Bullet Points:
** Flying in Alaska with Bigfoot.
** Walter Knott’s original berry stand, Los Angeles (1926) – Walter Knott’s humble berry stand in Buena Park, California, was the beginning of a family legacy that would later become Knott’s Berry Farm. The stand offered fresh berries and homemade jam, attracting local customers who enjoyed the taste of fresh produce in a growing city. With the success of the berry stand, Walter Knott expanded his business, eventually turning it into a full-fledged farm and amusement park. The early days at the stand were marked by hard work, community support, and a commitment to quality, laying the groundwork for one of the most renowned amusement parks in the country.
** Avoid disappointment – go ugly early.
** The most Italian man in the world.
** ISIS carried out numerous atrocities against the Yazidi population, including mass killings, sexual slavery, and forced conversions. A study published in 2017 estimated that nearly 10,000 Yazidis were killed or kidnapped in the 2014 ISIS attack, with more than half of the deaths resulting from execution, including being shot, beheaded, or burned alive.
** WSJ Opinion – Excessive reliance on AI could spawn a generation of brainless young people unequipped for the jobs of the future because they have never learned to think creatively or critically.
** Washington Post: “Weighing in on Kyiv’s side of its war with Russia more forcefully than at any time since he reclaimed the White House, President Trump yesterday said he would help Ukraine obtain advanced U.S.-made weaponry and threatened tariffs against Moscow and its trading partners if the war is still raging in 50 days. The announcements came after Trump repeatedly expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued bombardment of Ukraine. Until Monday, Trump had largely held back from opening the U.S. arsenal for Ukraine, avoiding putting his fingerprint on a conflict that he often said was “Biden’s war.” Although he said again Monday that “this is not Trump’s war,” the plans he unveiled amounted to a significant U.S. effort to bolster Ukraine’s military and impose tough economic consequences on Russia if Putin doesn’t soon halt the conflict. The efforts would build on — and go beyond — those by President Joe Biden and would effectively back Ukraine in the war.”
(Note) Allow me to offer a (unsolicited and unwanted) suggestion to Washington DC – raise a legion (a foreign legion) of non-Americans who can support the Ukrainians and can control some of the weapons that Washington doesn’t want “walking off the battlefield” to places like Albania, which seems to be the destination for contraband weapons that are then sold on the black market. The Ukrainians are as corrupt as the Albanians, which appears to set a low bar internationally shared by Somalis, Sudanese, and other African groups. You’re going to ask me if they’re as corrupt as Democrats, the Agency for International Development, etc. I can only respond that my beloved US Navy acted in concert with Leonard Glenn Francis (“Fat Leonard”) and Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which was worthy of the Sudanese. So yes, the Americans could be said to be as bad in many instances as Albanians and Ukrainians.
** Gov. Newsom & Mayor Bass are celebrating a 1,500 drop in the homeless population — Except 2,500 homeless people died on the streets in Los Angeles County in the same period of time, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). The survey showed the city’s homeless population decreased from 45,252 in 2024 to 43,699 in 2025—a net reduction of 1,553 people.
When you have your own Robot
Fresh Tea?
As I’m not a tea drinker, I had no idea that ‘fresh tea’ was essential to the consumption experience. Jules raised the issue yesterday when she admitted to smuggling teabags from Old Blighty on her person when traveling to her American Colonies (Land of the Free, Home of the Brave).
I thought that it was pre-sweetened on the vine (or however it grows) there on the plantation for future use. So you see, I’m not a tea expert. I knew, of course, that patriots used it to flavor salt water in Boston Harbor.
I realized that clipper ships were built to move tea (and opium) faster, but thought that was more of an addiction imperative than anything else. Not so? See below:
I still don’t understand how people can drink it without pouring it over ice and adding half a fresh lemon (per glass) squeezed into it – but I am a barbarian by nature, so there you have it.
Heart Attack Potato Recipe
Jules also learned to eat heart attack potatoes while visiting the colonies – they’re not just for chips with HP sauce anymore.
