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
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!
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.
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?
This pansy is the only survivor on the terrace outside of my condo of the harshest winter I've seen since I moved here 6 years ago. It is still perfect.
Lots of little green shoots in my planters though so hope Springs eternal.
Sharon(willow's apprentice)
A wonderful way to start our post today, which comes mostly from the desert.
Last week, WeeKreekFarmGirl shared some information with us about an herb most of us had never heard of, Sculpit. Famous in some parts of Europe, we learned. It is available from Terroir Seeds, a company in Arizona.
It is a firm, round zucchini-type squash known for its heat tolerance. I have grown it before. I tend to prefer the more tender varieties, but this one has the advantage of surviving where others may not.
Here is a little video on another of their offerings, Cucamelons:
If you are wondering what to do with all of your tiny cucamelons, use them in a salad! They add a delicious cucumber crunch like nothing else.
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Ah, Nature
Courtesy Wherever I May Roam Nature and Photography
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Adventure
From a friend:
Hiked 6.66 miles today on the Sonoran Preserve. It was so beautiful and pictures will never show all that beauty. We saw so many gorgeous saguaros and other cacti, two snakes (harmless Sonoran garter snakes), many birds, many butterflies, and wild flowers dropping a splash of color in the desert landscape. We akso saw some Christmas cactus. The highlight was a gorgeous crested saguaro. There are only 17 in Arizona, so it's quite an anomaly. I felt privileged to witness this miracle of nature. . . It was a good day.
That crested cactus is amazing.
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Gardens of The Horde
Anything going on in your garden, neighborhood or region?
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Hope everyone has a nice 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.
It's not too surprising that traditional Christians are flummoxed by some of the preaching of James Talarico, and that social media posts concerning his "theology" continue to appear. But I am starting to see some comments on legit pages that seem to be from sources which post little or no content of their own. They have few followers or "friends". They only challenge posts from right-ish points of view.
An unsophisticated example concerning the war in Iran would be:
Jesus loves a bomb.
But there are more sophisticated challenges to posts concerning Talarico from these sites which seem dedicated only to criticism, suggesting that those who disapprove of his theology are mean or perhaps even bad people. For example, the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well was demonstrating that Jesus was sent to expand the covenant between God and the Jews to other people. It was about Social Justice. Forget the complexities about "living water", salvation and all.
Additionally, Talarico's special affinity for trans children is a lot like Jesus talking to the Samaritan woman. Social Justice.
Come to think of it, there was a lot of Social Justice stuff in the Old Testament. How dare you question Talarico for talking about Social Justice in a religious way?
Best not to interact with these bots, I think. But there's an election coming up.
Talarico kept the lie going, blaming Trump for trying to silence him. The real story was that the Democrats for trying to silence his primary opponent, Jasmine Crockett.
Anyway, this ploy seems to have been successful, garnering lots of contributions for this guy. In addition, he was interviewed by Joe Rogan, who suggested that he should run for president in 2028. And then there was a long interview by Ezra Klein, included in this report by Mary Rooke: Rising Star James Talarico's Soothing Voice Will Lead Lambs To Slaughter
Good article.
Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico presents himself as a Christian who prays, quotes Jesus Christ extensively, and grounds his politics in faith. However, on several defining moral issues, he does not submit his political ideology to scripture; instead, he reinterprets or ignores scripture to genuflect to his true “god”: far-left orthodoxy.
Talarico, a Texas state representative and self-proclaimed Presbyterian, discussed his supposed Christian faith in a New York Times interview with Ezra Klein released on Tuesday. During which he spoke reverently about God, scripture, and his prayer life. Overall, he defined his faith as trust and acts of love. But there’s an argument to be made that Talarico is not truly Christian but rather a devout practitioner of radical left ideology wrapped in Christian symbolism. . .
Talarico’s interview makes it clear that he doesn’t believe that Christianity is a faith that transforms ideology, but rather that an ideology can selectively reinterpret or override scripture and Christian dogma to remain unchanged. This suggests that his operative authority is not Christ, scripture, or doctrine, but leftist ideology, which is then clothed in Christian language. In this way, he becomes the wolf in sheep’s clothing, leading others to follow down this treacherous path. . .
Probably the most insidious example of this is when Talarico explains his political views on abortion using the Blessed Mary. In the interview, Klein plays a clip from Talarico’s appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience.”
