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
It's easy to second-guess our politicians, particularly when they insert themselves into complex and seemingly intractable geopolitical issues.
President Donald Trump has done something in the Middle East that Eisenhower couldn't do, Nixon couldn't do, Reagan couldn't do, the Bushes certainly couldn't do, and we won't even mention Obama and Biden.
He has forged a consensus and ended, at least temporarily, an ugly event in a region that is famous for ugliness. Will Hamas honor the ceasefire? Maybe. Will they return the remaining bodies? Maybe. Will they reconstitute and once again threaten Israel with destruction? Maybe.
But the odds are better now than they have been for the entirety of Israel's existence as a modern nation, and that is a very impressive accomplishment, especially when much of the West is at best ambivalent about President Trump!
There will be time to pick the agreement apart, and I am not holding my breath for a lasting peace, but still, it is far, far better than it has ever been!
It was a stunning achievement in most respects, and the fact that the world isn't clamoring with adulation for President Trump is a sad commentary on the rest of the world, not on President Trump.
I really liked Neil Young for a few years when I was young and stupid. I saw him live at The Greek Theater in Berkeley about 100 years ago, and it was a good show, but after that? Eh...nothing new, just recycled crap from his heyday.
But now he looks and sounds like the drug-addled lunatic on the corner of a seedy part of a shitty blue city. He seems not to have noticed that most people don't know who he is, or even worse, don't care.
This is who Springsteen wanted to be, but he just wasn't honest enough and good enough.
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Creedence Clearwater Revival is great. It's easy to minimize them because they were in the same era as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beach Boys, etc., but they are the equal of those bands. That they are less-well-known is a function of their longevity, or lack thereof!
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Does that Spotify embed work for everyone? If not, try this!
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The Trump Administration’s Purge of Illegal Truck Drivers Is Having a Huge Impact
—Buck Throckmorton
There have been several high-profile, deadly crashes in recent months involving semi-trucks being driven by foreign nationals and/or operated by shady operators whose ownership is a layer of shell companies. The recent video of an illegal alien from India causing a fatal wreck when performing an illegal U-turn has received a great deal of attention. The Trump administration is cracking down, especially as it applies to aliens who are not licensed to operate these vehicles. The crackdown is revealing that a great many of these drivers are in the country illegally.
The enforcement crackdown also reveals that the problem is being exacerbated by blue states that are extending commercial driver’s license (“CDLs”) to foreign nationals who don’t speak English or know U.S. traffic laws. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement just arrested an illegal alien who was provided a CDL in New York under the name, “NO NAME GIVEN.”
Craig Fuller is a former trucking and logistics executive who now operates Freightwaves, a publication dedicated to those industries. After Donald Trump’s election in November, Mr. Fuller was thought to be a candidate for Transportation Secretary, and although he didn’t get that job, Fuller has the ear of all major players in the trucking and logistics industries.
In recent days, Mr. Fuller and Freightwaves have been documenting a massive federal effort, ”The Compliance Crunch,” to go after drivers operating illegally. This is obviously also disruptive to those enterprises who put unskilled and illegal drivers behind the wheel of semi-trucks.
With immigration authorities and regulatory agencies targeting any trucks on the road in violation of federal regulations, massive fraud is being revealed, including:
• Carriers bring foreign truck drivers in on tourist visas, have them drive for 90 days, at which time they leave and are replaced by another driver on the 90-day cycle. Per Craig Fuller, “Entire fleet business models [are] built around this.”
• Eastern European drivers are being brought in by organized crime syndicates from their home countries, and operating with little understanding or respect for US laws.
• Because of the crackdown, alien truckers are starting to ditch their trucks along highways, leaving them for the trucks’ owners to come pick up.
• ICE and cooperating police agencies are aggressively patrolling truck stops.
• Carriers that rely on cheap foreign truck drivers are reporting massive absenteeism. Per Mr. Fuller, “This is going to destroy entire business models. Trucking companies only survive through cashflows of running freight. They are toast if this goes on.”
• Truck stop parking lots are suddenly much emptier than normal.
• ICE is also showing up at businesses where shipments are loaded and unloaded, verifying that the truckers have legitimated CDLs. Shippers therefore are becoming proactive in ensuring that only legal drivers are backing up to their warehouse docks, and refusing to load or receive shipments from non-compliant drivers.
• Trucking companies and freight brokers are being advised by legal counsel to immediately cease working with non-US domiciled truck drivers and those who lack a legal United States CDL. Mr. Fuller quotes one of them as telling him, “Plaintiff attorneys will scorch any broker or carrier for hiring an illegitimate driver.”
• Insurance companies are likely to refuse to provide insurance going forward for companies unless they prohibit the hiring of truck drivers lacking US-domiciled CDLs.
As to this last point, Craig Fuller states that “It’s all over” in regards to the business practice of employing illegal aliens and unqualified foreigners to drive semi-trucks on American roads.
Trucking and logistics companies should be taking immediate steps to mitigate increased exposure to drivers with non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses – including an audit of all existing employee or contract drivers, a regulations expert advises.
That advice, included in a legal alert by Greg Reed, a partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP, comes in the wake of an emergency rule issued in September by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration overhauling who is eligible for a non-domiciled CDL.
In the alert, Reed points out that if an accident were to occur, plaintiffs’ attorneys would likely argue that logistics and trucking companies are on notice that non-domiciled CDLs may be operating unlawfully and are insufficiently qualified.
It’s estimated that of the roughly 3.9 million commercial truck drivers currently operating in the U.S., roughly 200,000 (5%) will not be able to continue driving as a result of the Trump administration crackdown.
Most truck drivers on America’s roads are legal and most companies operate ethically. But it is a disgrace that ethical companies and licensed American truck drivers have had to compete with foreign labor that operates as a form of chattel, being paid below-market labor rates while under the control of illegitimate operators.
