Ace: aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
Buck: buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
CBD: cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com
joe mannix: mannix2024 at proton.me
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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
Good morning kids. Obviously the top story continues to be the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's martyrdom at the hands of a Leftist/Democrat Antifa adjacent assassin, or was he directly linked with an Antifa terror cell or group. As of this morning, authorities in Utah are reporting that he is refusing to cooperate in their investigation. At this point, Antifa must be investigated to fully understand its nature, structure as well as its funding and membership with the aim of utterly destroying root and branch, while going after its leaders and foot soldiers as domestic terrorists/insurrectionists. I'd shove this bastard onto the next transport to Gitmo and waterboard him until his lungs turn to mush.
The left is evil. The left is a gang of terrorists. If you have any lingering doubt about that, consider this: first they were celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk, but now leftists are making those celebrations look practically innocent. Hit lists have begun to appear on social media, as bloodthirsty leftists indulge their fantasies about which of their designated enemies they would like to see murdered next. And yes, there is no doubt whatsoever that the people who are openly displaying their bloodlust in this way think all the while that they occupy the moral high ground. . . JK Rowling pointed out what this bloodlust revealed about the left: “If you believe free speech is for you but not your political opponents, you're illiberal. If no contrary evidence could change your beliefs, you're a fundamentalist. If you believe the state should punish those with contrary views, you're a totalitarian. If you believe political opponents should be punished with violence or death, you're a terrorist.”
. . . If we cower in fear, we will end up being enslaved and face death anyway. If we stand up against evil, we will prevail against it. As was said long ago: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)
Leftists intentionally sowed the chaos that now plagues America’s cities and created the conditions that led to Zarutska’s murder. If you want evidence, look no further than President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime in our nation’s capital. . . Likewise, years of assassination prep language from the left paved the way for Kirk’s assassination. Indeed, such rhetoric has become part of the everyday vocabulary of leftist politicians and foot soldiers alike.
As JIm Morrison of and the Doors once sang way back in another era just as riven with civil strife "They've got the guns but we've got the numbers." Except, 60-odd years on it's We who have got the guns and the numbers. But will we have the backbone to do the unthinkable should push come to shove. And is Charlie Kirk's death the push or the shove, or is something else even more heinous on the horizon?
Two men have been taken into custody after an operation involving multiple law enforcement agencies in a Magna neighborhood. One of the suspects were identified as 58-year-old Adeeb Nasir and 31-year-old Adil Justice Ahme Nasir.
According to a probable cause statement, bomb squads from the Salt Lake City Police Department and Unified Fire Authority responded to reports of a suspicious device. The Nasirs were apparently arrested “for the offenses of manufacturing or possessing a weapon of mass destruction, threat of terrorism”.
Are universities critical to America’s prosperity and security now only in terms of the sciences, math, engineering, and medical schools?
As for the humanities? They scarcely exist at the elite universities as we once knew them. Either de facto or literally, they have been overwhelmed and distorted by endless studies-courses, DEI radicalism, 90 percent leftist faculties, and suppression of free thought and free expression.
Where did the envisioning of violent crime as the fault of a flawed society, the institutionalization of modern racialism, chauvinism, and essentialism, and the empowerment of militant transgenderism that in so many insidious ways has filtered throughout society—if not originally birthed in the university—come from?
Well, when confirmed violent terrorists like Angela Davis and Susan Rosenberg are given tenured professorships, and those are but two examples, we and it's not just the universities. It starts in the Kindergarten all the way through high school, since public school teachers are trained by the likes of the aforementioned.
Stochastic Terrorism. The real danger is SCHOLASTIC TERRORISM...
May Charlie's death not be in vain. May his life and work inspire thousands of Americans, young and old alike, to join the cause of freedom that he lived and ultimately died for.
And lastly, a quick shout-out and thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.
Have a great day!
ABOVE THE FOLD, BREAKING, NOTEWORTHY LINKS
Victor Davis Hanson:America’s descent into violence and moral chaos—from Kirk’s assassination to suppressed crime truths—traces back to the toxic ideologies nurtured in universities. Was the Current Madness Birthed in the University?
Charlie Kirk boldly went where no conservative had gone before—college campuses—arming a generation with love of country, free markets, and the Constitution. Why Kill Kirk?
