Former Deputy Director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe, fired for lying to Congress, fears that with Kash Patel leading the FBI, he will use the agency to terrorize and intimidate Americans.
Patel threatened to empty the FBI headquarters in DC of 7,000 employees and send them out into the field to work. That isn’t very comforting to people who don’t know what work is.
How many actual arrests does the FBI make every year per special agent? They could be sent out to hunt for illegal aliens to deport, but given that there are 20 million of them, could they find one? Those who have worked around the FBI are skeptical.
Unrest in the Republic of Korea (ROK)
(h/t Claudio) Martial Law Declared! It’s an interesting article and worth the read. It goes to what I’ve said about Koreans in art – Roddenberry used them as the basis of Klingons in the Star Trek films. True, I figured it out for myself after working with the ROK military while a serving US Naval Officer. Nobody actually explained it to me. I saw it for myself.
The ROK government always teeters on a military junta (as one would experience in the Klingon home world, Chronos.)
Bullet Points:
** It’s easier to build strong boys than to repair broken men.
** Many men say their wives never complained until they got hearing aids. Be aware, beware.
** Some Democrats say the party needs to start over, injecting itself with new blood for the next presidential contest. Others say Harris deserves another shot at the presidency, pointing to the 74 million votes cast for her earlier this month. Can they manufacture another twenty or thirty million next time? It’s not without precedent. (The Hill)
** Why must I press “1” for English in the United States?
** Family values – I didn’t make this up.
** WWM Update – The foxes at the White Wolf Mine were absent for a while but appeared yesterday jonesing for a bowl of milk with an egg cracked in it. I didn’t get a photo of Foxy Loxy. I don’t mind feeding the foxes and bobcats because they deal with vermin. The mountain lions have been known to run them off, and that’s more of a problem.
** From a place you can not see comes a sound you can not hear. Peace, through superior firepower.
** Pro Tip – this will work for you too.
** Breitbart reported last week that many Haitians who had gone to Springfield, Ohio, are already “self-deporting… fleeing to sanctuary jurisdictions such as Chicago and NYC.” That’s a good first step. Pressures to self-deport differently are also building. Many corrupt bureaucrats in DC – especially in the FBI, intelligence agencies, and DOJ – are already scrubbing websites, shredding records, and preparing resumes or resignation papers, and good riddance to them. Additionally, many federal employees are still using the pandemic as an excuse to work from home, and requiring them to return to the office full-time will undoubtedly result in many more resignations.
** Sometimes, the only thing keeping you from being free is the belief that you are not.
** What happens when you say, “No.”
Black Gold/Texas Tea
Adjusted for inflation, the current average national gasoline price is cheaper than in 1978. “The United States set a new crude oil production record in August 2024, averaging 13.4 million barrels per day (bpd), according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). This figure eclipsed the previous peak of 13.3 million bpd in December 2023 and solidified the U.S.’s position as the world’s top oil producer—a title it has held since 2018.
Through the first eight months of 2024, monthly production only dipped below 13 million bpd once, reflecting a consistent upward trend. According to the EIA, the United States’ average crude oil production will reach 13.2 million bpd in 2024, surpassing the previous 12.9 million bpd set in 2023.
Which do you Prefer?
What about your Brain?
Ludwig Boltzmann’s grave in Vienna bears his famous entropy formula, S = k log W, which relates a system’s entropy to the number of possible microscopic states.
Ludwig Boltzmann was an Austrian physicist and philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, including the formulation of the H-theorem- which explains the behavior of gases in terms of statistical mechanics, the concept of the Boltzmann constant (k)- a fundamental constant in physics that relates temperature to the average kinetic energy of particles in a gas, the Boltzmann equation- which describes the behavior of gas by incorporating statistical probabilities.
Cosmologists introduced the concept of a “Boltzmann Brain,” inspired by Boltzmann’s work. It suggests a minuscule possibility of a conscious entity, like a human brain, spontaneously fluctuating into existence in an otherwise empty and chaotic universe. This idea sparked debates and discussions about the nature of reality and the interpretation of probabilities in cosmology. I know that it sounds like somebody dropped acid and THEN came up with the idea.