With the impending shakeout, shipping rates will improve for the remaining (legitimate) carriers, and American truck drivers will see the value of their labor increase with the illegal labor being removed from the marketplace.
But for those companies operating illicitly, good riddance.
You know what though? These carriers did this to themselves, exploiting loopholes for bottom dollar drivers to be behind the wheels of their trucks. There was full programs running to cover visas, if they came to drive for companies in the US, and fill one more seat saving $$$
Embedded in the tweet below is a satisfying video from an American truck driver who is realizing that his illegal competition is suddenly gone. ”This parking lot is empty. It’s never been this empty. I don’t know what Trump is doing, but it’s never been like this. He needs to keep doing what he’s doing. Trucking gonna be up.”
"This parking lot is empty. Its never been this empty. I don't know what Trump is doing, but its never been like this. He needs to keep doing what he's doing.
In conclusion, I found this final tweet by Mr. Fuller to be refreshingly honest, but it’s also a frustrating reminder of how easy it is to have unwavering philosophic principles until the day comes that our principles get mugged by reality. In this case, he acknowledges that his libertarian, pro-immigration, open-border beliefs have been devastating to the American trucking industry and to American truck drivers.
As a libertarian, I was always pro immigration and have an enormous amount of empathy for people that are born in very poor and unstable countries. I know how fortunate I am to be born in America. But over the past few years, my perspective has changed. I've seen what unrestricted immigration has done to the trucking industry and how it has destroyed the livelihood of millions of veteran American truck drivers. It has made the trucking industry an economic wasteland and made it impossible for legit operators to make a profit and survive.
As a libertarian, I was always been pro immigration and have an enormous amount of empathy for people that are born in very poor and unstable countries.
I know how fortunate I am to be born in America.
But over the past few years, my perspective has changed.
I am not in any way mocking Mr. Fuller, since I have also changed a lot in my idealism over the years. I too was once much more libertarian and pro-immigration than I am now. “Pro-immigration” used to mean bringing in people who forsake all other allegiances, learn our language and culture, and who are eternally grateful that they have the rare privilege of becoming U.S. citizens. But with “pro-immigration” now meaning advocacy for the importation of non-citizen workers, in violation of U.S. labor laws, under the control of criminal outfits who “own” the laborers, and involving “immigrants” who have no allegiance to the United States nor any interest in abiding by our laws, the modern redefinition of “immigration” is amoral, unethical, and destructive to our country.
Much gratitude to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and President Trump for cleaning up our highways and rooting out the criminality that has put so many unqualified illegal aliens in the cabs of semis. Truck driving is a great job for American citizens, and this administration is going to make trucking great again.
Good morning kids. I am absolutely overjoyed that the long suffering hostages in the clutches and maw of the anti-human, satanic Islamic barbarians are at long last freed and that their friends and relatives can embrace them, and their suffering has also come to an end, and that even the remains of the dead victims have been returned so that their families can have some sort of closure, cold comfort as that may be.
The arithmetic of this exchange should give everyone pause. Israel will release over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences for the most heinous acts of terrorism. These aren’t stone-throwers or protesters. These are the architects of the Park Hotel Passover massacre, the planners of the Sbarro pizzeria bombing, the orchestrators of attacks that turned school buses into crime scenes. Each has blood on their hands and expertise in their heads.
Hamas is trading 48 hostages—20 living and 28 dead—for 1,700 experienced operatives—a massive force multiplication that transforms tactical defeat into strategic victory. Every released prisoner returns to Gaza or the West Bank as a hero, a symbol of resistance, armed with years of additional training and burning with renewed purpose.
History provides a grim preview of what comes next. Yahya Sinwar, the architect of October 7, spent 22 years in Israeli prison studying Hebrew, analyzing Israeli society, planning his revenge. Released in the 2011 Shalit deal among 1,026 other prisoners, he used his freedom to orchestrate the deadliest day in Israel’s history. Today, Israel is releasing another generation of potential Sinwars.
In all fairness, I was not held hostage nor were any of my loved ones, so who am I to criticize this deal when these poor people can at long last see the sunlight and feel the embrace of their loved ones.
But as this essay notes and quite correctly, it is not a question of "IF" but of "WHEN" the next and likely even bloodier 10/7 happens. And given the nature of Islam and its 1500-year plague on humanity and civilization have shown, it and its adherents will never cease in their quest to not merely wipe out every Jew in Israel, but every non-believer on Planet Earth until the entire world submits to Islam. Just as a reminder, the very word Islam itself translates as "Submission." And no, not some philosophical metaphor but literal submission of body, mind and soul to Islam or else death.
It is indeed a joyous day when the innocents can taste freedom. But to unleash the bestial adherents of Satanic Islam on the world as the price of this, It is a price that in my estimation that should not have been paid.
It certainly is understandable in terms of Israeli politics as to why Bibi Netanyahu agreed to this. Israelis were sick and tired of both having to waste more and more blood and treasure dealing with Gaza and fed up with the lack of any progress in freeing the hostages via conventional military means as well as the spectacular ops against both Iran and Qatar.
President Trump like any decent human being wanted to put an end to the bloodshed and do what he could to free the hostages but certainly his desire to burnish his legacy as well as quite justifiably stick it to the institutional diplomatic peace process stooges who have spent decades isolating Israel and rewarding its enemies while failing utterly in promoting anything remotely resembling real peace and stability in the Middle East and anywhere in the world.
So as both Bibi and Trump crow about the release of the hostages, their prognostications about the Abraham Accords and a rosy future for the region I fear will be for naught, given the nature of Islam.
Unless and until the demonic bloodthirsty aims and goals which are spelled out plainly and clearly in the Koran and Hadith and recited from the podia of every mosque great and small wherever Muslims live every Friday and Five times a day whenever that hideous screeching call to prayer is blasted from the minarets, Are articulated to the public and the leaders of the Civilized (i.e. non-Muslim non-Leftist) world loudly and consistently demand every Muslim denounce and renounce them, there will never be peace.