“In the Book of Corinthians, Paul said, ‘Therefore, we are always of good courage and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. We are of good courage, I say, and prefer to rather be absent from the body and be home with the Lord,'” she began. Tulsi Gabbard: Charlie Kirk Assassination ‘Definition of Terrorism’
Authorities have arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, accusing him of gunning down Kirk during a TPUSA “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, during which the late activist was debating attendees on a variety of topics, including transgenderism. Authorities say that communications between Robinson and the biological male who identified as a transgender female confirm Robinson as the person responsible for the assassination of Kirk, Singman posted on X Saturday. Alleged Charlie Kirk Assassin Reportedly Lived With Transgender ‘Partner’
Miranda Devine: IT wasn’t until Utah Gov. Spencer Cox spelled out the transgender links to the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination that The New York Times and the rest of the Hate Media and their social media offshoots finally gave up the absurd nudge-nudge wink-wink pretense that the killer was its favorite type of villain, a MAGA gun nut. Nope, Tyler Robinson, 22, turns out to be a hard-core leftist, Antifa devotee and Kirk-hater who was living with his transgender boyfriend, identified as Lance Twiggs, 22, who claimed, “We are riding with Biden” in a 2022 post on the social media platform Reddit. There’s no denying the trans links to suspect in Charlie Kirk’s assassination
It’s not just that he was a good man who gave his life for a cause; it’s that his cruel death will make the movement he started become infinitely powerful. Charlie Kirk, Our American Martyr
Roger Kimball: Charlie Kirk’s assassination exposed the left’s projection, their calls to “lower the temperature,” and sparked a massive surge in Turning Point’s growth and influence. Why the Left Wants the Right to ‘Lower the Temperature’
Clarice Feldman: This week, people -- mostly educators, medical professionals, media members, government employees, and even some acting military and one Secret Service member -- expressed the most repulsive, anti-democratic views in supporting the assassination of Charlie Kirk Some Thoughts on the Assassination of Charlie Kirk
CIVIL WAR 2.0: J-6 FBI FALSE FLAG "RIOT" & AFTERMATH, LEFTIST PERSECUTIONS, DEMOCRAT PUTSCH, AMERICAN DISSOLUTION
Robert Spencer: The left is evil. The left is a gang of terrorists. If you have any lingering doubt about that, consider this: first they were celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk, but now leftists are making those celebrations look practically innocent. Hit lists have begun to appear on social media, as bloodthirsty leftists indulge their fantasies about which of their designated enemies they would like to see murdered next. And yes, there is no doubt whatsoever that the people who are openly displaying their bloodlust in this way think all the while that they occupy the moral high ground. (they have to occupy ground that is at least 6 feet deep and filled with quicklime. Only then will there be peace - jjs) Okay, Now Leftists Are Posting Hit Lists of the People They Want to Murder Next
“We’re dealing with a radical left group of lunatics, and they don’t play fair and they never did.” Trump: ‘Radical Left’ ‘Lunatics’ In The Way Of National Healing (There is no "radical" Left, just as there is no "radical" Islam. both are Innately radical and evil - jjs)
Heather Mac Donald: It was grimly fitting that Charlie Kirk was slain on a college campus—source of the “hate speech equals violence” ethic that demonizes opponents and demands that they be silenced. An Ideology Whose Logic Leads to Murder
. . . the only violence that we’ve seen so far has been instigated by leftists, who showed up at some of these vigils with a clear intention of stirring up hostility. A Study In Contrasts: Riots vs. Prayer Vigils
Of all the activist groups on the left, the Southern Poverty Law Center, SPLC, is the most vile. For Charlie, it must be dismantled. Putting an end to SPLC’s influence
Robert Zimmerman: "What makes this video different than the videos posted by the leftwing influencers above is that these students weren’t posting anything. They were not trying to make a public point. They were just candidly responding to the news, and giving us a completely honest response. In sense their actions were an illustration of the old saying, 'If you want to find out what a person is really like, watch what they do when they don’t know anyone is watching.'” The left’s face of evil
Joy Reid claims whites “can’t invent anything,” and Wajahat Ali insists only DEI creates culture—so we put their bold assertions to the test with a little research. When Whites Dovetail Off Other People’s Great Ideas
Emmer, the third-highest-ranking House Republican, told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a recent interview that he expects law-and-order issues to dominate the midterms, labeling crime the number one issue on voters’ minds. The majority whip argues that the Democratic Party’s repeated failure to address crime despite voters’ widespread concern about safety is likely to hurt the party’s chances of retaking the House in 2026. EXCLUSIVE: Tom Emmer Says That Crime Is No. 1 Issue That Can Cost Dems The Midterms
multi-billion plan to create new wetlands along Louisiana’s steadily vanishing Gulf coastline was abandoned in late July by state officials who cited the project’s rising costs and threats to the state’s vibrant seafood industry. Power Of The Mighty Mississippi
The operation, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots II,” is also taking place against the backdrop of intense global pressure. Several western states will join a conference in New York — on the Jewish Near Year — aimed at declaring Palestinian statehood. Meanwhile, Arab states are meeting to denounce Israel’s attack on Hamas officials who have taken shelter in Doha, Qatar, from whence they have directed the war, and negotiations. One in Four Gaza City Residents Evacuates Ahead of Battle: IDF
The upshot of your piece is that the 'Palestinian' leadership doesn’t actually want a state. You’ve worked on Middle East diplomacy for a long time. When did you come to this conclusion? . . . Elliott Abrams on Why There Will Never Be a 'Palestinian' State
OFFICIAL DEMOCRAT PARTY/LEFTIST-ENDORSED ANTI-SEMITISM, ANTI-CHRISTIANITY
The media wasted little time muddying the waters. The New York Times proclaimed that “we may never know” Westman’s true motivation and dutifully identified him as a woman with “she” and “her” pronouns. At a press conference held the day after the attack, Joe Thompson, the acting US Attorney for the District of Minnesota, curiously began his remarks by pointing out that Westman had expressed hatred toward other groups besides Catholics. Minneapolis shooting was driven by anti-Catholic hatred that the media ignores
FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES, CENSORSHIP, FAKE NEWS, MEDIA, BIG BROTHER TECH
Thad McCotter: The postmodern left preaches “no one’s entitled to their own facts” while denying truth itself—censoring dissent to impose their ideology as unquestionable orthodoxy. Are You Entitled to Your Own Facts?
