Caption: Maridalen Kapell, Oslo
Maridalen Church is a wooden church in Maridalen at the northern outskirts of Oslo, Norway, next to Nordmarka. The church was initially built as a mission house (Bedehus) on the north shore of Lake Maridalsvannet in 1887. It was taken over by the Church of Norway and consecrated as a chapel in 1900, later renamed a church. It’s a good place to hold a service to say goodbye. Or until we meet again.
Sermonette and Requiem
I haven’t mentioned it before now on the blog, but my good friend (brother from another mother) JohnD, who used to post here on VM from time to time, sometimes using his own name and sometimes using the Valuism handle, died a little over two weeks ago in his home in the mountains outside Oslo, Norway, by self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The photo (right) is of JohnD and his daughter Marta, taken by his wife a day before his death.
He was family to me. I’ve been to his house, which was strikingly similar to the White Wolf Mine, only Norwegian in character. I had been on the phone with him every day – maybe four or five days straight – before his death and was not aware of a problem. His daughter, Marta, who was in the Norwegian Army and home on leave, was there at the time. He walked outside without speaking, and she heard the gunshot. No note.
She called me and let me know what happened. Based on her account, he’d been depressed for over a year but put on a brave face. To say I was shocked and am very sad is an understatement. She said that he was depressed about aging. He’s two years YOUNGER than I am. If I had known, I’d have hopped a plane immediately to hang out and cheer him up. As it was, it went a different way. JohnD was a former Norwegian intelligence officer; his wife was a national police officer, and he knew everyone in Norway (not a densely populated place), including the King. He was well-loved, and he had a charming disposition.
Another friend of mine from my Navy days ended his time that same way last year. I was getting texts and photos of his fiancée in Florida, and then his brother called me.
I wasn’t going to post anything about this event on the blog and publicise this, but then I thought that it wouldn’t be bad to remind all of you to stay close with those you love, and if they show signs of sliding down this path, to reach out and draw them even closer. His wife and daughter are devastated. So am I – still a bit in shock. I want to call him. But he’s not there to answer the phone.
Bullet Points:
** Why is Big Mike Obama doing all these glamor photo shoots lately? (right) Is he planning to come out of the closet?
** Cartels and stripper cash. It’s an actual scenario, dramatized, but not that much. Prostitution is the oldest profession, and pimping is the second oldest. In Mexico, all prostitution requires a kickback for protection, or the girl is taught “a lesson.” Arrogant whores are dangerous to the kickback system, so they’re raped and murdered.
** Back when the concept of changing a tire was more involved.
** (h/t Claudio) Drones in use in anti-personnel roles in Mexico by cartel operators. “Last month, three drones rigged with explosives detonated outside a prosecutor’s office in Tijuana, Mexico, besieging six cars parked outside with a blast of nails, BBs, and metal fragments. The attack was orchestrated by a cartel, Mexican government officials confirmed, and targeted an anti-kidnapping unit of the Baja state attorney general’s office. It is the latest high-profile example of first-person view drones being used by cartels to replicate military tactics being used in Ukraine.”
** Musk, on the need for AI and robotics to save America.
** I don’t watch very much television these days. Woke holds little interest. CDRSAL reports on the Ken Burns series on the American Revolution (here). It’s more woke trash. I do study history carefully, but the revisionist wokeism is tired. Most history books are written with a bias. I understand that, and I usually read it anyway with that in mind. My upcoming historical novel series set during the Civil War/War of Northern Aggression/War Between the States and beyond into the westward expansion – as the series progresses – is written with my slant on things. Ken Burns’ series on the Civil War was well done IMHO. Beyond that, he’s been a disappointment and a waste of air.
** The former president has taken up ballet. I can’t offer much more of a comment.
** Shooting Roman fire arrows – Lord High Executioner Beans style. Ok, and moving on to the staff sling. Oh, out of control! Ok, I have to do this. Sept. 11, 1183.
** When you’re in Wyoming (or Arizona) – it passes for fun!
** LA Times: “The Trump administration on Thursday announced plans to open the Pacific Ocean to new oil and gas leases for the first time in more than four decades. The draft plan released by the U.S. Department of the Interior confirms rumors that have been swirling for weeks. The proposal would see as many as 34 offshore lease sales across 1.27 billion acres of federal waters in the Outer Continental Shelf through 2031, including six areas along the Pacific Coast, 21 off the coast of Alaska, and seven in the Gulf of America.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the plan with an order titled “Unleashing American Offshore Energy,” which directs the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to terminate former President Biden’s much more limited plan, which called for only three new oil and gas leases through 2029, the lowest number ever, and only in the Gulf of America.”