Despite George W. Bush's pig-ignorant lunacy of declaring we are not at war with Islam even as the ruins of the World Trade Center were smoldering months after the 9/11 attack. ISlam certainly was and remains in a state of war with the world. Period, full stop.
There will only be peace in the Middle East and the world as a whole when the practice of Islam goes the way of the Dodo. And like that one vial of smallpox, only one copy of the Koran is left, locked away in a vault somewhere so that it can be studied only as a warning for future generations to guard against.
Stories of Democrats’ violence against Americans have become regular. And yes, I meant to say it exactly that way. I can’t think of a single Democrat who’s said or done anything in the last ten or twenty years (maybe longer) to make America safer, stronger, more prosperous, or more united. Once upon a time, we might have been able to say Democrats and Republicans disagreed on the best way to achieve the same desired end-state. No more. Democrats are hell-bent on taking the country down and assaulting or even murdering anyone who stands in their way.
Examples abound. From miscellaneous civilians to bureaucrats to media figures and celebrities all the way up to elected officials, Democrats are escalating political violence and posing real threats to Republicans and the principles of a free society.
Death to Islam. Death to Leftism. May God open the hearts, minds and souls to the evil that has possessed them so that they may reject them and repent their evil ways, lest they suffer eternal damnation, and perhaps the righteous retribution at the hands of all of us that they seek to destroy.
If that is the choice they make, may we wield a terrible swift sword of justice and smite them once and for all.
Properly executed, the Insurrection Act can bring a quicker end to hostilities and reduce property destruction, injury, and loss of life from what can ensue from lesser measures. Is it Time to Invoke the Insurrection Act?
Democrats are hell-bent on taking the country down and assaulting or even murdering anyone who stands in their way. The Democrats’ descent into violence
Jay Jones’ vile texts expose more than personal depravity—they reveal the left’s deeper creed: that pain, not principle, is the true engine of political change. Jay Jones and the Left’s Ressentiment
It doesn’t matter how unpopular Democrats’ policies are, they are not going to negotiate, they are not going to compromise. Democrats Are Giving Up On Democracy
Yet what makes Goldman so notable is his consistent denial of abuses by Democrats, no matter what the evidence may show. Goldman has made himself indispensable as someone who is willing to deny the obvious while attacking anyone who dabbles in reality. If denial were an art form, Dan Goldman would be the Botticelli of the Beltway. (As it is he is the Bubonic Plague of Brazen Bastardy - jjs) Jonathan Turey Op-Ed: The Left’s most fervent, and most wrong, attack dog: NY’s Rep. Dan Goldman
ISRAEL AND USA vs Hamas, IRAN, et al
Victor Davis Hanson: Trump’s unorthodox mix of pressure, power, and pragmatism shattered old diplomatic molds—delivering a rare moment of calm to the world’s most combustible region. The Pieces of Trump’s Peace
No one should have confidence that a genocidal terrorist group will keep its commitments. (Hamas is a mere subset of the larger group of 1.5 Billion Muslims that's the real problem - jjs) The worms in the Gaza deal apple
“The first shots of World War II in Europe were fired in the port of Danzig. . . International administrations often suffer from legitimacy deficits.” The Historical Precedents for Trump’s Gaza Plan
The agreement involves both Israel and Gaza releasing all their prisoners and hostages, respectively, and for Israel to withdraw its troops to a designated position in the Gaza Strip. Vance said on “Meet the Press” that, while Trump does not plan to put boots on the ground, the U.S. will “monitor” both territories to ensure the terms of the peace agreement are followed. JD Vance Confirms Extent Of US Military’s ‘Boots On The Ground’ Involvement Following Middle East Peace Deal
The entire staff at the Community Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) received a layoff notice on Friday, an administration official confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation. The program’s elimination comes as White House officials repeatedly warned that the administration would pursue mass firings and budget cuts if Democrats did not reverse course and reopen the government. (RELATED: Democrats Are Terrified Of Trump’s Shutdown Slasher — And They Should Be) Trump Admin Fires Entire Agency In One Swift Move Amid Schumer Shutdown
Farmers are struggling with financial uncertainty, higher input costs, and the inability to sell their crops to their largest market, China, while relief is delayed due to the Senate Democrats’ government shutdown. Democrat Govt Shutdown Delays Farm Relief Amid U.S.-China Trade War.