I don’t dare introduce Jules to Chili-fries (smothered in melted cheese) or Irish Nachos. You know that she’d try to eat them with a knife and fork (in the wrong hands) instead of eating them with her fingers – the way we do in the Colonies.
Voter Fraud in California
I know that you read the caption and replied – “Voter fraud? In California? How could that be? “Voting by non-citizens is a federal crime… The Department of Justice will hold jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal voting laws accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon.
Last week, the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) filed suit in federal court against Orange County Registrar Robert Page’s refusal to provide unredacted records detailing the removal of non‑citizens from voter rolls. The complaint cites violations of both the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 and the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, both of which require state and county election officials to maintain accurate voter rolls and comply with federal requests for information.
When the D.O.J. asked Page to provide records, he produced a heavily redacted list and cited “several California statutes as the basis for the redactions.” After being told that federal election law supersedes state statutes—and that his actions run afoul of national mandates—Page reaffirmed that he would not comply.
Page’s office has maintained that it sought to cooperate by offering to provide unredacted data under a confidentiality or protective order. In correspondence with LAist, Deputy County Counsel James Steinmann asked if such an accommodation could be arranged. The DOJ disagreed, and within 24 hours, the suit was filed.
“Voting by non-citizens is a federal crime, and states and counties that refuse to disclose all requested voter information are in violation of well-established federal elections laws,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a recent statement.
“Removal of non-citizens from the state’s voter rolls is critical to ensuring that the State’s voter rolls are accurate and that elections in California are conducted without fraudulent voting. The Department of Justice will hold jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal voting laws accountable,” Dhillon continued.
The legal team includes U.S. Attorney Billy Essayli and DOJ Civil Rights Division’s Michael Gates, both of whom were relatively recently appointed by the Trump administration. Gates and Essayli, in their ways, made waves nationally as a State Assemblyman and Huntington Beach City Attorney, respectively, for their willingness to challenge the status quo in Sacramento, especially about election integrity. That has, of course, put them in the figurative crosshairs of California’s legislative supermajority on more than one occasion.
Democrat Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (SURPRISINGLY) issued a statement condemning the lawsuit, arguing that the Registrar “complied with state law, provided requested records, and proposed a secure and lawful way to share additional data.” Similarly, Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento branded the suit as an “unnecessary intimidation tactic by the federal government, aimed at bullying our County Registrar.”
Conversely, OC Supervisors Don Wagner and Janet Nguyen expressed support for a thorough investigation to determine whether wrongdoing had taken place.
The DOJ’s lawsuit is part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring compliance with federal voter‑roll maintenance standards. Under a March 25, 2025, executive order by President Trump, titled Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, the Department was tasked with verifying citizenship status and enforcing lawful voter list protocols. Similar legal challenges have been launched against other jurisdictions, including suits in North Carolina (late May) and Virginia (October 2024), over non‑citizen voting.
In Orange County, the DOJ was first tipped off by the family member of a non-citizen who received a mail-in ballot that the family did not request. Records were found for an additional 17 non-citizens who were removed from voter rolls, but the full countywide breadth of illegal voting remains unknown. At the very least, there is cause for concern and a legitimate public interest in pursuing the investigation further.
Meme of the Week
A coalition of community groups on Monday announced plans for a farmworker labor strike this week in protest of the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on undocumented immigration (wetbacks) in California. What will California do if there is no dope to smoke? Will the state go into withdrawals? Maybe they’ll organize a Smokey and the Bandit-style run from Colorado to California to provide badly needed marijuana.
I encourage the farm workers to form a picket line to make it easier for ICE to scoop them up and haul them off for processing and deportation – or is that asking too much?
Identify the Infantry Machine Guns (World War One)
1
2
3
4
Parting Shot
Edit
1 is Maxim gun.
2 is Lewis gun. My grandfather carried one in France in WW1. My father had one as part of Australian home guard in WW2. He was 15.
3 Vickers that replaced the Maxim for British
4 ?
#4 hint – used by the Allies, not the Axis.