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (whose department oversees NTIA) has described the revised standards as “the benefit of the bargain.” States were required to hold a 14-day public comment period on their plans under the Biden administration. That was shortened to seven days under the Trump administration after the new rules were put into place. States were placed under an accelerated timeline to update broadband maps and conduct new rounds of bidding. States Prove Broadband Can Be Built For Less
RED-GREENS, CLIMATE CHANGE HOAX, DEMOCRAT-LEFT WAR ON FOSSIL FUELS,
The strike on the Kirishi refinery, in Russia’s northwestern Leningrad region, follows weeks of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure that Kyiv says fuels Moscow’s war effort. The facility produces close to 17.7 million metric tons per year, or 355,000 barrels per day, of crude. Ukraine Drone Strikes Spark Fire at Major Russian Oil Refinery
“Privatized violence migrates seamlessly between domestic and foreign spheres. . .The state had endowed a private entity with a power that was not the state’s to give away.. . Subcontracting also enabled a stunning prevalence of graft.” Neoliberalism Comes for the Warfare State
The findings suggest Mars may have been habitable later in its history than previously thought, and older rocks might hold harder-to-detect signs of life. NASA Rover Finds Possible Sign of Life on Mars.
The first stage completed its fourth flight, landing back at Cape Canaveral. The two fairing halves completed their 3rd and 6th flights respectively. Cygnus is expected to be berthed to ISS using the robot arm on September 24, 2025. This is also the first flight of the stretched version of Cygnus, capable of carrying more cargo. SpaceX launches Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus freighter to ISS
FEMINAZISM, TRANSGENDER PSYCHOSIS, HOMOSEXUALIZATION, WAR ON MASCULINITY/NORMALCY
How many more children will undergo sexual mutilation until more rational persons call a halt? The Transgender Castration Cult
Translation: The British government is run by and staffed with idiots.
It says more the majority of so-called "insider" cyber attacks and data breaches in education settings - meaning they have been carried out by someone with access to internal systems - originate with students.
I think they've confused insider with inmate. An insider attack would be by the staff, not by the students.
"What starts out as a dare, a challenge, a bit of fun in a school setting can ultimately lead to children taking part in damaging attacks on organisations or critical infrastructure," said Heather Toomey, Principal Cyber Specialist at the ICO.
Reefer madness, IT edition.
Since 2022, the ICO has investigated 215 hacks and breaches originating from inside education settings and says 57% were carried out by children.
Translation: The British government is run by and staffed with idiots.
Specifically, the boxes have shrunk from 18.25 oz to 15.25 oz and now to 13.25 oz. So if you follow an older recipe specifying a box of cake mix and specific amounts of wet ingredients, you're going to end up with slop rather than cookies.
You can get away with changes like this in cooking generally, but not in baking.
I checked the benchmarks of the two tablet CPUs on Nanoreview. The Idea Tab's A76 (in a Mediatek Dimensity 6300) scores 782 on single-threaded Geekbench.
The Legion Tab's X4 core (in a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) scores 2193 - nearly three times as fast.
The A715 core used in the Idea Tab Plus lands right in the middle with 1398.
For an idea of how far we've come, an A53 core running at 1.3GHz from the beginning of 2016 scored just 141. So the A76 is a lot faster than older low-end tablets which mostly ran the A53 core, and it's just a little slow compared to modern high-end hardware.
The ME is almost a latter-day Cobalt Qube - you can even buy it in blue. Two network ports, HDMI, and USB ports accompany an Intel N150 CPU, 12GB of RAM, a 64GB boot device, and six M.2 slots (five PCIe 3.0 x1 and one PCIe 3.0 x2).
One interesting point that I hadn't considered: The N150 has nine PCIe lanes but only supports five independent devices. The ME has the six SSDs and two 2.5Gb Ethernet controllers, and eight is more than five.
So how did Beelink do that? Apparently they just did it and it worked.
The review goes into benchmarks but they're pretty much as you'd expect - the CPU is not particularly fast, but is more than fast enough to fill both 2.5Gb Ethernet ports simultaneously.
The also tested with a 5Gb USB Ethernet adaptor, and it worked and filled that with data easily, with a top read speed of around 600MBps.
Sunday Overnight Open Thread - September 14, 2025 [Doof]
—Open Blogger
Welcome to the Sunday ONT. So glad you chose to stop by and end your week here. Open thread as always. Feel free to talk about whatever is on your mind. As far as content, tonight will be mostly fun and wholesome stuff. Feels like we need that! Hopefully the comment boxes will also feature some fun and wholesome things.
Some traditions are too precious not to share—like this one between a dad in Norway and his 14-year-old dog, Ruby.
A series of wholesome photos recently went viral on Reddit after the man’s daughter posted about their daily breakfast ritual.
“Every morning, Ruby (14), sits at the breakfast table with my dad (75), who makes sandwiches for her,” she wrote.
