Ace: aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
Buck: buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
CBD: cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com
joe mannix: mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum: petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton: sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
Chavez the Hugo 2020
Ibguy 2020
Rickl 2019
Joffen 2014
AoSHQ Writers Group
A site for members of the Horde to post their stories seeking beta readers, editing help, brainstorming, and story ideas. Also to share links to potential publishing outlets, writing help sites, and videos posting tips to get published.
Contact OrangeEnt for info: maildrop62 at proton dot me
“How did Iran get so close to a nuclear weapon? Let's follow the money
Hillary Clinton becomes Barack Obama's Secretary of State in 2009. During her tenure from 09-13, there were 4 companies that donated large amounts of money to the Clinton Foundation.
Those companies are Boeing, Airbus Total and Siemens. Their donation amounts total up to $25 million, but no less than $5 million. There's not exact numbers. Perhaps. They were hoping to influence Obama and Hillary as they were negotiating with Iran trying to get the nuclear deal signed, which they eventually did In 2015.
On July 14th, 2015, the JCPOA was signed lifting sanctions off of Iran and unfreezing 50 to $150 billion in cash assets.
And then between January 17th and February 5th, 2016, Obama sent $1.7 billion in untraceable cash to Iran.
This money presented an untraceable foreign currency was said to be a settlement for a 1979 arms deal with Iran. That was $400 million, but with $1.3 billion in interest, at least that's what the Obama administration said. It was later on that February, the Obama administration tried to secretly grant Iran access to U.S treasury payment system, which would have netted them $5.7 billion in currency conversion if it hadn't failed. (The banks were like, what the f*ck is this? Hell no.)
Later on that year, in April of 2016, the Obama administration dropped charges to several Iranian arms dealers so they wouldn't derail the JCPOA.
This really pissed off Obama's Department of Justice, but Obama had to maintain his legacy. And then between March and December of 2016 is when Airbus got an $18 billion contract because of the lifted sanctions in Iran. Boeing got a $16.6 billion contract total, got a $4.8 billion contract, and Siemens got a $1 billion contract with Iran, or I should say Iranian regime controlled companies.
But then in November, the unthinkable happens and Hillary Clinton loses the 2016 election to Donald Trump, and suddenly these 4 companies no longer donate to the Clinton Foundation ever again.
Click the link to read the whole thing / watch a video segment from the author
A Colorado man was given a heartwarming surprise last week, after his granddaughter reached out to strangers who provided one last look at his favorite thing—a classic car show.
“I just wanted to do something special for him,” his granddaughter, Annaliesse Garcia, told KDVR News.
And ‘special’ it was, as dozens of car owners paraded past their grandfather’s home in Lakewood.
After posting the request on social media, the family only expected a handful of autos, but around 50 showed off their curvy bumpers and round mirrors for 80-year-old Max Archuleta, a lifelong fan of vintage vehicles.
Since being diagnosed with terminal cancer, he no longer has the energy to attend his beloved car shows.
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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Reviving Timeless Threads: Persian Women's Fashion Through the Ages
From the grandeur of ancient empires to the vibrant styles of the mid-20th century, Persian women's attire has reflected strength, artistry, and adaptation. As the Persians fight for their very existence, we pay tribute to this enduring spirit.
Achaemenid Elegance: Foundations of Feminine Grace (550–330 BCE)
The Achaemenid Empire set the stage for Persian fashion, blending functionality with opulence across a vast realm. Women's clothing, though less frequently depicted than men's in artifacts like Persepolis reliefs, emphasized layered modesty and luxury.
High-status women wore ankle-length robes with intricate pleats and folds, often belted at the waist to create a flowing silhouette. These were crafted from fine linen, wool, or imported silk, dyed in rich purples, reds, and golds—colors symbolizing royalty and derived from natural sources like madder root or saffron. A veil or shawl draped over the shoulders added elegance, sometimes secured with jeweled brooches. Headwear included turreted crowns or diadems adorned with gems, framing bobbed or braided hair. Jewelry was abundant: gold necklaces, earrings, and armlets highlighted status, while soft leather shoes completed the ensemble.
This attire wasn't just practical for Persia's diverse climates; it embodied empowerment, as women in the empire held property rights and influenced court life.
Parthian Practicality: Mobility and Multicultural Flair (247 BCE–224 CE)
Under the Parthians, nomadic influences merged with Persian traditions, creating versatile clothing suited for an equestrian lifestyle. Women's fashion evolved to prioritize movement while retaining decorative elements.
Typical outfits featured long-sleeved tunics or dresses, layered over trousers for horseback riding—a groundbreaking adaptation that spread across Asia. Fabrics like wool and silk were embroidered with geometric patterns or floral motifs, influenced by Silk Road trade. Belts cinched the waist, often embellished with gold or silver buckles. Veils were common, pinned with ornate clasps, and tiaras or serrated headscarves added height and drama. Colors ranged from earthy tones to vibrant blues and greens, with jewelry like rectangular earrings and necklaces enhancing the look.
Parthian women, depicted in sculptures and textiles, embodied a blend of warrior spirit and grace, foreshadowing modern activewear's focus on comfort and style.
Sasanian Splendor: Peak of Pre-Islamic Luxury (224–651 CE)
The Sasanian era amplified Achaemenid grandeur, with women's clothing reaching new heights of sophistication before the Arab conquest. Noble women donned flowing gowns with wide sleeves and neck openings, made from brocaded silk or cotton embroidered with gold threads and mythical motifs like simurgh birds. These were belted and layered, sometimes with an outer cloak for formality. Headgear evolved to include tall, tasseled headdresses or veils fastened with pearl strands, complementing elaborate braids adorned with metallic ornaments. Footwear ranged from laced boots to pointed slippers, often in leather or fabric.
This opulent style, seen in rock carvings and silverware, highlighted women's roles in rituals and society, influencing later Islamic fashions while preserving Zoroastrian motifs.
Pre-1979 Vibes: A Fusion of Freedom and Flair
Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women's fashion mirrored a period of modernization under the Pahlavi dynasty, blending Western trends with local elements.
Urban women embraced miniskirts, bell-bottom jeans, short-sleeved blouses, and colorful dresses, often paired with big hair and bold makeup. Bikinis at beaches and swimsuits were common, reflecting a liberal era. In rural areas, traditional chadors or regional dresses persisted, but overall, fashion symbolized progress, with influences from global pop culture.
This era's diversity, captured in vintage photos, evokes nostalgia for a time of personal choice, contrasting with post-revolution mandates.
In 2026, Iran's mandatory dress code for women, established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, remained in effect under the Islamic Penal Code and the "Hijab and Chastity" law. Women and girls over the age of 9 are legally required to cover their hair with a hijab (headscarf) in public spaces, and their clothing must be modest, covering the arms, legs, and body shape to adhere to Islamic principles. Violations resulted in fines, arrests, flogging, or imprisonment, though enforcement varies by region—stricter in rural areas or during crackdowns, and more relaxed in urban centers like Tehran where defiance is common.