Boltzmann committed suicide in Vienna. It had to do with the politics of physics. Ernst Mach, highly regarded at the time, did not believe in atoms and, therefore, Boltzmann’s statistics. So people mocked Boltzmann and, I guess, his brain.
***
Wheeling in Moab
If you’ve been there in your 4×4 rig or driving a buggy, you’ll know what I’m talking about (photo below). There is always the possibility that you will have a “hold my beer” moment, and then this happens. You should have known better. A trained chimp would have known better. But you go for it. In this case, it ended well. My friend Woody drove the buggy out.
Falcon vs Shuttle
The principal goal of the Falcon program was to demonstrate rapid, low-cost reusability. According to one estimate, it cost NASA/USGov about $1.5 billion to fly a single space shuttle mission. (Like the Falcon 9, the shuttle was mostly but not completely reusable.) SpaceX’s internal costs for a Falcon 9 launch are estimated to be as low as $15 million. So SpaceX has achieved a flight rate about 30 times higher than the shuttle at one-hundredth the cost.
Impressive.
Identify the Vehicle
1
They didn’t make many of these.
2
Identify the Aircraft
3
4
Identify the Film/Series
A
B
Parting Shot
A dog, alone, in the cold.
Yes, the dog has a fleece vest to help blunt the near-arctic conditions…
Can you identify the famous dog?
End
Identify the Vehicle:
1. Panzer II (Flamm)
2. Panzer IV Ausf. J missing last two road wheels on left side.
Identify the Aircraft:
3. Ryan Navion
4. Bristol Belvedere
Identify the Film/Series:
A. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
B. Forbidden Planet
You nailed them, Surly.
Nice work Surly! Must have ice packs on your CPU.
4 is Piasecki HUP Retriever or H-25
A is Dr Strangelove
The rest will have to wait for Surly or one of the experts
Surley’s right on this one RCC. It’s a Bristol Belvedere HC1 UK – Royal Air Force tail# XG452. Only the Brits would name a Hilo,”Belvedere.” Haha
-STA lethal
I had a far ranging bobcat where I once lived. I don’t know the territory it prowled, but about once a year I’d spot it, and once found it in my driveway late one night. When it was around, the possums, racoons, and feral cats would disappear for a long period of time. After too many neighbors bought around me, installed their pesky street lights, and generally ruined the peace I once had, the bobcat disappeared. I did too. I felt like a fish in a fish bowl.
I hope that I’m never put into a position where opening my drapes would lead to me looking out of my window at somebody else looking out of their window. Here in the middle of the Coconino National Forest where I live (on a small patch of patent land), that’s not an issue. But in cities – it’s impossible to get around it.
Is that the world famous dog-about-town, Banner?
And good for him — a high-viz coat is essential in these days of limited daylight.
—
That “The Hill” article is not even remotely serious. Other than Harris, The Hill points to Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Pete Buttigieg, JB Pritzker, and Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez as the leading Democrat contenders for 2028. [Sarcastic commentary on how each of those individuals is a member of an oppressed and powerless group redacted; James Watt-style enumeration of demographics also redacted, other than to point out GN is an ambulatory grease stain, and GW labors under the burden of a freakishly large head — thank heaven for the Governorship, eh? Because the circus sideshow wasn’t hiring.] Also the article is wrong about Trump, see below.
—
>The certainty is that Trump himself will not be on the ballot, since the Constitution limits him to two terms.
Factcheck says FALSE! We all know that Orange Hitler Bad is, well, literally Hitler. He will spit on the Constitution, declare himself dictator for life, and force every woman to wear those goofy “The Handmaid’s Tale” [1] outfits and bear a dozen children. Two dozen in the case of WOCs, because nothing says White Supremacist like policies to increase the number of POCs.
>Harris showed that she could run an impressive campaign even in the short time she was in the race
TRUE. It sure was impressive alright.
[1] The Handmaid’s Tale is a fetish-porn variant just like that horrid Fifty Shades series.
—
>Why must I press “1” for English in the United States?
