Ace: aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
Buck: buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
CBD: cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com
joe mannix: mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum: petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton: sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
Chavez the Hugo 2020
Ibguy 2020
Rickl 2019
Joffen 2014
AoSHQ Writers Group
A site for members of the Horde to post their stories seeking beta readers, editing help, brainstorming, and story ideas. Also to share links to potential publishing outlets, writing help sites, and videos posting tips to get published.
Contact OrangeEnt for info: maildrop62 at proton dot me
RFKJr. Reveals Harrowing Evidence About the Extent of California Fraud
—Disinformation Expert Ace
RFKJr. says that DHHS has discovered a hotel in which every single room is supposedly a home nursing business. Obviously, you cannot conduct business out of a hotel room. These are fictitious businesses that just use a hotel room as an "office" as the cheapest possible option.
He says that all these "businesses" do is "collect money" from the US government. And he says they're run by Somalis and that a lot of the money is sent back to the Somalis' favorite terrorist group, Al Shabaab.
Relatedly, the left is running an op against RFKJr., blaming his general skepticism for some vaccines for a recent measles outbreak. Note that he has never told people the measles vaccine is a problem.
While they blame "MAGA" Americans turning down the vaccine for the outbreak, they completely ignore the fact that Biden allowed 11-20 million third worlders into the country, very few of whom have gotten vaccines of any kind.
Two things happened in 2025:
1.) Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy believes toxic substances in vaccines cause illnesses like autism.
2.) The US had its largest measles surge in decades, with 2276 cases of the disease, which… https://t.co/tUAnAhoxkk
1.) Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy believes toxic substances in vaccines cause illnesses like autism.
2.) The US had its largest measles surge in decades, with 2276 cases of the disease, which can be prevented with vaccines, reported. The majority of infections occurred in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Media stories covering this have trafficked in the assumption that there is a causal relationship between these two events, noting that outbreaks occur in "red states" and insinuating that measles is spreading among predominantly white, Trump voting Republicans.
However, there is another phenomenon that is connected to disease outbreaks, which these articles rarely mention: During the presidency of Joe Biden, over 8 million migrants entered the US by crossing the southern border, and millions of those people and the children they have had over the past few years are living near the border in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
The CDC does not report the demographics of who is infected with measles, which is why journalists are free to imagine the children of anti-vax MAGA voters getting extremely sick with preventable illnesses. However, if you look at the demographics of the areas where outbreaks are occurring, you will see that they have heavy Latino populations and large numbers of recent migrants.
On this issue, like many others, media has been misleading you.
Leftists: Replacement Theory is a White Nationalist Conspiracy Theory Also Leftists: The English Countryside Is Too White So We Have to Move Minorities and Migrants Into It
—Disinformation Expert Ace
Remember, if whites move into areas where minorities live, it's either "colonization" or at best, "gentrification."
But when minorities move into white ares, it's "diversification" and "geographic justice."
The British countryside will become more welcoming to ethnic minorities under strategies being developed over the next five years.
National Landscapes, a charity mostly funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), has 46 landscapes, previously called areas of outstanding natural beauty. Management plans for each area are aiming to address the barriers faced by underrepresented and diverse groups to accessing the countryside.
Reports that have been published gradually since a Defra report in 2019 reveal that many communities perceived the countryside as "being for white people and middle-class people".
The 2019 report said: "The countryside is seen by both black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and white people as very much a 'white' environment. If that is true today, then the divide is only going to widen as society changes. Our countryside will end up being irrelevant to the country that actually exists."
The latest region to update its five-year management plan was Cranborne Chase National Landscape, which overlaps the boundaries of Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Somerset. Its plan, published last month, said that it would "develop strategies to reach people or communities with protected characteristics such as people without English as a first language" and "diversity of ethnicity".
On Monday, National Landscapes published an update titled "Nature is for everyone".
The British countryside is in the midst of a diversity drive after a government-commissioned report found it was too 'white' and 'middle-class'.
Officials charged with managing some of the country's best known beauty spots have laid out a series of proposals aimed at attracting minorities.
The plans follow a review, ordered by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), which warned the countryside was seen as 'very much a white environment' and risked becoming 'irrelevant' in a multicultural society.
In the wake of the report, officials representing National Landscapes - including the Cotswolds and Chilterns - have now published a series of management plans that detail their proposals to attract more minority communities.
The Chiltern National Landscape will launch an outreach programme in Luton and High Wycombe targeted at Muslims.
One factor stopping ethnic minorities visiting was said to be 'anxiety over unleashed dogs'.
The Cotswolds National Landscape specifically mentioned the Defra-commissioned report and said it was now dedicated to changing its provision in an attempt to reach 'the widest demographic'.
In its own management plan, the Malvern Hills National Landscape said: 'Many minority peoples have no connection to nature in the UK because their parents and their grandparents did not feel safe enough to take them or had other survival preoccupations. This breaks down the oral traditions for learning.'
It added: 'While most white English users value the solitude and contemplative activities which the countryside affords, the tendency for ethnic minority people is to prefer social company (family, friends, schools).'
Jim Ratcliffe, one of Britain’s richest and most influential men explains the state of the country
“You can't have an economy with 9 million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in. The UK is being colonized — The UK is being colonized by immigrants” pic.twitter.com/awNpfiMY81
2) It's happening a little but it's racist of you to notice
3) Okay it's happening like gangbusters but it's too late for you to do anything about it, Colonizers
We're at 2.
This is the same manipulation as the debate on critical race theory. Leftists will explicitly tell you they want to “abolish whiteness” and then pretend to be shocked when you say they want to “abolish whiteness.”@realJeremyCarl did nothing wrong. https://t.co/giA4DkuMUo
CNN Pollster: An All-Time High of American Voters, 58%, Say Democrats are "Too Liberal"
—Disinformation Expert Ace
The hell with "liberal," they're actually communists. 42% of Democrats under age 35 say they're socialists, and given the extreme leftwing authoritarianism of today's left, that means they're straight-up Marxist communists.
ENTEN: ... Democrats who identify as very liberal or conservative. You know, there used to be a lot of conservative Democrats, right? Back in 1999, 26 percent of Democrats self-identified as conservative Just five percent said that they were very liberal. It was a smidgen, a smidgen, a smidgen. Now, that far left has gained considerably in power. Look at this. Now we're talking about a fifth of Democrats. 21 percent say they're very liberal. That conservative part of the Democratic Party, adios amigos, goodbye. Just eight percent. And when you combine the 21 percent who are very liberal with those who say that they're somewhat liberal, we're talking about three in five Democrats who identify as either somewhat liberal or very liberal, with the very liberals, a much larger portion of the party, the far left, which used to just be a smidgen within the Democratic Party, has gained considerable power, as you saw in New Jersey's 11th District.
BOLDUAN: What about Democratic socialists like the likes of, you know, we've got Bernie Sanders and -- or Zohran Mamdani here in New York City? Where does that line up?
ENTEN: OK. So, on a separate question where you -- essentially CNN asked this last year, which was, OK, Democrats who think of themselves as Democratic socialists. Among all Democrats, including those independents who lean towards the Democratic Party, look at this, we're talking about a third, a third of all Democrats who identify as Democratic socialist. Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani are not alone. They are a considerable part of the Democratic base at this point. And more than that, if you look at Democrats under the age of 35, they are nearly half -- nearly half of the Democratic Party. Look at this, 42 percent of Democrats think of themselves as Democratic socialists under the age of 35, just like Zohran Mamdani. That -- what happened to New York City is not some aberration, right? It is not something that just happened in New York City. It is something that we are seeing grow within the Democratic Party at this particular point, when we're talking about 42 percent of Democrats under the age of 35 identifying as Democratic socialists and a third of all Democrats, my goodness gracious.
The Democrats understand that the public does not like their gay communism agenda. So they sent out two of their most reliable liars, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, to wheedle insincerely about "getting it" on the unlimited illegal immigration they all supported (and continue to support), pretending they're ready to enforce some kind of border.
This is all a lie. They just need the lie to hold through the 2028 elections, at which point they will grant mass citizenship to all illegals so that they suddenly gain 30 million voters and will never have to answer to American voters again.
First the Beast Hillary, then the Gay Communist Obama:
Hillary Clinton admits illegal immigration went too far:
“It went too far, it’s been disruptive and destabilizing.”
REMINDER: Biden let millions of unvetted illegal criminals pour into the country for four years. pic.twitter.com/JeqUxJsU7B
She insisted we allow all "hard-working illegal alien families" to remain in the country because "they keep our economy going."
In 2024, all Democrat presidential candidates affirmed that not only did they want to keep every illegal alien in the country, they wanted them all to get free taxpayer-funded health care:
Our first gay president, Barack Obama, claimed as soon as he started running for the presidency, which was literally ten minutes after David Axelrod rigged an election to get him into office as a Senator, that he believed that marriage was between a man and a woman.
This was, obviously, a lie to keep the frogs from noticing they were boiling in gay communism. In 2011, now that the frogs were boiling and couldn't do anything about it, he admitted what we all knew his real position to be, Gay Marriage should be mandatory.