Back in February, we debunked the claim that Elon Musk was taking a chainsaw to the federal government (see “Musk Is ‘Shredding’ Government? Not Even Close”), lies spread by the mainstream media that fueled terrorist attacks on Tesla owners and dealers. We noted that the job cuts were minuscule compared to the mammoth size of the federal workforce, and that the spending cuts announced by that point were almost imperceptible next to a nearly $2 trillion annual deficit. You Heard It Here First: DOGE Didn’t Cut Much
Whole mobs of deranged leftists in Chicago are showing up at schools, restaurants, neighborhoods, and the ICE facility itself, using guns and cars to attack law enforcement and coordinating on apps to help dangerous foreign lawbreakers escape. Unfortunately, this is a growing problem across the country. For example, take a look at one illegal alien thug finally in handcuffs thanks to ICE. (By Leftist Logic: IF Calling Up the Guard Saved Just One Life, Then Donald Trump Is a Saint, Right Dems? - jjs) ICE Arrests Double Murderer, Thwarts Chicago Would-Be Shooter
The world’s oldest hatred still has some of the old causes (Islam, Marxism, medieval Christianity, etc.), but today it’s largely driven by anger at Israel’s success. The Jealousy Lurking Behind Modern Antisemitism
But remember - don't try to put a copy of the Ten Commandments in schools. We wouldn't want to push Christianity on anyone, would we? (Where are the BBQ trucks cooking Bacon with loudspeakers blaring Hava Nagila? - jjs) Islamic Call to Prayer Blasted Out Over Dearborn, Michigan
There comes a time when even liberal Jews have had enough. (Meh, at some point they backslide and return to defending Leftism - jjs) How Antisemitism Turned CBS Against the Left
He has been under investigation for several years due to how he handled classified information, and Saturday’s meeting of federal prosecutors is to determine potential charges. Fomer Trump Adviser John Bolton Might Face Federal Charges
RED-GREENS, CLIMATE CHANGE HOAX, DEMOCRAT-LEFT WAR ON FOSSIL FUELS,
Many scientists, including scientists that have worked within the climate bureaucracy, know how fragile the claim that “climate change is caused by CO2” really is. The Climate Creed: How Fear Replaced Science
Climate change isn’t flat. True understanding requires a three-dimensional view of the atmosphere—beyond the political spin and oversimplified “settled science” narrative. The Depth of Climate Knowledge
EDUCATION, AND WHAT PASSES FOR IT
The Educational Choice for Children Act will usher in a revolution in private K–12 education. A Revolution in Education
A new book calls attention to how the educational establishment puts the interests of adults over those of children. Putting Kids Last
SECOND AMENDMENT
Such a definition sets the stage for other language in the bill, which says, “This bill would expand the above definition of ‘machinegun’ to include any machinegun-convertible pistol equipped with a pistol converter and, thus, prohibit the manufacture, sale, possession, or transportation of a machinegun-convertible pistol equipped with a pistol converter.” NRA Puts Gavin Newsom on Notice: Lawsuit Coming over ‘Glock Ban’ (I better not compose a sentence using the words Glock and Newsom, you dig?! - jjs)
DEMOCRAT/LEFTIST AND RINO SCANDALS, MESHUGAS, CHUTZPOCRISY
“Starting on Sunday, a dangerous coastal storm will begin to move past our state with extreme weather conditions for several counties, especially those on the Shore,” the acting governor said. “In preparation for this storm, I am issuing a State of Emergency for all 21 counties out of an abundance of caution, authorizing our state’s emergency services personnel to activate as necessary. I urge all New Jerseyans to exercise caution, monitor local weather forecasts and warnings, stay informed on evacuation protocols, and remain off the roads unless absolutely necessary.” Report: NJ Gov. Phil Murphy Missing as Acting Gov. Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Nor’easter Storm
Schweizer said, “What people have to understand is that this election for mayor in New York is really a dark echo of the 9/11 terrorist attack. And you wonder, what do I mean by that? Well, look at the family itself, the Mamdani family itself, they are joined at the hip with the royal family of Qatar, the Al Thani family. They have sent them millions of dollars, they have funded their projects. So why does this family matter? It matters because, back in 1996, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, was granted sanctuary by this very royal family.” Schweizer: Mamdani Family Is ‘Joined at the Hip’ with Qatari Royal Family
At least 170 of the 54,000 contributions allegedly came from donors with addresses listed as being outside of the U.S., according to the Post. Only U.S. citizens or legal U.S. residents are permitted to donate to political campaigns and political action committees under federal, state, and local law. Mamdani’s Mayoral Campaign Faces Calls To Return Thousands In Reportedly Illegal Foreign Donations (Who knew you could trace donations back to Satan? - jjs)
“Jason Miyares is surging in the polls and RAGA has been overwhelmed with millions in new donations.” Jay Jones Scandal Erupts, GOP Raises Millions (Dollars good, votes are better - jjs)
The average Canadians at Universal Ostrich Farms are emblematic of people in this country who are fed up with the government routinely taking away their rights and asking them to not only accept it but to like it as well. Canadians' freedom is at stake in the fate of 400 ostriches
Trump said his administration has identified funding to pay the 1.3 million active duty troops expected to miss their next paycheck, and will direct Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to ensure they are paid. The announcement comes as Senate Democrats continue to drag their feet in reopening the government. President Trump To Direct Hegseth To Pay Troops Amid Shutdown
The new legislation comes as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), an annual defense policy bill that includes $879 billion in funding for the U.S. military. With their bipartisan passage in the Senate Thursday night, Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s “FIGHT China Act of 2025″ and Republican Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty’s “Bio-Secure Act” are poised to clamp down on perceived vulnerabilities in U.S.-China security. Senate Approves ‘FIGHT China Act’ To Halt US Funds Fueling China’s Arsenal
BIDEN AFGHANISTAN BUG-OUT DISASTER AFTERMATH
The Taliban government said Afghan forces captured 25 Pakistani army posts and wounded 30 soldiers in what it called “retaliatory and successful operations,” Politico reported. Pakistan disputed the casualty count, reporting 23 troops died in the clashes. Afghanistan Says It Killed 58 Pakistani Soldiers (pass the popcorn - jjs)
“Nobody likes Obamacare. It’s expensive, bad coverage. What we should do is write a new health care program.” Bingo: Once again, The Donald cuts straight to the actual impetus behind a standoff. (How about the Free Market?! - jjs) Can The Donald Flip The Script Again — On Health Care?
FEMINAZISM, TRANSGENDER PSYCHOSIS, HOMOSEXUALIZATION, WAR ON MASCULINITY/NORMALCY
As the Supreme Court wrestles with their legality, psychologists and psychiatrists say the bans prevent them—and their patients—from exploring alternatives to hormone treatment and surgery The Problem With Conversion Therapy Bans
CULTURE WARS, NATIONAL SUICIDE
Leftist animus towards Columbus is accompanied by accusations of genocide, rape, and mutilation of natives. There is just one problem. Celebrating Columbus Day
Thad McCotter: AI is giving humans more leisure than ever—but like the Spartans, we may squander it chasing amusements instead of pursuing the truly good. On Constructive Leisure
In a powerful display of honesty and sportsmanship, a high school basketball team in Oklahoma City has become a national example of integrity — by giving up their own championship title.
