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
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
All Nine Antifa/Trantifa Terrorsts Convicted by Federal Court; This is the First Time Antifa/Trantifa Has Been Convicted of Domestic Terrorism
—Disinformation Expert Ace
The terrorist attack took place on July 4, 2025. Wikipedia calls this clear domestic terror attack an "incident."
The 2025 Alvarado ICE facility incident, alternately the Prairieland ICE detention center incident, occurred at the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, United States, on the evening of July 4, 2025. Officials say that eleven individuals, some in black clothing or body armor, set off fireworks and vandalized parked vehicles and a guard structure outside the center. A person in a nearby wooded area allegedly opened fire with a rifle after local police responded; an Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck and released from the hospital a short time later. Eleven individuals were arrested soon afterward; within the ensuing month, the alleged shooter was arrested after a manhunt, and five alleged associates were arrested.
On October 16, 2025, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed terrorism charges against two suspects, and in a social media post, United States Attorney General Pam Bondi said the two men were part of "antifa", which she characterized as a "left wing terrorist organization." Major media organizations said this is the first time the DOJ has charged anyone with terrorism in connection with alleged antifa activities, mirroring statements made by FBI director Kash Patel. In October, an eighteenth person was arrested on a state charge of aiding in the commission of terrorism.[3] In January 2026, a nineteenth person was arrested. Supporters of the defendants refer to them as the Prairieland 19.
Several defendants say they believed they were attending a peaceful "noise demonstration" and had no knowledge of any planned violence.
In a first, nine Texas Antifa members found guilty on federal terror charges
In a historical first, nine people have been convicted by a federal jury on domestic terrorism charges connected to Antifa.
The group was accused of being a part of the North Texas Antifa Cell, and was found guilty of rioting, using weapons and explosives, providing material support to terrorists, obstruction, and attempted murder, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas announced Friday evening.
The group was convicted of the attempted murder of an Alvarado, Texas, police officer and correctional officers at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center occurring on July 4, 2025.
The convictions came after a 12-day trial beginning Feb. 23, which included 45 witnesses and more than 210 exhibits.
The first conviction of its kind comes six months after The Center Square asked President Donald Trump if he would designate Antifa a domestic terror organization following the rise of left-wing political violence. In response, the president officially designated the group a terror organization a week later.
Several Antifa cells in Europe have since been designated foreign terror organizations.
Before that: Actor Jerry O'Connell said his wife and daughters became physically violent when he said that the Democrats should have had a primary rather than coronate sure-loser Kamala Harris.
He wasn't even saying he supported Trump. He was a bitter Democrat angry that the party had shot itself in the foot.
And for this, his wife and daughters began cursing him and became physical.
The Vigilant Fox 🦊
@VigilantFox
Jerry O'Connell reveals his liberal daughters were "filled with RAGE" and "became PHYSICAL" with him when he criticized Kamala Harris as a candidate.
O'CONNELL: "If I say this, will I stay married? Blow it over here."
MAHER: "Sounds like you're going to blow it over here."
O'CONNELL: "The night of the [2024] election... I was watching late at night, the returns, and I'll be honest with you, I didn't think Trump was going to win. I live in California. I didn't think he was going to win from what I was hearing."
"I said something along the lines of, like, 'There was no planning.' 'This is what they get.' 'There should have been a primary.'"
"I said something along those lines. I was just spitballing ideas as to--it was a shock, you know?"
"My wife and daughters, without saying anything, became physical with me. They were filled with rage."
"So if I am being careful with you in how I say things... I live with not one, not two, but three people who, if I made any kind of joke, they'd become very angry with me, you know?"
Once O'Connell said this, Maher saw a man who had completely lost control of his household.
He bluntly told him that living in fear of your own family's reactions is no way to live:
"I don't want to tell you how to live your life, but I couldn't live that way... I say what I truly think. And if it makes you angry, I'm sorry, we'll have to work that out."
"I am not going to tuck my tail between my legs and just shut the f*ck up."
On to the Oscars. Conan O'Brien announced the Oscars would be political, and cracked a joke about TPUSA in telling conservatives to watch "the Alternative Oscars."
Conan O'Brien takes a cheap shot at TPUSA's All-American Half Time show while hosting The Oscars.
Conan O’Brien: “It’s the first time since 2012 that there are no British actors nominated for best actor. A British spokesperson said well at least we arrest our pedophiIes.”
The UK literally covered up muslim rape gangs for years and let pedos roam freepic.twitter.com/8HR5gEHoKm
Jane Fonda talking to the ultragay "reporter" who asks nothing but political questions and about how gay movies are.
It's worth remembering that the Oscars are literally the DEI Oscars, as any film nominated for an award must satisfy a laundry list of DEI requirements.
‘One Piece’ actress Charithra Chandran demands ceasefire in Gaza- despite a ceasefire for the past 6 months.
“What we are demanding is a ceasefire in Gaza and I think I am so blessed to have a platform and this is the least I can do to use it.” pic.twitter.com/LCmfveTS50
The New Ayatollah is Probably Gay and What Is Even More Disqualifying, He's Also Dead
—Disinformation Expert Ace
A week or two ago, a story ran in the Daily Mail stating that Moqtaba Khamenei had to go to a clinic to cure his impotency. He could not get his wife pregnant, the story went.
President Trump was stunned to learn last week that US intelligence indicates new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei may be gay -- and that his father, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, feared his suitability to rule the Islamic Republic for that reason, The Post can reveal.
Trump couldn't contain his surprise and laughed aloud when he was briefed on the intel, according to sources.
Others in the room also found it "hilarious" and joined the president's reaction, while one senior intelligence official "has not stopped laughing about it for days," said one person familiar with the briefing.
The shocking claim was described to The Post by two intelligence community officials and a third person close to the White House.
All three sources say the implausible-sounding allegation is viewed as credible by US spy agencies, rather than false information intended to undermine Khamenei, 56, who was selected to replace his dead father as supreme leader on March 8.
Two of the sources said the intelligence indicated that Mojtaba, who earned the nickname "the power behind the robes" while serving as his aging dad's gatekeeper, has had a long-term sexual relationship with his childhood tutor.
The power bottom under the robes more like
The third source said the intelligence indicated the affair was with a person who formerly worked for the Khamenei family.
Mojtaba, who is believed to have been wounded in the same Feb. 28 airstrike that killed his father and other members of his family, has made "aggressive" sexual overtures to men caring for him, possibly while under the influence of heavy medication, one of The Post's sources said.
US spy agencies do not have photographic evidence of Mojtaba Khamenei's alleged sexual attraction to men, but the sources insisted the tip is solid, with one saying it was "derived from one of the most protected sources that the government has."
...
Mojtaba's purported sexual orientation had been whispered about inside Iran since at least the May 2024 helicopter crash that killed then-President Ebrahim Raisi, Ali Khamenei's presumed favorite to be the next supreme leader, sources said.
...
Some elements of Mojtaba Khamenei's sex life have been reported before and may lend credence to the allegation.
A classified US diplomatic cable from 2008, published by WikiLeaks, described Mojtaba being treated in the UK for impotence, though that report did not identify what may have caused the condition.
The State Department file says Mojtaba married "relatively late in life" -- around age 30 -- "reportedly due to an impotency problem treated and eventually resolved during three extended visits to the UK, at Wellington and Cromwell Hospitals, London."
"Mojtaba was expected by his family to produce children quickly, but needed a fourth visit to the UK for medical treatment; after a stay of two months, his wife became pregnant," the leaked file said.
...
Homosexual conduct is illegal in Iran, though the government does allow surgical sex change operations, which some gay men reportedly are pressured into undergoing to avoid criminal penalties.
Sodomy is a capital offense in the nation of 93 million people, with some gay Iranians infamously hanged from construction cranes as a warning to others.
"In Iran, we don't have homosexuals," former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is believed to be an ally of the younger Khamenei, claimed in 2007.
Iran's new Supreme Leader is unaware of the ongoing war in the Middle East and does not know he is the Islamic Republic's new leader, according to a new report.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following his assassination on February 28.
He is reportedly in a coma at the Sina University Hospital in Tehran following an airstrike, according to a source in Tehran.
Due to his condition, he does not know of the ongoing war, the death of his family members, including his wife and son and of his own election as Supreme leader, the source said.