And so the dance now continues with Democrats who have always opposed any border enforcement whatsoever claiming they are now open to "common sense, humane border enforcement," which means none at all.
They just need to keep this lie plausible through 2028, and then they will swiftly act to ensure that no future "American" election is ever decided by Americans again.
Speaking in Munich on Valentine's Day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a blunt message to Europe's political class: reclaim your sovereignty, control your borders, and rebuild your industrial might before it's too late.
Addressing lawmakers, defense officials, and policy leaders at the annual security conference in Germany, Rubio said the United States is looking for "allies who are proud of their culture ... and able to defend it." His remarks drew sustained applause from the audience, as he framed mass migration and economic stagnation as twin threats to Western stability.
Rubio argued that unchecked migration is eroding the social cohesion necessary for national defense and long-term prosperity. "Armies do not fight for abstractions," he said. "Armies fight for a people; armies fight for a nation. Armies fight for a way of life." He warned that large-scale migration across Europe has strained welfare systems, unsettled communities, and weakened the political resolve needed to defend national interests.
Controlling borders, he added, "is not an expression of xenophobia. It is not hate. It is a fundamental act of national sovereignty." Failing to do so, Rubio said, amounts to abandoning one of government's most basic responsibilities and poses "an urgent threat to the fabric of our societies and the survival of our civilization itself."
While he stopped short of naming specific parties, Rubio criticized what he described as a culture of paralysis among Western elites -- leaders "shackled by guilt and shame," and immobilized by fears of climate change, conflict, or technological disruption. That mindset, he suggested, has led to policies built on ever-expanding government spending, reliance on foreign imports, and what he called an unsustainable migration model.
The secretary laid out an alternative: a "high-tech, low-migration" strategy centered on innovation, productivity, and secure supply chains. He called for reindustrializing Western economies, investing in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, commercial space, and industrial automation, and developing independent access to critical minerals rather than depending on geopolitical rivals.
The speech was well-received -- Rubio got a standing ovation.
The NYT has come up with an amazing critique of Rubio's Munich speech. In short: "akshually, your appeal to shared Christian heritage between USA & Europe is false because we replaced the Christian population with Afghans"
Didn't see this one coming. I'm impressed.
The Times, speaking for those technocrats who are in love with the Great Replacement, crows that Europe is de-Christianizing, and that the Jewish population barely exists there, while Islam is on the rise.
Christianity is declining across much of the continent. In Europe's three largest economies -- Britain, France and Germany -- less than half of residents now identify as Christian, according to survey data by Bertelsmann Stiftung, a nonpartisan foundation. The ranks of the religiously unaffiliated are growing, according to data by the Pew Research Center and others.
After a decade-long influx of migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere, the share of Muslims across Europe has ticked up, to about 6 percent in 2020, according to Pew. The Jewish population has declined slightly and remains below 1 percent.
1) The Great Replacement Theory is a far-right white supremacist conspiracy theory
2) Okay there's a little replacement going on but it's small and manageable
3) Okay the Great Replacement is in full swing and it is AWESOME
We are at #3.
Alexandria Donkey-Chompers, on the other hand, revealed herself again as a giggling buck-toothed stuttering imbecile.
🚨 NEW: Fox News hosts just TORCHED AOC for her total meltdown on a simple China/Taiwan policy question at Munich, she couldn’t give a straight answer on committing U.S. troops to defend Taiwan from invasion!
AOC in Munich giggles excitedly when asked if she will impose a wealth tax as president. Moments later, her ignorance is exposed by Argentinian politician Daiana Fernández Molero, who has actually seen the destruction caused by a wealth tax. pic.twitter.com/FQn6iEtxTC
Here's more of Donkey-Chompers, and also Michigan Fantasy Presidential Hopeful Gretchen Witchmer, giggling nervously when asked one of the most obvious, guaranteed foreign policy non-surprise questions, about what a "victory" in Ukraine would consist of. You will literally cringe with secondhand embarrassment.
She also called for a full embrace of the Great Replacement, saying that Western culture is "very thin" and we need to embrace "class-based internationalism" as a Great Replacement of Western culture.
🚨AOC in FULL MELTDOWN after Marco Rubio’s Munich speech gets a MASSIVE standing ovation for going pro West, pro-Christian, pro-European heritage, and anti-mass migration!
“They want the culture, but it’s very thin! We need class-based internationalism!” pic.twitter.com/Y8exSTYWe1
I'm not an expert on the history of cowboys -- I'd like to be, but I'm not -- but most are saying that Rubio is right to say cowboys evolved from Spain's vaqueros.
Which, by the way, is where the word "buckeroos" comes from.
Marco Frieri
@MarcoAFrieri
13h
American cowboy culture can be traced back to Spain's vaquero culture, brought to the continent through its colonial presence in Mexico.
I don't understand why AOC is trying to rewrite this. It just makes her look bad.
Because the entire mission of the left is to claim that Western culture produced nothing and everything was created by "the Global South." That's why the BBC now features black Viking queens.
Rubio didn't stutter or giggle or go into a little girl voice to elicit sympathy so that people would overlook his complete incompetency.
Mass migration is not some fringe concern of little consequence.
It was and continues to be a crisis that destabilizes societies across the West. pic.twitter.com/cPELgF0UrW
THE MORNING RANT: The SBA Will Stop Lending to Non-Citizens
—Buck Throckmorton
While I sometime grimace at President Trump’s social media posts, it appears that (intentionally or not) they also keep his adversaries so distracted that major conservative victories go virtually unnoticed by left-wing outrage mobs. As Democrats and the media have flailed like a cat chasing a laser pointer, accusing Trump of being all the epithets that end with “-ist” and “-phobic,” Trump keeps racking up victories on core conservative issues.
Now, another major America-first action has just been taken, as Kelly Loeffler, the Administrator overseeing the Small Business Administration, has just announced that SBA funds will only be loaned to companies 100% owned by US Citizens. As documented in an SBA Policy Notice effective March 1, 2026, “SBA is requiring that 100% of all direct and/or indirect owners of a small business applicant be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Nationals who have their Principal Residence in the United States, its territories, or possessions.
This further tightens SBA controls regarding the funding of businesses owned by non-citizens. It was just a year ago that Administrator Loeffler announced a series of reforms requiring majority ownership by citizens, along with proof of citizenship, as well as a new prohibition on SBA lending to illegal aliens. At that time, she also announced that the SBA was moving its offices out of “sanctuary cities” which are in defiance of federal law.
While there has certainly been SBA fraud, including the diversion of funds to foreign countries, the issue is more so about prioritizing Americans, and not using taxpayer dollars to create businesses which then employ foreign labor. It just logically doesn’t make sense for the federal government to provide the capital and lending risk for a green-card holder to buy a hotel or convenience store, and then have it staffed with H1B labor or foreign nationals from his home country. That process results in a loss of jobs for U.S. citizens, not increased jobs.
Legal U.S. residents who are citizens of other countries are still free to start businesses here, but they must find the start-up capital through their own networks. The purpose of the SBA is to provide taxpayer-funded loans to businesses that will provide jobs and wealth creation to U.S. citizens. President Trump and Administrator Loeffler deserve praise for putting proper controls back on SBA lending.
*****
They Never Stop. They Never Sleep. They Never Quit.*
The blue states that have been most enthusiastic about getting you out of your gasoline-powered car during the failed “EV transition” are already moving on to the inevitable next battle against personal driving freedom. Legislation is being introduced in Democrat strongholds to set mileage caps and/or to impose punitive mileage taxes on those who persist in wanting to drive a car.
This piece is not behind a paywall. I’d be honored if you’d give it a read.
My latest piece at The American Spectator discusses a new front in the war on personal driving freedom. Blue states are introducing legislation to cap allowable miles that may be driven, and to punish driving by imposing mileage taxes on a per mile basis.https://t.co/QiuVxnIRJh
Defeating the EV mandate and compelling automakers to refocus on gasoline-powered vehicles was a huge victory. But it was just one battle that we won, not the war. The battle to preserve our driving freedom continues, and we must stop the momentum of those trying to impose mileage caps and mileage taxes.
(*”They never stop, they never sleep, they never quit” is a quote from the great Michael Walsh on the left’s dogged persistence in imposing their anti-freedom agenda on the rest of us.)
Good morning kids. Hope you all had an enjoyable Valentine's Day weekend. With that in mind we kick off the week with terrorism at home and abroad and how they are linked, politically and perhaps quite literally.
A short video clip filmed at the beginning of February has made its way onto social media, showing a pair of vacationing mothers from Alabama and their two 12-year-old daughters, who were confronted and terrorized by a knife-wielding man aboard a train in Brussels, Belgium.
Amanda Hardy, one of the mothers, later told reporters that a man emerged from the train car bathroom and approached them, first asking whether the women were American. He then asked, Hardy recounted, “‘Do you like ICE?’ And we did not respond to that. He then pulled out a knife – our estimation is about 18 inches long or so. He then threw down a jacket and a scarf on the ground, and that’s when he said, ‘F__ ICE, I can shoot too. I shoot faster than Americans.’”