Your father as part of the Australian home guard in WW2…it can close to his service being needed. If we had not won the battle of Midway…
Identify the Infantry Machine Guns (World War One):
1. Lewis
2. Vickers
3. M1914 Hotchkiss
1- Maxim; 2- Lewis; 3- Vickers
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4- hint – French
Didn’t notice that the two diagrams were for two separate machine guns.
Now then. First off, let’s not knock chips with any sauce, be it HP, Daddies, Ketchup, mayo, or dare I say it, gravy ( not your gravy that is white sauce and not gravy) I mean beef gravy with a consistency of thick cream. Winner dish. Also verynice with currywurst.
Heart attack potatoes. These rocked my world when I first tried them. Give me those and a jar of bacon and I’m in! Thank you for this recipe, though I’m guessing the cheese doesn’t go in straight away for 45 minutes? Or does it? I need to know as I am going to make them and share my results. I can almost hear my left ventricle slamming shut. I’d also like to try making these baked beans with a glaze that were mentioned yesterday. Both yourself and Al cane up with some drooling concoctions but maybe I’d be safer listening to Dorothy. Anyway, I’d like a recipe please. I shall make both dishes and show you.
In the meantime, perhaps you can make a proper cup of tea? (I feel Dorothy will know this given her husband’s tea class)
In America tea comes like a jigsaw puzzle. There’s hot water in a pot. The tea bag *unknown brand* sits tied like a prisoner to a cup handle. This takes too long to unwind and the not hot enough water is now even cooler. Degrees matter! There’s milk in a jug, often times hot, *INCORRECT* and a cup. It’s bonkers. Listen up. Teabag or two (good brand) in pot. Boiling water straight on it- anything less will ruin it. Allow to brew for 3 minutes. Pour into cup, add cold milk until the colour is Californian tan. Sip and feel the joy of refreshment run through you. You can’t say anything like “Tally Ho “ because nobody says that. Instead you can look out of the window and remark on the weather or complain about a neighbour.
I await your instructions. Feel free to add extras.
There are so many variations on heart attack potatoes. Consider this:
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Cut potatoes up in quarters
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Boil in chicken broth and save the broth for gravy (until soft)
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Mash
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Add homemade Italian dressing, which includes oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and Old Bay seasoning. Ok, if you use commercially available Italian dressing, all to taste.
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About half a cup of homemade mayonaise or Best Foods Mayo is o.k. too
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Added Philadelphia cream chese (to taste)
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Milk (keep the consistency firm though because you’re going to bake in scooped balls (like a large scoop of ice cream)
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Salt and pepper to taste.
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Fresh grated parmesan cheese (use quality cheese), cheddar cheese – again, to taste.
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Pre-cooked Bacon to taste – and when I write this, more bacon is good but if it’s not crisp, it will make the potatoes greasy.
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When you’re baking your heart attack potato balls, you don’t want to over cook them. The idea is to get the cheese melty. Some will melt out of the balls and will crisp on the cookie sheet you’re cooking them in. That’s normal and desirable.
Hash browns instead of the quarters work well too. Consider adding crushed ritz crackers on top or crushed corn flakes…. Add some liquid butter to the top to moisten them. Then make some southern fried chicken, barbecue beans, and a peach cobbler or biscuit version strawberry shortcake… or both. Watermelon with seeds and rind of course is for wandering about as you eat it.
It’s what’s for dinner.
Hard to beat Cracker Barrel’s hashbrown casserole…it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (or ‘supper’ in ranch country). There’s a rub tho…now that I’m more seasoned: The woman’s studies college grad CB decorator-in-charge is getting rid of the porch rocking chairs, just when I get to the age when it’s okay to sit for a while. Murphy’s Law lady: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
4 is Hotchkiss Mle 1914 machine gun. French limited numbers until 1917 used into the 1960’s.
Knotts Berry Farm is one of my wife and I’s favourite places when we have been in the USA.
On our first visit in 2002 she won the grand prize at the ping pong ball toss, a five foot high dragon/ dinosaur. Traded it for a small tiger with a young girl who was much smaller than the dragon. We figured it would need it’s own seat on the flight back to Australia.
