My Ducati Diavel still runs like a monster. I’m not home with it at the moment, and I feel some separation anxiety.
Retro Photo
George and Libby Custer before the Yellowstone Campaign. Libby looks old in the photo, but she was in her early 30s at the time. Photo: Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Assn.
Bullet Points:
** The collapse of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) is discussed here by VDH.
** A discussion of Spicer vs Biden and the precedent it set.
** Ammo.com The U.S. has more armed civilians than most countries’ military. But have you ever wondered how many Americans are actually armed? We were curious and decided to write a report about it! The truth is that less than half of Americans report owning guns in 2026, but there’s more to the story. Over 60% of those living in Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska own guns; Nationwide, gun ownership has remained stable: between 30% and 32%since 2000; Americans aged 50 to 64 report the highest ownership rate at 37%, though rates vary by survey.
** Bones.
** Cultural Appropriation: This is confirmed to be the cast of Christopher Nolan’s version of the Odyssey. This is going to flop, but who cares? Normal people are sick of the racist anti-white race swaps. Everyone is aware that it is always historical whites being replaced. This is racism and cultural suppression and erasure. (right)
** Canada is a country of about 35 million people. About a third of those people are either completely retired and drawing on the national pension (and healthcare) systems, or very close to that situation. By early 2026, roughly 52.8% of Canadian-born women aged 20 to 49 had no children. My message to all of the Canadians who are blaggarding me at the moment is that in a few years, there won’t be any Canadians left to do that – but there will be Indians and Muslim immigrants (who reproduce prolifically) who might. The New Canada.
** “I have seen Calcutta. I have eaten camel dung. My knees are brown, my navel is central, my conscience is clear, and my will is with my solicitors, Short and Curly.” Richard Attenborough as Regimental Sergeant Major Lauderdale in John Guillermin’s “Guns at Batasi” (1964)
** How many flew over the cuckoo clock? Jules says – only one. Somehow I doubt that.
** New York Lost 892 Companies and $47 Billion in Income — New IRS migration data covering 2020–2024 shows 892 companies left New York, taking an estimated $47 billion in income with them. Florida gained 341 of those companies. Texas picked up 187. North Carolina added 129. This isn’t just about wealthy individuals relocating. It affects jobs, investment, and the tax base that supports state programs and services. Critics argue that New York’s high taxes, heavy regulations, rising costs, and public safety concerns are pushing businesses toward lower-tax states with more business-friendly environments. Supporters of New York’s policies counter that the state still offers major economic advantages, infrastructure, financial markets, and a highly skilled workforce. Source: IRS migration data (2020–2024). Keep driving the productivity from the Empire State, Mad Mommie!
Question of the Day
Tough Love
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz walked into the lion’s den of the DGB trade union congress in Berlin today and got exactly what the entitled left delivers: a chorus of boos, jeers, and thumbs-down from pampered delegates. Merz had the nerve to state the obvious. Germany is drowning in demographic disaster thanks to decades of low birth rates and open borders. The math is brutal – soon, two workers will be stuck funding one retiree. Without real reforms to pensions, welfare, and the bloated system, the economy will continue to collapse amid job losses and stagnation.
“Everybody has to give something,” Merz said. The union crowd exploded in whistles and shouts of “Tax the rich!” Classic socialist tantrum. These are the same left-wing groups that helped wreck Germany’s powerhouse status with green fantasies, migrant overload, and endless benefits. Now they riot at the first hint of fiscal reality
This isn’t random hate – it’s the welfare state’s death rattle. Merz, despite his own globalist baggage and past jabs at Trump, is catching flak for daring to prioritize growth over handouts. Sound familiar? Just like Keir Starmer across the Channel, Europe’s so-called leaders are learning the hard way: voters and workers are fed up with weakness and unsustainable promises.
Germany’s birth rate collapse didn’t happen by accident. It’s the rotten fruit of progressive policies that punish families and import dependency. The unions don’t want fixes – they want the gravy train forever, even if it bankrupts the nation.
Identify the Aircraft
1
2
3
You have fuselage numbers to work with. The picture was taken where it lives – on the ramp at on the ramp for years at Middlebury Airport in Vermont. That’s all the hints you need.
Parting Shot
End
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Yak-28R Brewer-D
2. Bell YFM-1 Airacuda
3. Fouga CM.170 Magister
Excellent
Canada & Germany – And throw France and the UK and whoever else into this including us the USA – We are all in a death spiral of our own making. We import or allow unfettered immigration and allow other cultures in that do not mesh with ours in order to have cheaper labor to do the jobs we choose not to do. In the case of the USA, immigrants were brought in to do what many Americans refuse to do – Vote for Democrats.
*****
No future outside – Reminds me of friends at retirement – Don’t quit what your doing without a plan. Friends approach retirement and just think it’s all fun not having to work anymore then find out that sitting home doesn’t fulfill your need to keep occupied. We all need a purpose. Help family with granddkids or maybe volunteer? But have a plan before you walk out and watch the door/gate close behind you.
X2
I’m 72.
I’ve been off work for a year for health reasons. I have a second interview today. I’m looking forward to it.
Not that I didn’t enjoy the time off, or find things to do, but I’m running out of them.
There’s always boating with EdB
It would make a great YT channel!
I know a guy whose dad worked at Ford’s on the line for 30 years and took retirement.
Within a year his wife got tired of him being around and divorced him taking half of everything.
Helen of Detroyt….