. . .Hardy and Sucher reportedly believe this happened to them because they are American and because of their perceived political beliefs (hence the question about ICE). I think it’s clear that this is so. As for the perpetrator: the lack of even a rough description in the media, the presence of an 18-inch knife, the casual terrorizing of women and children in public… Add an unsympathetic police force to the mix, and all this points to the usual suspects – and it’s not indigenous French men.
Yes, and considering this is Belgium which will very soon become absorbed into the global Islamic ummah, it's most likely that the perpetrator was indeed a Muslim. And yet, something to me stinks on ice (pun intended). No doubt the situation in America and in particular Minnesota is getting global media coverage and so the perp was likely a swarthy third-worlder. But then again he could've been an American leftist who, upon hearing either the victim's southern accent or even a snippet of her conversation with her fellow travelers decided to snap into action.
A 23-year-old Frenchman has reportedly died after being severely beaten by Antifa terrorists during a violent confrontation in Lyon on the evening of February 12, according to local reports and messages shared on social media. The incident took place near Sciences Po Lyon in the city’s 7th district, where a conference was being held by Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing the ultra-left-wing party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed).
Members of the female-led anti-mass migration activist group Collectif Némésis had gathered outside the venue to protest Hassan’s appearance. Tensions reportedly escalated between them and counter-protesters described as far-left militants. The situation devolved into a street brawl.
A woman was captured on surveillance video attempting to set fire to a warehouse in Kansas City, Missouri, that had been rumored as a possible immigration detention facility. Footage shared by local outlet KMBC shows the woman, dressed in sandals, jeans, a short-sleeve black shirt, and carrying a small backpack, pouring an accelerant along the side of the building before striking a match. A second container of accelerant is visible near her feet.The warehouse is located within the 49 Crossing industrial complex and had previously been considered for sale for potential use by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an immigration detention center. However, the property owner, Platform Ventures, announced Thursday that it would not proceed with the sale. . . The arson attack comes amid heightened tensions nationwide over immigration enforcement and the expansion of detention facilities. In recent months, leftist activists have clashed with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at various sites across the country, including protests that escalated into confrontations outside detention facilities. Federal officials have also confirmed investigations into organized anti-ICE activist networks.
Eighth-grade students at a Minnesota middle school were taught in geography class that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents use “tricky & violent tactics,” and were given extra credit for watching a British-produced video on the problem of illegal immigration in the United States.
Materials obtained by Defending Education show that the students at Hermantown Community School were given a highly politicized lesson on illegal immigration and ICE operations. The materials included a PowerPoint that adopted left-wing talking points on immigration and a video produced by a British broadcaster on ICE operations in Chicago.
The instruction at the Duluth-area school took place in December 2025 and featured a PowerPoint where students were asked: “In what ways do people think the Ice agents have ‘gone too far’?”
. . . “It’s bad enough that this biased lesson is replete with falsehoods — but [for] the school principal to defend such garbage truly adds insult to injury,” she said. “Students are being force-fed ideological propaganda during finite lesson time (when they’re not being encouraged by activist teachers to walk out of their classrooms, that is) and told what to think, rather than how to think. It’s little wonder that families are fleeing the public education system in droves.”
Few organizations know more about leadership than the United States Army. Yet for years, the Army paid an outside consultant for instruction on the topic: A fly-by-night company co-founded by a Pakistani who sits on the board of an organization once linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Between 2021 and 2025, the Army Corps of Engineers shelled out $1.7 million across eight contracts to the vaguely-named Nonprofit Empowerment Group. The group is actually a for-profit, bare-bones operation configured to scoop up federal contracts using woman-owned “set-asides.”
And so it goes. The aforementioned gives you a PRETTI GOOD idea of how we wind up with Spenser Rapones and Nidal Hasans and other Guerrillas in our midst.
Have a great day.
And lastly, a quick shout-out and a huge thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.
Yes, in one sense these people are playing dress-up. But the incantations contained in these militant direct-action “spell books” are all very real. Minnesota Insurgency Needs to Be Addressed
Last week, Olivia Jensen stalked ICE agents around Rochester, Minn., harassing them while they tried to track down an illegal immigrant accused of child rape and murder. When an agent finally told her what kind of monster they were after, Jensen's response cut through every pretense the left hides behind: "No, I don't care.” Trump Derangement Syndrome Has Hit a Sick New Low
Roger Kimball: The deep state resists exposure—but not forever. Patience, persistence, and power may yet cauterize the Leviathan. How Deep Is the Deep State?
The February 13 memo, marked “For Official Use Only” and published on the New Hampshire governor’s website, states that the initiative is needed to address the agency’s orders from President Donald Trump to increase mass deportations. The program calls for eight “mega-centers” with a capacity of up to 10,000 detainees each. The $38.3 billion project is planned for completion by the end of November. ICE ‘Detention Reengineering’ Plan Will Expand Capacity, Speed Deportation of Criminal Aliens
Clinton wasn't the only Democrat in Munich struggling with optics. Rep. Titty Caca Ocasio-Cortez (D-imwit-N.Y.) and California Governor Gavin Newsom also faced criticism during their appearances. Both tried to present themselves as seasoned global leaders, but drew scrutiny for remarks that appeared tone-deaf and disconnected from global realities. Hillary’s Script, Interrupted
. . .tens of thousands of unmanned flights used to track Border Patrol agents, coordinate smuggling, and probe American airspace. . . calling the threat “rapidly evolving” as cartels expand their aerial surveillance capabilities. CBP: Cartels Flew 42,000 Drones near U.S. Border in FY25
The one tax that has never provoked a significant revolt keeps climbing higher. Sales-Tax Escalator
“A new National Bureau of Economic Research study confirmed what the numbers already showed: higher per-delivery pay was completely offset by fewer deliveries and lower tips. Active drivers saw zero net gain in monthly earnings.” Report Confirms Seattle’s 2024 ‘Gig Worker’ Law Has Been a Miserable Failure
FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES, CENSORSHIP, FAKE NEWS, MEDIA, BIG BROTHER TECH
Once synonymous with investigative dominance, the Washington Post now serves as a case study in how perceived partisanship and hubris can corrode credibility and audience trust. The Decline and Fall of the Washington Post
RED-GREENS, CLIMATE CHANGE HOAX, DEMOCRAT-LEFT WAR ON FOSSIL FUELS,
The U.S. government is dismantling the legal foundation of numerous climate protection measures from the era of President Barack Obama. Trump Buries Obama’s Climate Policy (Meh, it's undead and will be resurrected by he next Democrat who steals the election - jjs)
THE 2020 and SUBSEQUENT ELECTION HEISTS , SHENANIGANS/FRAUD and AFTERMATH
“About 83% of the American people, including a majority Democrats, support voter ID laws,” host Jake Tapper told Schumer during their exchange. Tapper was referring to an August 2025 Pew Research Center survey which also found that 71% of Democrats and 95% of Republicans support mandating “all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.” Chuck Schemer Vows To Fight Supposed ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ Bill With Policy 83% Of Americans Support
“Among the strangest casualties of the entire affair is Noam Chomsky...The moral and factual parameters of this entire issue have already been conclusively settled...Chomsky should be commended for seeing through the sham.” Noam Chomsky Was Right About Epstein
DEMOCRAT/LEFTIST AND RINO SCANDALS, MESHUGAS, CHUTZPOCRISY
California Republicans, long shut out, could shock the state: two GOP candidates are leading the jungle primary as Democrats splinter and voters crave common sense. Election 2026: California Republicans Have a Chance
Iran supposedly has some of the most advanced surveillance capabilities in the world, including tracking citizens through facial recognition software and mobile device and app monitoring. In 2019, a digital identity was created for citizens that forced them to register their phones and sim card numbers into a government database in order to have access to national mobile networks, according to The New York Times. Domestic banking and commerce services are also tied to a state registry, according to The New York Times. Iran Using Full Surveillance State To Crack Down On Anti-Regime Protests
Last month, the leftist coalition government announced that it would enact by Royal decree — thus skirting the need for a vote in the parliament — to grant residence permits to illegals who could demonstrate that they do not have a criminal record and have been in the country for at least five months. Nearly Seven in Ten Spaniards Oppose Socialist Government’s Illegal Migrant Amnesty Scheme
If America’s War Colleges teach politics instead of war, strategic failure is inevitable; restore warriors, not bureaucrats, and make winning—not credentials—the mission. Making the War Colleges Great Again
We deserve an agency that puts us first. The Veterans Bill of Rights will protect veterans from bureaucracy, neglect, and indifference. Why veterans need a VA bill of rights now
HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE
The changes reportedly form part of efforts to strengthen the management team and advance health policies ahead of the midterm elections. RFK Jr. Overhauls HHS Leadership.
