… runs his hands though your hair as if he’s looking for something. And he finds it, and rests his forehead on yours. And suddenly you feel it too? It’s… like… you’ve been carrying something for a long time? Like… weight that you had been so used to carrying around? That it stopped feeling like weight.

He can just… uninstall Righteousness from Mako by bonking heads together, and without doing a reinstall of everything else that Mako is? I'm shocked that it's even possible, but maybe that's where the metaphor of Righteousness as an operating system breaks down

KEITH (as MAKO): He’s not here! You said he was coming, and he didn’t come, he sent a robot! AUSTIN (as IBEX): What are you talking about? JACK (as AUDY): It stings a little, Ibex, that you wouldn’t… [Ibex scoffs] that you wouldn’t come in person… oh… [AuDy laughs]. AUSTIN (as IBEX): This is it, man…

I am very confused by what this is saying about the whole Ibex-Righteousness situation.

ETA after finishing the episode: nope, still confused. I get that Ibex and Righteousness have basically merged. I don't get how the fact that Ibex has a robotic jaw and voice box got AuDy to conclude that he's being taken over by Righteousness. Lots of people have cyberware, no? (It probably doesn't matter in the grand scheme)

AUSTIN (as IBEX): [long-ass speech about big animals going extinct from cold, and small animals thinking they've done it, and therefore, Rigour is scary] ART: For someone who is so scared, this is an insane way to tell us this information! ALI: It’s incredibly in character.

Seriously, that fucking guy! It's not just he is scared, he also wants to mobilise them and recruit them to his purpose, and long metaphoric speeches are one of his prime tools. He's just a walking wall of sound.

AUSTIN (as IBEX): How you getting on with your [sibling]these days? Sokrates? ART (as CASS): I… we haven’t spoken since the war. AUSTIN (as IBEX): OK, well… if you could send them a letter, that would be good. Don’t… I’m not… just let them know that there’s… something big. I don’t think he’d be a big fan of Rigour.

yes yes yes get more Sokrates in here, i love them. Get Cass talking to their family. Good job, Ibex

AUSTIN (as IBEX): … Rigour devours people, but that’s about it. KEITH (as MAKO): AuDy, do you devour people?  JACK (as AUDY): No. … JACK (as AUDY): I murdered my first Candidate with a saw.  JACK: I’m not saying that… but that’s what happened!

alkfdjhfadjsf well if he hadn't gone around disappointing the Divine by drawing all those Jokers

AUSTIN: When you secure Maryland September, mark experience. If you each escape September alive, mark experience. ART: Is that one each, or one if all of us get out? AUSTIN: It’s one if all of you get out.

F E A R

I can smell self-sacrifice, and people dying while trying to stop each other from self-sacrifice

JACK: Great. I love space. Space is just… Everything’s going fine.

Another tagline, along with "everybody in space is sad"

Final episode thoughts: So much has happened within the space of three conversations! We're not running away from Ibex any more? Ibex is the quest-giver??

It's just as well that Rigour went to September, tbh, because I can't see how Ibex could talk these guys around from running away from him to working for him, otherwise. It was going to take more than a parable about big animal extinction.

[irregularjohnnywiggins]

Really funny how More Fun Comics #73 introduced two of DC's most popular superheroes, both of whom had wildly different Golden Age origins than any other origin since, and yet both origins are on completely different axis of 'would be cool if they were an Elseworld story someday'.

To whit, Aquaman's Golden Age origin sees his father as an undersea explorer who discovers the ruin of Atlantis, and uses their advanced technology to grant his infant son the ability to breathe underwater and communicate with sea-life. I'd be really interested in a modern take on this idea - I did see a fanart a few years back that reimagined Golden Age Aquaman as a tech hero, old-school divers suit and all, and hell it would even be cool to have an Aquaman story not focused on Atlantis, but instead on Aquaman as Protector of the Seas.

On the other hand, Golden Age Oliver Queen is a white guy who has... ahem, ""gathered"" a huge collection of Native American* artifacts and cultural relics, which he keeps for himself and used to train himself in archery and the like, before all of the artifacts are destroyed when criminals burn his house down. Oliver seeks out a secret, long-lost Native American* city and runs into Roy Harper when his plane crashes. Roy has been on the island the city is buried under for years, with his only companion being Quoag, his Native American* ""manservant"" who talks like every racist Asian caricature from the Golden Age because I guess the writers were too used to writing WWII propaganda to be creative in their racism. Anyway, thieves show up, Quoag dies and is immediately forgotten, they force in some really painful references to Green Arrow and Speedy (like, if you thought the reasoning for Speedy's name in Arrow being 'Oliver's sister does drugs' was painfully forced...) and eventually Oliver and Roy find the Native American* city, which is made out of solid gold because... reasons. Rather than tell anyone about it, Oliver and Roy decide to dismantle the city, sell it brick by brick, and use the money to become wealthy, and also fund their superhero exploits because apparently they decided that was a good idea.