St. Étienne Mle 1907
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Mitrailleuse Mle 1907 T was a controversial gas operated air-cooled machine gun in 8mm Lebel which was widely used only in the early years of the First World War. For “political reasons”, the St.Etienne Mle 1907 was developed not to derive from the patented Hotchkiss machine gun. Instead, to avoid patent infringement and royalties, it borrowed its gas operated, blow-forward design from the semi-automatic Bang rifle of 1903. The Bang system, first transposed by 1905 to the French Puteaux APX Machine Gun, had proved unsatisfactory enough to inspire its redesign by 1907 as the St-Étienne machine gun. However the Mle 1907 St-Étienne was only a partial redesign: the original blow-forward gas piston, rack-and-pinion system, and bolt mechanism of the Mle 1905 Puteaux machine gun had all been kept only slightly modified inside the newer weapon. Eventually a total of over 39,700 St-Étienne Mle 1907 machine guns were manufactured between 1908 and late 1917. They were widely used by French infantry only during the early part of World War I until their replacement by the more reliable Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun.
Trip to the UK in the early 80’s exposed this redneck to his first “high tea” in the dining room (high back chairs and all of the necessary silver hardware) of a coworker’s home. Due to this being their first visit to their home by a Texan, the entire family (teen age boys with girl friends, family dog, etc.) of the host were present. I’m sure the family members curiosity was to check out the manners and vocabulary of the visitor.
During the polite conversation the dog, being very comfortable under the dining room table, passed gas. There was an awkward silence while the culprit was bring identified, followed by the embarrassed hosts ushering the dog out and issuing apologies galore.
I’m sure, that to this day, there are some thoughts the redneck may have been the “guilty bastard” rather than the dog. But I can truthfully say any such thoughts are untrue.
The heart attack potatoes sound amazing. Luckily I have a body that laughs at cholesterol.
X2
and likewise on the cholesterol for some weird reason the docs don’t/can’t understand.
Saw doc in ’23, shook his head and said do you have any idea that your cholesterol is 79? Nope, I eat items like ones mentioned above. But have eaten all that since 1941.
I keep wondering if, within the 50 day period, Vladimir Vladimirovich says, “OK. I’ll be a good boy and abide by your requests.” and then Volodymyr Oleksandrovych (or one of the EU) then sends a missle/troops into Russia. I would understand his response: what would ours be?
Any way I look at this kerfuffle/mess, I see us/USA being dragged into fighting for the EU/NATO – again.
The only winner I can see is Jinping.
Now you’ve done it…making The Gav look like a benevolent plantation owner in the hat. Next he’ll be sporting that look. Listening to Jen and Grant on LA’s 870…and just as predicted after the Palisades fires…seems Cali-Wrecker Newsom has visions (with his cronies) to take those properties and build “multifamily low-income housing development” with $101M appropriated taxpayers [non-existent] monies that – kid you not (same Lefty saw, different day) will “contribute to a more equitable and resilient Los Angeles.”
Knew it…especially SINCE the fires NOTHING has happened despite Bass promising PDJT it would be different. Guess we need to define her ‘different’ from his (and everyone else without a non-grifter thievery brain). People get what they elect, especially when there are too many rats in the cage.
***
Heart Attack Taters: Only a problem if you eat them everyday, otherwise an excellent culinary diversion…and now with an Air Fryer on the counter – our newly discovered “why haven’t we bought this years ago” go-to appliance – leftovers (assuming any) are even better.
Ps. You have completely corrupted Jules with American fare…but I do think she could give The Farmer’s Dog a run for the money with an American Foodie Truck…parked down the street…call it “A Taste of Texas” or something (add your suggestions below)…could set up those outdoors misters to keep patrons cool during their meal. Life changing.
Jules would cash out big with a “Shamelessly American Food” truck. Real food for a hungry island.
Gotta have ice cold root beer floats and Dr Pepper from a Coca Cola ice chest out front…and iced tea with a lemon wedge — Patrons would give up their hot tea and warm ‘pints’ in a heartbeat. Oh, and Doritos and her Artisanal Pizza. She’d make a killing.