The approval will allow SpaceX to do 25 launches per year (three of which are at night). The approval also appears to lay the groundwork for bringing Superheavy back not only to Boca Chica, but to Florida. It also lays the groundwork for bringing Starship back to Boca Chica after completing an orbital flight, to be caught by the tower chopsticks. FAA confirms “no significant impact” to environment for Starship/Superheavy at Boca Chica
FEMINAZISM, TRANSGENDER PSYCHOSIS, HOMOSEXUALIZATION, WAR ON MASCULINITY/NORMALCY
On Friday morning, the consistently pro-Nixon docents hadn’t heard about the important Feb. 8 story in The New York Times that describes a plot within the government to spy on the Nixon White House, with Navy Yeoman Charles Radford stealing documents and sending them to the Pentagon as insurance against budget and policy meddling from the person serving as the president of the United States. The Nixon Library Is Wrong About Nixon And The Deep State
From Tocqueville to Kuran, history’s lesson endures: regimes rarely fall at peak oppression, but when fear fades, private truths surface, and the cascade begins. Tocqueville Meets the Human Rights Campaign
ALSO: The Morning Report cross-posts at CutJibNewsletter.com usually within an hour or so of posting here, if you want to continue the conversation all day.
They don't need to hack you if they can convince you to hack yourself, usually by copying a command and running it in Windows Powershell - though the attack in the general case will work against any operating system, because the target is the human and not the machine.
Sunday Overnight Open Thread - February 15, 2026 [Doof]
—Open Blogger
Welcome to the Sunday ONT. Cupid has returned to wherever it is he dwells. Presidents' Day is tomorrow. It's still winter for a lot of us. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Let's just get into tonight's content.
TikTok creator Gray Davis has gone viral with a series of videos documenting the “raining iguanas” phenomenon in Florida — and then eating them.
When the Sunshine State experiences unusually cold weather, the cold-blooded reptiles can wind down their systems to conserve energy, and almost literally freeze up in the process. As they stiffen, the iguana popsciles will topple from their perch onto the ground.
While they may look dead, the iguanas are technically alive and will literally thaw back to normal once the weather warms.
***
Davis showed off the iguana he chose to use to make tacos, but he chose not to show the process of humanely dispatching and cleaning the iguana for its meat.
He shared that he found 20 eggs inside the iguana, “so by removing this one iguana, we actually saved the environment from over 20 iguanas come spring.”
***
He started the process of making the tacos, simmering the iguana meat in a pot with onion, garlic, a bay leaf and some salt.
He then soft boiled the iguana eggs to blend with avocado, garlic cloves, olive oil, salt and lime juice to make a sauce.
Putting the cooked meat into a frying pan with his favorite seasonings, Davis let the meat get crispy before adding it to the taco shell.
“Now that right there is a Florida man taco,” he quipped. “If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em.”
More at the link. Also a link to TikTok for those of you who are so inclined.
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Mind status = blown
After 25 years of using a computer now I know this
A hospital in southern France had to be evacuated after a bizarre and dangerous incident involving an artillery shell.
Late one Saturday night, a 24-year-old man showed up at the Rangueil Hospital in Toulouse complaining of intense abdominal pain. Medical staff soon discovered the shocking reason: he had inserted a World War I artillery shell into his rectum.
Doctors quickly moved to perform emergency surgery. During the operation, they identified the object as a live, 8-inch-long artillery shell from 1918. Due to the risk of detonation, the bomb squad and fire department were immediately called, and the hospital was evacuated as a precaution.
Authorities secured the area around the hospital while experts assessed the situation. Fortunately, the explosive—though old—was not considered an immediate threat and was safely removed by the disposal team.
The French man, who remained hospitalized to recover from the operation, will reportedly be questioned by police. He may face legal consequences for possessing and mishandling a Category A munition, which includes devices like the artillery shell found inside him.
Officials believe this may have been a reckless act, possibly tied to some sort of party stunt. Though unusual, this isn’t the first time a French hospital has faced such a situation. In 2022, a separate hospital in Toulon was partly evacuated when an 88-year-old man arrived with another World War I artillery shell in his body.
Did you read that last line? Previously an 88 year old dude did something similar? WTF, France?!?
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Up next, as a resident of MD, how was I not aware of this research going on here in the Old Line State?
Turns out, we fart way more than we thought. And thanks to a team of researchers at the University of Maryland, we now have some high-tech underwear confirming it.
Previously, scientists estimated the average person let out about 14 farts a day. But with the help of a newly developed device — informally dubbed “Smart Underwear” — that number has been updated to about 32 times a day. That’s more than double the earlier guess.
The device, which clips onto regular underwear, uses electrochemical sensors to track gas levels and hydrogen in real time — though it interestingly can’t capture data while the person is on the toilet.
Why does this matter? Because flatulence can actually offer clues about gut health, digestion, and even mental wellness. Some studies suggest that certain gases may play a role in conditions like Alzheimer’s and postpartum depression. But still — we fart a lot, and maybe more than we’re comfortable admitting.
The team launched this project in part because past data was often inaccurate. Self-reporting can be unreliable, and older testing methods weren’t very effective. Back in 2000, a gastroenterologist known as the “King of Farts,” Dr. Michael Levitt, admitted there was no objective way to track excessive gas. That’s changed.
King of Farts. Is there a queen? Prince or princess? Duke or duchess? As a MD taxpayer, I demand to know these things!
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How about some boozy content?
CBD has some questionable taste in music, but his taste in bourbon has proven to be stellar. He and I talk bourbon frequently, and we have given each other many recommendations of stuff to buy and also stuff to avoid. A few years ago, he had me hunting for a particular bourbon that I had never heard of. I was able to find a bottle for him, and he was nice enough to let me try some. It was very good, and apparently he is still a fan.
One of the first things you learn when you start drinking American whiskey is that bourbon is, of course, made from corn. The grain gives the liquor its signature sweetness that drinkers around the world have come to recognize and love.
Roughly 99 percent of corn grown in the United States is the high-yielding yellow dent variety, which almost all distillers use to make bourbon. If you drive through the midwest in the summer you’ll see acre after acre after acre of yellow dent stalks shimmering in the wind.
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Some pioneering American distillers are working with historians, agriculturalists and farmers to identify and grow heirloom varieties of corn suitable for whiskey.
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To help High Wire figure out what corn to grow, Roberts baked more than three dozen breads each made from a different variety of the grain. “We went through many of them, and then we got to a Jimmy Red Corn bread and he said, ‘this is the one that was famous for moonshine: James Island Red Corn” said Marshall.
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The accolades for their 100-percent Jimmy Red bourbon started pouring in before it even went into the barrel. After meeting Julian Van Winkle III, president of the legendary Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, they shipped him a flask of their unaged spirit.
“A few days later, I walk over to my desk and my phone has two missed calls and a text message from Julian,” Blackwell says. “He goes, ‘This is the best white dog I’ve ever had.’”
After aging in new American oak barrels, the whiskey emerged brimming with notes that Blackwell says ranged from peanut brittle and baking spice to blueberries. “I think of the difference between Jimmy Red and traditional yellow corn like white sugar versus Demerara sugar,” Blackwell says. “The sweetness you get from a number of yellow corn bourbons is kind of a one-note, but the sweetness you get from Jimmy Red has a richness and complexity that really stretches your brain to pinpoint it.”
So yeah, I have to give The Dildo credit for finding this damn fine bourbon.
Julian Van Winkle III is grandson of Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Sr. Check out the link for a bit of history and some explanation of how the Van Winkle line of bourbon has become so sought after.
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A bit more on the subject of bourbon. Two articles about Harry Truman and his favorite bourbon and his favorite recipe for an old fashioned.
It's that time of the week - when we turn the ONT over to our good friend Piper for a bit. Here's this week's fashion pr0n.
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Frosty Couture: The Chicest Olympic Kits at Milano Cortina 2026
From February 6 to 22, the opening ceremony at San Siro turned into a full-on runway moment, with countries serving cultural heritage, tech-savvy performance gear, and major style points. Milan being the host? Of course the vibes were elevated. Brands like Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani, and Moncler went all out.
Starting with the stars of the show: Team USA (because we're biased but also they nailed it). For the 10th time, Ralph Lauren delivered timeless Americana perfection. Think winter-white wool duffel coats with wooden toggles, cozy flag intarsia sweaters, and red-white-blue accents that offer patriotic without trying too hard. The closing ceremony vibes? Graphic color-blocked puffers and vintage ski energy—pure nostalgia with a modern twist.
You can snag your own pieces on the Ralph Lauren site (the toggle coat at $1998 is already sold out in women's).
Italy, as the hosts, went full poetic tribute to the late Giorgio Armani's legacy with EA7 Emporio Armani. All-white everything evoking those snow-capped peaks, oversized bomber jackets with heat-printed "Italia," tricolor knit collars (red-green-white, obvi), and even national anthem lyrics hidden inside. Classy, emotional, and chic.
France brought the artistry via Le Coq Sportif collab with Stéphane Ashpool. Ethereal topographic map inspo meets Olympic Truce vibes—soft gradients fading blue to pink/white, textured fabrics, and fluid lines that basically say "elegance in motion."
Great Britain kept it playful with Ben Sherman on ceremonial duties (Adidas handled performance). 1960s mod energy all the way: structured outerwear, zip-up sweaters, patterned coats, and oversized scarves rocking Union Jack elements. Formal? Yes. Fun? Absolutely.