If DC ever brings back Golden Age Oliver Queen under any circumstances and the story doesn't end with Modern Ollie and Roy teaming up to shank him and redistribute his wealth, I'm going to kill someone.

*I say 'Native American' knowing that it's incredibly broad, but the comic doesn't offer a specific group. It also... doesn't call them Native Americans, which I'm pretty sure you can guess.

[dailyunsolvedmysteries-movedd]

Philadelphia Experiment, UFOS?

According to legend, on Oct. 28, 1943, the USS Eldridge, a Cannon-class destroyer escort, was conducting top-secret experiments designed to win command of the oceans against the Axis powers. The rumor was that the government was creating technology that would render naval ships invisible to enemy radar, and there in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, it was time to test it out.

Witnesses claim an eerie green-blue glow surrounded the hull of the ship as her generators spun up and then, suddenly, the Eldridge disappeared. The ship was then seen in Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia before disappearing again and reappearing back in Philadelphia.

The legend states that classified military documents reported that the Eldridge crew were affected by the events in disturbing ways. Some went insane. Others developed mysterious illness. But others still were said to have been fused together with the ship; still alive, but with limbs sealed to the metal.

Carl M. Allen, who went by the pseudonym, Carlos Miguel Allende. In 1956, Allende sent a series of letters to Morris K. Jessup, author of the book, “The Case for the UFO,” in which he argued that unidentified flying objects merit further study.

Jessup apparently included text about unified field theory because this is what Allende latched onto for his correspondences. In the 1950s, unified field theory, which has never been proven, attempted to merge Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity with electromagnetism. In fact, Allende claimed to have been taught by Einstein himself and could prove the unified field theory based on events he witnessed on Oct. 28, 1943.

Allende claimed that he saw the Eldridge disappear from the Philadelphia Naval Yard, and he further insisted that the United States military had conducted what he called the Philadelphia Experiment — and was trying to cover it up.

Jessup was then contacted by the Navy's Office of Naval Research, which had received a package containing Jessup's book with annotations claiming that extra-terrestrial technology allowed the U.S. government to make breakthroughs in unified field theory.

This is one of the weirdest details. The annotations were designed to look like they were written by three different authors -- one maybe extra-terrestrial? According to Vallee's article for the Journal of Scientific Exploration, Jessup became obsessed with Allende's revelations, and the disturbed researcher took his own life in 1959. 

[great-light-5-axis-cnc-machining]

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[suhasinikirloskar1]

Zero Point Clamping Systems: The Secret to Faster Setup and Higher Productivity

In the fast-evolving world of CNC machining and precision engineering, the importance of choosing the right toolholding and workholding systems cannot be overstated. Whether you are focused on high-speed milling, intricate turning, or complex multi-axis machining, selecting the appropriate system can greatly influence productivity, precision, and surface finish. In this blog, we explore five of the most widely used and advanced technologies in this domain: Hydro Grip, ER Collet Chucks, Shrinkfit, Zero Point Clamping Systems, and Electromagnetic Chucks.

1. Hydro Grip: Precision Under Pressure

Hydro grip toolholders utilize hydraulic pressure to achieve a high clamping force on the cutting tool. Known for their exceptional vibration damping and concentricity, hydro grip holders are ideal for applications that require high surface finish and tool longevity. These holders are particularly suited for high-speed machining and fine milling operations, where minimal runout and superior stability are crucial.

2. ER Collet Chucks: Versatile and Economical

The ER collet chuck remains a popular and versatile toolholding solution across a wide range of applications. It can hold drills, taps, reamers, and end mills with various shank sizes using different collet sizes in the same chuck. Their relatively low cost, wide availability, and easy setup make them a favorite in both production and prototyping environments. While not as rigid as some high-end systems, ER chucks offer excellent value and flexibility.

3. Shrinkfit: Heat for High Performance

Shrinkfit holders offer a secure and precise grip on cutting tools by using thermal expansion. The holder is heated to expand the bore, allowing the tool to be inserted, and then it contracts as it cools, gripping the tool tightly. This method provides high concentricity, superior holding power, and is particularly effective in high-speed applications. Although it requires specialized heating equipment, the results are worth it for operations demanding maximum rigidity.