Mojtaba is also reportedly in intensive care and surrounded by security officials, while a large section of the hospital has been sealed off to guard Iran's Supreme Leader.
It is unclear whether Mojtaba was injured in the same air strikes which killed his 86-year-old father.
A separate source told The Sun through secret messages sent to an exiled dissident based in London: 'One or two of his legs have been cut off. His liver or stomach has also ruptured. He is apparently in a coma as well.'
President Trump on Mojtaba Khamenei: “A lot of people are saying that he's badly disfigured. They’re saying that he lost his leg... Other people are saying he’s dead. Nobody is saying he’s 100% healthy, and he hasn’t spoken... we don’t know if he’s dead.”pic.twitter.com/723pzlZaC4
I don't know why they picked this guy. I saw speculation by Tousi, which sounded like a joke, that the guy they picked as "leader" was already conveniently dead so that they couldn't kill him again. And of course to hide the real new "Supreme Leader."
Adding to the evidence that Mojtaba is dead: Iran is claiming Bibi Netanyahu is dead.
🚨 JUST IN: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu posts humorous PROOF OF LIFE video after people theorized — with zero evidence — he was dead
Axios "Journalist:" The White House Says That Everything Tucker Carlson Is Saying Is Bullshit
—Disinformation Expert Ace
Marc Caputo
@MarcACaputo
The online chatter about @TuckerCarlson looked like quite a story: he was being spied on by the CIA & knowing that, Trump treated him as a useful idiot by feeding him disinfo that fooled the Iranians about the looming Feb. 28 attack
But top admin officials say it’s bullshit 1/2
2/2 Specifically, I'm told
1) there's no CIA investigation of Carlson
2) In his meeting, the two politely disagreed, & Trump held to his position Iran was a threat & didn't mislead him
Said one source: Trump "wasn't participating in an op."
Aww, darn. That was the best part of this.
3) an addendum for folks saying that the CIA wouldn't investigate but would only refer to DOJ (or that the NSA or another intel agency made the reference), I checked that as well
Same answer: no
That said, DOJ/FBI is getting lots of citizen requests to investigate him re FARA
Worth noting: If the CIA was reading Tucker's texts, it wouldn't be due to wiretapping his phone.
It would be due to spying on the Iranian intelligence officials Tucker was chatting up:
Rod D. Martin
@RodDMartin
3h
UPDATE ON THE TUCKER CARLSON FIASCO. So in case you missed it, Tucker announced by video that he has been informed that the CIA is reading his text messages and is preparing a criminal referral against him.
Several things have happened since.
First, you must understand: the CIA would never reveal that it had illegally wiretapped anybody, because why would they? Aside from possible punishments for guilty parties, the bigger issue is that an illegal wiretap would kill their case: "fruit of the poison tree". So if they're actually preparing a criminal referral, they've dotted their i's well enough to get past a judge.
So how does the CIA surveil an American citizen? In most cases they can't, at least not legally. So if it was legal, they probably were NOT surveilling Tucker, but rather some foreign enemy with whom he was texting: he was talking to people he shouldn't have been, about things he shouldn't have said. That's about the only way you get there from here.
A couple things have happened since:
First, Buckley Carlson (Tucker's brother) took to X to give a lengthy definition of treason and explain why whatever his brother did wasn't that.
Hmmm....
Second, both Axios and the Administration have denied any of this is true. Which is...interesting. Both might have motives to deny Tucker's story (e.g., why would the Administration confirm a possible-but-future investigation the DOJ hasn't yet initiated?).
But what if they're telling the truth? Buckley's post suggests Tucker was telling the truth, at least so far as he knew it, and the family is mounting a defense. Glenn Greenwald certainly thinks that's true. But Glenn could be wrong, and Axios could be right.
So we now have three reasonably likely possibilities:
1. Tucker Carlson violated FARA, which is particularly ironic given how many times he's publicly called for FARA investigations of various people he dislikes for unsubstantiated allegations that they were on some foreign government's payroll. No one would more richly deserve this outcome than Tucker Carlson, IF this is what happened.
2. More sinister possibility: Tucker Carlson was aiding and abetting a foreign enemy (because that's a far more likely reason for the CIA to be involved, given the above-stated limitations). In this scenario, it is very likely that Donald Trump had Tucker to the Oval Office to feed him disinformation that then magically appeared in texts with Iranian leaders.
==> Just to be clear: that would NOT fall under "journalism". That would be espionage, and Tucker would (if that's what happened) be in danger of spending the rest of his life in prison.
Would it? I don't know if you can be prosecuted for telling a foreign government non-classified/open-source/personal observation stuff. Maybe you can be.
3. More narcissistic possibility: Tucker made it all up, as Axios claims. In that case, this would mean that he made up a scary story about the Trump Administration to get clicks, cash, and standing as a victim persecuted by the "evil" Donald Trump, "bought-and-paid-for" agent of "the Jooos".
And honestly, this morning, I think most of us would lean toward Aisle 3. It's pretty much classic him.
But that obscures the magnitude of what happened this weekend. Either Tucker Carlson lied or he didn't. If he didn't, then he was likely aiding and abetting a foreign enemy in time of war, or at least committing the same kind of FARA violation he's accused his enemies of for years. And if he did, then he's just a charlatan.
Either way, Tucker Carlson blew a Titanic-sized hole in his own credibility this weekend. It seems to be an unforced error. And that's going to be very hard to overcome outside the realm of his own devotees.
Below: It almost seems irrelevant to bring up Taqiyya's past statements, as he his plainly not the same man he once was, due to the demon-scratch that caused him permanent brain damage.
But in the past, Taqiyya argued for all sorts of people to face FARA prosecutions.
I used to watch Tucker all the time. Watching him take apart people such as Schiff, Avenatti, and Swalwell was like watching an artist. It was masterful.
As a big fan I also remember the many times he called for people to be investigated for not registering as a foreign agent.… pic.twitter.com/WLIEjfCRo6
Update: Taqiyya Qatarlson continues his cowardly tactic of avoiding mentioning Trump while attacking the people around Trump, so that he can continue grifting off MAGA.
Below, he says "elected officials" are acting as agents of Israel.
But none of the people he names are elected. They're appointed. Appointed by Trump.
Trump is the "elected official acting as an agent of Israel," in Qatarlson's argument, but he remains too cowardly to say that.
So he pretends the voters got together to elect Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
I know it's a sidenote of this mental breakdown but none of the people in the video-Rubio, Patel, Hegseth, or Huckabee, are "elected leaders." He badly wants to put up the picture of Trump. https://t.co/a6gangRArv
Taqiyya Qatarlson: The CIA Is Preparing a Criminal Referral Against Me Just Because I Was Acting as a Foreign Agent for Iran
—Disinformation Expert Ace
Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? Because I gotta plead ignorance on this thing. Because if anyone had said something to me that that kind of thing was frowned upon...
Last week I saw Taqiyya Qatarlson stating that if Trump negotiated with Iran just to lull them into a false sense of calm while he prepared to strike them, this would constitute a "sneak attack" every bit as terrible as the Pearl Harbor attack and furthermore, any official taking part in this -- including Trump -- should be and "punished right away." In other words, prosecuted.
Tucker Carlson says that if the U.S. lulled Iran into a false sense of security before attacking, it would be as bad as Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor - and anyone who participated “needs to be punished right away.” pic.twitter.com/kjOqC9EAbx
— Nathan Livingstone (MilkBarTV) (@TheMilkBarTV) March 9, 2026
This was a bizarre and unhinged claim from Taqiyya Qatarlson, even by his standards. I wondered what had happened to provoke him into claiming that Trump is now a Pearl Harbor sneak-attack war criminal and needs to be prosecuted and imprisoned.
And... so now we know why. Qatarlson found out that Trump was using him as a "useful idiot," leaking assurances to him that we would never attack Iran so that Taqiyya would duly report this to his spymasters in Iran.
And he got pissed about being used as an unwitting double-agent against the country he is loyal to, Iran.
WOW — Tucker Carlson reveals he is facing a criminal referral by the federal government for "talking to people in Iran before the war"
Tucker was in the White House multiple times lobbying President Trump against action there.