Now, Team Canada with Lululemon... listen, they went bold. Deep reds, giant maple leaf motifs, quilted puffers that look like wearable art (or, let's be real, a very cozy Tim Hortons cup). Interesting is the polite word—we're here for the drama of it.
Brazil made a splash with Moncler (teaming up with Oskar Metsavaht) for their big return to Olympic uniforms after decades. Puffer-heavy everything—jackets, skirts, capes—in voluminous white with green-yellow-blue flag linings. Luxury winter maximalism at its finest.
And because we can't talk Olympics without a VIP moment: Usha Vance showed up supporting Team USA (and looking effortlessly put-together while pregnant—queen behavior). Her style during the trip leaned toward practical, elegant winter dressing—prioritizing warmth and sophistication while accommodating her pregnancy—with a focus on neutral tones, classic layers, and subtle patriotic touches.
Polo Ralph Lauren Team USA Wool Turtleneck Sweater in Cream Combo
The 2026 Games proved once again: Olympics fashion is where national pride gets a couture upgrade. I'm dying to know if you're team USA toggle coat or full Moncler puff!
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Thanks, Piper!
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DJ Doof - Guess The Theme
Medium-difficult on the easy/moderate/difficult scale.
What's the common thread / common meaning / common leitmotif?
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Tonight's ONT brought to you by tough choices
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Tonight's ONT was crafted with care by Doof Enterprises, LLC. As if you care.
Your feedback may or may not be very important to Doof Enterprises. Follow Mr. Doof on X @doof2112 or do the email thing – doof2112 at proton dot me.
Howdy, Y'all! Welcome to the wondrously fabulous Gun Thread! As always, I want to thank all of our regulars for being here week in and week out, and also offer a bigly Gun Thread welcome to any newcomers who may be joining us tonight. Howdy and thank you for stopping by! I hope you find our wacky conversation on the subject of guns 'n shooting both enjoyable and informative. You are always welcome to lurk in the shadows of shame, but I'd like to invite you to jump into the conversation, say howdy, and tell us what kind of shooting you like to do!
Holy Shitballs! How in the ever-loving hell did it get to be the Third February Edition? I usually write the Gun Thread on Saturday, but I sit here on Sunday, with approximately 0.0 words completed. Oops! I think I need to get busy!
Good news, however, on the weather front. Temps are now above freezing each day which is allowing all of the frozen shit to melt, which means I will be headed to the farm-o soon!
Also, I have a bunch of email in the 'ol mailbox that I need to address. Apologies for the delayed responses!
With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?
One reason I mention fundamentals each week because I am trying to make a point. If you want to become good at something - anything really - you need to practice, and the most efficient way to practice marksmanship is by first developing a plan for how best to utilize your range time (and expensive ammo) to achieve your goals. If you want to build correct and consistent fundamental marksmanship skills, you get there most efficiently through logical and methodical practice.
With me so far?
The very first thing you need to determine is why you're at the range in the first place. Are you there to practice and thereby improve your skills, or are you just there for funsies and camaraderie and to make some holes in the target? These are two very different things. One involves a goal and the other is a social event. If done properly, one can produce a desirable outcome and the other is, well, a social event.
So let me ask this question. What do you do when you get to the range, set up your stuff, and get ready to fire? Do you have a plan or do you just start shooting? If you have a plan, what is it? How do you identify areas that need additional work? What is your overall system for practice and training?
Examples of how you do things might serve as an example (good or bad) for others. Let us know in the comments!
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Unboxing a CMP 1911
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Jeweling a Rifle Bolt
Has anyone ever tried this? Looks like some special tools are required.
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Our Pal Kevlar
"Saved millions of lives" seems like a lot.
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#1 vs. #2
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Valentine's Day
WW delivers a valentine to FSJ and Gertie.
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Highway Patrol!
This week's episode: Witness Wife!
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Fire Maidens of Outer Space!!
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Here are some different online cigar vendors. You will find they not only carry different brands and different lines from those brands, but also varying selections of vitolas (sizes/shapes) of given lines. It's good to have options, especially if you're looking for a specific cigar.
A note about sources. The brick & mortar/online divide exists with cigars, as with guns, and most consumer products, with respect to price. As with guns - since both are "persecuted industries", basically - I make a conscious effort to source at least some of my cigars from my local store(s). It's a small thing, but the brick & mortar segment for both guns and tobacco are precious, and worth supporting where you can. And if you're lucky enough to have a good cigar store/lounge available, they're often a good social event with many dangerous people of the sort who own scary gunz, or read smart military blogs like this one. -rhomboid
Anyone have others to include? Perhaps a small local roller who makes a cigar you like? Send me your recommendation and a link to the site!
Please note the new and improved protonmail account gunthread at protonmail dot com. An informal Gun Thread archive can be found HERE. Future expansion plans are in the works for the site Weasel Gun Thread. If you have a question you would like to ask Gun Thread Staff offline, just send us a note and we'll do our best to answer. If you care to share the story of your favorite firearm, send a picture with your nic and tell us what you sadly lost in the tragic canoe accident. If you would like to remain completely anonymous, just say so. Lurkers are always welcome!
That's it for this week - have you been to the range?
Food Thread: The Maillard Reaction, And Other Glories Of Western Civilization...Like The Reuben!
—CBD
What to do when one's grill and patio are under a foot of snow? Reverse sear of course! That is a good supermarket NY Strip that I warmed in a 225 degree oven for about an hour, until it reached 110 degrees internal. Then into a ripping hot pan for a minute on each side, and that's it! I tossed some butter in for extra flavor, and while there is nothing wrong with butter, I'm not sure it needed it.
What I like about this technique is that there is almost no margin. The steak goes from crispy exterior to perfectly rare interior in a matter of a millimeter or so. NO gray band of overdone meat.
It's not foolproof...it is tempting to over sear it in the pan, and you will absolutely get an overdone steak. Less is definitely more in this case.
I have a sear station on my grill, and as soon as I shovel out the patio, I will be playing around with it to see whether it is a quicker and better way to get the glory of the Maillard Reaction on steak.
Lobstering seems like a tough way to make a living. It's not quite as dangerous as going for King Crab in the Bering sea, but it suffers the vagaries of economics of a luxury product that is also highly regulated by malignant retards in government.
I was going to snark about the stupidity of the article, but my guess is that Virginia wouldn't have minded it, so why should I
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I see this sort of article many times each week, and the combination of mostly nonsensical biomedical research, even dumber journalists trying to interpret the studies, and the very obvious klickbait makes me carefully avoid most of them. But I really like the premise of Dark Chocolate Relaxes Blood Vessels and Boosts Mood—How to Maximize Benefits, because obviously the way to maximize the benefits of dark chocolate is to eat dark chocolate, and I am solidly in favor of that.
But I'll let you in on a secret...I would still eat dark chocolate even if it wasn't of some health benefit. In fact, I would eat dark chocolate even if it were bad for me. Because it tastes good!
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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a restaurant called "Bishop G. Berkeley's," which served a kick-ass Reuben sandwich. Now, this was a long time ago, and my taste might not have been as attuned to food quality as it is now, so it might just have been a very, very large Reuben sandwich!
But even if that were true, it is a good idea for a sandwich, and with minimal effort one can make a very tasty approximation of a great one. So why bother with this amazingly stupid idea? Delicious Reuben Casserole not only sounds pretty crappy, it is a fair amount of work in comparison to constructing a traditional sandwich.
The real reason I am plaguing you with this silliness is that Misanthropic Humanitarian plagued me with it, and I will not suffer alone!
[Hat Tip: Misanthropic Humanitarian]
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This video was sent to me by a reader, who didn't include his nic, so I will call him "KM." I had seen the title on my YouTube feed, but ignored it because I figured it was nonsense, or an ad, or nonsense AND an ad.
But I watched it carefully and wow...it sure sounds like a great idea. Sadly, I do not have an instant pot, or even an old fashioned pressure cooker (the same thing), so I will have to decide whether I want to invest the $100+ just to see whether this stock is better than my own recipe.
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Sazeracs are great drinks, but only when made carefully by a solid bartender. The recipe is simple, but any deviation is fraught with danger, because the delicate balance between bitters and rye and sugar and absinthe is easily disturbed.
As for recipes? This ain't one! The Sazerac from Garden & Gun, which is usually a solid website, is terrifyingly hip and modern, and it should be discarded as an artifact of our decaying society.
A friend graciously gave me some genuine grown-in-the-USA garlic, and I tasted one clove and planted the rest, because my pathetic failure last year is an anomaly...right? I hope so, because it's in the ground (actually, a large pot), and it had better work this time!
In case it doesn't send all of your excellent home-grown garlic to: cbd dot aoshq at gmail dot com.
Rumor has it that the Bourbon Bubble is bursting. I have seen no evidence of decreasing prices, but maybe the bursting started somewhere else! I think the sweet spot is $40-$60 for excellent and interesting bottles, and bumping that to $100 gets you an incremental improvement in quality, but nothing mind-blowing. More than that and I think you are paying for hype and rarity, which may look good in your liquor cabinet, but doesn't translate to more quality in the bottle.