“America has not yet learned to be multicultural”. (You bigot.)
Paul Ryan pees sitting down.
–
Michelle Obama pees standing up.
–
Pedo Joe Biden pees in his pants.
You mean Big Mike LL. Just so there’s no confusion.
Of course.
I once heard somebody refer to The Mooch as “Mitchell” Obama and pert neart to spewed Dr. Pepper thru my nose!
I’ve Obama call him “Michael”
-SpaceX has achieved a flight rate about 30 times higher than the shuttle at one-hundredth the cost… So is that $100 billion that the state of Delaware took from Elon Musk recently, is that 10% for the Big Guy?
Why wouldn’t Old Pedo Joe be wetting his beak?
Yep, that’s Banner. And SpaceX IS getting things done with at least 23 reuses of the same booster. Also, their launch rate is higher than any other program ever.
For the “Which do you prefer?” question…. Which one weighs more….
Indeed. As age advances, so does the priority of weight. I am old and old school, so wood stock for me. My scoped M1A is an early Springfield, Inc. with a standard profile NM barrel. The scope is a simple Redfield 2-7 X 33 (one built by Leupold) that weighs 11oz. Like the one in the photo, It also wears the same Bradley cheek rest.
“Which do you prefer” question
Neither. KISS
That abused dog was waiting for a grumpy old fart to use the security key fob to open the door instead of taking poor quality cell phone photos. Once inside, a few nosy old biddies checked him for frost bite, commiserated with him over his fate, and gave him treats to rebuild his stamina. Dirty looks and disapproving remarks were given to the grumpy old man.
At least there are advocates present to support his case.
SpaceX is reusing boosters because they are using their own cash not We The Peoples “endless budget”. If you have a full package of paper towels you think the supply is endless, if you are on the last half roll you use them judiciously or switch to cloth towels.
***
McCabe, Smith, and a pile of other DC criminals in Armani, simply project onto their targets what they are doing or are planning to do.
***
Just in — “United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed in Manhattan outside of the Hilton @ Investor Day, perp used a suppressor (“silencer” per the media) and was wearing all black.” CIA or Mob? Regardless, Alvin Bragg and his comrades are culpable for allowing NYC to become a 3rd World Cesspool.
***
Banner is like, “Hey, this fleece is good and all but my paws are freezing…can I come in please?”
Banner refuses to wear snow sock/boots. Instead, he gets ice between his toes and limps over to have the ice removed. Spoiled brat, he is.
He’s looking for a little tenderness.
Master class assistance is when you clean out the ice balls and blow on a piece of hot dog so he doesn’t burn his mouth.
He doesn’t get hot dogs. A glutton, he will eat nearly anything and then turn into a flatulence machine. The “ladies” give him stuff when I’m not looking.
Passing copious green clouds of gas must be a great relief to him. You could just opt to wear a mask all the time (like a Scott Pack with self-contained air). The more he toots, the better he feels, he should have a hot dog at every meal.
Solve both problems, cold paws and gasious maximus, install a nice toasty heat mat on the stoop.
Re: the CEO being shot: funny how it happened just before the discoverability phase of the DOJ investigation…
It’s another scurrilous conspiracy from the Alaskan contingent. The next thing she’ll say is that BlackRock is evil. I swear…all the time.
Seems video of the murder was released then pulled down…shooter was calm. Had to be a hit job.
Not very competent. His pistol kept jamming and he had to rack the slide more than once. Ammo, maintenance, inexperienced?
He left three live rounds on the deck. Did he wash them in acetone to ensure there weren’t fingerprints on the casings?
The Civil Air Patrol unit that I was a member of had a Navion and a Cessna 140. I did not care for the Navion and preferred the 140. Nothing like looking to your left to stay parallel to the edge of the runway on takeoff and zig-zagging on the ground to see the area in front of you.
The Navion has a great cockpit. Very comfortable. It also has maintenance costs approaching the P-51 it was derived from.
“Black Gold/Texas Tea” – I’d much prefer to see a graph displaying the average national gasoline price adjusted for inflation from 1950 to 2024 – think it’d be an eye-opener?