Can he actually be prosecuted? I don't know. I doubt he would be prosecuted under the Espionage Act, which is about obtaining and transmitting officially-classified information to a third party. I don't doubt that Taqiyya would pass sensitive information to Iran or Hamas, I just don't think it was classified, because what Qataralson was being told was meant to be reported to Iran. They wouldn't want to restrain him from passing the disinformation to its intended targets in Iran.
He mentions being prosecuted as a "foreign agent," which I assume refers to acting as a agent of a foreign power without registering under the FARA Act.
However, I doubt he's guilty of a FARA violation, either.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), enacted in 1938, requires individuals or entities acting as agents of foreign principals (governments, parties, or individuals) to register with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
. It mandates public disclosure of their activities, finances, and relationship to promote transparency regarding foreign influence in U.S. public policy and opinion.
Key Aspects of FARA:
Who Must Register: Agents engaging in political activity, public relations, lobbying, or soliciting funds for a foreign principal within the U.S..
Registration Process: Must register with the DOJ within 10 days of agreeing to act as an agent, providing details on their relationship and activities.
Reporting Requirements: Registered agents must file periodic supplemental reports, including detailed reports on income and expenditures in support of their activities.
Exemptions: Key exemptions exist, including those registered under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, journalists, and individuals engaging in private, non-political commercial activities.
Enforcement & Penalties: Enforced by the DOJ's FARA Unit, violations can lead to criminal charges if willful, or civil actions, including potential fines and public disclosure requirements.
Being an "agent" would require him to have actually agreed to be an agent, or to have taken money to act on behalf of Iran. You can't just be prosecuted under FARA because you sympathize with dirty foreign communists and Islamists, as Taqiyya Qatarlson so clearly does. So I don't think he can be prosecuted here, either.
Is Taqiyya lying about being a criminal target, just for clicks and sympathy? Very possibly! He is an inveterate liar.
And his ally Cavernous Nostrils is literally threatening violence against Trump's government if they "come for Tucker:"
There may indeed be an inquiry, and I think rightly so. If you are talking to the intelligence/terrorist services of a hostile foreign power and transmitting to them sensitive (though not actually classified) information, yeah, you're damn right someone should take a little look-see to find out if you're guilty of espionage or just guilty of being a terrorist-humping scumbag.
Now, I do think he's a dirty spy. But some spying isn't illegal. Yes, a spy who passes classified information can be prosecuted. But a spy who owns a house in the flight path of a US military base cannot, I don't think, be prosecuted for noting what types of planes are taking off and when, and then sending off that information to his case officer. That's open information, which anyone with eyes can see, and I think that a spy doing that would be non-prosecutable. (Though, if a foreigner permitted to be in the US, his visa would be revoked and he would be declared persona non grata.)
I think Tucker Carlson is a spy in this second sense -- he is acting as the eyes and ears of a hostile foreign power, he is reporting to that hostile foreign power what the president of the United States said to him, but that information was not classified and therefore there is no actual crime in reporting it to Iranian intelligence officials. (Especially because Trump intended it to be reported.)
But it does make him treasonous. Not a traitor by the legal definition, but treasonous in the dictionary sense, acting on behalf of an enemy foreign power against the interests of the US.
And now this fat piece of shit is butthurt because he was a key asset in convincing the Iranians that it was safe to hold a meeting with 90% of the top military and mullah leadership present in the same room a couple of weeks ago.
Tucker Carlson: Hero of Israel! I hope Mossad makes it official and decorates him with an award for his crucial work in this operation!
One thing: For a long time, I hoped that J.D. Vance was really not on Team Qatarlson but had been assigned the role of "Tucker Whisperer," and was just loyally executing the orders of his President.
But then Vance got more and more forward leaning with his "these are important discussions we need to have" defenses of Qatarlson and I abandoned that hope, and wrote him off as someone I would consider ever voting for.
This new information certainly revives the possibility that JD Vance was acting as the spymaster for an unwitting, stupid, bumbling, narcissistic double agent. I hope that turns out to have been the case all along.
And I do hope that Cavernous Nostrils "rides at dawn" and leads a violent insurrection.
Bring it on, Cavernous.
Come to think of it... Qatarlson and his various foreign agent allies are constantly talking about Jonathan Pollard, a Jewish American who spied for Israel, talking about how perfidious Israel (and American Jews) are.
Is he really now going to claim that no one should even look into his communications with Iranian intelligence?
Money Center Banks that Pushed the Tricolor Securities Fraud Are Being Sued by the Investors That Were Defrauded
—Buck Throckmorton
Investors who bought now-worthless securities supported by the auto loans of Tricolor Holdings are suing the investment banks that issued them. JPMorgan, Barclay’s, and Fifth Third Bank promoted these securities as being “investment grade” even though their source of repayment was auto loans issued to non-citizens with no credit. Now those money center banks are being sued for their complicity in a spectacular fraud.
• Tricolor was a company that sold and financed used cars, and its primary market was Spanish-speaking non-citizens illegally residing in the U.S.
• President Trump’s crackdown on illegal aliens not only caused a cessation of sales, but it pretty much brought an end to repayment on Tricolor’s loans, too.
• Money center banks had securitized about $2 billion of Tricolor’s very high risk loans. These securities were much like the bundled, sub-prime mortgages from the 2008 financial crisis.
• Tricolor was engaged in a massive fraud, with the same collateral pledged to multiple loans and securities.
• JPMorgan and Fifth Third Bank also had outstanding lines of credit to Tricolor. They each took a massive loss of about $200 million from the default on their lines of credit.
• The federal government under President Biden had given its seal of approval to Tricolor and its securities, certifying them as “social bonds” under the US Treasury’s CDFI program (“Community Development Financial Institution Fund”), because Tricolor’s customer base was an “underserved community.”
While all parties involved deserve ridicule for thinking that a pool of lower-than-subprime loans could make a high-quality security, the lawsuit doesn’t just allege that the big banks were pushing a junk product, the allegation is that there was willful blindness to the fraud that was occurring. Further, with the fraud in plain sight, the banks continued to earn underwriting fees for promoting these fraudulent securities.
In their suit, the noteholders claim the banks ignored “clear evidence” of fraud, including “alarming” 2022 and 2024 audits of the company, because they were earning millions of dollars in fees underwriting Tricolor’s securitized notes.
The CPA audits of Tricolor indicated waving red flags, including:
• Nearly half of payments received on a given day were posted to the wrong account.
• Defaulted loan accounts showed financial recoveries from repossessions, even though the subject cars were not actually repossessed.
• Loan delinquencies were inaccurately reported and re-aged so as to show those loans not being in default.
The plaintiffs accordingly allege that:
• JPMorgan, Barclay’s, and Fifth Third “responded by hiding what they had learned and sticking their heads in the sand to avoid learning more.”
• JPMorgan, Barclay’s, and Fifth Third withheld or misrepresented adverse information in offering materials for investors. Per the plaintiffs’ suit, “Defendants fueled and perpetuated Tricolor’s Ponzi-like fraud.”
When the Tricolor fraud blew wide open, JPMorgan’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, was quoted as saying”It is not our finest moment. When something like that happens, you can assume that we scour every issue, every universe, everything about how it could be taking place to make sure it doesn’t take place from here. You can never completely avoid these things, but the discipline is to look at it in cold light and go through every single little thing, which you can imagine we’ve already done.”
Dimon added, ”When you see one cockroach, there are probably more.” To repeat what I said back in October, If there are more “cockroach loans” like Tricolor that are about to blow up, it is not an economic indicator, rather it is a sign that banks and investment houses abandoned their underwriting standards in pursuit of woke cred.
I’d also argue that it’s not fair for Dimon to blame employees whose “discipline” was lax. While this is only my opinion, I will state with a high level of confidence that plenty of lower-level analysts and underwriters at JPMorgan knew just how uncreditworthy Tricolor was, but senior management pressure for Community Reinvestment Act credits, woke bragging rights, government favor, etc., compelled every layer of credit approver to recommend approval for a lending facility that objectively should have been rejected.
Mr. Dimon stated that he was going to look at the Tricolor debacle “in cold light and go through every single little thing.” I hope he did. And if he has not yet uncovered why the underwriting and approval chain felt they could not decline the Tricolor facilities, then the light is clearly not cold enough.