Prayers to Weave the Past into the Present
Persian women's fashion, from ancient empires to pre-1979 streets, tells a story of innovation and identity. This legacy reminds us of Persia's unbreakable cultural weave, elegant and inspiring. May they soon be able to remove their head coverings with impunity.
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Thanks, Piper!
***
DJ Doof - Born on This Date Edition
from thisdayinmusic.com
1944
Mike D'Abo, singer, songwriter, who with Manfred Mann had the 1968 UK No.1 & US No.10 single 'Mighty Quinn'. He wrote 'Handbags & Gladrags' covered by Rod Stewart and Stereophonics. Also wrote 'Build Me Up A Buttercup' a 1968 hit for The Foundations.
1944 - English singer and actor Roger Daltrey, The Who.
1904 - American big-band musician, arranger, composer, and bandleader Glenn Miller. He was the best-selling recording artist from 1939 to 1943, leading one of the best-known big bands.
***
Weekly commenter stats for week of 2-22-2026
AoSHQ Commenter Statistics:
Number of posts: 99
Number of comments: 26455
Number of unique hashes: 1878
Top 10 commenters:
1 [608 comments] 'Boss Moss' [86.33 posts/day]
2 [480 comments] 'whig'
3 [445 comments] 'runner'
4 [332 comments] ' Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _'
5 [324 comments] 'TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films'
6 [297 comments] '...'
7 [292 comments] 'Bulg'
8 [289 comments] '18-1'
9 [288 comments] ''
10 [279 comments] 'Quarter Twenty '
Top 10 sockpuppeteers:
1 [198 names] 'Pedal Pusher' [28.11 unique names/day]
2 [188 names] 'Quarter Twenty '
3 [119 names] 'Democrats - unchanged for 175 years'
4 [67 names] 'Miklos' bucket list is pretty weak these days'
5 [47 names] 'Intercepted Reddit Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison'
6 [43 names] 'Duncanthrax'
7 [42 names] 'fd'
8 [37 names] 'Count de Monet'
9 [36 names] 'Moron Analyst'
10 [34 names] 'pookysgirl has a few things to say too'
***
Tonight's ONT brought to you by unfortunate font choices
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Doof Enterprises, LLC hopes you have enjoyed tonight's ONT. If you didn't, perhaps your expectations were a bit lofty.
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 First March Edition? I told 'you people' March was coming, didn't I? Hmmm? Well here it is, and we have not one, not two, not three, not four, but five Sundays this month!! I am exhausted just thinking about it!
Current Events: I generally like to take a break from current events in the comments but I think the situation in Iran, and to a greater degree the implications here at home, warrant an exception. If you would like to discuss what is going on I'm OK with it, particularly with respect to the potential for acts of domestic terrorism and the various threat scenarios, and general self-defense preparedness and best practices. Having said that, please think before you post. Thanks.
With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?
I'm curious, do you have a range membership or do you pay as you go? If you have a membership, assuming it allows unlimited visits, do you feel like you go often enough to make the membership a good value? Are there factors other than cost/use that make membership attractive? Are there any new shooters out there lurking and trying to decide whether to get started in recreational shooting?
******
Rifle Action Blueprinting
Is this the next step for you?
******
Got Guns?
Might be a good idea to think about your response before the question is axed on the side of the road. [h/t CBD]
Would you handle the same situation differently? If so, how so?
******
Our Pal The Atomic Clock
Not just any clock, the Atomic Clock.
******
NASA and Uranus!
Not just any anus, Uranus!
******
Highway Patrol!
Not just any insurance, Phony Insurance!
******
The Flame Barrier!!
Not just any barrier, the flame barrier!
******
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?
Seasoning steel pans is an exercise in frustration and failure, unlike the same process with cast-iron. I am not a metallurgist, So I can only guess at the difference in the surface's ability to absorb oil and then hold onto it in its polymer state. But I do know one thing...that expensive carbon-steel pan is a huge pain in the ass to season, and the seasoning is as fickle and transitory as a puff of smoke in a windstorm.
Big Pan is as evil a cabal as any on earth; their teasing bromides about the superiority of their products should be outlawed, and their executives banished to a world of stuck-on eggs and burned steaks.
Laboratory-grown "meat" is a misnomer. Meat is the flesh of animals. And in the United States of America, those animals are mostly cattle, pigs, chickens and sheep. Coincidentally, we have a huge industry that has evolved around the market-driven demand for...meat! It is amazingly efficient, and while there are obvious environmental issues, for the most part we manage the waste effectively, while supplying inexpensive and reasonable-quality products to every American.
Chicken and pork can be had for less than $2/lb. Beef is suffering a (hopefully) temporary blip in price, but it is still far less expensive than in most other countries. America has a successful market-driven system to provide meat to consumers, and the idea that artificial "meat" will be even modestly successful is a real head-scratcher.
And the market agrees!
******
David Liebovitz is pretty damned irritating, but he knows how to write, and he knows how to bake, so I will cut him a bit of slack. Well, also because sticky buns are one of my few sweet baked goods weaknesses, and in particular the pecan version. Hell, Maple Pecan Sticky Buns even has maple syrup!
I have a few pecans left from a gift of some delicious ones, so I think I will use them in this recipe...
******
This is oddly pleasing, although it veers into weirdness towards the end. Which I guess is why Weasel sent it to me!
[Hat Tip: Weasel]
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RFK Jr. is having a profound effect on American food producers. This is a fascinating and overdue change in the way our foods are made, and while I am not in the hysterical, "Food Dyes Will Kill Us All" camp, I would prefer that my food have as few ingredients as possible, particularly when some of those ingredients are artificial dyes that provide no sustenance.
I'll bet the left is torn about this one though. They hate anything that isn't natural and holistic and organic and free-range and blah...blah...blah, but it is being driven by RFK Jr and Donald Trump!
******
This is a profoundly disturbing recipe. French Toast is an abomination when made as a sickly-sweet ersatz dessert, but is quite delicious when made correctly as a savory breakfast dish.
Croque Monsieur is an equally delicious dish that is nothing more than a tarted up grilled-cheese sandwich.
But blend the two together and you get something alien to all that is good and tasty and fine.
What is Alton Brown thinking here? French Toast Croque Monsieur sounds like a horror show! Gruyere, ham, and....syrup?
******
I didn't feel like cooking tonight,
so I made a sandwich for dinner
It wasn't so much as a sandwich as much as it was just bread.
I guess more just grain.
Fermented grain.
Distilled, fermented grain.
I had whisky for dinner tonight.
Yes, it is old, but it amuses me!
******
I am a month or so from removing the mulch and insulation around my garlic pot and letting it run free in the wind and the sun! Hopefully it isn't dead and will grow some marvelous heirloom garlic which I will use to great effect in Spaghetti Aglio Olio!