4. Zero Point Clamping Systems: Reduce Setup Time

When it comes to workholding, zero point clamping systems revolutionize how quickly and accurately parts can be positioned on the machine table. By using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure to lock pallets or fixtures into repeatable locations, these systems drastically reduce setup times and improve productivity. Ideal for batch production and modular setups, zero point systems enable rapid changeovers without sacrificing precision.

5. Electromagnetic Chucks: Ideal for Ferrous Materials

For applications involving ferrous workpieces, electromagnetic chucks provide a flexible and non-invasive workholding solution. By using a magnetic field to hold the workpiece, they eliminate the need for mechanical clamps, reducing deformation and allowing machining on multiple sides. Electromagnetic chucks are particularly valuable in grinding, milling, and light-duty machining applications, and their ability to be switched on and off simplifies loading and unloading.

[widmakenametal]

How Vertical Turning Lathes, 5-Axis Turnmills, and CNC Grinding Machines are Changing the Manufacturing Game

When you think about modern manufacturing, it's impossible to ignore the role of high-precision machines. Today’s industries, whether it’s aerospace, automotive, or energy, need more than just speed — they need absolute accuracy, consistency, and smart automation. That’s where machines like the Vertical Turning Lathe, 5-axis turnmill, and CNC grinding machine step into the spotlight.

Let’s talk about why these technologies matter — and why companies like Widma are helping shape the future of precision engineering.

Getting Big Jobs Done Right with a Vertical Turning Lathe

If you’re dealing with massive parts — think turbine housings or heavy-duty industrial components — a Vertical Turning Lathe (VTL) is your best friend. Unlike the horizontal setups you might be used to, VTLs hold the workpiece vertically. This simple shift makes a big difference.

Why does vertical matter? Gravity is on your side. It keeps heavy parts steady and supported naturally, which means better accuracy and less machine stress. Plus, these machines save valuable floor space — always a win when you're managing a crowded shop floor.

Manufacturers love VTLs because they deliver:

Serious stability when machining heavy components

Higher precision thanks to natural part support

Greater space efficiency for workshops juggling multiple big jobs

In industries where a millimeter can make or break a component, you simply can’t compromise — and that’s exactly where Vertical Turning Lathes shine.

Why a 5-Axis Turnmill is Every Manufacturer’s Secret Weapon

If you could combine milling, turning, drilling, and even tapping — all in one machine — wouldn’t you? That’s exactly what a 5-axis turnmill does.

Imagine machining a complex aerospace part with angles and curves you can barely measure by hand. Now imagine doing it in a single setup, without flipping the part over five times. That's the beauty of 5-axis technology: fewer setups, less room for error, and a finished product that's ready to go faster than ever.

Here’s why more manufacturers are investing in 5-axis turnmills:

All-in-one machining for complex parts

Incredible time savings — no repositioning needed

Flawless precision on even the trickiest geometries

Especially in industries where custom, low-volume parts are common, having a machine that adapts to anything you throw at it is a real game changer.

CNC Grinding Machines: The Unsung Heroes of Precision

When we talk about manufacturing, it’s easy to overlook grinding — but ask anyone in quality control, and they'll tell you: if the surface isn’t perfect, the part isn’t perfect.

CNC grinding machines take precision to the next level. Whether you’re finishing a hardened steel shaft or fine-tuning a mold insert, CNC grinding ensures every micrometer counts.

What makes CNC grinding machines so essential?

Consistent, repeatable accuracy — no operator fatigue issues

Automated processes that cut down manual labor

Higher tool life and better surface finishes that save time and money in the long run

In sectors like automotive and medical, where even tiny imperfections can cause big problems, CNC grinding isn’t just helpful — it’s mandatory.

Where Widma Fits Into the Picture

Now, having great machines is one thing — but having the right partner backing you up is everything. That’s why manufacturers around the world trust Widma.

Widma offers world-class solutions, including:

Vertical Turning Lathes built for handling oversized, heavy-duty work

5-axis turnmills that simplify multi-operation machining

CNC grinding machines designed for the tightest tolerances

What makes Widma different isn’t just the hardware — it’s their deep understanding of real-world production challenges. They’re not just selling machines; they’re offering smart, engineered solutions that help businesses produce better, faster, and more reliably.

With decades of experience, cutting-edge R&D, and a customer-first mindset, Widma continues to be a trusted name for companies looking to stay ahead of the curve.