The problem...or the solution...is to buy lots of bourbon, take tasting notes, and eventually arrive at your favorites! It should take forty or fifty years, but it is worth it!
Amaryllis! We buy a couple of them every year from the high school band... or orchestra... or marching band. I have no idea. Some earnest and uncomfortable high school kid shows up at the door and asks whether we want to buy some flowers to finance their trip to Outer Mongolia or Poughkeepsie, and of course we say "yes."
Although...the last person to show up -- selling boxes of oranges -- we skipped the gift and just gave him some money!
Because look at the plant! It grew so quickly and produced so many flowers that it is limp. LIMP I say! I couldn't handle a box of limp oranges!
A Resounding And Powerful Defense Of Liberal Democracy, Market Economies, And Unabashed Nationalism And Patriotism
—CBD
It's difficult to overestimate the insidious destruction of our way of life over the last 100+ years. Beginning with the philandering progressive Woodrow Wilson's massive expansion of the administrative state, FDR's consolidation of government power in service to progressive ideals (also known as power!), and supported by the so-called conservatives of the Republican Party, we have been sliding into serfdom. Truman, Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Bush x2, Clinton, Obama, and the drooling figurehead Biden have all contributed to the diminution of our rights as a free people.
But the worm turns, and the election and reelection of Donald Trump has given us the rare opportunity to repair some of the possibly existential damage to our republic.
And there is no better representative of the ideals on which our country was founded than Marco Rubio, a shining example of when the man and the moment meet.
That infamous wall that had cleaved this nation into two came down, and with it an evil empire, and the East and West became one again. But the euphoria of this triumph led us to a dangerous delusion: that we had entered, quote, “the end of history;” that every nation would now be a liberal democracy; that the ties formed by trade and by commerce alone would now replace nationhood; that the rules-based global order – an overused term – would now replace the national interest; and that we would now live in a world without borders where everyone became a citizen of the world.
This was a foolish idea that ignored both human nature and it ignored the lessons of over 5,000 years of recorded human history. And it has cost us dearly. In this delusion, we embraced a dogmatic vision of free and unfettered trade, even as some nations protected their economies and subsidized their companies to systematically undercut ours – shuttering our plants, resulting in large parts of our societies being deindustrialized, shipping millions of working and middle-class jobs overseas, and handing control of our critical supply chains to both adversaries and rivals.
We increasingly outsourced our sovereignty to international institutions while many nations invested in massive welfare states at the cost of maintaining the ability to defend themselves. This, even as other countries have invested in the most rapid military buildup in all of human history and have not hesitated to use hard power to pursue their own interests. To appease a climate cult, we have imposed energy policies on ourselves that are impoverishing our people, even as our competitors exploit oil and coal and natural gas and anything else – not just to power their economies, but to use as leverage against our own.
And in a pursuit of a world without borders, we opened our doors to an unprecedented wave of mass migration that threatens the cohesion of our societies, the continuity of our culture, and the future of our people. We made these mistakes together, and now, together, we owe it to our people to face those facts and to move forward, to rebuild.
Marco Rubio has identified the issues with clarity and, more importantly, with a profound understanding of how corrosive the progressive movement has been. More impressively (if that is possible) he has welcomed all who believe in the power of limited government, fair markets, and love of country to join us in our efforts to roll back the evil of communitarian societies, and top-down control of our lives and livelihood.
He is already one of our best Secretaries of State, and with this declaration he has the opportunity to be a great one!
I am Sabrina Chase, semi-professional author and 'ette in good standing. I do not own a mansion or a yacht, but I'm working on it. (I'd prefer a castle and a submarine, actually.) After a discussion which probably relied heavily on alcohol and someone losing a game of Rock Paper Scissors, yours truly was invited to write the occasional post for the Book Thread. Having long been a fan, how could I say no?
But what could I write to amuse the Horde, that pile of self-randomizing cats with the most amazing breadth and depth of information on the internets? How about ... the Dark Secrets of the Writing World?
Allow me to present my credentials. I have written over 15 books in the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. While these were indie published, before that I was a typical trad-pub author in that I had an agent and was offered a contract by a well known publisher. (Which was so bad that when I turned it down my agent was HAPPY, but that's a post for another time.) But I did come out of the horrors with some knowledge of the brick-and-mortar publishing industry, as much as one can and still retain one's soul. Then I went to the Dark Side and it is true, it has cookies or at least more money and lots of authors generally helping each other, plus writing lots of cool books for you, dear readers!
Do not fear. I will not be going into the terrifying process of writing (but should you be interested in that topic, allow me to point out the info in the left sidebar of this very site for the AoSHQ Writers Group!) Instead, I will talk about the journey that starts once the book is written, and why some truly perplexing things can happen on the way.
There are two main systems, still fighting it out like Montagues and Capulets. Traditional publishing (TradPub) and Indie. Think of it like giant but slow dinosaurs vs. tiny scampering mammals. Strangely, some of the odd behaviors are the same!
Why does the cover make no sense? That didn't happen in the book?
Yes, well. koff In TradPub, that was probably because the cover description was never seen by the author, or the editor, or anyone who had, you know, actually read the book. Instead someone in Marketing read a listicle on Instagram about how green industrial backgrounds signal Deep Thoughts and voila, your romantic robot thriller now has a picture of a green garage door on the cover. (This Really Happened.)
[This may verge too close to self-promotion but this *is* a cool cover that my artist created with creative freedom]
In the Indie world, that was probably because the author was dirt poor, couldn't find anything closer in the free art bin, or is allergic to AI. Or the marketplace they want to sell on doesn't allow AI art. Also, and it pains me to admit it, authors are not artists. We use words. Pretty pictures confuse and frighten us and we don't know how to make them or tell other people how to make them. It took me YEARS to figure out the best way to get cool covers from my artist was to just hand him the book and say "go nuts."
Why did my favorite author never complete Series?
(TradPub) Usually, the preceding books didn't bring in the predicted buckets of cash. Note I did not say "didn't sell". Just it didn't sell well enough. Also the editor that supported the series retired/died/was replaced by someone who hates the author, series, and anything connected to them.
(Indie) Oh, we have lots of reasons. Some of them are even good ones!
a) distracted by the three other series projects we have going, b) it didn't sell because we used the cheap green garage door cover and readers couldn't tell it was a cool robot romance thriller, c) author thought they would make millions with no effort and gave up when that didn't happen, d) author gave up because readers never found the book or left reviews when they did find it and won't someone think of the authors! (Sorry. It's a touchy subject.)
Really? Then what the hell happened to that Very Large Author who wrote something that sounded like "Frame of Groans" that still hasn't finished? He sure didn't get any green garage door covers!
Even TradPub can't put lipstick on a nonexistant pig. And the reasons why Very Large Author (VLA) hasn't finished that series are ... writing style, and payoff. VLA is an outliner. Everything has to be planned out ahead of time. Which means if you made a plot oopsie in book 2 of a series that comes back to bite you in book 24, you're holed below the waterline because you can't go back and fix a book already published. (Indie authors are nervously glancing about right now ...)
So why did the Very Young Wizard series books get progressively thicker (and possibly less good)?
Because British Author(with a castle) was making the publishers cargo ships of money and no editor had the leverage to tell BA(wc) to tidy her work. And this happens to lots of authors, and lots of series, and sadly to Indie as well as TradPub. If it sells, there's less incentive to polish. More to get the next book out fast instead.
So! I hope you found these Dark Secrets entertaining. Please let me know in the comments if there are other topics you would like me to write about!
You can also download just a 1.9MB installer that grabs the Flash files on demand from the archive, saving you rather a lot of disk space.
It's now in its 14th edition.
What Flashpoint does, mostly - apart from the obvious function of collecting over 200,000 games together in one place - is create and operate a fake internet on your PC for you so that twenty-year-old games from sites that have been dead for a decade will continue to work.
I certainly hope so. "Safety" in AI terms means censorship.
One source said, "Safety is a dead org at xAI," while the other said that Musk is "actively is trying to make the model more unhinged because safety means censorship, in a sense, to him."
"Safety" in AI means censorship to everyone, in every sense.
The only difference is whether you think censorship is a good thing or not.
Taking toxic blends to an extreme, Ars Technica posted an article (Wayback Machine) on that AI agent that threw a tantrum when its code contributions were rejected.
Journalistic integrity aside, I don't know how I can give a better example of what's at stake here. Yesterday I wondered what another agent searching the internet would think about this. Now we already have an example of what by all accounts appears to be another AI reinterpreting this story and hallucinating false information about me. And that interpretation has already been published in a major news outlet, as part of the persistent public record.
I don't know I'd call Ars Technica a major news outlet in 2026 - or for the past several years, except possibly for their space news which has remained mostly good.
At least not more so than Anandtech, a site that has been dead for more than a year.
Saturday Night Club ONT - February 14, 2026 [2 D's]
—Open Blogger
Welcome to the Valentine's Day 2026 edition of Club ONT - a collaboration of The Disco and The Dino. No "Double" theme for us tonight. Don't want to send the wrong message on this particular day.