The Academy of Classical Christian Studies girls basketball team had just celebrated what they thought was a thrilling victory. Their buzzer-beater in last season’s division championship game against Apache High School seemed to seal a 44–43 win and their place in the record books.
But that same night, head coach Brendan King went home and rewatched the game footage — and something didn’t feel right.
“As soon as I walked out of the locker room, my stomach kind of turned into knots,” King told CBS News. “I said, ‘I’m going to need to know if we really won this game or not.’”
King painstakingly reviewed each basket, and his worst fear was confirmed: the scoreboard had been off. The actual score was 43–42, meaning Apache High had been the true winner.
“It really tore me to pieces,” King said.
By league rules, the score couldn’t be changed once the game was over. The Academy’s win was official — at least on paper. But when King told his players what he had discovered, their response made him proud.
Together, the team made an extraordinary decision: they asked that their championship be revoked and awarded to Apache High School. The league agreed, and Coach King personally delivered the championship plaque to Apache.
Desperate to get into prison and help his young grandson, a 60-year-old man from Guadeloupe robbed a local supermarket at gunpoint and then waited patiently to be arrested.
The unusual incident took place at the end of September in Sainte-Rose, a commune in the north of the Guadeloupe archipelago. A former firefighter with no criminal record walked into a supermarket located near the local police station with a balaclava over his mouth and holding a firearm. After demanding all the money in the cash register and helping himself to “a piece of Emmental cheese and a bottle of wine,” the man was arrested as he slowly walked back to his car, as if he wanted to be caught. It turns out that this was his goal exactly, as he wanted to get into prison to help his grandson.
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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The Victorian Bustle: Fashion’s Boldest Backside
Picture a dazzling Victorian ball, chandeliers aglow, as a lady glides through the crowd, her gown cascading over a backside so exaggerated it could inspire a rap song. Enter the bustle, the 19th-century’s most audacious fashion invention. From the 1870s to 1880s, this quirky undergarment turned women’s silhouettes into architectural marvels, blending elegance with delightful absurdity. Let’s dive into the bustle’s extravagant world and its enduring charm.
The bustle emerged as the crinoline’s sleeker heir, shifting focus from wide skirts to a pronounced posterior. Padded cushions, horsehair pillows, or wire cages tied around the waist created dramatic curves, supporting yards of velvet or satin. Designs ranged from simple pads to elaborate steel frames, like the “lobster tail” bustle of the mid-1880s. Named for its curved, segmented shape resembling a crustacean’s tail, this style jutted sharply backward, giving dresses a bold, angular silhouette. Designs ranged from steel cages with collapsible hinges for sitting to straw-stuffed sacks that could burst mid-waltz. Fashion plates in Godey’s Lady’s Book glorified their grace, but reality was messier. Bustles snagged on chairs, toppled during dances, or collapsed under heavy gowns, leaving ladies red-faced at society balls. One 1880s diarist recounted a bustle’s wire frame snapping, trailing her skirt like a deflated balloon across a ballroom. Cartoons of the age highlighted these catastrophes.
A fashion plate showcasing the bustle’s bold curve, circa 1875.
Such jabs highlighted the bustle’s preposterousness, but it was a cultural flex. Its size signaled wealth, as only the elite could afford the fabric for such lavish silhouettes. The lobster tail in particular screamed high fashion, demanding intricate draping to accentuate its sharp lines. Yet, it sparked debate: doctors warned of spinal strain and reformers decried its impracticality.
By the late 1880s, slimmer lines took over, though bustles briefly returned in the 1890s with subtler “swayback” styles.
Today, the bustle’s bold spirit inspires. Designers like Vivienne Westwood echo its drama in structured gowns, while steampunk fans and Bridgerton costumes revive its theatricality.
The bustle wasn’t just fashion—it was engineering and audacity, and a reminder looking good trumping comfort is nothing new.
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Thanks, Piper! Can we expect a TX MoMe X version of 'Ette Couture next week??
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DJ Doof - Road Trip Day 1 Edition
I began my multi-day journey toward Texas today. Here are a few lesser known(?) tracks from well known artists that popped up on my Spotify "Daily Mix" today.
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Tonight's ONT brought to you by ineffective dictators
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Comments or questions? Suggestions for content? Inappropriate social media reels to share? Fun tales of furloughed Feds? Do the email thing at 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 Pre-Texas Mome Edition? I am back home and frantically preparing for the TXMoMe as I write this, so again, apologies for the abbreviated content.
Sunday Update: On the road, see some of all y'all soon!
With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?
Last chance to practice your fundamentals before Texas! This week we look at grip and trigger mechanics, or is it grip and sight alignment?
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FUNdamentals of MoMe'n: TXMoMe X
10/12/25 - No updates this week
Changes to note from prior years:
We are implementing a change regarding the safety briefing and range access this year. The daily mandatory safety briefings are really mandatory now if you plan on shooting each day. Without exception. These will be conducted on the carport at 10am on Friday and 9am on Saturday. Due to the growth of the shooting programs, at the conclusion of the safety briefing you will be asked to sign a liability release form and only then be issued a color coded wrist band for the day. The wrist band is your ticket onto the ranges. No wrist band, no range access. If you visit the bar during the day, you remove the wrist band. Simple.
For those who miss the mandatory briefings in the morning, we will attempt to accommodate with a secondary briefing sometime after lunch for late arrivals to sign the release and be issued a wrist band for that day.
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2025 TXMoMe Schedule of Shooting Activities
Friday, 10/17
Rifle Program
8am - 10am: Rifle Clinic (carport)
10am - 11am: Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory! (carport)
Noon: Light lunch provided (carport)
11am - 4pm: Live fire (rifle range - targets to 1,000 yds)
Handgun Program
10am - 11am: Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory! (carport)
11am - 2:30pm: Static live fire (pistol range)
11:00am - 12:00pm: Handgun FUNdamentals (tentative)
Noon: Light lunch provided (carport)
1:00pm to 2:00 pm (carport) - Demonstration: Basics of Rifle & Handgun Cleaning and Maintenance - EdL
2:30 - 4pm: Briefing and Move & Shoot live fire (pistol range)
Saturday, 10/18
Rifle Program
9am - 10am: Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory! (carport)
9am - 1pm: Live fire (rifle range)
Handgun Program
9am - 10am: Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory! (carport)
9am - 1pm: Live fire (pistol range)
These times are approximate and programs may change as weather conditions and participation warrant. We anticipate a hard stop on both ranges at 1pm on Saturday to allow everyone to participate in the MoMe festivities.