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!
That's one of my favorite lowball glasses, and because I am a big fan of Old Fashioneds, it gets heavy use.
Alas, it suffered a chip, and while it wasn't particularly expensive, it is a nice solid, heavy glass that adds to the enjoyment of my cocktails! So I wasn't about to toss the thing. Remember, I am a cheap bastard!
So...what to do?
Some 600 grit sandpaper, a thin punch, and a very long time carefully sanding smooth the jagged edge, and all's right in the world!
After 47 Years Of Asymmetric War, We Finally Have A President Who Understands
—CBD
The Islamic Republic Of Iran was founded after a revolution overthrew its monarch. That revolution was aided and abetted by a cabal of western countries, including France and America (thank you Jimmy Carter!), and various leftist political groups that found Iran's embrace of the West and Israel to be unacceptable.
Soon after the Shah left Iran and his replacement failed to consolidate power, the Mullahs rushed in. They had been fomenting revolution for years, and the most fanatical of them, Ayatollah Khomeini, seized power and promptly imprisoned or murdered his political opponents, in particular the starry-eyed leftists who saw Iran becoming some sort of progressive Nirvana.
They were wrong, and instead Iran became the epicenter of Islamic terror, with its tentacles spread across the world. They also created proxies within other countries to facilitate their expansionist goals in the region. Much of the Islamic terror that spread through the West could be traced to active or tacit support from Iran and its theocratic dictators. They also created a comprehensive surveillance state within Iran, and ferociously enforced their version of Shia Islam. Other religions withered, women were cast back into the 7th century, murder, torture, and rape became a tool of the government, and it was all supported by the insatiable thirst for Iranian oil, coupled with the typical leftist support of anything that degrades traditional Western culture.
Iran's targets were Israel first and foremost, and America. Little Satan and Big Satan, and they didn't pretend anything different. For 46 years the goal of the dictators of Iran was the destruction of Israel, the destruction of America, and a global conflagration that would usher in the end times that would return their 12th Imam, a tenet of Shia Islam.
It was war against Israel, America, and the West, but the flaccid thinkers and accommodationists who passed for western political elites wouldn't, or couldn't understand that there was no accommodation to be made with a theocratic dictatorship whose goals were clear. So they mostly ignored the war, accepted the casualties, and hoped that kicking the can down the road would eventually moderate the savagery of the Iranian government.
They too were wrong, and Israel's behind-the-scenes work to degrade the Iranian nuclear program was the only thing that kept the West from a third World War, this time with nuclear weapons.
The strongest argument that President Donald Trump’s political opponents can muster to decry his decision to order American forces to join with Israel to act against Iran is that he is launching a “war of choice,” rather than seeking to avert an imminent threat to American interests or security. Even his sternest critics, such as the editorial page of The New York Times, acknowledged that the government of Iran is not merely a brutal oppressor and a constant threat to the rest of the Middle East as well as to the West, but also combines a “murderous ideology with nuclear ambitions.”
Every U.S. president for the last quarter-century has asserted that America will never let Iran get a nuclear weapon and was prepared to use force to prevent that from happening. But only Trump seems to have fully grasped the stark nature of the threat that Tehran poses to the United States—and the world.
The goal...perhaps the only goal...of the Iranian theocracy was the production of nuclear weapons to be used against Israel, America, and probably Europe. Any other interpretation of their actions is arrant nonsense or willful ignorance. The Iranian dictators were excellent practitioners of the Muslim penchant for lying and misdirection, or "taqiyya." And the world was content to be fooled!
But not President Donald Trump. In fact, his own brand of American taqiyya seemed to work rather well on Iran, whose leadership was surprised by the attacks of February 28th. The Iranians assumed that their own obfuscation would buy them time, and that their own attacks on American installations, Israel, and a few other Arab nations in the region would be on their timetable.
Whoops!
Israel's decapitation of the leadership, combined with a massive degradation of Iran's military infrastructure that only America could achieve, has created the opportunity for another revolution in Iran...one that will hopefully usher in a government that will consider the welfare of the Iranian people to be paramount.
If the American and Israeli attacks continue, and if the dictatorship's power base is damaged enough be attacked from within Iran by whatever coalition is being cobbled together, and if that coalition can create a functioning government, and if its neighbors do not begin to meddle, then the Iranian people have a chance to become what they once were, a vibrant, energetic, successful culture!
There are a lot of "ifs" in that paragraph, and there are no guarantees, even with the staunch support of America and its clear-eyed president! But it is difficult to imagine an outcome that is any worse than the current state of affairs.
But the established world order has come to an end. Iran will not be the dominant player in the Middle East, and will find it increasingly difficult to continue its evil ways around the world, even if by some malign turn of events the theocracy survives.
And...hopefully...President Trump is parsimonious with American treasure, and does not commit to a rebuilding of Iran at the expense of the American taxpayer. It is the Iranian people who should do the work!
Good morning, ‘rons and ‘ronettes. It’s time once again for the monthly MP4-hosted Sunday Book Thread. Dress is country club casual, but ladies are encouraged to indulge in shoes, such as this:
So ask the barman for an Old Fashioned, covfefe or tea and let’s get started!
That’s today’s topic. But I don’t mean ‘sick’ as in bibliomaniacs like Richard Heber or Thomas Phillips, who both bought books compulsively and monomaniacally, so that at their deaths, each man had literal houses full of books which neither they, nor anyone else, had ever read. Nor do I mean people like one collector – and I can’t find the reference just now – who would buy a book and then proceed to buy up every other copy he could find, in order to destroy them and have in his possession the last copy in the world.
What I mean by ‘book sick’ is a version of the quandary Linus found himself in the 1965 Peanuts cartoon above. In my case, it’s the frequent annoyance that I want to read something, and yet I am sick of every book in my library and don’t want to touch any of them. An added irritation is the presence of books on my shelves that I have had for years and never touched: just now I am looking at The Norman Conquest and Beyond, from 1983. I have owned it for more than 20 years, and yet have never opened it except once, just to see if I wanted to buy it.
So then, book sick, I go out and buy yet more books that I’ll either never read or will go through a chapter or two and put aside. But get rid of them? No, because I might – might! – one day want to read one.
Before you ask, yes, the author of the article does know that the power delivered by a battery is only half the data. It's designed to deliver 300MW for 100 hours, which makes it possibly the largest single installation in the world.
Also it's an iron-air battery which I didn't know they had working at scale. It produces energy by rusting iron, and recharges by unrusting it. It's heavy, less efficient that common lithium batteries, and requires a source of water and air to keep the cycle going. And I'm not sure if they've ironed (sorry) out the durability issues.
But air and water aren't hard to find in most places a datacenter might be build, and importantly it's cheap.
The idea being that if you have an area that's dark and you need it to be less dark, a constellation of 50,000 orbital satellites will make daylight a phone call away. The mirrors will be orbiting 400 miles up so the light that reaches the ground will be very spread out and not remotely as bright as full daylight, but even moonlight-on-demand could be worthwhile.