As the lawsuit by defrauded investors moves forward, the question I’m most interested in isn’t “Who knew how bad Tricolor was, and when?” Instead, the question I have is why did otherwise intelligent bankers think they had no choice but to consent to promoting Tricolor as a good credit risk when the fraud and lack of creditworthiness were so evident.
This is odd, and decidedly not human. What a strange life the artist must have led to see his, or anyone's, marriage through the lens of Cubism. I understand seeing the world, or politics, or architecture, or even nature as the hard angles and cold images of that art world.
For decades, critics of regime change in Tehran have invoked the specter of chaos – often assuming that the only alternative to the Islamic Republic would be instability. But regime change from within, a concept I have explored in my scholarship, offers a fundamentally different pathway than externally imposed transformation. . .
Rather than externally engineered governance, regime change from within involves the transfer of sovereignty to the Iranian people themselves, enabling them to dismantle authoritarian rule and construct democratic institutions through their own political agency.
The objective is the replacement of the ruling theocracy with a democratic republic grounded in pluralism, secular governance, and the rule of law. The political blueprint for such a transition already exists in Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan, which calls for universal suffrage, gender equality, freedom of expression and assembly, separation of religion and state, and a non-nuclear Iran that lives peacefully with its neighbors – a plan that former National Security Advisor General James Jones recently referred to as “Jeffersonian.”
What Rajavi’s February announcement makes clear is that the Iranian opposition is not merely protesting the current regime – it is preparing for governance after its fall.
A group of residents in Moron, central Cuba, protested early Saturday, targeting the local headquarters of the ruling communist party.The demonstration, reportedly tied to the island’s energy and food supply issues, resulted in the partial destruction of the building, and five individuals were arrested.
WIth the Maduro junta gone and the Mullahs on the ropes, Cuba's access to oil has effectively been cut off. The Russians have, or had propped up the Casto-ite communist Cubans decades and that mostly ended with the collapse of he Soviet Union leaving the Chi-Coms and other regional Latin-American Communist redoubts their only allies.
So if the government collapses, or is overthrown, don’t expect a peaceful transition of power as was the case in Czechoslovakia or Hungary or East Germany. Expect a bloodbath. Cubans are very vengeful. And they have decades of anger, suffering, and deprivation to fuel that overdue bloodbath. The rulers know this. If the regime makes a deal with Trump on time in order to obtain some oil it might, just might survive, albeit weakened, but if Trump and Rubio walk away and keep the pressure on, it’s the end.
Incidentally, notice that the demonstrations in Cuba are not anti-American (after all, the Cubans are not liberals). And they are not protesting the boycott. . .
. . . And if the Cuban regime is overthrown, what then? Chaos. There is no organized resistance in the country that could take over. Possibly there may be a military coup d’etat. Possibly Cuban-Americans will step in. Either way, do not expect the new government to pay off the defaulted national debts and diplomatic agreements of the previous government.
Have a great Day!
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On the other side of the river counter-demonstrators waved US and Israeli flags along with the the Lion and Sun Iranian flag favoured by exiles. They also held up placards with the words “Make Iran great again” and “Standing with my Jewish friends”. Hundreds Rally in London for Iranian Regime at Banned Pro-'Palestinian' Protest
Iran responded to the U.S. military’s Operation Epic Fury by firing hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at targets in Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The seemingly indiscriminate retaliation prompted the terrorist group, which has been backed by the Iranian regime, to express “deep concern” about the conflict in its first such appeal to the regime. Even Notorious Terror Group Hamas Thinks Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes On Neighbors Are Too Much
During an interview with MS NOW on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to claims that he told the U.S. that Iran had enough uranium to make multiple nuclear weapons by saying that he did say they had enough material that, if enriched further, could make ten nuclear weapons, but claiming that this was actually just trying to convey how big of a concession Iran was willing to make and not making a threat. Iranian Foreign Minister Admits Mentioning Nuclear Bombs Like Witkoff Said, Claims It Wasn’t a Threat
After years of domestic unrest, economic collapse, and growing popular resistance, the durability of the ruling system in Iran is increasingly uncertain. What matters now is not merely whether the current system crumbles, but whether a credible democratic alternative is ready to assume responsibility when it does. Preparing for Iran’s Democratic Transition
Tuberville reposted an image circulating online that paired a photo of the Sept. 11 attacks with a picture of Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Newsom fired back in a post on X, launching a personal attack against Tuberville and accusing him of racism. Gavin Newsom Calls GOP Senator ‘Racist Piece Of Sh*t’
“Healey-Parera told police he bought the rifle to ‘shoot an ICE agent as a last resort if they were to come to his home in Ithaca,’” according to police. Police: Cornell Student Bought Rifle to Shoot ICE
Multiple agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), are being subjected to “emergency measures” due to the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to a release by DHS. Fetterman said he spoke with TSA agents during his frequent travels about the effects of the shutdown. ‘Why Would You Wanna Punish All These Workers?’: Sen Fetterman Does Not Spare Fellow Dems Over Gov’t Shutdown Effects
Roger Kimball: A media class addicted to anti-Trump theatrics manufactured a “surf-and-turf scandal,” only to reveal its own irrelevance as Trump’s agenda—and America’s leverage—keeps advancing. Surf, Turf, and Another Media Meltdown
Carr wrote in an X post he was giving broadcasters who were “running hoaxes and news distortions ‐ also known as the fake news” the chance to “correct course before their license renewals come up.” His warning came in response to a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump slamming “the Fake News Media” for what he called an “intentionally misleading headline” about U.S. Air Force planes reportedly hit by an Iranian missile strike. ‘Fake News’: FCC Chair Warns Broadcasters To ‘Operate In The Public Interest’ Or Risk Loss Of License
David French’s praise for a progressive Christian candidate reveals a deeper problem in modern moral thinking: feelings and intentions now outweigh doctrine, truth, and the consequences of policy. Is James Talarico Really a Christian X-Ray?
“Heck, we just announced yesterday bringing on a meaningful amount of oil production in the state of California from offshore that California has fought foolishly to prevent new American oil to go into their own state,” the Trump administration energy secretary continued. “And we said, ‘Enough is enough,’ and we’ve got new oil production coming on in California. So lots of actions we’re taking to mitigate this price rise.” Energy Secretary Chris Wright Says Trump Admin Has Trick Up Its Sleeve To Ease Oil Price Rise Amid Iran Conflict
The train passenger apparently bumped into the suspect on the northbound C and E train platform at the 34th Street-Penn subway station just before 7 p.m., law enforcement sources told the New York Post. New York Man, 55, Dead After Being Punched out on Subway Platform
I taught high school English at an independent school in New Jersey for seven years. I loved the school’s focus on resilience and growth. I loved my colleagues, who challenged and nurtured our students, including my own children, who attended the school. And I felt lucky to be part of such a vibrant learning community. That all changed in 2014. The DEI scourge in K-12 education has only gotten worse since I blew the whistle on my own school
SECOND AMENDMENT
When activists claim guns make no one safer—not even police—they reveal the endgame: disarm the law-abiding and hope criminals politely follow the rules. Gun Control’s Endgame: No Guns for Anyone
THE 2020 and SUBSEQUENT ELECTION HEISTS , SHENANIGANS/FRAUD and AFTERMATH
The movement to put federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies at polling places is having the effect of flushing out into the open those from the left who want to protect shady election systems. New Mexico Is the First State to Ban Armed Federal Agents from Voting Locations
Virginia Democrats are now attempting to reverse what the majority of Virginians voted for in order to revive the practice of gerrymandering. Virginia's Redistricting Subterfuge
Jim Messina explained to Axios that while Democrats are planning to rely on voters’ frustrations with President Donald Trump and his administration to pick up additional seats in the upcoming midterm elections, that is not enough to win the presidency. Former Obama Campaign Managers Warn Democrat Party Is a Mess
It’s easy to get discouraged about the ongoing redistricting wars with recent developments in California and Virginia, but Republicans did score a significant victory last week that may help. A Missouri judge has cleared the way for a new congressional map that strengthens the GOP’s position and puts a longtime Democratic stronghold squarely in play. GOP Wins Another Redistricting Battle
Thad McCotter: “Jane the Plumber” embodies the American Dream: hardworking, determined, and her vote this fall could shape the midterms. Jane the Plumber
In Hungary, even without USAID funds, Democrats are using money from a network of oligarchs and NGOs to crush Viktor Orbán and MAGA. Democrats’ Dirty Central European War
The incident highlights Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis, worsened by a lack of fuel shipments and U.S. sanctions. Cubans Storm Communist HQ.