To be eligible to win Best Picture at the Oscars:
1. At least 1 Non-White/Non-Straight lead or Significant Role.
2. At least 30% minor roles Non-White/Non- Straight people.
3. At least 2 Departments headed by Non- White/Non-Straight people.
+ Somebody needs to change genders during the show – Alice becomes Albert or something like that.
If Barack and Michelle wrote a book together, what would the title be? How about “My Man”? Each one could write half the book.
Brilliant!
Yes that works.
There ya go!
Who’s on Bottom?
Mike’s half is the front. Turn it over and upside down to read Barry’s half.
Beautiful bike Sir !
2015 Ducati Diavel Strada – 2-up configuration so the Mrs can ride behind. Thanks, Boats.
Does she? Do your ribs hurt?
” less than half of Americans report owning guns in 2026″
What percentage that did not, reported them lost in the boating accident?
My exact thought. Why would any red-blooded patriot tell anyone what and if they own firearms, knives, swords, or any self-protection device? Head over to Kim DuToit’s, has a good piece today on “studies”, what has morphed into “polls” used by government, and by extension, MSM shills, to sell their brand of hokum ‘by obeservation’ in order to sway opinions of the uninitiated. Eggs are bad. Coffee is bad. Fish oil is bad. Bacon is bad. All lies. Ex: What we get: ‘Hantavirus, EVERYBODY PANIC!’…not ‘Pedophiles arrested on cruise ship’ while wrapping them in a hazmat suit and wheel-chairing them out to give the illusion the plague has descended on humanity.
Yes, so many of us are helpless and unarmed…
We may find out the correct answer to that question in another generation or 2
That long?
Damn boating accidents…..
X2 drjim.
Helen of Troy, defined as ‘the most beautiful woman’…yet Hollywood goes from Diane Kruger in ‘Troy’ to this…geez. And it will flop, badly because the demented among us believe rewriting history is some sort of art form that only they get to dabble..while completely screwing it up.
***
The O’s book? Too many titles come to mind:
‘Our Three Term Presidency’
‘How To Make Millions as Community Organizers’
‘The Cook, The Kayak, The River: How We Got Away With Murder…Again’
‘Frank, Dreams From My Real Father’
‘Who Really Wore the Pants | Disguising Your Manhood’
…the list is endless with these two Manchurian grifters.
***
Ducati: It is a nice bike…I’d kill myself on it. But what drew my eye was the most excellent front entry door set with appropriate ‘rustic chic’ hardware.
It is the White Wolf Mine, after all is said and done.
**
Brokeback Mountain redux.
Another good one…New Netflix series in the making: ‘Brokeback Hawaii’, ‘Brokeback DC’, Brokeback Vineyard’…’Kayaking tips from Big Mike’…’How to fix a broken back by Barry’…endless possibilities…series could go for multiple seasons, give Sheridan a run for his money.
Expecting this might take over the blog today, some humor to offset the insanity. (need MikeC to add some hilarious commentary)
The Sam’s Club broom is a bit pedestrian, but understandable. (heh)
ANY big push broom is deserving of honor.
Mine’s from Home Depot.
💯
Well done!
Retro photo. I wonder who the officer is in the portrait on the right.
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No future outside. I went through Army basic in ’74 at Ft. Ord. My company had three returning Vietnam vets.
Interesting photo of the Custers. I don’t believe i have ever seen a hanging bookcase before. Maybe something used in the generals tent?
And not hanging from the picture rail either…but simple and effective. As for the Mrs…mom would say ‘Handsome woman’…which apparently, back then, was a compliment.
That’s what I thought. Maybe there’s a cover that screws down to hold everything in on campaign. Generals usually had baggage wagons with all of their comforts and another one for their surgeon.
The book title—-sorry I can’t print it in this forum!
“I Barack and Michelle…”
Were I a starving cannibal, I’m afraid I’d demur.
It’d sorta be like eatin’ stewed possum that’s just a little bit off.
If the possum has turned, you’ll know it. You may still eat it, but you’ll know it’s your enemy.
** No future outside.
Back in the day, a retired serviceman was always a good candidate as a green pea. While my preference was experienced (show me your last three wash out check stubs) a retired serviceman was disciplined and trainable. Car sales was a comedown from their expectations, but it was a job.
Not car sales, I was running a medical specimen pickup/medical report delivery operation with four to five drivers while doing the just married/still doing the college thing. I had a driver opening and a recently discharged man applied. Grossly overqualified for a minimum wage driving job, he explained (heatedly) nobody would hire him because he was a Vietnam vet (1971). I hired him and he made a career with the company.
Regarding the Nolan movie, you missed Elliot ‘I don’t understand what sex I am’ Page as friggin Achilles. She’s like 5’1 and 100lbs soaking wet and she’s playing Achilles? What the frig?
–
Yeah… No. I’ll stick with Kirk Douglas in “Ulysses” or Armand Asante in “The Oddysey.” Both of them were studly men around studly men and believable in their roles while all the babes were serious babes and totally believable as serious babes. Especially Helen. And Penelope. And Circe. And Athena. And all the other serious babe roles.
–
Seriously. Achilles. The unstoppable killer. One of the original ‘muscle-brained’ heroes. Yeesh.
That bike is sweet! No wonder you get anxiety when you can’t ride it. It’s literally a canyon carver! NYC is on it’s deathbed, due to them voting for exactly what they got. Nobody to blame but themselves… Re the Fouga, there is one of those flying out of Fort Worth too!