** The Italian Mafia and no-show jobs. I’ve seen the Democrat Party do the same thing in San Francisco, for example. In SF, the people with those jobs within the District Attorney’s Office were called “Paychecks”. They showed up once every two weeks to collect a check, and only then. I was told at the time that there were hundreds in different subcomponents of the SF City and County government. The same is true in Chicago. They’re political patronage positions. So yeah, democrats and the mafia. It makes sense that they’d use the same pattern.
In Venezuela (and Brazil)
Coordinations for surgical operations against the Cartels de los Soles appear to be intensifying, as recent aerial and ground movements suggest a carefully planned escalation. A USAF Special Operations C-146A Wolfhound (09-3106, tail #AE68AE) reportedly departed Brasilia and touched down in Manaus, while a Dassault Falcon 900EX (T7-77PR, #500385) — one of the jets allegedly gifted by Maduro to Cuban President Díaz-Canel and used by top regime officials — left Caracas heading west. Local sources confirm that for the past four nights, a high-level motorcade has been seen traveling to a subterranean bunker complex beneath Simón Bolívar International Airport, only to depart again each morning.
Over Maracay, Venezuelan military aviation remains unusually active: 7 Karakorum-8 and 5 Su-30 jets have been observed, while the Bolivarian Military Aviation is conducting intense training with 2 Su-30s, 2 F-16s, and a C-130 Hercules in preparation for an aerial display next week.
Adding to this, recent developments heighten the stakes: on November 24, 2025, the U.S. State Department will formally designate the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, accusing Nicolás Maduro and senior regime figures of leading a narco-terror network embedded in Venezuela’s institutions. This move coincides with a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean — including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, several destroyers, and thousands of Marines — as part of Operation Southern Spear.
U.S. Special Operations aviation units (160 SOAR) have been spotted operating within striking distance of Venezuelan shores, fueling speculation about possible covert or even surgical ground operations.
Identify the Ship
1
Identify the Aircraft
2
Identify the Armor
3
4
End
Identify the Ship:
1. IJN Taihō
Identify the Aircraft:
2. Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack
Identify the Armor:
3. T-90A
4. Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV
You’re on the ball this morning, Surly. I think #3 is a T-80, but I could be wrong. (not really, I’m just acting humble)
Regarding 3: sadly to me all Russian tanks from the T-72 on look the same especially with ERA panels added to newer models. :(
Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack
Some aircraft just look ‘right’. This is one. Among many examples is the Lockheed L-1049.
Most modern Russian aircraft have esthetically pleasing designs. There performance in Ukraine shows deep flaws in them.
Sorry about your friend.
Two of my cousins (brothers) committed suicide a few years apart. One was a drug user from teens so no surprise though I always thought he would OD.
The younger one (2 years older than me) had family, job etc. I spoke him Friday afternoon and he was dead about 18 hours later. Phone records show I was second last call aside from ordering a pizza. No hints just gone.
Drove past where he is buried a few weeks ago and part of me is still mad at him. I try my best to talk to his children (30’s) every week.
I read somewhere on someone’s blog that an Admiral ordered the officers and senior NCOs under his command to check up daily on all the people under them for the duration of the holiday season and encourage all to seek help if needed, or just talk to someone, dammit, off the record if needed.
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Sadly it is suicide season, and the beginning of winter/end of fall and all the holidays piling on top of each other like they do at the end of the year puts a lot of strain on people.
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Sigh. It’s a sad thing. And people who announce they’re trying to kill themselves are the ones that usually don’t. The quiet ones, on the other hand, seemingly content and happy, are the ones to watch. They’re the people whose unannounced-to-the-world problems pile up so high there’s no seemingly possible escape.
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And that goes for everyone here, too, and across the blogosphere. Talk to someone. Go see a priest (they’re at least as successful if not more successful at counseling than shrinks and counselors, and are often free) or a professional (see previous comment) or a drinking/fishing/whatevering buddy.
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I’ve been there. Long dark tunnel, seemingly no escape. I was weeks away from shooting my handicapped wife, her dog and then me because, well, really bad horrible terrible times that were unescapable and then a miracle happened and suddenly the huge weight of endness was lifted. Yeah, really bad time. Reaaaallly bad time. I tell you this not for sympathy but as a helping hand. If grace can happen to me, it can happen to you or yours.