Chaos or no chaos, anything will be an improvement over Communism. Expect Chaos in Cuba
Merkel, who served as the architect of the European Migrant Crisis in 2015, when she unilaterally decided to open the EU’s borders to unprecedented waves of foreigners from the Middle East and Africa, resulting in dramatic demographic transformations in her country and across the continent, appears to have let the cat out of the bag as to her motivation for doing so. Merkel Blasted for Calling on Migrants to Vote Against Populist AfD Party
To date, Azerbaijan’s destruction of historical monuments and various structures of Armenian origin in Artsakh has been numerous. At present, the free entry of journalists and experts into the territory of Artsakh is generally prohibited. Armenian Cultural Heritage Sites Facing Destruction in Nagorno-Karabakh
This is really the only close look we have of this distant world. The other hemisphere remains a mystery, as it was in darkness when Voyager-2 zipped past. And though some of the individual shots that make up this mosiac are more detailed, they don’t provide that much more information. Miranda, the smallest of Uranus’ spherical moons (Klingons yet to be detected - jjs)
Dissent: “This is a case about swinging dicks…. But as much as you might understandably be shocked and displeased to merely encounter that phrase in this opinion, I hope we all can agree that it is far more jarring for the unsuspecting and exposed women at Olympus Spa— some as young as thirteen—to be visually assaulted by the real thing.” Appeals Judges Upset By “Crude” Dissent Mocking Majority For Permitting Naked Men In Women-Only Nude Spa
A culture that once celebrated heroes now prefers sneering at them—proof that Western self-forgetfulness has turned admiration into ridicule and criticism into a spectator sport. Melania: The Age of Jeerleading
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've actually been doing this for a while. They fake their ID, phone a friend for interviews, send the money to the government, and steal secrets if they get a chance.
Howdy Hordelings, and welcome to the Sunday night ONT! So glad you chose to end your weekend here. Open thread, as always. What's on YOUR mind tonight?
Surveillance video shows a man trying to steal a septic tank, then returning the next day and taking it after his initial attempt failed, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies responded on Feb. 27 to a reported theft at a construction site in the 21600 block of W. Highway 40 in Dunnellon, the sheriff’s office said in a social media post.
“As you can see in the surveillance footage, they discovered that Alfio Nocifora had a crappy plan to steal a septic tank on February 22 with his 2013 Toyota Corolla,” the post states.
The attempt failed when a Jeep Cherokee arrived at the scene and, according to the sheriff’s office, Nocifora fled. He then returned the next day with a rented U-Haul truck and successfully loaded the septic tank and about $2,500 worth of electrical pipe.
Deputies said Nocifora covered the U-Haul license plate and identification number with tape. A detective later identified him, obtained an arrest warrant, and deputies located him in Citrus County, where he was taken into custody, the sheriff’s office said.
Guinness has recorded some strange records over the years, and Favour Ogechi Ani’s record definitely ranks up there with the weirdest and most difficult of them. Starting in October 2025, the Nigerian woman spent 70 days confined to her home, counting out loud to 1,070,000.
Counting out loud might not sound like the most difficult thing in the world, but can you imagine doing it for up to 14 hours a day, 70 days straight? It’s the kind of monotonous repetition that could make a person go mad, but Favour Ogechi Ani was so passionate about counting and focused on breaking the 18-year-old record for the highest number ever counted out loud that she never thought about quitting.
“Honestly, it was tough, but my passion for counting kept me going,” Favour said. “I had a lovely team supporting and cheering me up, and it was fun despite the challenges. My determination to achieve this project was a burn-the-boats mission. I never thought of giving up for any reason.”
Starting on October 8th, Favour Ogechi Ani started livestreaming her daily counting routine on YouTube, which helped validate her record attempt. She also credits the people cheering her on as an extra motivating factor that kept her counting daily until December 16 of last year.
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The old record, which had stood for a whopping 18 years, was an out-loud count to 1,000,000, but instead of just counting to 1,000,001 and calling it a day after a grueling counting marathon, Favour kept going until 1,070,000.
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New grenades for the Army
(H/T: long time lurker David in Oklahoma)
The Army has officially adopted the M111 (and it’s practice counterpart the M112). May not sound terribly significant, but they are the first lethal hand grenades adopted since 1968.
As many know, our standard M67 grenade works pretty well as a fragmentation grenade. Pull the pin, four-ish seconds later it goes ‘splodey, and sends out shards of metal in pretty much every direction. Basic, simple stuff. Unless you have to use it indoors, within the blast radius of the fragments. Fragments can get deflected, go in odd directions, through thin walls – not as much fun, right?
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Has there ever been a case of mesothelioma reported in someone sharing a room with an exploding grenade? (“Call Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe for action!”)
Okay, I know, walking into a cloud of asbestos particles to confirm cleared rooms repeatedly won’t do anyone any good… but it still sounds like an odd worry.
Back to the M-67, it replaced the M-33 and M-26 predecessors and has been in constant use since 1968, an eternity in weaponry terms.
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Note the M-111 supplements the M-67, not replaces it. Think of them as – well, using your indoor voice or your outdoor voice. Indoor grenades vs. outdoor grenades.
Thank you David for your contribution to our Smart Military Blog.
Although you know which ONT host probably doesn't like this story?
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When you want to practice your maneuverability skills with a long gun, but the weather doesn't cooperate. Take it inside and improvise!
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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March is in full swing and the White House red carpet (or East Room carpet) is delivering. Let's break down the standout FLOTUS and Second Lady moments from the past couple weeks.
First up: Melania Trump's weekend getaway coat (March 13, 2026). Boarding Air Force One with her dad, Viktor Knavs, en route to Mar-a-Lago, Melania wore a Mackage Nyire Stripe Tie Waist Wool Coat and I am absolutely obsessed. The rich camel hue with bold black-and-white stripe accents is chef’s kiss. The wrap silhouette cinches at the waist for that signature tailored FLOTUS vibe—structured yet feminine. Mackage nails the luxury outerwear game in general, but this coat is timeless. I am pretty sure I need this coat. Here. In Alabama. It’s sold out (of course it is), but maybe I will luck upon it eventually.
Fast forward (actually rewind, but details) to Women's History Month at the White House (March 12, 2026). Melania hosted in the East Room alongside POTUS, and she went full fierce with an Adam Lippes Levi Belted Leopard Print Chenille Maxi Skirt. Leopard print on a midi/ maxi length? Bold, but no one is surprised Melania owned it. The skirt was paired with a what I believe to be the Ralph Lauren collection cashmere sweater we have seen before. The belt adds definition, the chenille texture is subtle luxury. The shoes are Christian Louboutin black suede Pigalle Follies 120 pumps. This look is “I'm here to honor women who roar." Adam Lippes has been a go-to for FLOTUS (remember that Inauguration coat?), and this proves why: American-made elegance with a wild side.
Shoutout to Second Lady Usha Vance at the same event, she looked absolutely lovely in the Marie Oliver The Paxton Dress. The high-neck, long-sleeve midi in a striking blue-and-white abstract zebra-ish print was modern, confident, and fresh. The pattern pops without overwhelming, and the silhouette is graceful for daytime White House duties. Usha is starting to elevate her style game, and she is also an adorable pregnant woman. Love that for her.
We can't skip the historic first: Melania chairing the UN Security Council on March 2. She chose a sharp Christian Dior belted gray virgin wool tweed jacket (removable scarf for options) over a matching pencil skirt. Peplum shaping, which is currently very on trend, black belt cinch, textured tweed, it all equals pure business chic. Dior + Louboutin heels? Unbeatable power combo.
Which of these looks was your favorite, are you Team Tweed or Team Animal print?
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Thanks, Piper!
By the way, if you'd like a sneak peek at what Piper will probably be featuring next week, check out Piper's X page. She's been posting Oscar red carpet stuff this evening.
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DJ Doof - Obligatory for Today's Date Edition
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Weekly commenter stats for week of 3-15-2026
AoSHQ Commenter Statistics:
Number of posts: 92
Number of comments: 22102
Number of unique hashes: 1729
Top 10 commenters:
1 [470 comments] 'TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films' [66.75 posts/day]
2 [367 comments] 'Bulg'
3 [306 comments] '...'