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The daughter explained that the two have followed the exact same routine for years: same time, same spots at the table, and always the same sandwiches.
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The photos capture more than just a meal—they show a bond that has only grown stronger over time.
It’s proof that the little things—like breakfast with your best friend—are what make life truly special.
The twin sisters woke up and started chatting loudly. But they pretended to be asleep as soon as they heard their mother's footsteps 😂 pic.twitter.com/FWU7WFSlPt
It's that time of the week - when we turn the ONT over to our good friend Piper for a bit.
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Our hearts break for the Kirk family in this unimaginable loss. The vision of Charlie’s father collapsing and begging for his son back is beyond painful. Erika, a devoted wife and mother, is facing the deepest grief while holding her young family together. Erika describing her 3-year-old daughter running into her arms, asking "Where's Daddy?"—and Erika, through tears saying , "Baby, daddy loves you so much. He's on a work trip with Jesus so he can afford your blueberry budget” shattered me. It still shatters me.
While we are seeing the worst of humanity, we are also seeing a faithful spirit movement, a global revival the likes I never thought I would witness. God is very, very good. In honor of the fearlessness in which Charlie Kirk spoke the Gospel, please join me in praying for his parents, his wife, and their little ones that they may find peace and healing by carrying Charlie’s light forward.
‘Ette Couture in its regular form will return next week with a special edition AOSHQ Retro Feature.
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Thanks, Piper.
On the subject of Charlie Kirk, here are 2 videos worth checking out.
I'm just leaving the Charlie Kirk vigil in Philly. And let me tell you, I'm now knowing that the Republican Party is full of the most inclusive people
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DJ Doof - Random Stuff Edition
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Weekly commenter stats for week of 9-14-2025
AoSHQ Commenter Statistics:
Number of posts: 89
Number of comments: 32907
Number of unique hashes: 2547
Top 10 commenters:
1 [662 comments] 'TheJamesMadison, in a world of gods and monsters with James Whale' [94.03 posts/day]
2 [445 comments] 'runner'
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4 [414 comments] 'I used to have a different nic'
5 [396 comments] 'Sponge - F*ck Cancer'
6 [393 comments] 'rickb223'
7 [375 comments] 'Bulg'
8 [368 comments] 'Skip'
9 [360 comments] 'BurtTC'
10 [348 comments] '18-1'
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 2nd edition of September? Quick note: the schedule for the TXMoMe is still being refined and will be posted here when available.
With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?
Fundamentals for the new shooter. Also for the old shooter. Also for the shooter warming up for the TXMoMe.
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Colt Variations vs. the 1911
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Flying With Firearms
If you're heading to Texas by air.
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Jet Gunnery
If you happen to have a jet.
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FUNdamentals of MoMe'n: TXMoMe X
They Mome'n down in Texas!
NOTE: No updates this week. Still working on the schedule.
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!
Specifics of the Friday/Saturday schedule of activities will be posted here in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
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?
Call for Volunteers
Help! As I mentioned above, the shooting program in Texas continues to grow, and we wouldn't be able to do it without a lot of help. If you're interested in lending a hand in some capacity, please drop me a note at gunthread at protonmail dot com indicating your date and time of arrival and we'll be in touch. Thank You!
RSOs from prior years: Expect an email from me soon.
If you are attending the TXMoMe this year, and all the cool kids are, please keep an eye on this section for important information and updates in the coming weeks! 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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Our Pal The Battery
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Highway Patrol
This week's episode: Lookout
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The Wizard of Mars!
Rerun? I can't recall.
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Cigar of the Week
This week our pal Diogenes scores again with this excellent re-review of the CAO Pilon Robusto.
Many of you will recall the review of the Pilon from just after New Years. I figured since I had another in the humidor, it as time to revisit this very fine cigar.
So I did.
As with most cigars, the Pilon starts with a burst of flavors with nuts, cinnamon, and pepper dominating. In the background there is a smoother creaminess and an almost raisin-like hint that will emerge later in the cigar. I found the draw to be smooth and easy with a satisfying amount of smoke and aroma. The ash showed a good burn and there was no flaking. There were no flaws in the construction of the stick I smoked.
The second third of the smoke brought forth that creaminess I mentioned with a definite dampening of the peppery side. There was a nice coffee flavor there as well. The ash remained tight and the draw as easy as the start.
The final third was just as enjoyable with the flavors merging into a deeper tone of tobacco providing a smooth finish. Typically for cigars that I am really enjoying I peel the paper ring off so I an smoke it longer. I did wo with the Pilon.
I like this cigar. It is a medium strength cigar and Nicaraguan in origin that include the binder and filler. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Habano. A great smoke that at about $6.00 doesn't break the bank, and it is one that you will look forward to for the next time. I won't wait until New Years for the next one.
Excellent as always, Diogenes! I really appreciate it! Thank you!
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Here are some different online cigar vendors. You will find they not only carry different brands and different lines from those brands, but also varying selections of vitolas (sizes/shapes) of given lines. It's good to have options, especially if you're looking for a specific cigar.