Talarico cites Mary’s consent at the Annunciation, when she exclaims, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” as a biblical foundation for so-called reproductive freedom and a woman’s absolute autonomy over her body. . .
And Klein thought that this would be a fine example, too, I guess.
Talarico’s public presentation of Christianity exposes that his true faith is in human autonomy, sexual liberation, and state-mediated economic equality, with Jesus recast as a mascot for those causes rather than the Lord who demands repentance and transformation.
His calm voice and boyish face aid in this endeavor. They are powerful rhetorical assets that make his presentation of far-left positions feel disarming, sincere, and authentically Christian rather than ideological or confrontational. This makes listeners less likely to categorize him as a partisan activist and more likely to see him as a sincere young believer simply sharing his faith. . .
More at the link.
Here's an interesting re-interpretation of scripture: "Don't tell me what you believe. Show me how you treat other people and I'll tell you what you believe."
I thought that judging people's hearts was God's job.
One of his public prayers included: "the Quran calls you Peace, the Gita calls you Destroyer, the Dharma calls you Truth"
There's some traditional, Bible-Belt Christianity that most people would recognize.
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Some of the people who like Talarico are sincere
I ran across excerpts from a post by a Christian guy who had opened up a dialogue with progressive Christians who took Talarico seriously.
Tyson Zahner: "My last post about James Talarico's progressive Christian theology generated hundreds of conversations. The most interesting ones were with progressive Christians themselves… sincere, thoughtful people who love Jesus and genuinely believe they're following Him more faithfully than the traditional church has.
After engaging in several of these conversations, I noticed a pattern underneath every progressive argument…
I'll start with their core move…
Every conversation came back to some version of this: "Jesus summarized everything as love God and love your neighbor, and that overrides the harder moral teachings."
But I see two problems here.
One is simply a breakdown in what we mean by "love".
Progressive Christians tend to hear that word and translate it into merely compassion, empathy, and understanding… which then becomes affirmation, tolerance, and acceptance. By that definition, any moral boundary starts to feel unloving.
But that's not the biblical definition. Thomas Aquinas defined love (agape) not as mere emotion, but as a conscious decision to "will the good of the other" which sometimes means saying the hard thing, not the comfortable thing. . . .
And here's why it's so hard to argue with progressive Christianity…
In my previous post I mentioned Jonathan Haidt (a social psychologist who is not religious, not conservative, and has described his own political leanings as liberal).
Haidt wrote The Righteous Mind about why good people are divided by politics. His research isn't about theology. But it explains why progressive Christianity is so effective and so persuasive to so many.
His core finding was this: conservatives draw from a broader moral palette including care, fairness, loyalty, authority, sanctity, and liberty. Progressives weight care and fairness far above the others.
In chapter 12, Haidt himself wrote: "When I speak to liberal audiences about the three 'binding' foundations — Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity — I find that many in the audience don't just fail to resonate; they actively reject these concerns as immoral. Loyalty to a group shrinks the moral circle; it is the basis of racism and exclusion, they say. Authority is oppression. Sanctity is religious mumbo-jumbo whose only function is to suppress female sexuality and justify homophobia."
Progressive Christianity does the same thing theologically. It elevates the care and fairness dimensions of Jesus's teaching above everything else… then treats anyone who draws from the other moral foundations as a Pharisee.
The result sounds like pure love. But it's a narrowed moral vision that has quietly set aside half the palette and declared the remaining half to be the whole gospel.
In one of my conversations, a self-described progressive Christian told me plainly: "The vast majority of progressive Christians aren't against border enforcement, traditional marriage, or institutional order. The difference is we don't see those as moral issues."
That's not underweighting those foundations. That's removing them from the moral category entirely which is exactly the pattern Haidt describes. . .
Do you know anyone who follows the progressive Christian pattern?
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Christian Nationalism
James Talarico is really against "Christian Nationalism" as defined by the left at any given moment, but he doesn't hate the people:
James Talarico on building a coalition with white nationalists:
“What if we found the courage and the vulnerability to do the difficult work of building a movement based on radical love that could create solidarity between latinx…a movement so powerful it could even liberate… pic.twitter.com/0DpWj8yUvC
Remember when Southwest Key, Catholic Charities USA, and Endeavors, all non profit organizations, received about $5.6 billion of tax payer money under Biden from 2021-2024 to help facilitate illegal immigration?