The article is by the Washington Post's Dana Milbank, so it's overly verbose and spends most of those words whining.
The maintainer cites rising costs - around $6000 per month - thanks in part to AI, and also people abusing the service and creating paywalled sites that take money for the service he provides for free.
The photo was of a Ledger crypto storage device seized in a raid, an item normally secure enough and perfectly safe to photograph and publicise.
But right next to the device was a handwritten note containing a mnemonic for the wallet address and private key. These are commonly used with various blockchains and machine-readable, so it didn't take long for someone to empty the wallet out, even while it was sitting in the tax agency's vault.
AMD still doesn't support its latest FSR4 upscaling technology on RDNA on older RDNA2 and RDNA3 graphics cards - like my Radeon 7800 XT - even though we know it works because they accidentally published the source code for the drivers that make it work.
It's a bit of fiddling around so you might be better off just buying an Nvidia graphics card, or even an RDNA4 card like the 9070 XT, but it does work.
Not Pro, not Air, just a cheap-for-Apple base model.
The question is, what are they going to cut to hit the target price? The article discusses configurations with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of SSD, and possibly a low-quality screen, all of which sound awful.
Seems an odd pairing with the Ryzen 395 CPU (16 CPU cores and 40 graphics cores) and 128GB of RAM - and the anticipated €4000 price. Particularly when my current laptop cost a sixth of that and has a high-resolution 14" OLED panel running at 120Hz.
And the answer is that my laptop has a 14" screen, and the Asus has a 13" screen, and nobody makes high-resolution 13" OLED panels that run faster than 60Hz, while at 14" and above they've become common even on modestly-priced systems. And professional artists, the target audience of the ProArt range, don't need high refresh rates so much as colour fidelity, which that panel delivers.
Saturday Night Club ONT - February 28, 2026 [2 D's]
—Open Blogger
Welcome to Club ONT - a collaboration of The Disco and The Dino. We've spiffied the place up a bit tonight. Hope you notice. The carpets have been cleaned. Starlight mints are now available at the bar. Fresh cakes in the urinals. Lavender and vanilla scented plug-ins in the ladies room. Coat check area has been sprayed with that stuff they use for bowling shoe rentals. Come on in!
This is an open thread, so report, speculate, and pontificate as desired. Current events continue to develop. Just don't be a jerk or a troll. Club ONT security will remove offenders.
[Top photo: Cataract Falls, Tennessee (ten minutes from Gatlinburg)]
An old man is walking along a river with a bucket of fish, when a game warden stops him and asks, "Do you have a license to catch those fish?"
The old man says, "No sir, I don't. These are my pet fish."
"Pet fish?!" the warden replies, skeptical. "How is that?"
The man explains, "Well, these are my pet fish. I take them down to the water and let them swim for about half an hour. Then I whistle, they jump back into my bucket, and we go home."
The game warden, not believing a word, says, "That's a bunch of nonsense. Fish can't do that. I'm going to ticket you."
The old man says, "Fine, I'll show you." He dumps the fish into the river and waits.
Five minutes go by, and the warden says, "Well, are you going to call them back?"
The old man looks at the warden and asks, "Call who back?"
"The fish!" the warden yells.
The old man asks, "What fish?"
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A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding and has the following exchange...
Officer: "May I see your driver's license?"
Driver: "I don't have one. It was revoked when I got my 5th DWI."
Officer: "May I see the registration for this vehicle?"
Driver: "It's not my car. I stole it."
Officer: "The car is stolen?!"
Driver: "That's right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the registration in the glove box when I was putting my gun in there."
Officer: "There's a gun in the glove box?"
Driver: "Yes sir. That's where I put it after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk."
Officer: "There's a BODY in the TRUNK?!?!?!"
Driver: "Yes, sir."
Hearing this, the officer immediately called his Captain. The car was quickly surrounded by police, and the Captain approached the driver to handle the tense situation:
Captain: "Sir, can I see your license?"
Driver: "Sure. Here it is." It was valid.
Captain: "Whose car is this?"
Driver: "It's mine, officer. Here's the registration." The driver owned the car.
Captain: "Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there's a gun in it?"
Driver: "Yes, sir, but there's no gun in it." Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box.
Captain: "Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there's a body in it."
Driver: "No problem." Trunk is opened. No body.
Captain: "I don't understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn't have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glovebox, and that there was a dead body in the trunk."
Driver: "Yeah, I'll bet the lying son of a bitch told you I was speeding, too!"
*****
Open that Bottle Night
In lieu of the drink of the night, Club ONT joins with oenophiles around the world in celebration of Open that Bottle Night. The last Saturday of each February has been so designated every year since 1999. It was begun by the then-Wall Street Journal Wine Columnists John Brecher and Dorothy Gaiter. It is a call to open that special bottle with friends and share the experience, instead of letting it continue to sit in the cellar.
What are you saving for a special occasion (and why are you waiting)?
Has anyone given you a special bottle that comes with a great story?
Do you have an agreement among a group to share a special bottle upon a milestone?
Club ONT patrons are not limited to wine. Any other spirit or beverage qualifies.
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Too soon?
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Club ONT Official Records of State
Random trivia: Did you know what 32 states have an official beverage? The first was Ohio in 1965 that went with tomato juice. 20 of the 32 states with official beverages have designated milk as their official beverage.
You may be asking: "what about DC?" In 2011, the District of Colombia designated a drink called "Rickey" as its official beverage. What is "Rickey?" Per Wikipedia:
The rickey is a highball made from gin or bourbon, lime juice, and carbonated water. Little or no sugar is added to the rickey. It was created with bourbon in Washington, D.C., at Shoomaker's bar by bartender George A. Williamson in the 1880s, purportedly in collaboration with Democratic lobbyist Colonel Joe Rickey. Its popularity increased when made with gin a decade later.
Shocking that a drink in DC is named after a Democratic lobbyist.
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Club ONT Department of Astronomy
Did you watch the planetary parade this evening?
The best time is/was about 30 minutes after local sunset.
Look from low in the west (Mercury/Venus/Saturn) to high in the east (Jupiter). Visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter visible to the naked eye. Binoculars or a telescope are needed to see Uranus and Neptune.
It remains to be seen whether the alignment signals the imminent appearance of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
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Club ONT Department of Modern Combat Entertainment
Who says Club ONT doesn't provide great entertainment?
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The Club ONT Jukebox
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Top 10ish Comments of the Week
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Club ONT brought to you by:
Young members of the cartel
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Tonight's food offerings are proudly presented by our friends at Jimmy's Seafood. Should anything not be to your liking - well, you know what you can do!
Saturday Evening Movie Post [moviegique]: Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
—Open Blogger
Shockingly, I think I've only seen one other movie this 21-day-stretch, the 1945 classic "Brief Encounter," which is semi-relevant. But rather than talk about that masterpiece, I thought I'd give you a review of a new movie that doesn't suck--an increasingly rare breed.