A note about sources. The brick & mortar/online divide exists with cigars, as with guns, and most consumer products, with respect to price. As with guns - since both are "persecuted industries", basically - I make a conscious effort to source at least some of my cigars from my local store(s). It's a small thing, but the brick & mortar segment for both guns and tobacco are precious, and worth supporting where you can. And if you're lucky enough to have a good cigar store/lounge available, they're often a good social event with many dangerous people of the sort who own scary gunz, or read smart military blogs like this one. -rhomboid
Anyone have others to include? Perhaps a small local roller who makes a cigar you like? Send me your recommendation and a link to the site!
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?
Plain old Deviled Eggs! They are a staple on most French bistro menus, and they are usually delicious. There's nothing complicated about it, and in fact they keep them quite simple. That's a pretty presentation in the photo, and I thought that the pickled mustard seeds were a great addition, but in the end, it's just eggs and mayo, which is perfectly okay with me.
They are sitting on a base of very good potato salad, which was nice and tart to complement the richness of the eggs. It's not a complicated dish, and is well within the skills of most every home cook. And it looks great, so you can show off to your pompous cousin who fancies himself a chef and mixologist!
That was the other appetizer! Excellent tomatoes, presented novelly and beautifully. That's a big blob of whipped cheese in the middle...it's far lighter than it looks! And the admittedly ugly looking garnish is a blended olive tapenade, but not sharp at all. In fact it was delicate, and delicious.
Again, there is nothing complex and outside the skill-set of the home cook, but with a little skill at plating you can look like a kitchen rock star!
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I was given a Sodastream machine, and while I very much enjoy seltzer, I have been suspicious of these machines, because...um...they're new and different and I cannot abide change!
They do work, but there is nothing like a freshly opened can of seltzer. It seems like the bubbles are more concentrated, abundant, and most of all, longer lived!
Do any of you use these machines?
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This is about as decadent as potatoes can get. Classic French Aligot. Lots of butter? Damned straight! But now add a ton of cheese!
I have had this dish a few times, and it is the sort of food that after a couple of delicious spoonfuls, you look at the rest of the meal with complete detachment, and think fondly of your next destination; the couch.
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Any scotch or bourbon I've had was greatly improved by the good company I was with.
Posted by: free tibet with purchase of equal or greater value tibet at September 07, 2025 09:03 PM (iNp3L)
That jam looks interesting. Fruit goes very well with pork. I'll reserve judgement about the fennel, and the kohlrabi is suspect.
So, just like most recipes, I'll be particular about which parts I use!
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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!
I hate them. They are ugly, boringly shaped, and they bloom infrequently enough... and the flowers last just a short time... that it's mostly just a squat green blob.
So, Dildo, just toss them into the growing trash-heap of failed horticultural projects!
Except... they don't ever die. And even worse, those are from cuttings that are about 800 years old! Actually, they are from my wife's grandmother, which means they will be with me -- taunting me -- forever!
The descent of American culture from a moderately religious, moderately moral nation, to its current depths was shockingly fast. Our moral compass is pulled in every direction, providing zero guidance. We have lost respect for the sanctity of human life, and that can be laid squarely on the fanatical love of abortion that sprang out of the Women's Liberation and Feminist movements. The glory of our country's Bill Of Rights, a revolutionary change in government's relationship with the People, has become a pale and dissipated relic. Free Speech? Only if it doesn't offend! A right to a speedy trial? Not if you aren't of the correct political bent! Free exercise of religion? Bake that cake!
We have become nihilistic, we have lost the ability to reason, we have detached facts and logic from the body politic, which now is fueled by an avalanche of hysterical ignorance being pumped into the public sphere by an out-of-control social media.
And what is this all driven by? The destruction of our educational system, courtesy of communism's long march through our institutions, has led to huge numbers of Americans who have no basis for seeing the world, and live hedonistically. "If it feels good, do it" might sound like a throwaway stupidity from Timothy Leary, but it has been embraced by a generation.
And the data back it up! Heartland Institutes deeply depressing series of polls expose a youth culture that is completely detached from America's traditions of freedom and liberty and individual responsibility. Sefton and I talked with Jim Lakely about it over at CutJibNewsletter Speaks. It was sobering.
It is easy to be lulled into the media's carefully scripted response to the surge in violence as the default response to uncomfortable ideas as a problem on both sides of the debate. And that is a lie. The Democrat/Progressive apparatus has embraced violence for as long as they have been in existence. Take a look at the history of the French Revolution for a harbinger of what may be coming to America. Rigid adherence to an insane orthodoxy of transsexualism, income redistribution, destruction of traditional morality, dilution of American Exceptionalism by a flood of third world savages...all of it can be laid at the feet of the left and its insane drive for power and control.
They do not want to win on the battlefield of ideas. Their political philosophy is indefensible, so there is no other option left to them besides violence. They don't want to convince us of the rightness of their ideas, they want us to accept them...or die.
Is that histrionic? No. Street violence, a progressive specialty, is now an everyday thing in some parts of the country. Physical intimidation is the norm. Just try to discuss the inadvisability of bringing discussions of sodomy, transsexualism, and homosexuality into the second grade classrooms in many school districts, and it is entirely possible that you will be silenced, and dragged out by the police. Try to counter protest at a "Free Palestine" march in NYC, and you might get beaten by the mob! Or pray outside of an abortion abattoir. Off to jail!
And of course it is also much worse. Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts. Charlie Kirk did not.