The Week in Pictures: Schroedinger’s Ayatollah
Is he alive or is he dead? When it comes to the new ayatollah, the answer is ultimately Yes. If he is alive, it won’t be for long. Who wants to tell him?
Sadly, I don’t have any memes yet for Judge Lawrence VanDyke’s amazing dissent at the 9th Circuit Friday. (If you haven’t heard about this, see the third item here.)
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Hope you have something nice planned for this weekend.
The Classical Saturday Morning Coffee Break & Prayer Revival
—Misanthropic Humanitarian
[Walk on water? Ha. Current lake ice conditions in the Frozen Tundra? 12"-21".]
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Good morning boys and girls and everything in between. Before we enter the Prayer Revival just a few house keeping matters to go over. (Rulz for those of you in Tacoma)
1) This is an open thread. Feel free to lurk, opine and/or bloviate.
2) Be kind, be nice. Be exceptional. Don't be Pretti Good.
3) Running with sharp objects is not regulated by the FDA. Good luck there Buckwheat.
4) Have a great weekend!
Please submit any prayer requests to me, “Annie’s Stew” at apaslo at-sign hotmail dot com. Prayer requests are generally removed after four weeks unless we receive an update.
Prayer Requests:
1/24 – Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd posted some updates and requests. In the blessings department: blood glucose has continued to fall, well within normal range. BP is good. The hole where his molar used to be is coming along nicely. The youngest has jaw surgery coming up in February. This is many years in the making and should correct her bite and ease the pain in her jaw and ears. She’s not looking forward to the liquid diet, but is looking forward to the pain relief. Prayers are always appreciated, and based on what they have been through, he knows they are efficacious.
2/14 Update – His daughter’s jaw surgery seems to be fully successful, thanks be to God. She is recuperating rapidly, the swelling is sharply down, and she’s counting the days to getting off the liquid diet.
1/31 – George V asked for prayers for his wife. She needs a heart valve replacement but first needs a heart cath to assess the valve and determine the replacement procedure and perhaps put stents in the coronary arteries that may be partially blocked. Also, the preliminary CT scan of her heart showed spots on her lungs that may be cancerous.
2/21 Update – The prayers are working. Thanks be to God and everyone who prayed. The heart cath showed no blockages in her arteries. The heart valve procedure will be in about 4 weeks. The pulmonologist said the lung spots have a very low chance of being cancerous, but a second scan will tell for sure. So far good news, and thanks to all who prayed for her.
2/14 – Vmom deport deport deport asks for prayers on behalf of her husband, as his employer is expected to file for Chapter 11. They are hoping for a decent severance.
2/14 – TCN in Alaska asked for advice. She is currently allowing her son, his girlfriend, and their infant to live in a condo she owns, and they are providing a terrible environment for the baby: pot-smoking, booze, no food, no formula. TCN in Alaska asked for advice about how to handle the situation. Prayers would help.
2/14 – L gave an update on her brother Ron. He has been in declining health for the last 6+ months, and has been transferred to a nice facility for hospice. They had been discussing this possibility for months. He would make improvements, then relapse, each time ending up more disabled. The best part is that he is at peace with the decision. He is aware enough to assist with the final plans and is enjoying parceling out his remaining possessions to family and friends. L’s daughter’s cardiac recovery continues. L says she cannot thank all sufficiently for the many prayers.
2/19 – mindful webworker requested prayers for his wife. Milady Jo will be having surgery on 2/26. It should be outpatient, and then a couple of weeks of recovery. Prayers are welcome for her, her surgeon, and her hapless husband while she’s down.
2/26 Update – The surgery is for Respiratory Epithelial Adenomatoid Hamartomak (REAH) – basically a blocked up nose. It’s relatively rare. It took a while to find an ENT whose diagnosis and surgical recommendation gave confidence. The surgery should improve her life greatly. It is scheduled for 1 pm.
2/28 Update – Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers for MiladyJo’s surgery. It took about 4 hours and seems to have been completely successful. There has been a great improvement in breathing and even appearance. She said that, after years of waiting, it seems like a dream, and that she knows with family, friends, and Morons and ‘Ettes, she is much loved.
2/20 – Gouveneur Morris requested prayers for herself as she has surgery scheduled for 2/27 for spondylolisthesis.
3/5 Update - Gouveneur Morris’ surgery was successful – every prayer and thought directed her way is appreciated.