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Talk to someone, dammit. Please.
X2. Supremely well said on such a difficult subject most of us are ill equipped to comprehend or manage…on our own. Seems we all had someone in our sphere over the course of our life who couldn’t find their way out of the ‘dark tunnel spiral’…then the call comes and we are dismayed… especially this time of the year as you mentioned.
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Everyone was built by God for a purpose, which changes over time. But something that Prager said…before becoming paralyzed after slipping in the shower reaching for some shampoo…”We have to defy our inherent nature to live our best life.” He’s still fighting the good fight, at least what he shows publicly. Yet no one would fault him for getting massively depressed over his predicament’.
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“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow…” Matt 6:34…while simple, is often not at all easy. For me a project – living proactively – keeps the mind clear and focused on the here and now to ward off the ‘what if’ scenarios that bombard the psyche. Part of the remedy for me has been to limit the ‘next tarnished-object’ chicken little style media panic attack “report”…that sad to say, Covidiocy brought to the general public on steroids. Panic and worry has become ingrained in the General Public by the garbage du jour to worry about that goes away the following week but sticks in the brain.
– Live life to the full, best one is able…wards off the self doubt… and try to stay connected.
I am sorry to hear of your loss, L-L.
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We are all called to do what we can, when we can, how we can, where we can, and if we can. Sometimes the “if” isn’t an option when the other party isn’t communicative. That’s the hard truth of it. I know that doesn’t help. Speaking as one who’s lost a couple good but non-communicative friends to that demon and also as one who was talked off that ledge by the Grace of God Himself. Nobody ever knew about that one, until right now that is.
As RCC wrote, sometimes it’s like a thunderbolt. In this case, it’s still a case of nobody knows why, except that he’s been depressed and worked hard to mask it. He and I were working on a project on behalf of Heidelburg Concrete wherein they wanted somebody to assist them in landing some construction projects in Iraq. It was one of those things where there’s always a good chance it won’t work for any of a number of reasons – spaghetti against the wall and all that. It’s not as if we tried and failed. We hadn’t even tried yet. We were just talking about it. Everything was up-beat. Then the call came. I think that’s the point. There wasn’t anything to put your finger on. His daughter said the same thing. We never delved into religion. He was Lutheran – state religion in Norway.
1 – Japanese Navy aircraft carrier Taihō – commissioned in March 1944 Sunk during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944
2 – Russian Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack
3 – Russian Army T-80BV
4 – Japanese Mitsubishi Type 89 Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Exactly.
Venezuela ( and Brazil); Is the Narco Gang momentum in Brazil a viable concern? Read somewhere recently of Hezbollah financing/ influencing, true? The article included movements toward Argentina and Chile if I remember correctly.
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It seems that terrorist groups gravitate and thrive in weaker nations like in Africa.
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The Central and South American leaderships pursuing power influenced by Narco revenue$ and Commie alliances; When export of criminal businesses affect U.S. national security what means have proven most effective?
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BTW, not my president O’Biden imported by invitation trouble here by the millions. First blood, shots fired… no holds barred, war was declared on WTP. When will congress get off their lees and vote a declaration of war? Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, obvious military actions w/o congressional authorization. Why?
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From yesterday’s dialog on Puerto Rico and Cuba. Location, location, location. Military bases, ports, and resorts could offer decent employment to the present local populace, or a ticket to Portlandia or NYC. Either work, invest as in proven retirement revenue or leave. IMHO H.O.A’s trending classic automobiles and vintage aircraft would be relished by many.
Hezbollah has been financing guerilla movements in Central America and in the Southern Cone for a generation. They’re broke today because Iran is broke. So they may be old rumors (old being before the Jews took them out at the knees). They ran camps here and there but were not very successful. In my experience, the Latin American narcos don’t like Mohammedans. They’ll take their money and guns, but that’s about as far as it goes. I still have a hand in Latin America but not the way I used to have. I doubt that it’s changed. The narcos are an odd bunch but very predictable.
.
The OFAC SDN List is very effective per the narcos. Organized crime is parasitic on existing systems to function by its nature. All organized crime. The communists are usually state sponsored but they sell dope too. Usually the commies rely on narcos to a great degree because the narcos own the distribution networks, and are able to launder proceeds.
The nations with classic cars hang onto them. It’s a serious and enforced crime to export them without a license. Yes, sometimes public officials are paid off, but not as often as the market would like. I’ve always thought that the Cheep Chinese Export cars would replace the 57 Chevys, which are still on the road. That has not been the case because a shade tree mechanic can fix a 57 Chev.