What's the answer? It all comes down to our educational system, and its total co-option by the progressive movement. Blue-haired, pierced loons are teaching our children that it is perfectly reasonable to choose genders, kill your political opponents, take the hard-earned money of the successful, and savagely denigrate all that has made this country the greatest country in human history.
Until education is purged of this, we will continue to slide into the abyss.
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 Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, written by Mark Twain and published in late 1884 in the UK and Canada, and in early 1885 in America where it counts. As I mentioned in the other editions of the Reading Thread you may not always get such fabulous selections as this.
Korrection Korner
I have again shamed my ancestors. Last week I wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was published in 1846. WRONG! Fortunately, sharp-eyed commenter James Braden caught and corrected my error near the end of the comments.
I don't know if this correction was already made in the nearly 400 previous comments, but Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain published "Tom Sawyer" in 1876, not 1846. Clemens was only eleven years old in 1846.
Posted by: James Braden at September 07, 2025 01:42 PM (dKpV9)
Thanks James Braden! Before posting I recall thinking that 1846 seemed sort of early for publication, but didn't bother to follow up. Appreciate it!
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 beginning this week. Rather than opening a PDF, clicking now takes you to the Gutenberg Project web page for the book with multiple download options.
Do you stop reading a book that proves unsatisfactory, or keep slogging thru to the end? How far have you gone in a book before deciding to abandon ship?
***
So that's it for now, guys and gals. Come to class next week prepared to discuss reading 'n stuff, and remember, Reading is FUNdamental!
That's a lot of data to sift through but it spells years of trouble for the maintainers of the firewall, whether in China itself of in it client states Myanmar, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Ethiopia, all of which run versions of the same totalitarian control software.
Didn't get a lot of time to test the tablets, but they are both set up and working fine.
The two 2560x1600 displays look great. The "paper-like" screen on the cheaper Idea Tab stands out in particular as a pleasant user experience. Colours don't pop quite the way they do on my OLED screens, but it's not washed out or muted, just not aggressive about grabbing your attention. It's listed as covering 72% of the NTSC colourspace, which is the number to look for - it's the equivalent of 100% sRGB. It doesn't seem to handle DCI-P3, which you'll find on televisions and OLED panels, but it's a perfectly good screen, and considering that it's on a budget tablet it's a very good screen. And the resolution is as sharp as you could ask for unless you have some very specific needs.
The CPU on the Idea Tab... Is a budget CPU.
Using the much more expensive Legion Tab (my price A$799), tasks are done before you can start to wait for them. Using the Idea Tab (my price A$249) it's not slow, exactly, but you can definitely feel the 2018 Arm A76 shouldering the weight of a 2024 version of Android.
Maybe I should have set up the slower model first.
I haven't tested sound extensively but the speakers on both tablets sound just fine at the default settings.
The 11" Idea Tab has a headphone jack and a microSD slot in addition to the USB-C port. The 8.8" Legion Tab has two USB-C ports, which might be useful, I guess, but I'd much rather they just return the headphone jack and microSD slot. (Reportedly the coming Legion Tab 4 will restore the microSD slot.)
I also need to test the pen that came with the Idea Tab. The web site doesn't say this, but according to 9to5Google that pen and only that pen also works with the Legion Tab. (You can also buy that pen by itself, but general-purpose Android pens aren't supported by the Legion Tab.)
Perfect opportunity to confirm this, or at least the first part.
Also mowed the lawn. Last time I did that I noted my cardiovascular health seemed to be shot from the earlier bout of RSV. It was just two days later that I got my scary blood pressure reading and found new things to worry about.
Last time I was worn out by the time I had mowed just the area directly in front of the house. This time my back was hurting by the time I had mowed that area and the much larger and much steeper stretch from the retaining wall bounding that first patch and the roadway, but I didn't need to take a break half-way through.
I mean, probably not, but nobody believed that stomach ulcers and gastric cancer were largely caused by bacteria until Barry Marshall chugged a beaker of H. pylori in 1984 and landed himself in hospital and in the history books - winning the Nobel Prize in Physiology for an unauthorised experiment on himself.
Vibe coded your way into disaster? Know literally nothing and can't find your way out? Now you can outsource your mess to a Polish tech team which maybe you should have done in the first place.
(I took a moment to look up the location of one of the countries mentioned in the article. Not the third world. Potentially a viable solution.)
Saturday Night "Club ONT" September 13, 2025 [The 3 Ds]
—Open Blogger
Blurry picture, but that's the charm of live music in small venue - one of life's perfections. You're there for the music, moment(s), and memories not the social media likes. Up front, easy peasy - if that's your thing. Smaller crowd - room energy. No Jumbotrons - well...there is that one bartender.
What are your all timers for listening to live music in small venues? Hit the comments.
Welcome to Club ONT! A collaboration the 3D's - The Disco, The Doggo, and The Dino. Don't worry, membership is free. All acting responsibly must relay their reasoning to the Horde through interpretive dance.
More live music - The Disco was listening to cover bands on the high seas a week or so ago and saw the dandy Gibson guitar below which would be a fine addition to his or any collection.