2/21 - Skip asked for prayers for his sister and her two children, as they grieve their husband/father. The memorial service was on 2/21.
2/21 – Vmom deport deport deport asked for prayers for Gerry and Cathy, the elderly parents of her co-worker, B. Gerry and Cathy are in failing health, and B is bravely trying to keep them cared for and independent while also being a mom to her own kids.
2/21 – San Franpsycho requested a prayer for complete and immediate healing for PS, his oldest living relative, who is back in the hospital due to post-surgery fever and possible pneumonia.
2/21 – Sock Monkey asked for prayers of comfort and peace for Rickb223, who recently lost his wife to cancer. It was apparently a long battle and he was her primary caregiver. He is struggling. Please pray for him.
2/25 – LinusVanPelt posted a request for prayers for himself. He had a health scare and it’s freaking him out a bit. He had a real thing happen, and then received a clean bill of health, but has 2 more doctors to see. He can’t stop irrationally worrying that they’re going to say bad stuff (despite the real reason for the visits is to adjust medication levels).
2/28 Update – He woke up in a hospital ICU recently. Everything checked out, and it was a stress-induced incident, but that means he needs to make changes in his professional life. He is looking for the Lord’s guidance.
2/25 – Teresa in Fort Worth posted that she might need some prayers. Her PET scan was less than encouraging. She will have more information on 2/26.
2/26 Update – There were 2 new spots on her liver and a couple of weird things in the transverse colon. But the oncologist says he is not worried by anything he saw on the PET scan.
2/27 Update – The newest chemo protocol appears to be working. Her cancer markers are below the “cancerous” range. So for now they will continue with 2 weeks of continuous medication delivered directly into the Hepatic Artery and 2 weeks off. Unfortunately, one of the meds is a low dose of steroids, so her appetite and her Zepbound are currently duking it out.
2/25 – Robert posted that he needed an ‘Ette to kindly bash his brains in. He is suffering yet another massive gout flare up, and needs someone to end it all for him. He asks for an ‘Ette because he knows women are capable of inflicting great violence with only love in their hearts.
2/26 – Farmer could use some prayers. A biopsy is scheduled soon. The dentist said he found a couple of suspect spots. After having had prostate cancer, anything like this really alarms him.
2/26 – Bluebell passed along news from grammie winger: “Tomorrow (2/27) I go in for an all day marathon of tests and consultations. Then Monday (3/2) they will attempt the surgery. It is quite complex and they are not exactly sure they can do it. If they can, it will be a ten hour procedure. I confess to being a little apprehensive. The Rev is a little overwhelmed poor soul. Fortunately my two kids have me covered. My daughter the nurse for the medical side, and my son for the spiritual side. He has been a rock.”
3/10 Update – GrammieWinger’s son said she wanted us to know that she had surgery last Monday, and they were able to get most of the cancer, but they had to remove her colon. It’ll be a long recovery time, but she’s in good spirits and good hands. Grammie’s daughter has been at the hospital every day. Grammie Winger is very thankful for all of your prayers and she looks forward to talking with us soon!
2/27 – turambar posted that his/her mom had surgery for a broken left hip. Lots of pins and a rod were required to fix her up. She is in recovery now and doing okay, but she has a long road ahead since she is 86 years old. Thanks for your prayers; turambar appreciated them so much.
2/28 – 2009Refugee asked for prayers for an older sister who was scheduled for brain surgery on 3/4.
2/28 – no one of any consequence requested prayers for the repose of his oldest friend, who died on 2/22. His friend had returned to the church in recent years. No one of any consequence will be giving the eulogy at his memorial mass.
2/28 – San Franpsycho asked for prayers for P’nina Bat Surel, who remains hospitalized and still is not stabilized.
2/28 – Fenelon Spoke asked for prayers for a friend, P, who is dealing with a pinched nerve and has to have surgery in a week or so. She also has a daughter, K, who just got out of the hospital having had major mental health problems.
2/28 – LinusVanPelt requested prayers for our troops, President Trump, and for Israel’s government and the IDF as well.
2/28 – Sock Monkey requests prayers for Mrs. Sock. She crashed and burned pretty hard while skiing Thursday. She went to work very sore and using a cane.
2/28 – JJ posted that his wife was discharged from her rehab facility and her prognosis post shunt surgery to regain strength and physical abilities is excellent.