-- I was talking to a friend (who's been on a David Lean kick) about this movie, and she sighed and said "I hate...today."
This isn't so much a reflection on the quality of Gore Verbinski's latest joint Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die so much as its character, and more the character of our times. She had watched Brief Encounter, which is intensely human, personal and moral, and it's a big, jarring jump to a black comedy about the death of humanity, school shootings, and the rise of "fake reality".
I like Verbinski. Early in his career, it seemed to me that he made a lot out of some thin material: Mousehunt is basically a cartoon about two guys versus a mouse, and is far more entertaining than it should be; The Ring I liked better than the Japanese original; and of course Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the BlackPearl—based on the smash hit amusement park ride?—was a remarkable achievement blending old Hollywood swashbuckler tropes with CGI technology.
It's probably his best film and very possibly his ruination, as the first two sequels dominated his output in the '00s with predictably deteriorating returns artistically (if not financially). He had a hit with his quirky CGI Rango—which grossed a little bit less than his flop, The Lone Ranger, showing how weird the movie biz can be sometimes.
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die looks to be a flop, too, looking like it may not break $5M in its opening weekend.
As I sat there enjoying this film, I also couldn't believe that it had gotten made, as it's a dark comedy—extremely dark—and has not-at-all subtle message the world would prefer to ignore: Devices and social media are robbing us of our humanity. We are being manipulated by various forces into this, and we are also culpable in our own ultimate destruction.
It's a fun movie.
It's also, I hesitate to say, a thought-provoking one, and on a lot of levels.
Let's talk about the fun, first. I'm not going to reveal much about the plot because the first two-thirds of the film is tight, and the way the script by Matthew Robinson (The Invention Of Lying, Bird Box) turns various elements from gag/commentary into genuine plot points is very enjoyable. The characters' backstory is told in flashbacks, and the first one seems so over-the-top and so social-commentary, until you get to the second flashback, which really gives grounding to the first one.
I don't know, guys, it's like someone actually cared about the writing instead of just "Well, it looks cool." (It does look cool, though.)
The movie opens with Sam Rockwell materializing at Norms , a Los Angeles institution, terrorizing the patrons by looking and sounding like a maniac. He's from the future and trying to gather a team to—well, not stop the AI being created a mile or so away by a 9-year-old boy, but to deliver safety protocols invented by top scientists in the future.
Experts agree: The Apocalypse can be more rewarding when shared with friends or last minute acquaintances.
The opening shot is reminiscent of Strangers on a Train, which I mention because I just saw that picture again last month. We start with a long tracking shot done entirely at waist level, and zoom through the diner in such a way as to see all the dishes being served—and that everyone is on their phone. (I went to an In 'n' Out last week, and was somewhat startled to see twenty people in about four parties all staring at their phones. In fairness, half of these were guys at the end of their lunch break waiting for someone to come back from the bathroom, but it was still startling.)
Anyway, Sam Rockwell goosesteps over the tables, smashing everyone's food and phones, delivering the insane exposition which sets up a two-plus hour chase (with expository flashbacks) as Rockwell (whose character has no name) describes the various ways in which culture goes to hell, ever so gradually over the decades until things just fall apart.
A lot of uncomfortable truths here, but that's relatively mild.
His team includes of a couple of teachers with romantic issues (Zazie Beets, Joker and Michael Pena, End Of Watch), a possibly crazy mom (Juno Temple, Killer Joe), a legally-distinct-non-Disney party princess (Haley Lu Richardson) with a death wish, as well as a woman who just wanted pie and a man who goes along but isn't convinced by Rockwell's story.
Also starring some extras from "Toy Story" and the "Bad Robot" logo.
Oh, I just realized, this has two of my favorite tropes: taking place all in one night and taking place in a limited area of Los Angeles (see Miracle Mile, which this movie reminds me of greatly, down to starting in an iconic Los Angeles coffee shop).
Anyway, the team has many adventures, and we see Rockwell's character's backstory, which shows us a grim future where the world is a wasteland because everyone's much much "happier" in a virtual reality than the real world.
This is the through-theme, the punchline and the big idea, and it's pitched directly: I will create a perfect world for humanity, says AI, which is much better than the so-called real one, with all its suffering and loss.
Well, look, Hollywood's pretty much all-in on this rather Satanic notion so, yeah, I'm surprised the movie got made at all. And the general public is just champing at the bit to live in a virtual cage, so, no, I'm not surprised it's a flop. It's also not particularly politically correct. The two main female leads are basket cases. The story brutally mocks school shootings and the monetization of grief.
Rockwell runs around muttering, "Mindfuck. It's all mindfucks."
And...yeah. At one point early on I saw "The Cake Is A Lie" scrawled on the wall. This is a line from the video game "Portal". There's also an (out of focus) poster of "Portal" on a kid's bedroom wall.
Unfortunately, I don't know "Portal" much, but the Boy explained to me a little bit about the plot of "Portal" and "Portal 2" and...look, I've already forgotten how they relate, if at all, to the movie.
It's a message movie. The message? "We're doomed. But that doesn't mean we can't have fun!"
I wrote a story in the '80s which was sort of like The Matrix, except not cool, and the main premise was not that humanity had been enslaved by robots, but that humanity had opted for virtual reality to the point that real reality was entirely maintained by (perfectly well-mannered and solicitous) robots. I thought about it a lot watching this and thinking, "Yes, this does seems to be the more likely path than robot overlords." (I have not completely ruled out robot overlords, however.)
I only bring this up because, in the end, it was not clear to either of us what was real and what was not. There are a number of clues dropped in a number of places suggesting a number of things. The fact that this was a well-made film made these issues interesting to discuss (and the Boy and I did, extensively) rather than annoying. It's a movie you can go see and debate endlessly.
The music by Geoff Zanelli is on point. During a very Carpenter-esque sequence in a school, I wondered for a moment if they'd brought John Carpenter in to score it. The cinematography by James Whitaker similarly pleased me with the attention to detail and use of actual interesting camerawork instead of just relying on bombast and camera-clichés. People cared, and it shows all the way through.
I said to the Boy, "Hey, a Hollywood movie we liked. Probably the first since Mission Impossible 8." He responded with, "Hollywood made this?"
So that's where we are. And while we enjoyed it and enjoyed discussing it afterwards, I can still relate to the whole concept of "I hate...today."
POV: You're in an ensemble picture. I mean, you WERE in an ensemble picture.
Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) a spin and it landed on woodworking on a lathe.
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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The Grateful generously arranged for delivery of a new mini-lathe to our house to recognize a recent birthday. Hooray! Apparently I made a comment on a Hobby Thread at some point that expressed interest in a wood lathe. The idea is small scale tinkering (for now).
Anyway, by complete coincidence, the Hobby Thread is being repurposed for wisdom and recommendations relating to turning wood. Are you wise in the ways of the wood lathe? What do you make?