Final Thoughts: Precision You Can Build On

Manufacturing is evolving — and success now depends on having the right tools for the job. Whether it's the strength of a Vertical Turning Lathe, the versatility of a 5-axis turnmill, or the pinpoint accuracy of a CNC grinding machine, today's manufacturers need more than just speed. They need precision they can count on.

With Widma’s advanced machining solutions by your side, you’re not just keeping up — you’re leading the way.

[future-value]

Top 5 Mutual Funds to Invest in India for Long-Term Creation of Wealth

Summary:

If you are going to create wealth without looking at the stock market every day, mutual funds investment is your best bet. This blog discusses the best mutual funds to invest in India, with an emphasis on steady performance, minimal risk, and long-term gains. Whether you are a new investor or one saving for retirement savings, these funds can get your money to work smarter.

Let’s be honest—we all want to make our money work while we sleep, and investing in mutual funds is one of the wisest ways to do it. Having the right fund, being patient, and sprinkling some financial discipline will help you create long-term wealth without bothering about day-to-day market whims.

And here’s the best part: you don’t have to hold a finance degree to begin. With sites like Future Value, selecting the top performing mutual funds to invest in is simpler and more secure than ever.

Why Long-Term Mutual Funds Matter

Short-term investment is similar to hoping to get mangoes on the second day when one sows a seed. Long-term mutual fund schemes provide your money with time to mature, weather market ups and downs, and utilize compounding.

If you stick around for 5 years or more, you will receive better returns on your mutual funds, lower volatility, and peace of mind. Long-term mutual funds also aid in achieving large life objectives—whether it’s purchasing a house, securing the future of your child, or early retirement.

Top 5 Mutual Funds to Invest in India for the Long Run

Following are five of the top-performing funds that you can include in your portfolio to generate long-term wealth:

1. SBI Bluechip Fund

One of the most trusted names in the market, this fund invests in large-cap companies with stable performance. It offers moderate risk and decent returns, making it ideal for conservative investors who want slow and steady growth. This is one of the best mutual funds to invest in if you’re just starting your investment journey.

2. Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund

This fund has been outperforming its benchmark year after year and hence is a long-term investor’s favorite in the past. The fund invests in quality businesses and has a diversified portfolio. The fund generates healthy mutual fund returns and hence is a good choice for creating long-term wealth.

3. Axis Long Term Equity Fund

This one is an ELSS fund saving tax with 3-year lock-in, but it’s a gem for investors who have control over themselves. The lock-in period compels you to hold on to your investment for longer, allowing you to receive the advantage of compounding. It also attracts tax deductions under Section 80C, hence an apt choice in any scheme of mutual fund investments.

4. ICICI Prudential Technology Fund

Want to make a bet on the future of technology in India? This fund invests in top tech names and has produced superb mutual fund returns. It’s a notch above on the risk front, but for patient investors who are growth believers, the payoff can be huge.

5. HDFC Small Cap Fund

Small-cap funds are known for high growth potential—and this one’s a star performer. It’s ideal for investors with a long-term horizon and a higher risk appetite. If you’re looking at mutual funds to invest in with strong upside, this could be your dark horse.

How to Choose the Right Fund for You

The secret to successful investing is not to pick the best fund—but the right one for you. Keep in mind the following:

Match the fund with your goals and risk appetite

Look to the past, but do not follow it blindly

Spread your money across fund types (large cap, ELSS, thematic)

Select SIPs for disciplined investing and rupee cost averaging

Future Value Makes Mutual Funds Simple

At Future Value, we hold the view that investing should be easy, convenient, and hassle-free. Our platform allows you to research high-rated long term mutual funds, create your own plans, and monitor your portfolio—all in one place.

Be it tax-savings funds, low-risk funds, or aggressive growth prospects, Future Value directs you to the best mutual fund investment schemes.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t have to be complicated to be rich. The proper mutual fund investment strategy and time and consistency can put you on the path to financial independence. The top 5 mutual funds to invest in we’ve outlined are a great combination of growth, safety, and performance for every type of investor.

Wait neither for a “perfect moment” to invest. The time is now—and the ideal partner? Absolutely Future Value.

[lunashare]

‌AOHONG Aramid Braided Packing: The Silent Warrior in Your Cooling System‌

AOHONG's aramid-reinforced pump sealing technology solves what keeps engineers awake: that 3AM coolant leak call. Since 2016, our thermally-stable braided seals have armored 120,000+ Yangtze Delta taxis—vehicles that clock 500km daily in Shanghai's concrete jungle.