4 [296 comments] 'Sponge - F*ck Cancer'
5 [291 comments] ' Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _'
6 [268 comments] 'Aetius451AD'
7 [267 comments] 'Skip'
8 [256 comments] 'Alberta Oil Peon'
9 [238 comments] 'whig'
10 [236 comments] 'rickb223 '
Top 10 sockpuppeteers:
1 [139 names] 'SSBN 656 (G)' [19.74 unique names/day]
2 [123 names] 'Ol' Codger'
3 [114 names] 'Story as old as time itself'
4 [95 names] 'President Miklos J. Trump'
5 [91 names] 'Quarter Twenty '
6 [36 names] 'Duncanthrax'
7 [35 names] 'mikeski'
8 [32 names] 'Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison'
9 [30 names] 'The Fat Man'
10 [26 names] 'mindful webworker - found a bottle'
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Tonight's ONT brought to you by scary seafood
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Doof Enterprises, LLC hereby proposes more widespread usage of the term "The Ides of". We shall test this on tax day - The Ides of April!
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 March #3 Edition?? I guess it checks out because last week was the 2/5 March Edition and the week before that was the First March Edition. Coming Soon: March #4 Edition!
Also, thanks for not burning the place down last Sunday. I made an el-quicko trip to Florida to see some family people. A lot of driving for a short visit, but I had a good time and ate a lot of Whataburger, so win-win. Also, Spring is almost here so trips to the farm-o will resume soon!
With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?
I saw there was a discussion of muzzle flip and recoil anticipation in the comments last week so let's have a look at that.
Q: Weasel, should we anticipate our shots?
A: No. Please do not do that.
and...
Are you fundamentalin'?
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Hickok45 on Follow-Through
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Fun With Black Powder
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Private Jackson's Sniper Rifle
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Ax Weasel
Q: Weasel, what the heck is going on with Australian Bauxite Mining?
A: Please see below.
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Our Pal Fallout and Radiation
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Highway Patrol!
This week's episode: Hitchhiker 2!
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The Incredible Petrified World!
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Cigar of the Week
This week our pal Winston AKA Pops scores with this excellent two-fer review of the Big Sky Cigar Co.
Today's offering are two more of the excellent Big Sky Cigar Co. Yellowstone, is the fifth of their River Series of the best fishing streams in Montana. The others were covered a few months ago. This is a very mild cigar, made in Esteli, Nicaragua. A blend of Ecuadorian, Connecticut and Nicaraguan tobacco. As all of these cigars, very well made and simply great to enjoy. I've paired it with some great, if not well known bourbons. Big Horn, Devil's Brigade and Penelope Four Grain.
The second cigar is Tim Montana Vigilante. Which I had to try because of the name. It is unexpectedly mild, very similar to Yellowstone in taste and flavor. It pairs well with the above bourbons also Buffalo Trace.
Finding the cigars is harder. I order them from their website and there are brick and mortar stores around. As a side note Texas has a lot of stores that carry them. For some reason the company is not able to ship to residential addresses in Texas. I has three people try to explain that to me from the company. I still don't get it. They shup out of Miami though and are very prompt.
Excellent, Winston AKA Pops! Thank you!
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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: A Tisket, A Tasket, The Brisket's In The Basket*
—CBD
Apparently I decided to make a brisket for the Passover Seder. I have no recollection of this decision, and in the only conversation I can recall, I was confident that I decided upon a tenderloin roast (The married men among the readers will understand how that came to be).
So brisket it is! And really, it's not a bad choice, particularity since my local Wild Fork Foods carries very nicely trimmed whole briskets. I really like using a whole brisket, in part because there is enough fat, and in part because the texture of the flat and the point are different, and add some nice complexity to the dish. I also get to render some of the trimmed fat so I don't have to panic when I want to make Yorkshire Pudding.
The only issue is searing the brisket...it's pretty big, so I have to use my largest roasting pan. It's not perfect because it's not particularly heavy, so I have to be attentive, otherwise I will get burned spots. The solution is to buy a very heavy and very expensive roasting pan, and because I am a cheap bastard I will choose being attentive every time!
The recipe itself is simple. Sear, then remove it and brown a ton of mirepoix, then return the meat to the roasting pan, along with a lot of red wine, some tomato, some ketchup for the sweet teeth among the guests, and some herbs. Cover and roast for a few hours, until it is nice and tender.
That's it! Easy and delicious.
I make it the day before so I can chill the brisket, slice it, and return it to the defatted mirepoix (which I blend into a thick sauce). For a big group it's a great choice, especially because I have a few relatives who are whiny little snots when it comes to rare beef, so that tenderloin would be more of a production.
I might not serve them my famous Chicken Tartare if they keep up the squawking about underdone meat!
*My apologies to Ella Fitzgerald and the real rhymers in the readership.
He is 100% correct. If you don't like secondary prices and allocated bottles, then don't drink them. But if you complain about other people buying them, you are nothing more than a Booze Karen, and deserve to be mocked and criticized.
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A good meatloaf is a fine thing indeed, and I have written about Ina Garten's wonderful version before. But I haven't made it in a long time, and I feel silly! It is one of her easier and better written recipes, and it's just delicious. Individual Meat Loaves is absolutely worth a try, and I will bet that once you make it you will think more highly of Garten, who can be an out-of-touch little rich girl sometimes. Well...most of the time, but she partially redeems herself with this dish.
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They were so good I made them again the next night! And yes, fresh, hot Hush Puppies go very well with burgers!
Tough shit. You don't want our money with restrictions? Get a job, make your own money, and buy whatever the f*ck you want.
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Never heard of it before I saw it in a wine shop, and I probably won't see it again. And that's okay, because there are many hundreds of small champagne houses that make their own champagne rather than selling their grapes to the big houses.
That was a delicious champagne for significantly less than the big guys charge. The small houses are wonderful because they don't have the size to make the same champagne year in and year out by blending many years into each release, so they make each year based on the vagaries of the growing season. Sometimes the champagne is rich and buttery, sometimes it is crisp and austere, but it is always different, and that is part of the pleasure of seeking out the small growers.
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Well, the garlic is out in the sunshine, probably soon to be eaten by those vile rodents with bushy tails and a penchant for damaging my home. But if they survive the squirrel apocalypse, and actually grow into something edible, I will be in garlic heaven! 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!
It's all fun and games until your fingers get frostbite from the freezing glass!
Specifically, my left thumb gets very, very cold when I hold my glass at the top of the stem or around the bowl. Sure, I could hold it part way down the stem, or even by the base, but that is less stable, less pleasant, and slows my drinking, and thus my enjoyment.
I have considered many solutions, including wearing gloves, using insulated glasses (they are horrendously ugly!), or simply burning the house down every evening during cocktail hour so as to have a source of warmth for my left thumb.
None of these are optimal. I could also switch to hot drinks (yuck..almost as bad as a shaken Manhattan), or even forego cocktails altogether and start with wine.
But that is bowing to primitivism, and I will not give in!
Becoming An American, Or Even Entering The Country Is Not A Right...It Should Be A Rare Privilege
—CBD
That headline should not be controversial. In fact it should be axiomatic. For most of our history our immigration policy was to allow almost unfettered immigration with a few restrictions. Criminals, the ill and infirm, and then in the 20th century, illiterates, were not allowed into America. After World War I the immigration restrictions recognized country of origin, with the goal of keeping the ethnic character of the country about the same.
And that wasn't all! There were political restrictions created by the various immigration acts of the first part of the century after the assassination of William McKinley, trying to keep out the budding revolutionary fervor in Europe. Anarchists, socialists, simple political radicalism...all were restricted. In fact, America deported immigrants who espoused overt anti-American beliefs.
But in 1990, that changed. The immigration act of that year removed most ideological restrictions, in favor of "security restrictions." And who? The usual suspects! The ACLU and other civil rights organizations, academia, and the left in Congress all agitated for relaxing political restrictions. Why is just as easily answered; keeping the post-Cold War leftists out of America was deemed to be "un-American," and in violation of our free speech rights and other civil liberties. Left unanswered was why foreigners should be afforded the rights protected by the United States Constitution!