Suggestions for set-ups? Build or buy a bench to give it a stable base? Ideas to manage the resulting dust and debris?
Suggestions for other necessary tools, like calipers, gouges and clamps? (No need to suggest eyewear and sandpaper.)
Suggestions for types of wood to use for practice and for real?
Suggestions for beginner projects? Seems like candle holders and small bowls are the usual ideas.
Other advice, guidance or wisdom?
What is not intuitive, but important?
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Setting up your first woodworking lathe:
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Your first go on a wood lathe:
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Making snowmen:
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What tool should I use?
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Fun making spinning tops.
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This is not a mini-lathe, but features making wood bowls on a lathe. The name of the guy's channel - Jim Made it from Junk - earned it a place here.
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Simple, but clever:
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Making a Christmas ornament - inside out!
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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did an gold panning theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.
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Notable comments from last week:
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Words of wisdom:
"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).
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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute your own. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.
This was our Plott Hound / Pitbull mix Wiley. My wife worked with a rescue to get him out of a kill shelter where he was scheduled for euthanasia in 2015. We were able to have him with us for 11 years, during which he was a wonderful companion who loved his family. He passed unexpectedly the night before writing this and is already greatly missed.
Best Regards,
MauserMedic
So sorry you have lost your wonderful Wiley, in whom you invested so much love. Thanks for letting us meet him. Keep in touch.
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My boy Koda on the beach in Carrabelle, Florida. A quarter moon on a clear night, taken with my iPhone. The cameras on these phones are getting better and better.
JMM (A loyal lurker)
A beautiful, calm photo with a wonderful dog! Just what we need today.
And to go with it, something a little off-topic that I forgot to add to the Gardening Thread. We love our pets in the rain, too:
Nazis, RINOs, Islamofascists, and Other Infiltrators Who Should Have Been Purged Long Ago Are Having a Bad Day
—Disinformation Expert Ace
Shanaka Anslem Perera ⚡
@shanaka86
They did not bomb Iran. They waited for Iran's entire leadership to sit down in the same room and then they bombed Iran.
Months of intelligence. Thousands of hours of surveillance and signal intercepts. One variable: the moment the Supreme Leader, the President, and senior military command gathered in a single location at the same time.
That moment was 8:15 this morning. Daylight. Every previous Israeli strike on Iran came at night. June 2025 launched in darkness. October 2024 after midnight. Iran's entire air defense doctrine is built around the assumption that Israel attacks in the dark. Israel attacked in broad daylight because the target was not infrastructure. The target was a meeting.
Reuters confirms strikes targeted Khamenei and Pezeshkian. CNN confirms months of joint US-Israeli planning. Israeli officials confirmed the strike hit the location where Iran's top officials were gathered. Whether Khamenei was moved before the strike or extracted after is the most consequential unknown on the planet right now. If before, someone inside Tehran's inner circle told Jerusalem when and where the meeting would happen. If after, the strikes hit the room and he survived. Both scenarios are catastrophic for the regime.
Because Iran's leadership now knows three things. Israel knew where they were meeting. Israel knew when they were meeting. Israel knew who would be in the room. And everything we watched over the past month, the F-22s at Ovda, the tankers at Ben Gurion, Al Udeid emptied to zero, 270 transport flights, all of it was the delivery architecture for one precision strike on one gathering.
Every future meeting of Iran's senior leadership now carries one question: does Israel know about this one too.
This is not a military operation. This is the destruction of institutional trust inside a regime. Every general who sits with Khamenei tomorrow will wonder who told Jerusalem about today. Every IRGC commander who receives a meeting summons will calculate whether attendance is duty or a death sentence. Every secure facility in Tehran has been proven insecure.
In June 2025 Israel killed 30 generals in the opening minutes. That was brute force across dispersed targets. This was a scalpel. One meeting. One moment. Months of patience.
Iran fired missiles at six countries in retaliation. Most intercepted. One civilian dead from debris in Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia responded by pledging all its capabilities against Iran. The Gulf coalition that did not exist yesterday exists today because Tehran built it by attacking everyone simultaneously.
Israel traded one morning of precision strikes for the permanent destruction of Iran's command cohesion.
That is not a battle. That is checkmate disguised as a first move. https://open.substack.com/pub/shanakaans
Marjorie Taylor Greene
@mtgreenee
I did not campaign for this.
I did not donate money for this.
I did not vote for this, in elections or Congress.
This is heartbreaking and tragic.
And how many more innocent will die?
What about our own military?
This is not what we thought MAGA was supposed to be.
Shame!
Thomas Massie
@RepThomasMassie
10h
Acts of war unauthorized by Congress.
The U.S. is attacking Iran according to AP.
The "ex-" degenerate who supposedly converted to Catholicism and gave up being a living pincushion is now singing prayers to Allah in Arabic:
He's also calling for terrorists to blow up federal buildings.
Can we stop pretending this methed-up degenerate Nazi is somehow "on our side"?
They did not bomb Iran. They waited for Iran’s entire leadership to sit down in the same room and then they bombed Iran.
Months of intelligence. Thousands of hours of surveillance and signal intercepts. One variable: the moment the Supreme Leader, the President, and senior… https://t.co/I5l7iUI2HUpic.twitter.com/RXZSsSb12l
The photo above, of a Lady Banks' Rose not too far from where we live, is a repeat. But I thought the flag was appropriate for today. And the flag is up over the rose bush again, too. This is a prime season for lovely flowering shrubs and small trees. This rose only blooms once a year, but it stays in bloom for several weeks, and it is worth changing your traveling route a little to see it if you have one in the neighborhood. We have several in our neighborhood. Not all this big.
It's not hard to find conflicting information about this rose on the interwebs. On the North Carolina State University page, the yellow cultivar is classified as "white". Well, it's buttery, but it's not white. Though most people can't detect a fragrance from the yellow rose. Most of the other information seems OK, and there's a wonky general video about roses, too.
Many sources say that the white cultivar is fragrant, like violets. I haven't ever been able to detect a fragrance. But this rose is recommended for Central Texas, too. I think the individual flowers on the white cultivar are more distinctive than the ones on the yellow cultivar, but people seem to grow the yellow one here and the white one in Southern California. Don't know why.
Some of the roses on the plant I photographed are bigger than a quarter - not "dime-sized". Here's a close-up, with some skinny rose hips.
Though early European plant explorers were known for their derring-do, I think it is true that this rose was found in a famous Chinese nursery. The wild form is single, on an even bigger plant.
The rose I photographed is hanging over a fence, with the actual plant and a protective dog on the other side. Wonder if one of these would look nice with AZ Deplorable Moron's cactus?
Or with 40 Miles North's freeway daisies?
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Edible Gardening/Putting Things By
Sock Monkey passes a message along from his daughter: Leftists are trying to cancel Baker Creek Seeds even though they are aligned with many leftist ideals (vegans, etc.)