Roman fire arrows are cool. Know someone who did Mongol fire arrows and they were pretty darn neat. Whistling arrows, too.
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Slings and staff slings are an underrated weapon. Wish I had the time and space to learn the sling, but, well, yeah…
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As to the Siege of Vienna, like Lepanto, a miracle of Christian faith. And Polish gumption. Even with the arrival of the Poles the Ottomans should have won. Like Lepanto. The Ottomans had the strength, the power, the ability, and failed. Should be taught in every school in the Western Hemisphere as a bright point in a dark world, but, no, we must celebrate gay baby whales or something.
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So much badmouthing of the Poles for such a great people.
They make no-show jobs sound like SNAP. Or ghost students whose non-appearance funds non-working administraors in the bastion of D.
I guess no-show students are a big thing too. An informant of mine (mentioned in my short story books) who was functionally illiterate, came to me one day and invited me to his college graduation. I said, “H, how could you be enrolled in College – much less graduating – when you can’t read or write English? He was from the Middle East. The professors, who kept their jobs by putting bodies in a classroom, marked him present and gave him passing grades even though he was a no-show. His tuition was paid for by the State of California because he was impoverished.
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I knew another professor (full prof.) at Univ. of Cal. San Diego who told me that he never failed a student. He said, “They don’t pay for failing grades.” If they dropped out, they cracked the rice bowl of all the professors. “They take loans out and I pass them.” This particular prof was very well regarded and had a national reputation. Now teaching in Massachusetts.
I had a coworker in HR who kept sending me resumes of diversity applicants just like that. Took a lot of juggling to actually hire the guy qualified to do the work. He’s managing the department now. Don’t even ask about trying to fire Mr. Diversity, who kept providing fraudulent materials in response to questions about contracts our own internet auditors flagged as fraudulent. At least until he quit.
Alls well that ends well. At least he quit. I don’t know what all of the DEI experts are doing for a living now that it’s out of the mainstream. Maybe they’re teaching in universities.
From my 5 years in Chicagoland (90-95) and reading that newspaper I can tell you that the best ghost jobs where with the sheriff’s dept, the ones that besides a paycheck you got a gun and a badge.
The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) decertified San Francisco because of the practice. They didn’t care.
Have two friends in their 80’s younger than me by days or weeks. One just started dialysis, the other, just FU. Call both or visit on a regular basis. Others I know also, just to check and encourage. Helps my state of mind and strengthen my belief in the almighty.
Wyoming and Arizona fun. At Camp Geiger, during infantry training, we were given 50,000 rounds of WW2 tracer ammo to fire from M1’s for a night fire exercise. Though it looked cool it was not a fun night with rounds from heated barrels doing loop-de-loops coming in behind us.
Looking for ward to reading your new books and in regard to yesterday mention of white powder, your take on the Afgan excursion. My wedding ring contains a piece of Afgan lapis, but other than that commodity besides the poppy, what was the purpose of that fiasco?
The Afghan invasion pumped billions of dollars into the democrat party and to many democrat politicians and their causes. That’s why we were there. You could argue that we were after OBL after the trade towers, but we “let him escape” more than once – until we finished him in Pakistan a decade later.
Sorry about your friend LL.
According to his daughter, the aches and pains of normal aging got to him and he didn’t see anything in the future but a six foot drop.
A common symptom.
Sad to hear about JohnD, LL.
– Kle.
I’m sorry to hear about John D.
https://youtu.be/0hpWA61ZicE?si=Z0XmMXRYH_t1fMMO
Well put by the Murphys.
Sorry to hear about JohnD. I remember that pseudonym and that he had interesting comments to your posts.
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One of my grandfathers took his life. I understand the pain and anger it causes. My wife lost a friend to suicide.
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While the upcoming holiday season is a factor in suicides, for those in the farther north of the Northern Hemisphere, Seasonal Affective Disorder is another problem. I am from the Southern part of the U.S. When I got stationed to Rhein Main AB in Germany (50° north), I discovered it. The lack of sun light causes causes a seasonal depression. One treatment is to have bright, sunlight spectrum lights in houses and workplaces. Too many people in those latitudes self medicate with alcohol ingestion which really only makes it worse. For me it never took me close to suicide but it did put me in a constant blue funk which went away with Spring and Summer.