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The time has come to begin the discussion of the upcoming TXMoMe in Corsicana, TX on October 17-18. This is the TENTH annual TXMoMe, or Conservative Burning Man as it's popularly known, and it promises to be a doozy. If you're in either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere of the Planet of the Earth, contact Ben Had for details on attending. The dates and email links for all MoMes are always helpfully included on the blog's main page, left sidebar.
What started years ago as a small get-together and informal plinking session lasting a couple of hours has matured into a full scale jamboree-hootenanny including a program of shooting activities for both handguns and rifles over two days. I have to thank Ben Had, Cow Horse Queen and RancherBob for making this whole thing happen and providing the opportunity for the shooting to comprise such a significant portion of the event.
But wait! There's more! Combine that with world class food and drink, and the even world classier company of your fellow Morons, and you have a weekend that legends are made of. For those not inclined to shoot (?), there are non-stop opportunities to relax in the shade of the carport or under a handy nearby tree with a beverage and visit with your online pals to your hearts content, which is really what the whole damn thing is about in the first place..
Allow me to be serious for a minute. I have said this probably two hundred and fifty-seven times now. These gatherings are a really good time, and I know of no one who expresses regret after having attended one. Actually it goes beyond that. It's not just a weekend of laughs, it's an opportunity to connect with lots of like-minded people and create lasting friendships and priceless memories. No kidding. Think that's hyperbole? It snot. Would your ol' pal Weasel lie to you? Well, yes he would, but not about this. TXMoMe veterans will attest to the funness and completely laid-back nature of the event. Don't be a dork, do yourself a favor and get yo' ass to Texas!
TXMoMe veterans: please jump into the comments to encourage the scairdy-cats to join in the fun! What was your first MoMe like? What were you expecting? Were you surprised? Did you have a great time?
I also want to reiterate the TXMoMe is not a gun thing with some socializing attached, but rather is a social thing with some shooting attached. If you aren't a shooter, I guarantee you will not feel out of place and will have a great time. No fooling!
Are all y'all getting excited? Weasel are!!
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Gun Cleaning and Lubrication
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357 Sig vs 9mm vs 357 Mag
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How to Dial Your Phone
For those needing a refresher.
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Our pal NASA
Gemini, Apollo and Skylab!
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Highway patrol
This week's episode: Amnesia - A real nail-biter!
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Monster That Challenged The World
Not just any monster, but The Monster That Challenged The World!
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?
That's Rugelach, and a particularly fine version...probably the best I have ever had. And I consider myself a bit of a Rugelach aficionado, so you are reading the blatherings of a self-described expert!
There used to be a lot more of them in that box, but I am a weak-willed person when it comes to certain foods, and Rugelach might be at the top of the list of self-control-destroying deliciousness.
They are pretty simple little pastries, and I am sure that many food cultures have similar foods, but there is something quite special about Rugelach, and I think it boils down to the fact that they are crunchy and sweet and tender...and small, so I can pop one in my mouth and be ready for another flavor in a matter of seconds!
Chocolate and fruit are the way to go. The nut version is absolutely second class. As for shape? The ones in the photo are my preferred structure, but I have seen solid versions that are almost mini croissants. We also tried a Rugelach cake a few weeks ago, but while it was tasty, it didn't have the perfect ratio of interior to surface that makes the small ones so perfect!
"The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan discusses the complexity of the modern diet, and how best to navigate the overwhelming food choices and advice. Do I agree with Pollan? No. I think that eating meat and other tasty and satisfying foods is part of the joy of being a modern human, and not taking advantage of the incredible bounty afforded us by our wealth and modernity is just silly.
But I think the best of both worlds...eating a healthful diet AND enjoying the pleasures of eating can be had by...wait for it...cooking your own food! Yeah, I know, that's a stunning and original idea.
Home-cooked food is just better than most restaurant food, if done with flavor in mind. Is it as easy as buying prepared food or frozen food and then nuking it for a quick meal? No, of course not, but the pleasures of the dining table are for many people an integral part of being human, and the trouble is worth the delight of sitting down with family or friends, or both, and enjoying a healthful and delicious meal made mostly from scratch.
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Those are grilled lamb shoulder chops, and if you are looking for a good bang for your lamb buck, it's hard to go wrong with that cut. Much less expensive than loin chops or the ridiculous but delicious rib chops, they are also a bit tougher and a bit fattier. Since they are cut thin, the toughness is minimized, and their fattiness can be a real benefit, as long as the fat is in balance. Sometimes lamb fat can be gamey and pungent, which is why I will often trim lamb legs when I roast them.
Of course, if you can get American lamb, which is spectacular and much, much better than Australian or New Zealand lamb, that gaminess isn't that big a deal.
Anyway, I marinated them in garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, and some dried Rosemary. Grilling on a hot grill took only a few minutes. Nice and simple and classic!
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David Lebovitz is a putz, but this recipe for Apple Jelly intrigued me, because most recipes call for pectin, but his doesn't.
I know there a bunch you who make this sort of thing, and I am curious whether anyone has tried this way!
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Apropos of nothing, I just ate an absolutely delicious Italian sandwich. Definitely not a classic construction: great bread, thinly sliced Porchetta, Broccoli Rabe, some spicy red peppers, and nice tangy Provolone.
What? What do you mean, "What happened to your low-carb diet, Dildo?"