My daughter sent this to me and asked me to pass it on. She is a talented gardener. I am not. She has used these folks for years with great success.
They put Bible verses in their seed catalogue this year, and did fundraising for a Christian charity in Ukraine. Because of that, there is a concerted effort on reddit and bluesky to get people not to buy from them.
What a bunch of bigoted dopes.
Baker Creek specializes in heirloom and open-pollinated seeds, including seeds sourced from third world countries. They have a lot of interesting plants - veggies, herbs and flowers. Check them out.
See the blossoms and immature seeds on the dill? Perfect for pickles.
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Lots of corn varieties for different uses
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Interesting advice
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Single zinnias would probably be even better for attracting pollinators (if that is your goal). They also have those at Baker Creek.
Reactions: All the Right Nazis and Islamic Apologists Is Losing Dey Shit
—Disinformation Expert Ace
Noah Pollak
@NoahPollak
1h
One of Trump's greatest legacies will be how he blew up a half-century of western diffidence, restraint, and failure on terrorism. As the era of Islamic terrorism began in the 1970s, western countries (very much including Israel) spun up all kinds of pseudo-sophisticated theories and excuses to avoid carrying out the only successful policy, which is killing terrorists -- as many as you can, whenever you can.
There are entire university departments, think tanks, media outlets, NGOs, foundations, and political parties devoted to promoting self-defeating, enervating fictions about terrorism designed to tie the hands of the West. We just have to live with it, deal with it, accommodate it, accept the barbarism. Terrorists have grievances. It's partly our fault, after all, because reasons. There are no military solutions. If we're nice to the terrorists they will actually help us stabilize the region. The tropes go on forever and they are invented by people who want the west to lose, and who would rather be wrong but appear sophisticated than be right and appear crude.
Trump wants our side to win. The winning approach to terrorism is very simple. Bomb them to smithereens. Kill them off. Decapitate the regimes. Sanction them until they have no more money for jihad. Trump gets it, because unlike so many people in politics, he doesn't care whether Harvard likes him.
Winning is going to generate a real peace dividend for America. Finally dealing with Iran -- the head of the snake -- will enable the US to step away from the Middle East. It will send a message to our adversaries that the big dog is still in charge. And very enjoyably, it will sweep aside decades of dumb elite groupthink about how we have no alternative but to cut deals with terrorists. Thank you President Trump.
Guy Benson
@guypbenson
1h
The emerging consensus among many elected Democrats is some version of:
'To be a clear, Iran's outlaw regime is deeply evil, exports terrorism around the world, pursues genocidal nuclear weapons, is drenched in American blood, and slaughters its own civilians en masse. But..."
@CAGovernor
Gavin Newsom:
"The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go. But that does not justify the President of the United States engaging in an illegal, dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people. President Trump is putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home."
"As this unfolds, California stands with the Iranian-American community in our state, recognizing they have many friends and loved ones who have fought bravely to chart their own future to end decades of state violence and denial of basic rights."
Cavernous Nostrils weighs in:
Candace Owens
@RealCandaceO
51m
We will never forget that they MURDERED Charlie Kirk for this war and he knew they were going to do it.
His spent his final days mentally anguished, texting the very people who would ultimately betray him.
I love when this guy comes out, like he did after our Venezuela strike, to say the UK played no role. NO SHIT. You're a complete nobody on the world stage, WE KNOW. You don't have to keep telling us. https://t.co/FhOy8Dkp8V
It must be really disorienting to have truly believed you worked for a messianic president only for reality to completely erase his entire legacy, both domestic and abroad, in a decade or so. https://t.co/WxYkeZhLap
— James Lindsay, anti-Communist (@ConceptualJames) February 28, 2026
Iraq was attacked by the US during Ramadan and it sickening to know that the US is again going to attack Iran during Ramadan. The US apparently loves to strike Muslim countries during Ramadan and I am convinced it isn’t what these countries have done to violate international law…
The head of Iran's "Justice" Department, responsible for the mass killing of protesters
the Ayatollah's number two
The commander of the Revolutionary Guards
You know how Muslims always pretend to want to have "negotiations" while they prepare for their next sneak attack?
Well Trump just did that to them. He's been pretending he wants to talk as he's been moving US assets into strike position, trying to get them to stop murdering citizens while he prepared the death-strikes on the regime. Awesome.
President Trump’s speech recites almost word for word my exact statement on Piers Morgan, proving what most of us always knew.
This was always common sense to the American public, from left, to center, to right. It was only the fringe alliance of extremists on both ends that… pic.twitter.com/r7SAEf8o1m
The Classical Saturday Morning Coffee Break & Prayer Revival
—Misanthropic Humanitarian
[There is something dreadfully wrong when you can see the bottom of a coffee cup.]
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Good morning boys and girls and everything in between. Before we enter the Prayer Revival just a few housekeeping matters to take care of. (Rulz for those of you in Kip's Bay)
1) This is an open thread. Feel free to lurk, opine and/or bloviate.
2) Be exceptional, don't be Pretti Good.
3) Running with sharp objects will result in permanent record activity.
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:
12/20 – Morgan, longtime lurker, takes tango lessons from Sebastian, whose son, Matias, is recovering from brain surgery. The MRI was read on 12/19, and the surgeons did not remove the entire tumor. Even though the biopsy indicated the tumor was benign, the boy is probably facing several rounds of chemo. Please pray for the boy’s continued recovery in El Salvador.
1/10 Update – Matias will have surgery in 2 weeks to try and remove the rest of the tumor, and then he will receive radiation therapy.
2/7 Update – Matias came through the second surgery, and was waiting for another MRI before he can start radiation. He has lost weight due to constant vomiting and didn’t sleep for 4 days, but he is sleeping better now and is able to keep food down. He and his parents are really struggling, though.
1/6 – Diogenes requested prayers for his best friend since college, who was diagnosed with cancer. Within hours or hearing this, the friend’s son, a man that Diogenes has known since he was a baby, collapsed from what appears to be a brain tumor. The prognosis isn’t hopeful. Please pray for both of these fine men.
1/23 Update – Diogenes’ best friend’s son Sean had emergency brain surgery. The labs are back and it’s not good news. He has stage 4 brain cancer. They were scheduled to meet with an oncologist on 1/26 to determine the best pathway ahead for the time he has remaining. This is just crushing news. Thanks to all the Horde for their prayers and support for this fine young man.
2/11 Update – Sean has not started brain cancer treatments yet. There are still some issues to work out. But he had more bad news when his wife’s sister was hit by a truck on 2/10 and is in critical condition (broken back, severe concussion, bleeding on the brain). Diogenes asks for anyone in the Horde to speak up if they know of any support groups for people in Sean’s situation. Thanks in advance.