[Disco says: This guitar really caught my eye in the way the light hit the blend of black and brown. This was at a small venue on an NCL ship called "Syd Norman's Pour House". Syd Norman is a made up name with a made up history. Kitschy but fun. The band that was playing was very talented. There was a bit of over-produced schtick between the songs, but that's expected on a cruise ship.
That particular guitar may be available for purchase somewhere, but the one that I really, really want is much harder to find. Read on.]
The YouTube guitar giant's new signature model sports a lightweight mahogany body (just 7.2 pounds), and a custom TV Blue Mist finish
Rick Beato has been linked on these pages many times. His page is a rabbit hole of music greatness that can keep you informed and entertained for countless hours. Check it out!
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Saturday Night Jokes and Other Funnies
A guy goes on vacation to a tropical island. As soon as he gets off the plane, he hears drums. He thinks, "Wow, this is cool." He goes to the beach, hears drums. he eats lunch, hears drums. He tries to go to sleep, hears drums.
This goes on for several days and nights. It's driving him nuts!
He goes down to the front desk and asks, "Hey, what's with these drums? Do they ever stop? I cannot get any sleep.
The hotel staff replies, "No! Drums must never stop. Very, very bad if drums stop.
"Why?"
"When the drums stop, the bass solo begins."
*****
How do you catch a drummer? Lay down a snare. What’s the best way to confuse a drummer? Put sheet music in front of him.
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Drink of the Night
Playing card drinks - continuing the theme
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Keeping with the Theme of the Week
Not linking a big list - the Horde has their favorite haunts of live music. One person band in Florida, local watering hole, hard cores doing micro on macro level. What say you?
If you're into anarchy, off color hair, and youthful debauchery, Club Kafe 44 in Stockholm may be your bag.
AoSHQ Master Commenter Miklos recommended Caveau de la Huchette. And as typical, friend Miklos did not disappoint. Paris Jazz Club of awesomeness.
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Club ONT False Advertising
Yes! Beerometer. How many cases of beer per line, per shift. Line 3 is kicking ass.
I am disappoint. Closer look shows they are canning energy drinks, not beer.
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Club ONT History
Any ever tried pulque? No, morons...not pulling your pulque - the drink.
Drink fast. College flashbacks - sipping is discouraged.
One of the reasons pulque is relatively overlooked compared to other fermented beverages, such as kombucha (originating in ancient China) and kefir (hailing from the North Caucasus), is its exceedingly brief shelf life. Naturally fermented in an enclosed container over 12 to 24 hours, it reaches an alcohol concentration comparable to beer – roughly 4 percent to 6 percent – then rapidly spoils over the next 24 to 36 hours.
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Club ONT Domestic Duties
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Club Wholesome
Grandpa watering his garden spotted kids returning from a pool party with water toys pic.twitter.com/dSIldxKWzQ
Been a tough week. Club ONT has a heavy heart but clear eyes. Great to have the Moron Horde virtually in one place to connect with each other. You are not alone. We're all collectively struggling but in our own ways. Prayers all around. Having said that, the table in the corner is still wobbly. The bartender has matchbooks if needed.
Saturday Evening Movie Post [moviegique]: Rhinoceros
—Open Blogger
1) I only saw three movies in the last three weeks
2) They were all French: The classic war-orphan story from 1952, "Forbidden Games"; The "last of the French New Wave" 1981 film "Diva", and; from 1991, "The Lovers on the Bridge"
3) You guys aren't really into French films
4) Nobody's gonna talk movies, are they?
So I dug back into the archives and found an early post from eight years ago, when I switched to consistently including screenshots in my reviews and found this gem. It may be topical. (At the time I was using a maximum height of 250px so the pics may be small today.)
Rhinoceros
Imagine, if you will,Night of the Living Dead but with rhinoceroses. That would be a pretty good summary of Eugene Ionesco's play Rhinoceros, if you added in that the play is meant, at some level, to be a comedy. It was a movie I had always wanted to see, despite not knowing of its existence until a week ago. (I did know of the play, though.)
I stole this from a site called "Not Coming To A Theater Near You."
The premise is simple enough: A dispirited young accountant (Gene Wilder), bored to tears with life and drinking himself to death, is witness to a rhinoceros rampaging down the street of his small American town. (In the play, I believe it was a French town but even that may have just been a localization from Ionesco's original Romanian concept.) He does not find much interest in the incident, and in his neglect is upbraided by his dear friend, a rather uptight conservative fellow (Zero Mostel) with a love of culture and contempt for the manners of the everyday people around him.
When he goes to work the next day, his co-workers and boss are all discussing the issue, with one left-wing fellow talking about how the papers always lie, and raving of conspiracies and treason, and the others—while accepting the incident—treating it as a rather banal event. The hallmark of the story is how banal everything is to people, and the ordinary phrasing and clichés they use to discuss even the most extraordinary events.
Nixon...approves?...of rhinoceritis?
Things get knocked in to twelfth gear when the wife of a missing co-worker comes in breathless from having been chased down the street by a rhino. She came to deliver a key from her husband, who had gone out of town for the weekend and knew her boss would need it. "So conscientious!" sighs the boss, even as she relates that there's a rhino in the lobby of the building. Later on, she recognizes a rhino attacking outside the window as her husband.
"How do you know it's him?"