It’s a persistent problem for people in my line of work. Those who are immune seem to be the sociopaths and narcissists. St. Jude- the patron saint of hopeless and impossible causes.
Condolences on your friend, LL.
My experience, on the job, and personally, is that these events seemingly come out of nowhere. But we can’t always know what’s going on deep down with family and friends.
I hope you have a lot of great memories of John D as a bolster against your current grief.
Reading about your friend makes me depressed; I wonder what the hell I’m still doing here, particularly in the shape i’m in- and then I get a call (or I call) from one of my three dental school classmates; all of us born from 2/40 to 4/41: all volunteered for the service (2 AF, ! Army, ! Navy) and we sit there on the phone and bullshit each other about how well we’re doing and how our wives are driving us nuts and where we might get together and eat this coming weekend. This happens 6 to 8 times a week, and yes, we realize the mental (OK: psychological. if you like) uplift/(support) we get from these calls.
The other thing: as you’re aware I’m not Catholic. I do, however, strongly believe that Dante Alighieri was not just writing a poem: I believe that he was relating his own out-of-body experience and every so often when I’m feeling down (extremely), I re-read Circle 7 Ring 2. I don’t know about anyone else, but that sure drives me away from any thoughts of doing away with myself.
I’m real sorry to hear about your friend
For me, the brightest spot is my children and grandchildren, all of whom falsely believe I’m Superman. (a lion in winter) I can’t ever live up to their expectations, but their love buoys me up.
😊
Thats more than enough to carry you through as you’ve created your own safety net🙂
I am sorry for the lose of your friend and the suffering of his family.
I agree with your charge against Ken Burns.
I like this American Revolution version best…..
https://youtube.com/shorts/_FNc-W9ohTE?si=xuLuVOe2f155DQQn
Second memorial service of my fledgling – have no idea what I am doing – pastorship was for friend/neighbor…vibrant guy, hunter, horse packer, construction supervisor, all around great man…went out to his pickup one morning…never came back. She found him…called us. Total disbelief. Beyond sad service as much as I tried to hit the ‘good things’ we all remembered. Leaves a certain spot of emptiness.
We who look from the outside can never know what may be conflicting another person, close family or friend or coworker. So sorry to hear about your friend LL…praying God has mercy and offered the peace of eternity in Heaven.
People planning it don’t talk about it for fear of being thwarted. So I’m told.
Yeah, I didn’t know whose post to comment to.
I’m struggling, health and financial issues.
Just being tired of being in pain.
I get it
Jack. Stick around, buddy. Don’t check out just yet. I get it too but go talk to somebody. God is there to listen if nobody else is and nobody here wants to read about you in the paper.
Sorry to hear about John. We all ‘handle’ things differently, and not always the ‘best’ way. Prayers for him and his family.
Lost my best friend almost 40 years ago. Had seen him 2 days before. Not a hint. Still hurts.
May your friend rest in his peace – and may your heart also rest in peace and forgive him.
I worry about his daughter, who is an adorable girl and worshiped the ground that he walked on.
I also offer my condolences on your loss..
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The legal do nothing job:
https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-now-shuttered-agency-where-employees-lived-like-reigning-kings
Our condolences, LL.
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Less than a month ’til winter solstice, and then it’ll start to get brighter. Even as far south as I am now, where you can see the sun in winter and it’s not unheard of to run the air conditioning on Christmas day, it’s still the time of year that exists to be endured. Our friends mark the end of every week with a dinner, and even stove up and healing from surgery, we make sure to get out of the house and be social so they don’t worry… besides, it lets us check on them in turn. We struggle on together.
Life is defined by how well we face the daily struggle. And it’s always easier to face with like-minded friends.
Sorry to hear of your loss, LL. I’ve lost a couple of close friends, but not like that.
Very sorry to hear about your friend. I think the hardest part is that he gave no sign of the turmoil that killed him. You are his friend, and he said nothing. Nothing. Men have this way of being friends but not really being connected. We form our best friendships by working together and drinking together. But somehow, that doesn’t really connect us. And that hurts. Myself, I am living out the last part of Ps 90 (Septuagint numbering) “With length of days will I satisfy him” As health and competence dwindle, you gotta wonder how your length of days is satisfying. My plan is to pray more, go to Matins more and work at remembering God more. Old age is not for the wimpy. Lord have mercy.
At some point we all just need a taxidermist. (better a good one than a bad one)
I’m very sorry to hear this news and wish I’d read your post before speaking yesterday, apologies. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.