Everything in moderation!
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I thought France would have good garlic, but the Frogs seem to have the same problem we have in the U.S. At least they don't import filthy garlic from China. Pork is great here, but no game, so send all of your extra antelope to: cbd dot aoshq at gmail dot com.
Who are those poor deluded souls We know who shakes their Manhattans! These are the same people who drink fine bourbon with coke, and probably shake red wine with ice too.
$1,200 for a bottle of bourbon is just stupid, insulting, and a ghastly affront to most people's palates and wallets. 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!
Don't lecture me. It is entirely possible that I will need a 30-year-old PS/2 cable. And don't you dare suggest that my FireWire and Parallel connectors are obsolete.
I will be ready when the Zombie Apocalypse arrives!
Islam's War Against Israel Must Be Flipped Around: Israel's Policy Should Now Be Unrelenting Offense
—CBD
Wars are immensely complicated human endeavors, and the arrogance of assuming that one's enemy's plans are understandable and manageable is tremendously dangerous.
The ancient Greeks understood that rather well...
Hubris --> Atis --> Nemesis --> Tisis
That sad progression applies perfectly to Israel's military and political hierarchy with respect to Hamas and, to a lesser extent, Hezbollah. For a generation, Israel was willing to accept a certain level of terror attacks against its people, assuming that Hamas accepted that status quo because of the existential risks of all-out war. They also assumed that the the luxurious lives lived by the leaders (and their families) of Hamas in Qatar meant that they did not want to jeopardize that comfort for some unlikely success against Israel's modern military.
Israel also assumed that the oceans of oil money pouring into western capitals and universities would have only limited influence on the support for Israel in America and Europe. In addition, Israel felt that their incredible technological advantages would protect them against internet-based attacks.
And then Israel made tactical decisions that the border with Gaza could be defended with a small, lightly armed force plus automation and high-tech sensor systems. Their intelligence apparatus assumed that they would learn about and be able to defuse any large-scale attack.
Israel's leadership was wrong on all counts, and the catastrophe of October 7, 2023 could have been much worse had the Arab and Muslim propensity for backstabbing, disloyalty, and craven self-interest not held true. Hezbollah did not join the attack until the next day, and they launched rockets but did not attack with troops. Iran did not launch missiles, the Houthis did not launch missiles or drones, and the only real and successful support for Hamas came from the entrenched terror-supporting organizations in the West, on college campuses and in the streets of blue cities.
The profound failure on all Israeli fronts was mitigated by tremendous bravery among the few military personnel who were able to respond, the police, and the relatively few armed civilians who saw the reality on the ground that was still being denied by Israel's elites.
But the damage to Israel's ethos of self defense was profound. But it also came with the realization that Israel's left was simply wrong about the concept of trading land for peace, and more importantly, they were absolutely wrong that there is any accommodation to be made with the 7th century savages whose holy texts command them to kill Jews; who see Jews as subhuman; who consider Israel to be an unconquered part of their Caliphate.
And that sea change, if it survives, will be the basis for a new strategic imperative in Israel. Waiting and watching and attacking only when absolutely necessary may work for awhile, but eventually, one of Israel's many enemies will succeed. And accepting some sort of low-level of terrorist activity in the interests of some tortured geopolitical consideration was just shown to be arrant nonsense.
The first step must be to hunt down every single one of those who perpetrated the October 7th Pogrom. Even if it takes 50 years and Israel kills a grandfather on his deathbed...that must be done.
The second step must be a significant reevaluation of the decision making that leads to defensive strikes against its enemies. Israel waited too long against Iran. Israel waited too long against the Houthis. Israel waited too long against the Hamas leadership in Qatar. Israel may have waited too long to go into Gaza in force! How many hostages could have been saved had they not titrated and equivocated for two years?
Islam must be put on notice that any attacks on Israel and Jews throughout the world will be met with force. And any attacks being planned will be met with force as early as possible. And no level of terrorist activity will be tolerated.
Yes...the world opprobrium will be savage, but how different would it be compared to today? Israel will be vilified no matter what it does, and if they are vilified before a monstrous attack such as October 7th (or worse) occurs, isn't that better than being vilified for its response?
Howdy Readers! Welcome to the Reading Thread, your Sunday morning source for the insightful, lively and spirited discussion of books 'n stuff. I'm filling in for a while as this space re-invents itself under new management so please set your near-term expectations accordingly low.
What do we have this week? Why, it's none other than Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare and between 1591 and 1595. As I mentioned in the other editions of the Reading Thread you may not always get such fabulous selections as this.
Anyhoo, feel free to discuss reading and books in general and share your thoughts on this week's selection if you're so inclined.
I know you're just as excited as I am, so just jump below the fold to get started!
New procedure for clicking - rather than opening a PDF, a link now takes you to the Gutenberg Project web page for the book with multiple download options.
Some prices are lower, some say they are lower but are the same as the usual discount offered online, while others actually increase during Prime Day sales looking for people who are too busy to price-check.
There are some bargains but they are far and few between. I did find in the latest sale that it was cheaper to buy a Bosch cordless drill with battery and charger than the battery alone.*
This is another of those Strix Halo desktop models - 16 Zen 5 CPU cores, 40 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores, and 128GB of soldered RAM for $1999. It comes in an aluminium case very similar to though a little smaller than the Mac Studio.
Standout feature of this one is its dual 10Gb network ports, very useful given the limited expansion options.
You can play games on it - gaming performance is around the level of a laptop RTX 4070 - but the real use case is to configure it with 96GB of graphics RAM and run local LLMs for a fraction of the cost of a professional graphics card.
Bose has a new app. The new app doesn't work with these old products because fuck you that's why.
Rival Sonos tried to end support for older speakers and had to walk this back in the ensuring firestorm. Sonos also released a new app last year which was widely ridiculed and led to the company losing $30 million and the resignation of its CEO.
Bose seems to have slept through the entire thing.