Yes. I’m liking this. I think I could talk JC into it.
Everyone needs a proper benefactor, A JC-Jules partnership could be…shall we say…interesting. Besides, Kaleb could use some competition.
Newsom has had that Zig Zag Man look for a long time. The hat may leave an impression on the heavily greased hair, so he doesn’t wear it all the time. I don’t know him, so I haven’t asked. We don’t go to the same parties SHOCKINGLY.
Quote read moons ago: “Don’t tell me who you are, tell me what you do and I’ll know who you are.” The hair and smarmy act are only indicators…his actions speak very loudy (assuming one has ears to hear). He turned off the water pre-fire to make those properties go away so he could slide his grifter pals new government projects for the Sanc-City illegal voting block. When do his and his cronies actions breach Federal legality to the point of arrest? Never, is the likely answer…because…my comment yesterday: Basically bad people get away with “murder” when good people have become too weak to do anything…plus…loy-yer’s, who create laws that shield the scumbags while controlling the taxpayer.
I need to watch Bachelor in Paradise to clear my head…at least I know that’s fake. (kidding)
Another heart attack special–Frito Bean Casserole. Wife still has recipe we got from my late Aunt, however we don’t make it these days. In my case, I am making a determined effort to improve my cholesterol and B.P. numbers. So far, so good.
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Ian over at Forgotten Weapons has an excellent video in which he assembles a Lewis Gun and then fires it. Said video requires you to sign in to verify age. Seems YooToob has gone screaming over the horizon with their collective hair on fire when comes to any video that so much as gets down wind of burnt gun powder. Fits right in with the WSJ opinion above.
Where’s the glazed beans recipe?
Notice how Jules bullies me…
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This recipe can be doubled, depending on the number of people you’re serving. If you cook them in a crock pot they’ll be runny. If you bake them in an oven, in a casserole pan (glass) they’ll be thicker and glazed.
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32 oz can of baked beans (if there are little greasy pork bits included in the can, remove them)
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Add 1/2 pound of crispy American bacon.
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Chop a medium onion and sauté it in the bacon grease. Add to the mix.
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Brown sugar to taste
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BBQ Sauce to taste. You can substitute catsup if you don’t have BBQ sauce.
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Yellow mustard to taste. Add the mustard last and use it sparingly. You want the flavor, but you don’t want the mustard to be obvious when you’re eating it.
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Bake in the oven with foil over the pan at 350°F for 1-2 hours, depending on the desired thickness of the beans. Cook for a longer time to achieve a thicker consistency. Half an hour before removing the beans from the oven, remove the foil to create the glaze.
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That’s it.
And that’s why I bully you. ;)
LL, you can only be bullied if you are willing to be bullied. You, a former-SEAL commander, with all of your further street-cred, complaining of being bullied??? What happened to you?
What can I say?
Mellowing with some mileage under foot…like a fine Bordeaux; once perfection is attained life is good.
maybe it’s just me-
I think being “bullied” by Miss Jules would be rather pleasant.
I much prefer her and her “style” over the female “types” at the opposite of the spctrum for obvious reasons.
(does this mean I am a closet cuck or sth?)
Besides, from what I can see, their banter is more akin to old timeynThin Man movies.
which I still enjoy.
Juan
Not to sound pretentious, but the recipe for the Heart Attack Potatoes was almost exactly as I imagined it.
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I have never been an iced tea aficionado, yet unsweetened iced tea shows up on my lunch and dinner tray everyday.
It’s consumable.
The potatoes can also make you stroke out if you don’t have a cardiac incident.
Beans on toast is still better than that abomination. ;-)
Concur on the tea! But make mine sweet tea, and add lemon! Keystone vs. DOS boils down to ‘who’ was on the .gov tit! And it wasn’t the Keystone folks. They were actually working for a living and paying taxes!
I like a good cup of tea, obviously, but that LRDG photo strikes a chord. Irregular, perhaps.