My only living cousin on my mother’s side who still has his stuff somewhat (underline ‘somewhat’ heavily) starts foaming “Hitler” at the mouth should you even allude to the incoming administration; where are people getting this fatuous nonsense?
Boron, x2 on seeing a graph with above mentioned along side income graphs for the various income classes.
My black gold was $2.15 a gallon passing through Oklahoma over the weekend.
I really enjoyed Trumponomics 2016 – 2019. The 2020 terrorization of the Blue cities spread even to the streets in our rural town. That combined with the scamdemic wearied my soul, and dampened my joys of the Blue mountains. The silver lining was it helped us move closer to our kids. In the summer we pay a premium price for gas up on the Oregon coast. There’s been times filling up with Diesel has cost over the $4 mark. Looking forward to 4 yrs + of MAGA!
Just in — “United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed in Manhattan outside of the Hilton @ Investor Day, perp used a suppressor (“silencer” per the media) and was wearing all black.” CIA or Mob? Regardless, Alvin Bragg and his comrades are culpable for allowing NYC to become a 3rd World Cesspool.
***
Disgruntled customer ,, This is the way .
whatever (ahem!) was he doing on 6th?
the Hilton yet? – “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him well…”
It was reported elsewhere that the shooter jacked the slide before each following shot, indicating subsonic rounds. Was it a pro? Did the CEO have evidence on the Clintons?
Should the CEO now be called a DEO (dead executive officer)?
Quiet – Maybe a Colt Woodsman. Where was MikeW when it went down? I expect that there is a photo of him under a clock holding a newspaper.
Ah, the suppressed Colt Woodsman. Just the name takes me back to the far distant past, to the days of my youth, when both The World and I were young. Fired single shot the Woodsman was/is, to all practicable purposes “silent”.
As to New York. It wasn’t me, honest. Seriously, the shooter today, to be a “pro”, as some have postulated, does not have to be from the CIA, any other intelligence agency or, to use the colloquialism, “The Mob”. With the plethora of Special Mission Units that have developed/evolved, during the past twenty odd years of war, plus those from the wars before then, there are certainly hundreds, if not thousands of people, both male and female, out there with the requisite skills, expertise, and experience.
The word “professional” certainly has fifty shades of gray attached to it these days. I don’t know if it was a self-directed hit or if it was a hired job. It’s difficult to tell from the scenario. It worked, but the guy left clues in this day and age of digital observation. I might have chosen a stand-off position but he may have wanted to make it personal.
Thanks for the news Kieth. Virtual Mirage doesn’t disappoint! H/T to L.L.
My wife had United and just switched to Humana here in rural Texas. $erious discount with better benefits. Her sister who told her about had applied back in our old rural hometown in Pendleton OR. ” Not available in her area.” Just across the border in Idaho lives another sister, been with Humana for years.
Forbidden Planet. Robbie and a very young Earl Holliman. It has always struck me how much the id monster resembled the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil.
—–
The Krell race created a machine to grant their every wish, and destroyed themselves overnight. I wonder some days, can our kids be far behind with their Iphones?
Wait until Musk Neuralinks them.
Moab- …while the mountain biker easily passes underneath in the mini slot canyon on a “green” semi-sustainable transport mode.
Never had the desire to do THAT…I guess whatever floats your boat (unless you’re Ed_B, those boating accidents are getting more epic each week).
which? neither. fal. i worked on m14’s for years. no thanks.
Sidebar: seems “The Diplomat” series is a common title, here I was watching a British semi-whodunit version on Prime thinking Ms. Russel was going to show up when her series of the same name is on Netflix…hence my “off kilter” comment the other day. Geez, tough for me to keep up…so many offerings, so little time.
China banned exports of critical minerals to the U.S. today. This could hurt, as we rely on these minerals for many things. I guess this is their answer to the tariffs that are about to slap them in the face.
We’ll touch on that on the blog tomorrow.
Copy that.
So, we got a call about a side by side in Moab…….
Who might have said this?
I like both of the firearms advertised in this blog. But that’s just me.