On the chest of a barmaid in Vail
Was tattooed the prices of ale,
And on her behind,
For the sake of the blind,
Was the same information in Braille.
***
An atheist is hiking in the woods when suddenly a huge bear pops out from behind a bush.
Right as the bear is about to attack, time freezes and god appears.
God says, "You have spent your whole life as an atheist. But if you finally believe in me and become a Christian I will stop the bear from eating you."
The man says, "That's really nice of you, but I don't really believe in a higher power."
God responds, "All you have to do is believe your eyes and accept me in your heart."
After thinking for a moment, the man says "That's just to hard for me to do. I mean science has already answered how we came about through evolution. Not only that, but with all the bad things happening in the world right now, it's just too difficult to believe that there is a god. I'm sorry but I just can't do it."
God says, "Are you sure? I will give you one more opportunity to believe in me."
The man says with confidence, "As I said, no thanks."
God says "OK, you have made your choice..."
The man has a thought. "Wait... How about you make the bear a Christian instead? And then he will have morals."
God responds, "Very well."
After God left, time restarted. The bear suddenly stopped and the man started to believe that his plan to save himself had worked.
The bear knelt down and said "Thank you God for this meal I am about to receive."
Here is the setup: Plain white T-shirt, black Sharpie, and one harmless little lie scrawled across the front. What do you have, Horde?
Spitballing:
The Horde: I am great at math.
AOC: I won't make a TikTok about you. I don't want to date you.
The Disco: I hate Rush.
JackStraw: I don't like your boat.
The Dino: I can reach that.
Lurkers: I am really an extrovert.
The Doggo: I love my vet appointments.
The Cobs: I cannot time travel.
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Club ONT CEO Fun
Herb Kelleher was a treasure. The story goes: in the '90s, Herb and 10-15 of his Southwest Airlines employees (think attractive flight attendants) were in line, trying to get into the Downside Risk bar in Old Town Scottsdale. Tired of waiting, Herb asked the doorman to call the manager or owner. When the owner arrived, Herb said, "Hey, I'm Herb Kelleher from Southwest Airlines, and we've got a bunch of us who want to come in and have some fun."
The owner replied, "Herb, I love your airline. The next time I don't have to stand in line to board one of your planes is the next time you don't have to stand in line to get into my bar."
Herb laughed his ass off, got back in line, and waited his turn.
Here are some of the things Kelleher was known for during his years at Southwest:
- imitating Corporal Klinger from the television show M*A*S*H by showing up at one of the company's hangars on Halloween dressed in drag with a feathered boa.
- appearing in print ads as Elvis Presley.
- claiming his two greatest achievements were a talent for projectile vomiting and never having had a serious venereal disease.
- staying at a bar with a mechanic until four in the morning to find out what is going on. And then fixing whatever is wrong.
But my favorite story is when Kelleher, age 61 at the time, settled a trademark dispute with an arm-wrestling competition.
This sounds suspiciously like that Nigerian prince.
Hi dear friend.
Have a nice day!
WHL is pleased to inform you that we will launch an express service from Asia to the Eastern Mediterranean - AMX route from mid-September.
The new AMX service will offer the fastest sailing times from Shenzhen to the Alexandria, Izmit, and Istabul markets. This service, bypassing the Cape of Good Hope and sailing directly through Suez, will deliver shipping times to Alexandria, Izmit, and Istabul in just 22, 25, and 27 days, respectively
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Club ONT Music
Nothing like a good duet to bring the Horde together. Complaints harmonize at higher volume.
Couldn't get better? You got it!
More Elton duets? The D's are here for the Horde.
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Top 10ish Comments of the Week. Or thereabout...
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Club ONT brought to you by: Eleventy please.
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Enjoy Club ONT at your own risk. The contents of Club ONT have not been tested for safety on humans or animals and are not approved or sanctioned by any regulatory agency. Appropriate dosage of Club ONT varies by individual, so please monitor your own exposure. Too little Club ONT could result in sadness. On the other hand, if too much is never be enough, congratulations. You have reached Club ONT nirvana.
Podcast: CBD and Sefton are joined by retired Army Major Diogenes to discuss Secretary of War Hegseth, women in the military, drones, the left's masks slipping, and more!
Chris Dreja RIP: of the legendary 60s Rock band The Yardbirds has died at 79.
Dreja co-founded The Yardbirds in 1963; playing rhythm guitar alongside lead axman Tom Topham, singer Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarthy and bassist Paul Samwell-Smith. The group would go on to feature three of the most celebrated guitarists in rock history in Eric Clapton, who replaced Topham in 1993; Jeff Beck, who took over for Clapton in 1965; and future Led Zeppelin heavyweight Jimmy Page, who joined in 1966; when Samwell-Smith left. (J.J. Sefton)
I have no regrets about quitting the NFL.
I also have no regrets about quitting the increasingly gay James Bond:
Bleeding Fool
@BleedingFool
Amazon removed the guns from key art used on every James Bond film on Prime -ostensibly to provide a unified look for the series on streaming. Alas, removing the weapons left 007 in some awkward poses.
What does this portend about Amazon MGM's handling of Bond?
Podcast: Hegseth slaps the generals, is the Gaza peace plan another chimera, Iowa's illegal alien school superintendent, the deep state subverts our republic, and more!
Sinclair folds under political pressure from Democrats like Bernie Sanders who demanded they air Jimmy Kimmel again; for reasons they won't even pretend to explain, that kind of political pressure is allowable and even righteous.
Podcast: A Palestinian state will lead to more violence, The UN plays dangerous games with President Trump, the newest ICE attack, will the Right respond with violence, and more!
Can Texas A&M be saved? Mere days after its woke President was forced out over his DEI/LGBT advocacy, the university just posted for a tenure-track “Latinx Environmental History” position. “For queries about the position please contact Dr. Sonia Hernández electronically at soniah@tamu.edu” I just might query about it. [Buck]
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