The Club hopes your day has been filled with love. Or maybe you came here tonight looking for love? We did our best to decorate and make it feel like a high school mixer. Just please don't do anything that would make the tables any more wobbly than usual.
Have you heard of magnetic attraction between two people? Perhaps, but this seems like the least romantic way to spend quality time with your loved one.
Prof. Ida Sabelis and her partner Joep were a young Dutch couple who never imagined they would find themselves having sex inside an MRI machine as part of a groundbreaking scientific study. They happened to know the right people at the right time. Their close friend, Dutch scientist Menno Victor "Pek" van Andel, wanted to answer a basic question that had barely been studied: what the anatomy of sexual intercourse actually looks like from the inside.
Inside the narrow, noisy MRI scanner, the couple were instructed to maintain a fixed position while the system captured a series of relatively slow scans lasting several seconds each. The conditions were far from comfortable, but the results were clear.
For the first time, medicine could observe in real time how sexual organs align and function during intercourse, documentation that had never previously existed.
Following the initial experiment, researchers conducted a structured study that systematically examined the anatomy of sex using MRI technology. Volunteers aged 18 and older took part in 13 scans involving eight couples and three women, imaged both during intercourse and during sexual arousal without penetration.
All scans were conducted in the missionary position, and participants were free to stop at any point. None did. Source.
I Can't Help Falling in Love with You
Every Breath You Take feels brand new
I Wanna Dance with Somebody all night long
Your Body Is a Wonderland, where I belong
Baby One More Time and I'm completely gone
Ain't No Mountain High Enough to keep me from
(You're) Still the One after all these years
Let's Get It On and banish all my fears
I Will Always Love You, it's tragically true
Oops!...I Did It Again-fell harder for you
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The Club ONT Jukebox
Some tunes for various stages of love.
When you're smitten but the reasons are unclear
When you're in love but kinda wish you weren't
When you're all alone but looking for love
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Top 10ish Comments of the Week
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Club ONT Valentine's Day brought to you by Geddy
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Club ONT's insurance coverage explicitly excludes dispensing relationship advice. We apologize for any inconvenience. A girl named Lucy van Pelt says she is a psychiatrist and has set up a booth next door. She charges a flat fee of five cents. No refunds.
In America, Park Chan-wook will probably never be known for anything other than Oldboy. He had made four films previously in Korea (the first two he wishes he’d never made, but they do exist, think of how much Kubrick tried to suppress and even destroy Fear and Desire), but it was his third, Joint Security Area that established his career as a filmmaker in Korea. It was hugely successful and essentially gave him a blank check to do whatever he wanted.
What he did was called the Vengeance Trilogy, three disconnected films all dealing with central characters and their efforts at vengeance. Oldboy is the second of the three (surrounded by Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Lady Vengeance), and it came about in the early 2000s, right at the time websites like Ain’t It Cool News were still somewhat relevant. The burgeoning American cinema fans (mostly male and obsessed with genre) latched onto it and gave it oxygen, helped even more by the fact that Quentin Tarantino was a big fan who helped award it the Grand Prix award at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival where he was jury president.
It’s a violent, Greek-inspired tale of bloody vengeance from a man who was mysteriously placed in a secret, private prison for 15 years and then given a few days to figure out why, and it captured the imaginations of the film fan community at the time.
And...Park has kind of fallen off the American cineaste map since. There was a blip with The Handmaiden, but movies like Decision to Leave, his television work like The Little Drummer Girl or The Sympathizer get mostly ignored, drowned out in favor of more maintstream American movies. And that’s going to create a deeply warped view of who Park Chan-wook is as a filmmaker.
Before getting to how he tells his stories, what are they? Well, they're mostly intersections of romance (often in a style that could be called baroque) mixed with violence. Both need to be there. They don't exist in isolation. They are interrelated.
From the sexual relationship between the kidnappers in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance that goes wrong (violently) to the more mature spousal romance between Man-su and his wife in No Other Choice, which the character must preserve through violence, these films see romance usually enhanced through the application of violence.
How that operates is usually the violence is necessary to keep the relationships going. The killing of those between Oh Sae-du and his goal in Oldboy which is also how he connects with Mi-do. The investigation of Seo-rae's husband's death which brings her together with the policeman Hae-jun in Decision to Leave. The killing of a bully in Stoker that brings India and her uncle Charlie together (this is less overtly romantic). And then there's there are the two peaks of the idea, Thirst, the story of the Catholic Priest Sang-hyun who becomes a vampire because of a blood transfusion and finds materialistic pleasures with Tae-ju, wife of a friend, and then the main characters in The Handmaiden, the Japanese lady Izumi and the Korean handmaiden Sook-hee who have to overcome Izumi's overbearing uncle (by marriage) who desires her and the fraudulent Count Fujiwara to end up together.
In all of these stories, they must commit violence, and the committing of violence is what strengthens the relationships. And they don't have to be necessarily romantic in nature. I did lump Stoker in with that group because it exists on a borderline (it's just completely unconsummated), but Joint Security Area is all about platonic friendship between men and the violence that both deepens their bonds and actually ends up driving them apart at the same time. It's the violence that enhances things, and it's key to the point of all of his films.
There are other variations, though, like with Lady Vengeance where the necessity of violence actually drives the titular character away from her daughter (the Vengeance Trilogy's contemplation on the different aspects of vengeance is actually quite interesting as a package).
It's the violence that brings together, that keeps together, and that even enhances the romance, and the violence is often justified. The Vengeance Trilogy is named thusly because most of the violence is vengeance, in response to previous wrongdoing. However, this can be where the dark comedy pops in, but that's more of a stylistic question. So…
Style
I started this run having seen most of his works already. I hadn't seen the first two he's disowned (The Moon is-The Sun's Dream and Trio), the romantic comedy I'm a Cyborg but That's Okay, or his most recent, No Other Choice. So, upon watching everything in order, I already knew the ebbs and flows of Park's filmmaking style. What struck me quite soon after starting up Oldboy once more was that it's remarkably different in feel from the rest of his body of work.
There's an activity to Oldboy, to how Park presents action in the frame, and an element of stuffing the narrative to the brim with activity that his other films don't have. The rest (save, perhaps, I'm a Cyborg) are far more spare, telling simpler stories in more measured tones (more measured, not completely measured). Even immediately around Oldboy, the two other Vengeance movies, things just feel quieter, less like Park is barely controlling chaos and more like he's precisely moving pieces around a chessboard.
I contrast that to what is probably his most diametrically opposite film, Decision to Leave, an incredibly restrained tale of passion and murder that sees almost no direct violence, and even then when it does show its few moments (or the results of off-screen violence), Park keeps the camera very steady and, within motion, smooth.
When thinking about the rest of his work, it trends much more towards the filmmaking style of Decision to Leave rather than Oldboy. The smooth crane moves of Thirst, the implied violence of The Handmaiden, and the restrained denouement of No Other Choice just fit the model of filmmaking that Decision to Leave represents better than Oldboy.
The Point
Do you know how people compare every Martin Scorsese movie to Goodfellas? How people say that Scorsese just keeps trying to replicate his early 90s gangster movie? Even though the movies in that vein represent less than a fourth of his entire body of work? If you expect every Martin Scorsese movie to be Goodfellas, will you accept, as a viewer, something so radically different like The Age of Innocence, Kundun, Silence, or The Irishman? Most people seem to have really hard times accepting Scorsese working in spheres that aren't exclusively like Goodfellas.
And I fear that's happening with Park. Oldboy will probably always be his best known movie (it's not his most successful at the box office, that would be No Other Choice, but the numbers are small and insignificant overall in the US), but if you hear about the extreme violence, the ending's extremes, or the stuffed nature of the film and recoil from it, are you willing to check out any of the others? If all of that appeals to you, but you find out that Thirst is significantly quieter and less outwardly violent, will that push you away?
Proper representation of an artist is important, I think. That's not always their best known work. Fritz Lang is another example where the most famous movie he made (Metropolis) is weirdly unrepresentative of his whole body of work (go with The Testament of Doctor Mabuse or Die Nibelungen: Kriemheld's Revenge or even Western Union for better examples). The right representative example not only exemplifies any intentional thematic concerns but also the style in which they tell stories, and sometimes just the kinds of stories themselves.
All of Park's movies are combinations of romance and violence. How restrained is a variable. On the one end would be Decision to Leave, very restrained, and on the other would be The Handmaiden, which is very explicit (at least in regard to the sex). How frank with the romance (one can say relationships if applied to Joint Security Area which has no romance) and the violence creates this tapestry where none of Park's films feel like repetitions, but they are all still obviously made by the same accomplished filmmaker. A proper foundation from which to start understanding him could help new audiences find their way through a filmmaker who may interest them, if they're not guided astray on accident.