Conspicuously absent was any recognition of Islam as a malign force whose sole objective was the subjugation of the world and the creation of a global caliphate. That sounds like a security risk as well as a political risk!
As many increasingly argue that the U.S. immigration system is too lenient, four incidents in less than two weeks are being investigated or classified as terrorist attacks linked to Islamist extremism. Most of the alleged perpetrators are naturalized U.S. citizens.
Throughout history, we have expected people who immigrated here to become assimilated to the American culture. And I think over the last 30 years or so, there's been this idea that we no longer need to do that, and this is an example of the consequences of those kinds of bad policies," Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., told Just The News.
"We need to be more nimble when things are changing on the world stage, in the geopolitical realm. We need to be able to say, 'Now, wait a minute, maybe for right now, in light of the fact that we've got a war in the Middle East where we're attempting to take out the state sponsor of terrorism and free the world from the stranglehold that they've had for 47 years, should we maybe be reconsidering what we're doing in terms of bringing people into this country?'"
With all due respect (that means no respect at all, unless it is earned), we should not be "more nimble." The goal of American immigration policy should be the protection of our way of life, without any acceptance of gray areas in potential immigrants' politics or world view or adherence to a revolutionary political philosophy that use an ersatz religion to control its believers...otherwise known as Islam.
The core of Islam is the creation of a world government that is antithetical to 250 years of American Exceptionalism, 2,500 years of Western culture, 2,000 years of Christianity, at least 2,000 years of Hinduism, 2,400 years of Buddhism, and 2,800 years of Judaism. It aims to achieve that through violence, and has been remarkably consistent in its application of violence for its entire history.
If Western governments cannot recognize the existential risk of Islam being treated as just another religion, then all is lost. The United Kingdom is almost certainly lost already, with only the faint glimmer of hope in the Reform Party and Restore Britain Party. France is in similar straits, with its National Rally Party being actively targeted with lawfare by the ruling parties.
And...sadly, Islam is not the only existential issue. The majority of the world has no concept of personal freedom and individual autonomy. They are comfortable with authoritarian governments, with the rule of law being an afterthought, with tribalism being the primary driver of social and economic behavior. It is incumbent on America to reject those attitudes and return to a rational immigration policy that raises to the pinnacle a desire to become American, with all that entails.
Immigration law should be a hammer, and if deserving immigrants are denied entry, we will survive. But if the default decision is admission, we will be destroyed.
Welcome to my attempt at a thread on AOSHQ. CBD asked if I would be willing to try a couple of book threads and that got me thinking. The Horde is so varied and interesting in their reading habits. This is a chance to ask a few questions about reading that intrigue me. So here goes.
Sorry the man, to my mind, who has not in his own home a place to be all by himself, to pay his court privately to himself, to hide.
-- Michel de Montaigne
Was this the first man cave? The idea is certainly pleasant and one I've sought most of my life. What would you include in your reading space? (BTW, it probably helped to be a wealthy 16th century French aristocrat to make a place like that.)
I've always liked this painting, 'The Bookworm' by Carl Spitzweg, circa 1850. This could be me, except I don't like ladders. It's so typical that reading one book makes me dig out five others.
WARNING: A lot of single and double quote marks have been used in this segment.
There's a book coming out in March, "The Real Shakespeare" by Irene Coslet. She 'proves' that Shakespeare was actually a Jewish woman of north African descent living in Venice (Italy not California). The book blurb on Amazon says "Generations of researchers have tried to dismantle the myth of the Stratford man. Now, in this intriguing and well-documented book, Irene Coslet conclusively demonstrates that Shakespeare was a not a man, but a woman: a dark-skinned lady, of Jewish origin, born into a family of Court musicians from Venice"
One review describes Coslet as a "feminist historian" who claims that the true author (authoress?) is Emilia Bassano and this 'fact' was buried under "western-centric ideology". The examples of her proof mentioned in reviews make "Chariots of the Gods" look like hard science. Bassano, later Emilia Lanier after marrying an Englishman, may well have been a remarkable woman. So are many of the Ettes in the Horde. Doesn't mean they wrote Hamlet or Macbeth. This level of 'woke' is both tiresome and irritating. And the publisher has the brass-plated gall to charge $36.95 for this 200 page screed. I assume, and hope, it will be remaindered in record time.
I find the arguments about who wrote Shakespeare to be intellectual (maybe) curiosity and speculation. Or masturbation. (I suspect some is just academic snobbery.) Because even if it wasn't a glove maker's son turned actor, the plays and sonnets still exist and their perceptions, glorious words, and emotional connections with humanity have continued for four centuries.
Feel free to disagree.
Is there any one book that made you a life long reader? For me it was Treasure Island with the Wyeth illustrations. I think I was in second grade and kept a dictionary at hand to deal with the many new words. The challenge and difficulty were part of the attraction. It was the first time I realized how words alone could paint a picture in my head and then come to life. A first step into true book nerdom.
I'm noticing more articles and YT videos about how physical media, books, DVDs, CDs and so forth are increasingly popular as an alternative to streaming and digital everything. The stories point to increased sales, the success of the revitalized Barnes and Noble stores, and a general preference to own (and control) the materials. These stories appeal to me partly because I didn't grow up with digital versions, which didn't exist, and partly because I don't trust the 'gatekeepers' of the digital world. I don't know if they are true or just a continuation of LPs are better than CDs attitude. Anyone else noticed this one way or another?
What I've been reading:
LOTR (of course) -my 60th annual rereading.
The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition, Volume I: The Ancient World and Christendom - usually a few pages at a time since the topics lead to endless rabbit holes. But too interesting to abandon for long.
Luis Melendez: Master of the Spanish Still Life - His still life paintings are so well done and appealing. I can get lost studying one image and reading about how he achieved it. I find looking at the works of painters I admire to be soothing and a welcome distraction from all the crap news that tries to bury us.
Books I've acquired just because they appear to be fun reads to have on hand. I often learned about these books from the book thread.
Route 66 A. D.: On The Trail of Ancient Roman Tourists by Tony Perrottet
Poplollies and Bellibones: A Celebration of Lost Words by Susan Kelz Sperling
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil edited by Christina Scull and Wayne Hammond - This is an expanded version of the mid-60s edition. I had that but it disintegrated from use so I splurged.
Before you celebrate, the bill is the worst kind of waffly bullshit, forbidding the government from infringing on fundamental rights unless it really wants to.
I think they've spent too much time next door to Canada and the government needs to institute a hundred-mile decommunised zone.
Still doing better than Australia where our government threatened at one point to legislate against inconvenient arithmetic.
It looks great on paper but it throttles down to less than half power within two seconds. If you want the high-end processor the only viable option is the 16 inch model.
I'm not a typical office worker, but I get more out of it just from using it as a better search engine. Watching Grok and ChatGPT discard dozens of useless results from Google before finding the right answer is... I don't know. Satisfying, in a strange way.
Interesting that from the original version in 2012 to this 2020 update, the quoted SSD latency improved by a factor of 10 - from 150 microseconds to 16. And disk seeks from 10 milliseconds to 2, which has got to be measuring cache effects, because that would mean the disk would be spinning at 30,000 rpm.
Of course it's going to take years before anything can come online even if he can secure the required tools from ASML, which is a single source for top-end chip manufacturing equipment.
He has said that he plans to reach production in excess of 100 billion chips per year, though exactly what chips and in what time frame he has not yet specified.
The H610M Combo featured two slots for DDR4 memory and four slots for DDR5, though you could only have one or the other.
The Combo II cuts that down to one slot for DDR5 and two slots for DDR5, which is kind of broken. If you have DDR5 you don't need the DDR4 slot, and if you don't you're stuck with a quarter of the bandwidth.
Welcome to Club ONT - a collaboration of The Disco and The Dino. St. Patty's Day will be observed in the Club tonight! All ye hooligans be on yer best behavior!
After closing time at the bar, a drunk was proudly showing off his new apartment to a couple of his friends.
He led the way to his bedroom where there was a large brass gong and a mallet.
"What's up with the big brass gong?" one of the guests asked.
"It's not a gong. It's a talking clock," the drunk replied.
"A talking clock? Seriously?" asked his astonished friend.
"Yup," replied the drunk.
