Author | Lightnews

James Schmeling

@jschmeling.bsky.social

2.4K followers 4.2K following 1.9K posts

Speaking only for myself. Nonprofit leader. Military, Veterans, Family supporter/advocate. #NatSec #Defense #NDU #NDUF Air Force veteran. Born and raised in Iowa. #IowaLaw #IowaState Midwesterner by temperament (I wave at passing cars and neighbors)!

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

Some of it I get, but this idea that labor should be $1000 per hour for what pretty much everyone says is a three our job is crazy to me.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

OMG yes it is. It is so late. I have an 8 PM dinner to go to tonight. That means it really starts at 9 PM. That's pretty much my bedtime.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

Not wrong.

Jaye @jaybird54.bsky.social · 4d

And here we go again….😩

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

It's hard but softened. Acidic but treated. Filtered of course. I've replaced thermostats/elements four times myself across two of the water heaters. (Top once, bottom three times. Can't recall the technical names.)

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

Also, this is the fourth replacement in 8 years...

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

Gotta love that energy!

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

I would if we had gas, that's for sure.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

The thing is the water heater, 80 gallon heat pump, is $2500 or less (with rebate from BGE it's actually affordable!) but the labor is ridiculous. I am now an expert on SharkBite connectors, flexible, braided, or PEX, and so on because I am going down that rabbit hole. I'm glad it's all electric.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 4d

Need a new water heater. The quotes are making me laugh/cry. Home Depot installation (labor only!!!) quote was $2,800. Craigslist advertised but clearly a call center, $7,700 installed and the water heater is priced at less than $3,000. So, $4,700 install effectively. Are you kidding me???

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 5d

Blue wondering what’s up.

Our male Cairn terrier, blue, who is blonde and hanging out on a chair in the sun. One ear up. One ear down. Staring at me.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 5d

Of course he’s just fine and perky this morning.

Blue, our male Cairn terrier, staring at me from a chair in the sun.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 5d

We've decided it was a fox, barking around the neighborhood for a solid hour at least. Do they bark? It definitely was not a dog.

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Reposted by James Schmeling

H I Sutton @covertshores.bsky.social · 10d

Rapid progress in China’s underwater drone development, world leaders in most respects. Back in 2019 their first large one, HSU001, was very modest, far from world leading. Today they are building massive ones other nations can only dream of. www.hisutton.com/Chinese-XLUU...

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Reposted by James Schmeling

H I Sutton @covertshores.bsky.social · 7d

Interesting

Samuel Bendett @sambendett.bsky.social · 7d

1/ In September 2025, the inaugural Drone Crucible organized by the US National Drone Association brought together teams from Army Rangers and Aviation Center of Excellence, Navy SEALs, Air Force and the Marines. Thanks to @dflawrence.bsky.social for the summary: taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics...

No clear winner in military's first ‘drone crucible’

Teams from each service went head-to-head in training events for unmanned systems, including convoy ambushes and reconnaissance.

taskandpurpose.com

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Reposted by James Schmeling

Jeffrey Lewis @armscontrolwonk.bsky.social · 7d

Last year, I wrote an article for @foreignaffairs.com on why the US stands to lose the most from a resumption of nuclear testing.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Why America Stands to Lose If It Resumes Nuclear Testing

China and Russia would finally be able to catch up.

www.foreignaffairs.com

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

Can’t sleep. Dog woke me up at 3:30 to go outside. Some odd animal noise, no idea what. Good thing he’s an adorable dog.

Blue, our boy Cairn terrier, resting in the arm of a chair.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

Mine's been pretty much stress this week, and both of those would help.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

Let's not forget homelessness and how much money addressing that directly saves cities and states!

We really need rational economic spending policies, based on data, as to what investments yield what outcomes, including early childhood education, parental leave, excellent public education, etc.!

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 6d

Medicare for All would save $450B a year.

Every dollar spent on food stamps generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity.

Each dollar going to low-wage workers adds $1.20 to the economy overall.

It’s not about what this country can or can’t afford.

It’s about priorities.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

Well, yeah, that's why no muscle relaxers! :D

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

I forgot about patches! Good idea! Voltaren worked but then I read the warnings about where not to use.

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

Aside from a muscle relaxant, best thing for a stiff neck and shoulder/arm tension? Tylenol? Aleve? Something topical?

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

453 so far...

Reposted by James Schmeling

Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 6d

This is really appalling: Rep Adam Smith tells me that in a briefing, Pentagon officials said they reserve the right to kill people who are "affiliated" with their list of "narco-terror groups."

But under questioning, they wouldn't define what "affiliated" means!

newrepublic.com/article/2025...

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 6d

Well that was fun to get a few hundred auto responses from people out of the office due to the furlough when my comms team used me as the reply to address for a job advertisement in Constant Contact.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 7d

“You get what heredity gives you. If they bother you, try over the counter, but we have no idea what will or won’t work.” I appreciate that honesty. (Separate issues, he said essentially as you get old you get more. If they bother you address them.)