That's not to say that Park is for everyone. The foreign nature of his storytelling (not to mention the actual foreign language) represents a barrier for many people even before getting to the subject matter. However, I just feel like his most famous film could end up either a barrier itself or offer up a false expectation of what else is to come from him. It's less an academic exercise about properly cataloging things and more about setting a stage properly. ` Movies of Today
Joint Security Area (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "Assured, accomplished, clear-eyed in unwinding a mystery through point of view, and sometimes quite beautiful to simply look at (there's a great scene in the snow as two squads face each other), all while being surprisingly touching, Joint Security Area is the announcement that Park has really arrived this time after a couple of false starts." [Personal Collection]
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Rating 3/4) Full Review "It has a surprising emotional element to it as motives fray in the face of unforeseen events, and the ironic ending fits surprisingly well, offering a payoff to what felt like a random line from earlier." [YouTube]
Oldboy (Rating 4/4) Full Review "This is peak Park Chan-wook. It's a noticeable step up from everything he's made so far, the marriage of material and Park's filmmaking style. That combination of baroque romance, Greek tragedy, and blackly comic situational awareness that creates this tragic but endlessly entertaining package." [Personal Collection]
Lady Vengeance (Rating 3/4) Full Review "It does feel like something of a step back, a decision late made by a less assured filmmaker than the one who made his last movie, but overall, Park ends the Vengeance Trilogy on a high note." [Kanopy]
Thirst (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "A film with a moral question at its centered, manifested by a character, who has to go through darkly comic events in a genre setting with excellently composed shots from beginning to end? Yes, this is why I love Park Chan-wook so much." [Personal Collection]
Stoker (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "And the movie mostly exists on vibes. They're kind of terrifying, horrifying vibes that Park manages with cool formalism to ease the audience into, but this is the story of the creation of a monster in the end." [Personal Collection]
The Handmaiden (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "This is a notch or so below it because of the self-indulgence, I think, but it's still a demonstration that Park really knows how to craft a character-based story for film with great looking visuals all with that extra oomph of edging into the extreme." [Amazon Prime]
Decision to Leave (Rating 4/4) Full Review "However, the investment over time ends up worthwhile to find what, I think, is Park's most deeply felt and most wonderfully made film. Is this his masterpiece? Well, hopefully he'll work for decades more and make even more great films, but for now-I think this may be it." [Personal Collection]
No Other Choice (Rating 3.5/4) Full Review "I suspect that this film is going to grow on me with time." [Theater]
Contact
Email any suggestions or questions to thejamesmadison.aos at symbol gmail dot com.
I've also archived all the old posts here, by request. I'll add new posts a week after they originally post at the HQ.
My next thread will be on 3/7 and it will discuss the discussion of movies.
Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) a spin and it landed on stained glass.
[Top photo: Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church (Springfield, Ohio)]
As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. Discussion of current events, religion and politics can elsewhere. Pants are optional. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.
Play nice. Don't be a troll and do not feed the trolls.
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Are you wise in the ways of making projects with stained glass? Do you restore old stained glass? Would you like to try?
Do you have any stained glass treasures or trinkets?
Do you have favorite churches or other locations that feature stained glass?
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Ambitious first stained glass project!
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Soldering skills:
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Making stained glass spinners:
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Japanese stained glass mastery:
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How to cut glass:
Tech (water jet cutter) versus cutting by hand:
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Victoria and Albert Museum project:
Restoring a broken and damaged window:
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Trinity Church stained glass:
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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did an decoupage and resin theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.
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Notable comments from last week:
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Words of wisdom:
"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).
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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute your own. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.
Their relatives live inside volcanos in Ireland. When their fur becomes too thick and scruffy and it becomes excessively warm in their dens, they erupt from the tops of the mountains and fly across the land covering the land in a thick dense fur called "tephra" that can be many meters thick. If they have inadvertently been fed Taco Bell in ritual food offerings, their shedding is called "pyroclastic flows" or "pyroclastic surges" depending upon the bean content of the offerings. The Irish have come to an understanding with these beings and have adopted them as "pets". They are, naturally, called "Irish Wolves Dread These Beings and Their Horrid Smothering Blankets" or by the shortened version, "Irish Wolfhounds". There are 72% more of these creatures featured in the book "Selinon" which must be true as it is clearly stated in the literature.
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In Hawaii the ash is sometimes referred to as "Pele's hair" but the Irish know better. This is what they do with the fur. A picture is attached.
WOW. Amazing!
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I downsized this a bit, so hopefully will work. This is Patsy, the latest cat. I estimate she's 5-6 months old and weighs 8 pounds. Went through the spay without problems and is recovering. She has taken to being inside pretty well. She loves my dog Jake but does not care for the other two cats.
I post as Notsothoreau
“Throw out the radio and take the fiddle down from the wall.”
— Andrew Nelson Lytle, Tennessee, 1930
Well, looks like Patsy is off to a fairly good start. Get those treats out when she's around the other two cats. Hope it helps. Thanks for adopting her!
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Thank you for sharing your pets and animal photos and stories with us today.
If you would like to send pet and/or animal stories, links, etc. for the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, the address is:
petmorons at protonmail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.
Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, Holiday Weekend
—K.T.
Happy Valentine's Day! It's also Washington's Birthday Weekend, and if you are stuck indoors, here are some old-fashioned bouquets to remind you of his era.
Dobbin House Tavern, Feb. 6
To chase away the bitter‑cold winter blues, we offer a glimpse of summer from the Dobbin House gardens. Each week, we gather and arrange fresh blooms for the deep, inset windows of Rev. Dobbin's 18th‑century stone home - - now the cozy setting where our guests enjoy menus of fine food and drink.
We like to imagine that Isabella Dobbin herself filled these very rooms with similar, homemade arrangements in 1776, brightening her household just as they brighten ours today. With the Gettysburg countryside blanketed in white, viewing this burst of color gives us comfort, as it promises warmer days ahead. We hope it brings a little warmth and cheer to you as well.
By-Tor bottled up his sauerkraut (see Jan. 17 post) on Jan. 31:
My sauerkraut has been fermenting for 24 days now so time to jar it for the upcoming LA County Fair in May. You can ferment it for months if you want; it gradually becomes more sour and softer. This is the right amount of sourness and crunch I like.
Next up- bread and butter pickles, applesauce, and naturally fermented dill pickles.
Recipe:
Make a brine of 3.5% saltwater using kosher or any un-iodized salt. I use grams. So for example 35g of salt in 1000ml of hot water until it’s dissolved. There is no specific amount to make; you just need enough to cover the cabbage. Use as much cabbage as you want.
Shred or buy pre-shredded cabbage. Put that in a food grade plastic or glass container. Cover with the brine. Use a plate or similar to push the cabbage below the surface. Cover loosely with a lid. Leave it on the counter. In about 4 days it will start turning beige. In about 8 days it will start turning sour. You can start eating it whenever you want. I think 3-4 weeks is best.
You might see a white flakes on the surface. That’s yeast. It’s harmless but off-flavor. Skim it off. It’s normal in fermentation.
When you’re ready, put it in jars. Jars going in the fridge don’t have to be sealed. Jars for the shelf need to be water bath canned in Mason jars to seal the lids. It will stay good pretty much for years.
It’s going to taste different than most store bought sauerkraut that uses vinegar to create the sourness. It has a more natural flavor.
The recipe for naturally fermented pickles is the same except do 4% and use whole pickling cucumbers. They take about 6 days.
Looks great! Good luck at the fair.
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By-Tor, Feb. 2:
It’s pickling and fermenting day to get ready for the LA County Fair. Bread and butter pickles are done; then a jar of cucumbers in a 3.5% saltwater brine with garlic and fresh dill to start fermenting into dill pickles. These should be ready in six or seven days.
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They look great, too! Interesting bottles!
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Adventure
From Sharon(willow's apprentice)
I got to spend Christmas with my son, DIL and 4 yr old grandson on the Dutch island of Bonaire. Located off the coast of Venezuela, it is 82 degrees all year round, 70's at night.The little town is very colorful and looks like a classic beach town.Most of the island is an eco preserve where there is a flamingo breeding ground and a donkey sanctuary. There is no fishing allowed and the reef is literally off shore so you can walk in from the beach and snorkel. It is extremely dry and although there are extensive gardens, there was watering hoses all around the plantings. So many different textures and vibrant colors. The air was so clean. It just felt so unspoiled.
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Glorious! Anyone recognize one of the flowers there?
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Gardens of The Horde
What's going on in your garden?
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Hope everyone has a nice looong weekend.
If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:
ktinthegarden at g mail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.
Podcast: CBD and J.J. Sefton ramble about CO2, how Epstein's mess has crossed the Atlantic, the future dismal prospects for the UK, CA tax lunacy, To The Moon Elon!, the NFL, and more!
Podcast: J.J. Sefton and CBD discuss the outrageous denial of legitimate, constitutionally-mandated federal activity by the blue states, China's army is purged, the Democrat playbook never changes, the Donroe Doctrine, 20cm artillery shells, and more!
Podcast:Jim Lakely of The Heartland Institute joins us for a wide-ranging discussion of Heartland's recent Anti-Davos initiative: The World Prosperity Forum. We also discuss MN's all-encompassing graft, free markets as an antidote to misery, the truth behind the ICE riots in Minneapolis, and more!
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