"How's it work?" The friend asked, squinting at it.
"Watch," the drunk replied. He picked up the mallet, gave the gong an ear-shattering pound and stepped back. The three stood looking at one another for a minute...
Suddenly someone on the other side of the wall screamed, "You asshole! It's three-fifteen in the morning!"
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Two aliens landed in the Arizona desert near a gas station that was closed for the night. They approached one of the gas pumps and the younger alien addressed it saying, "Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Take us to your leader."
The gas pump, of course, didn't respond. The younger alien became angry at the lack of response and the older alien said, "I'd calm down if I were you."
The younger alien ignored the warning and repeated his greeting. Again, there was no response. Annoyed by what he perceived to be the pump's haughty attitude, he drew his ray gun and said impatiently, "Greetings, Earthling. We come in peace. Do not ignore us! Take us to your leader, or I will fire!"
The older alien warned his comrade saying, "You don't want to do that! I don't think you should make him mad."
"Rubbish," replied the cocky, young alien. He aimed his weapon at the pump and opened fire. There was a huge explosion. A massive fireball roared towards them and blew the younger alien off his feet and deposited him in a burnt, crumpling mess about 200 yards away in a cactus patch.
About a half hour passed.
When he finally regained consciousness, he refocused his three eyes and straightened his bent antenna and looked dazedly at the older, wiser alien who was standing over him shaking his big, green head.
"What a ferocious creature!" exclaimed the young, fried alien. "He damn near killed me! How did you know he was so dangerous?"
The older alien leaned over, placed a friendly feeler on his crispy friend and replied, "If there’s one thing I've learned during my intergalactic travels, you don't want to mess with a guy who can wrap his penis around himself twice and then stick it in his ear!"
Ingredients
1/3 Green Creme de Menthe
1/3 Baileys Irish Cream
1/3 Grand Marnier
Instructions
Pour a shot glass 1/3 full with Green Creme de Menthe.
Pouring very slowly over the back of a spoon, add a layer of Baileys Irish Cream.
Again pouring very slowly over the back of a spoon, add a layer of Grand Marnier.
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Club ONT Department of Pi
Today is March 14th. 3/14. Pi day.
The "no math on the blog" rule is suspended tonight - in honor of Pi Day!
What is Pi?
Happy pi day! Here's how Archimedes approximated the value of pi and how many digits of pi we actually need. pic.twitter.com/RCBSAhhuwv
The answer to your problems may not be a taxidermy stripper squirrel, but isn't it worth checking? Only $575!
The only thing better would be a purple pimp hat!
If that doesn't work for you, how about a taxidermy beer drinking possum? Only $675!
Disclosure: These pieces from Black Moth in Tulsa, Oklahoma are shown for entertainment and educational purposes only. Club ONT does not officially endorse any taxidermy service provider, stripping venue or brand of beer. Sponsorship opportunities, however, are available. Operators are standing by.
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Always beware of the flying squirrel...
This is WILD 🤯
Russian wrestler hit a flying squirrel down 3 points AT THE BUZZER for the win 😱 pic.twitter.com/SFTM2n8A6S
And if that isn't awful enough, here is The Pogues, singing a bit of a great song, but drunk in a pub. The hacking cough is a nice touch.
St. Patrick's Day is amateur hour, and I carefully avoid most of humanity. But drinking songs and songs about drinking and booze are ubiquitous, so let's see what we can dredge up!
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. As the prophesy foretold, the theme for this Hobby Thread is calligraphy and the written word.
[Top photo: A miniature of the hermit (monk) writing at a desk, 1st quarter of the 14th century (The British Library, London)]
As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. I understand that some people pay attention to military hardware, tactics and strategy as a hobby. Discussion of current events permitted but must be made in the form of hobby commentary. Pants are optional. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.
Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.
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Calligraphy? Yes, fancy writing.
Your dino host has a small brain and short arms and dreadful handwriting, so calligraphy is beyond my reach. Need your contributions in the gray boxes for help.
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Book of Kells history:
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Cursive is not the same as calligraphy. Calligraphy assembles several specific shapes and pen strokes.
Handwriting quality has nothing to do with calligraphy? Explain how.
"The Happy Ever After Crafter" is a clever name for a YT channel.
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Flex nib fountain pens are a long way from a BIC ballpoint pen, but here we are.
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Japanese calligraphy ink making. Wow.
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Rosetta stone is not calligraphy but is a historically significant part of writing and language:
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Cursive is a close sibling to calligraphy:
Hat tip: Perfessor Squirrel
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Our first daffodils bloomed only to get snowed under a day later... The snow is gone and more blooms are emerging though.
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Marble carving is off-topic but this video is impressive and amusing:
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NOTICE: Next week the theme will be cartography. We'll be talking about maps. Find your way back and enjoy the fun.
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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did an paper cutting theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.
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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 but don't run with scissors.
Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) never saw a rhino himself, but by relying on eyewitness descriptions of the one King Manuel I of Portugal intended as a gift to the Pope, he managed to render a fairly realistic one, all things considered.
Medieval artists’ renderings of cats so often fell short of the mark, Youtuber Art Deco wonders if any of them had seen a cat before.
Point taken, but cats were well integrated into medieval society.
Much more information on the death penalty connected with cats and so forth at the link above.
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Courtesy Carla Brown
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Meet The PetMorons
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Tutti Fruitti was in his wicker house, turns 18 in April; Henrietta Hot Paws keeping me company while I sew, in the sun, at almost 14…
Nan in AZ
What lovely companions! Thanks for sharing their photos.
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Hi,
I know it's a bit late. This is moron Dark Litigator. I was the co-owner (3%) of cat Maceo ("MAYseeoh") who I occasionally mentioned over the years. His mama (97% owner) had him for nearly 6 years. He was a special needs rescue cat from the mean streets of Fresno but he blossomed into the coolest, little dude. A few weeks ago he developed late-stage heart and kidney disease so we sadly had to euthanize him at 2pm on 2/22. Here are a couple of pics from his better days, if you could put one or both up.
Thanks.
So sorry you have lost Maceo - - such a cool cat. Thanks for rescuing him. Keep in touch.
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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.
I closed the comments on that post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway. There was a discussion of pine cat litter in the comments last week. Anyone else try it this week?
Podcast: CBD and Sefton discuss the obvious incompatibility of Islam with free societies, John Bolton is a disloyal sleaze, The SAVE Act is in the muck of Senate RINOs, the crappy quality of anti-American propaganda, and more!
Some people liked Candace Owens because she was a black woman who told hard truths about BLM and black criminality. But this was always a grift. She started out as a race hustler for a grift, then hustled race the other way to grift conservatives, and now she's back to being a race-hustler for the left again. Specifically, she is now claiming that people pointing out that she is legitimately low-IQ and can't pronounce half the words her AI-generated teleprompter script points out to her is racist and just Ben Shapiro's way of saying the n-word without quite saying it. You see, you can only say that black people are smart, and if you see a dumb one that doesn't know how to pronounce simple words while she poses as an investigatory journalist, you have to pretend she's actually smart or you're a racist. Weird, that doesn't sound very conservative, let alone "#Based," to me. To prove how much she hates racism, she then says that Ben Shapiro's Jew ancestors were masters of the slave trade.
Ami Kozak: Every single Tucker Carlson episode consists of him claiming he didn't say the things he said in the last episode Also: this is the manipulation Tucker does that i hate the most. It's so cowardly. All he does is smear people (and Jews, generally), and then claim "I have nothing against [the person or group I just smeared.]" He'll even claim "I love [x], actually." Just again and again and again. It's all a lie, of course. A year ago he smeared Jews but added how beautiful he thought Israel was, and then two weeks ago, he said Israel is ugly as dog-shit and nothing beautiful has been built there "since 1948." Just got this email from Dracula: "I love Van Helsing, actually, he's one of my personal heroes, if I'm being honest. I will claw the heart out of his belly and bathe in his blood before the children of Babylon, but I have nothing but respect for Van Helsing, actually. Love is the answer. Except for the followers of the Christ whom I am commanded to turn into my dark army of Satan. And I totally don't worship Satan, I just think we should listen to both sides. Hugs and kisses, may Van Helsing burn in the blood-red fires of hell throughout eternity, even though I consider him a close and dear friend, Vlad called Dracul."