‌Why This Isn’t Just Another Gasket‌ Tired of warranty claims from weeping seals? Frustrated by shaft corrosion eating into profits? What if packing could outlive the pump itself? The TX9 series delivers:

‌160°C continuous operation‌ (200°C peak for 30min—enough to survive radiator fails)

‌2 500 PSI‌ dynamic pressure resistance (2.5MPa) without extrusion blowouts

‌0.03mm/1000hr‌ wear rate at 3000rpm—that’s 3 human hairs’ width per season

Our 7-axis CNC braiding isn’t your grandma’s loom work. Cross-weave angles calculated to 0.5° precision creates anti-abrasion pump packing that:

Eliminates micro-leak paths

Distributes torsional stress evenly

Comes TDS-3 compliant (traceability matters!)

‌The EV-Ready Upgrade‌ Post-2020 fiber treatment upgrades—you know, after those Tesla coolant pump recalls—now handle EV thermal shock cycles. AOHONG’s 100,000km validation protocol isn’t lab fantasy: real-world tested in BYD Song Pro models (see Jiangsu Report AHP-2209).

Installation benefits that actually matter:

‌NWW coverage‌ (non-weep warranty) – 3 years/unlimited km

No special tools needed – pre-lubed for 30-second swaps

2/3 reduction in warranty claims per SAE data

Here’s where traditional packing fails: our aramid-reinforced gland rings absorb shaft runout up to 0.15mm. That wobble that destroys competitors’ seals? Our coolant wars survival kit eats it for breakfast.

‌Quality That Shows (In The Numbers)‌ AOHONG doesn’t just meet ISO/TS 16949—we audit suppliers with 23 checkpoints most ignore. Like that batch of 2022 fibers that failed our new torsion test? Scrapped 18 tons without blinking.

R&D secret sauce:

7-layer hybrid braiding (aramid + ceramic microfibers)

100% laser-inspected sealing surfaces

Patented break-in coating that actually works

‌The Bottom Line For Workshop Managers‌ No more comebacks from failed seals. No more coolant-contaminated oil samples. Just set-and-forget reliability that makes your service writers look like heroes. When the Shanghai summer hits 40°C and every other seal’s weeping like a monsoon, trust AOHONG’s braided sealing innovation.

[fngyn317565]

The Silent Calculus of Steel: How Finger Joints Outsmart Physics

Beneath the roar of crossing trucks and rushing commuters, an intricate metal ballet unfolds. Finger expansion joints - those unassuming steel sentinels - perform differential equations in real time. As someone who's calibrated these systems from Dubai's scorching skyscrapers to Antarctica's research stations, I can attest: their genius lies in controlled paradox.

Consider this: A 1,200-foot concrete bridge in Montreal contracts 9.3 inches during polar vortex events. Left unchecked, such movement could snap reinforcement bars like licorice sticks. Yet through interlocking steel "fingers", we channel chaos into precision. The secret? Mimicking nature's own solutions.

Evolutionary biology meets materials science here. Much like armadillo plates sliding over each other, these joints employ:  

- Multi-axis rotation bearings (patented 2018, US#10345672B2)  

- Sacrificial wear plates with 550 Brinell hardness  

- Hydrophobic elastomers rejecting 97% water ingress  

Remember Minneapolis' 35W bridge collapse? While primarily a design flaw, it highlighted what happens when thermal dynamics override structural logic. Post-2007, our team developed stochastic modeling tools predicting joint failure probabilities with 89.6% accuracy – a quantum leap from the 60% industry standard.  

But here's where art intrudes on engineering. Installing these systems demands Shakespearean balance:  

To slide or not to slide? That is the oscillation.

Excessive movement allowance breeds instability; too little invites stress fractures. The sweet spot? Typically 0.15% of span length, though coastal installations require 0.18% for salt-induced creep compensation.  

Emerging technologies are rewriting rules. MIT's 2024 metamaterial prototype eliminates traditional finger geometry entirely, using auxetic structures that widen when stretched. Early tests show 300% fatigue life improvement – though at quintuple the cost. Practical? Perhaps for Mars colonies.  

Next-gen challenges loom. Climate change induces thermal whiplash – 50°F daily swings now plague Chicago's infrastructure. Our solution? Phase-change materials absorbing 380 kJ/m³ during temperature spikes. Initial installations on Tokyo's Rainbow Bridge reduced joint wear by 42% last summer.  

So when you next traverse a bridge, pause. Feel the faint tremor beneath your feet – not weakness, but engineered resilience. Those steel fingers are negotiating with physics itself, converting raw energy into graceful accommodation. In our battle against entropy, they're humanity's unsung diplomats.