1/8 - Doof asked for prayers for his mother. She was hit hard by the flu. She couldn’t get out of bed the morning of 1/8 and was sent by ambulance to the hospital. She is alert and communicating but prayers are appreciated for her recovery. Prayers are also appreciated for Doof, as he absolutely despises hospitals.
2/18 Update – Mom was moved to a different facility on 2/12. She is still receiving post-hospital rehab, but this place also has long term care and assisted living options, so more robust care is available. She is happier there and is improving daily. She still has a long way to go, so continued prayers are much appreciated!
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.
2/7 Update – He does not have any pain related to his lost molar anymore. And his (adult) daughter’s jaw surgery is scheduled for 2/9. She will stay overnight at the hospital in Ann Arbor.
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.
1/30 – Bulg could use prayers after a distressing medical incident. His heart was racing and he was too weak to even really walk. His doctor thinks it might be AFib; he is wearing a heart monitor to gather more information, and he needs to keep a diary of any other heart-related incidents. Prayers are much appreciated.
2/6 Update – Bulg had two prayers of thanks. The first was that he had a good phone conversation with his sister, from whom he had been estranged for 20 over years. The second was that he does not have AFib.
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.
2/4 – BifBewalski posted that it has been a little over a year since he took Smash to the ER for abdominal problems. After a full year of insurance BS, specialists, and other doctors visits, she has been taken back for abdominal surgery today. Please offer a prayer for her successful procedure and a speedy recovery.
2/7 Update – BifBewalski brought Smash home from the overnight stay in the hospital. She is recovering well. The post-surgery fever broke and the pain is minimal. A full recovery is expected. Thank you for the prayers – it truly makes a difference!
2/7 – Frankie asked for prayers for her godmother, Linda, who has been in declining health and recently had to move to a care facility.
2/7 – Vmom deport deport deport requested prayers for her hubby, who has had the coughing crud since 2/2.
2/14 Update – Vmom also 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.
2/11 – Bluebell sent an update from grammie winger: "I've finished my 6th round of chemo. Thursday (Feb. 12) I will meet with the surgeon who will decide if surgery is an option for me. If not, I'm not sure if there's a Plan B. Maybe more chemo? Ugh - it's already deteriorated my vision and hearing. Nasty stuff. But it's all in the Lord's hands. I don't know how people who don't have faith do it. I miss Ace but it's something I have to set aside for now. I love each and every one of you. Even the trolls. LOL"
2/11 – Joe Kidd sent an update related to his friend, Bill, who we prayed for in December. Bill’s former girlfriend had passed away, and Bill and the girlfriend’s family were devastated by the loss. Bill has sold the house he (and the girlfriend) had lived in, and sent half the proceeds to his former girlfriend’s family. Just recently, Bill took early retirement to care for his 90 year old mother. Joe Kidd sends thanks. If you know, you know.
2/13 – Whigwife posted that Whig made it through surgery and was resting comfortably.
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.
2/20 – Gouveneur Morris requested prayers for herself as she has surgery scheduled for 2/27 for spondylolisthesis.
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).
2/25 – 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.
2/25 – 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.
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.
Much of the Iranian leadership is alleged to now be dead or to have fled.
Donald Trump: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it.”
Benjamin Netanyahu: “Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands.”
A lot of the stories just report the numbers and not the strings wrapped around them.
Amazon for example chipped in $50 billion, but only $15 billion up front. The rest requires OpenAI to either deliver AGI - human-level intelligence - or a successful IPO. And the deal requires OpenAI to commit to an additional $100 billion in spending on Amazon's cloud services, on top of the $38 billion deal they've already signed.
Nvidia invested $30 billion - much less than the $100 billion discussed previously but not a small amount either - apparently on similar conditions that OpenAI spend all of that and more on Nvidia chips.
SoftBank is also in for $30 billion, but I've seen no details of what they are getting out of it other than a slice of the pie.
All of them. Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, all 600 actively developed Linux distributions, the various BSD flavours, OpenVMS, OS/360 running on a virtual machine, the ZX Spectrum emulator you just vibe coded using Claude Code, the uncounted millions of Docker containers spun up automatically every day, all of them.
From a Reddit post included in that article:
What really scares me is that we have lawmakers stupid enough to propose a law like this.
This is basically impossible for California to enforce. Worst case, they are too stupid to know that. Best case, it is performative.
Even if Linux Mint decides to add some kind of age verification, to comply with CA law, there's no reason anyone would choose that version. There are hundreds of other jurisdictions in which Mint operates that don't require this kind of stupidity. It's more likely that they will put a disclaimer on their website "not for use in California".
Colorado is considering a similar law.
Time to wall them off until the infection burns itself out.
There's also a Crua (who I have heard of, as a maker of cheap monitors generally) model available that swaps one of the DisplayPort ports for USB-C - I think, details are very much lacking - for $160.
The Crua model is also available in Australia, at A$189 - US$135 - including tax and delivery.
I think I'll give it a try. The stand is not likely up to much, but it has a 75mm VESA mount so it can easily be replaced with something more solid and flexible. I've been tempted by the BenQ RD280U which uses the same panel again but is priced at A$1099.
I'd point to reviews of the Crua or Gawfolk models but... There aren't any.
Howdy Horde! Welcome to Friday night. This week, the hottest subject in meming has been the meltdown of our neighbors to the north over the US beating Canada for the gold, so there's more than a couple of memes on that topic.
The problem with AI slop is now I don't even post really good videos because most really good videos are fake. I now search for moderately-good videos, figuring you wouldn't use AI to make a fake moderately-good video.
Nick Sortor
@nicksortor
NOW: The crowd goes TOTALLY SILENT when Biden tells them HE closed the border -- not Trump
Even a crowd full of DEMOCRATS know that's a total lie
Maybe having a dementia patient out there attempting to rewrite history ain't the brightest idea, @DNC
Nancy Mace to force a House vote of sexual misconduct report and harassment by congress members and staff. The wood chipper is no respecter of persons. Do it.
Posted by: kingsman
Podcast: Sefton and CBD Talk SOTU and the Dem's vile behavior, Donald Trump's love of country, Iran is coming to a head, is Mexico intractable, Mamdani's NYC is circling the drain, and more!
Forgotten Early 80s Schmatlz Mystery Click Honey, I was your hero
And you were my leading lady
We had it all
Just like Bogie and Bacall
Ooof, it's worse than I remembered.
China Is Not Our Fren: Chinese government posts AI generated content featuring attacking and killing American soldiers. Pay attention to the ridiculous AI banter of the US soldiers. [dri]
Podcast: Sefton and CBD discuss AOC's brilliant entrance into geopolitical policy, Jesse Jackson's demise, Transsexual Psycho Killers, is NYC about to get taxed even more? Olympic athletes who bite the hand that fed them, and more!
Podcast: CBD and J.J. Sefton ramble about CO2, how Epstein's mess has crossed the Atlantic, the future dismal prospects for the UK, CA tax lunacy, To The Moon Elon!, the NFL, and more!