3/2 – RickZ posted that he received bad news. He went to the ER with muscle pain and came out with a cancer diagnosis. He could use prayers for an extremely capable oncological team of cancer specialists, and that God guides their hands and minds as they work to rid Rick of cancer. And also that God would provide him peace and calm, and to help sustain him through this trial.
3/5 – Inogame posted the good news that baby #5 arrived! Baby was overdue by 12 days. Mom and baby are doing well. Baby was 9 pounds 8 ounces, and 21.5 inches long.
3/5 – IrishEI has learned that she needs major surgery on 3/16, and she would really appreciate prayers.
3/7 – Uncle Slayton posted the good news that his son-in-law, Kenny, is almost 3 years cancer-free. He beat lymphoma and leukemia, and Uncle Slayton wanted to thank everyone who prayed for him.
3/7 – Joe Kidd sent an update on a previous prayer, for a young girl named Jasmine. She is the adopted daughter of a friend of a friend. She had been rescued from abuse, but was withdrawn, etc. The friend took the family on an RV trip, and with lots of TLC for Jasmine, things have improved. It appears that God has surrounded this young girl with an army of angels, and your prayers for her are being heard. May those listed here and whispered elsewhere receive similar affirmation.
3/7 – vmom deport deport deport requested prayers for GB, the husband of her friend; he just had a quadruple bypass a couple of days ago, following a heart attack.
3/10 – Warai-otoko asked for prayers for a sister-in-law with some respiratory issues, who just took a hard turn for the worse. Thanks to everyone, even if you just take a fraction of a second for it.
3/10 – Update on Susan, who we have been praying for as she battles cancer. She is hospitalized again with an infection in her colon that quickly turned bad. The doctor says the signs are sepsis but they are running tests to make sure. The good news is that the pancreatic cancer was and is responding to the chemo and her cancer numbers are going down. God bless and thank you!
3/11 – Bulg sends a prayer of thanks. He called his formerly estranged sister on her birthday, and they had a wonderful conversation. It was their second conversation since February, and there was no animosity at all.
3/11 – Doof sent his appreciation for the Horde’s prayers for his mom, who has been in post-hospitalization rehab since mid-January. She has recovered from her illnesses, but her body seems to be increasingly giving up on her. PT has become too painful and exhausting for her. She is also having increased brain fog and is rapidly losing the ability to do things like answer her phone or send texts. Continued prayers requested for her, as she is very sad, and also for Doof and his sister as they figure out what’s next.
For submission guidelines and other relevant info, please contact Annie's Stew, who is managing the prayer list. You can contact her at apaslo at-sign hotmail dot com. If you see a prayer request posted in a thread comment, feel free to copy and paste it and e-mail it to Annie's Stew. She tries to keep up with the requests in the threads, but she's not here all of the time, so she may not see it unless you e-mail it to her. Please note: Prayer requests are generally removed after four weeks or so unless we receive an update.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
The two episodes are from the sprawling 12-episode story The Dalek Master Plan that aired in Britain in 1965 - and never aired anywhere else because Australian censors deemed it too violent and that made it unprofitable to resell in smaller markets.
And then the BBC, in the long tradition of knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing, wiped the tapes to reuse them, deeming the tapes themselves more valuable than their contents.
Which left little hope because most of the episodes rediscovered over the years have been from the archives of channels elsewhere in the world that "accidentally" held on to copies for decades after their rights expired.
These two episodes were left to a film archiving foundation as part of a "ramshackle" private collection.
In a nice touch, one of the actors who appeared as the Doctor's companion in the story - Peter Purves, now 87 - was invited to the screening, but only told that it was for an interview. To be fair, they did interview him afterwards.
I didn't know this, but the fake ESPN channel created for Dodgeball, ESPN8 "The Ocho" -- "If it's almost a sport, it must be The Ocho!" -- was actually turned into a real annual event by ESPN.
This whole video showing bikers testing the newest version of the Redbull Hardline extreme bike course is worth watching, but if you want to cut to the really good part, go here, to see the ramp jump across a chasm that I was sure was just a promotional thing that no one intended to actually jump. Wrong, they do jump it. It's insane. Several make it and one wipes. After testing it, and being told repeatedly "that jump will kill somebody," they decided the jump was just too insane and so they removed it from the bike course.
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."