"Those are his glasses! Don't you recognize him?"
"Yes...and no..."
"Yes...and no..."
The first act is really quite a masterpiece of physical comedy and absurdity. The second is almost tragically absurd, as Wilder tries to help Mostel, who has been stricken with rhinoceritis. In the final act, Wilder and his office crush (a remarkably cute Karen Black) form a pact of love, though we already suspect that Black is doomed. While Wilder is struggling with the question of how to fight The Herd, Black insists that you have to let other people do what they want with their lives (even as they smash up the city and trample people). In the span of a few minutes they go from honeymooners to old married couple, and before you know it: rhinoceros! Wilder is left as the last man on earth, though even he seems as though he would give it up if only he could.
The Boy said, "The reason this works is because whatever it's a metaphor for, it's also about a guy dealing with the everyday problem of rhinoceroses!" And he's right. I take it as a metaphor for communism—Ionesco himself talked of left and right-wing, but his right wing were things like Nazis—and the perils of group think and mob mentality (hello, Global Warming! Social Justice Wariors! Public School Systems!), but the story stays very concrete in the actual problem of herds of rhinoceroses. This enhances the absurdity on the one hand while grounding it, however weirdly, in the set up reality. It follows its own rules, we would say.
The arc of a love affair...
It's very '70s. The music was a bit hit-and-miss, I thought. The Flower said "That was something different!" and I double-checked to see whether that was good or bad. Good, but not at all what she was expecting. The Boy and His Girl gave it a thumbs up. I liked it, too, quite a bit. It's not for everyone: There is a great deal of shouting, though it is about as good as shout-comedy can be, done by people who did it the best, and what's being shouted is pretty damn funny to boot. Also, you have to be able to accept the premise, but in a lot of ways, it's a lot easier premise to accept than the actual history that inspired it.
It is remarkably applicable today, which is probably why it keeps popping up in various forms and re-enactments. (Though it was a popular play and won Mostel a Tony, too.) Allegedly, Zombie Strippers is based on this movie. The movie was not well received at the time, for all the reasons that we like it today, I suspect: From what is essentially an artsy play, director Tom O'Horgan makes a rather accessible comedy that isn't bogged down by the sorts of politics that would get this movie a warm reception (and would be banal at best today, and incomprehensible at worst).
The poster in the back reads "Do not ever compromise yourself—that's all you have."
Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. A spin of the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) landed on surfing and waves.
I have faith that you can either find something in the content that resonates or contribute your own hobbying interests.
You might be tempted to say "I have no hobbies or interests." Bah. Dig around in the content and soak in the comments. Be curious. Glad you're here.
As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Current events are still on our minds, but let's stick to hobbying here. Pants are optional. Puns are welcome and encouraged.
Play nice. Don't be a troll and do not feed the trolls.
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Surfing is a hobby for some but a way of live for others. Are you a surfer? Were you a surfer at an earlier stage of life? Have you never surfed but curious to try?
Are you entranced by waves? Can you sit and watch waves break all day?
Even if you're not wise in the ways of the surfboard, the best places to surf are often in beautiful locations. This thread can be about surfing, the art of the wave, and the travels to enjoy memorable parts of the world.
We will do a separate proper Hobby Thread at some point on sea shells and related gathering, collecting and art projects.
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History of surfing:
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Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave, from the series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji"
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Denise Romecki - ceramic wave
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"The Wave" in Newport, Rhode Island:
The feet and the accompanying wave are courtesy of artist and sculptor Katharine Worden, a familiar figure in the lively Newport art community. In 1983, Worden unveiled "The Wave." The design was a twist on Hokusai's famous work. Worden's wave swaps the intense majesty of Hokusai's piece for one that is a bit more humorous. A pair of feet stick straight out from the bronze wave pointing right towards any and all passerby.
Newport locals have taken "The Wave" under their wing in their own special way. In the summer, the statue's feet shine bright as the bronze is polished by the hands of passersby. During the winter, when Newport becomes cold, anonymous locals will put socks on the feet.
Gold Coast, Australia
California, United States of America
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Portugal
Indonesia
Southwest France
Oaxaca, Mexico
Oahu, Hawaii, USA
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Time for science:
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Surf board construction:
Most modern surfboards are not made of wood. These are:
This has nothing to do with surfing, but has everything do with waves and the US Navy. Since this is a quasi-smart military blog and some Morons have served in the Navy, it gets included:
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Stand up Paddleboarding is not surfing, but we will include for Hobby Thread giggles. Anyone do this?
Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a horse theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.
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Notable comments from last week:
Honorable mention:
Thanks again to Ben Had for looking after the Hobby Thread horsing around.
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Words of wisdom:
"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).
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If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute something from your personal hobbying. We will feature a different theme next time. What are you hobbying? We love showing off Horde hobbying. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.
Should your dog be able to make more choices concerning his or her social life?
Would you like your dog to be able to call you while you are out shopping or at work?
Related:
How scientists are building an 'animal internet' with phones for dogs and touchscreens for parrots
New experiments suggest technology could allow pets and zoo animals to choose their own social interactions and even make friends worldwide.
Researchers at Glasgow University are experimenting with digital tools to help animals communicate more directly with both humans and other species. From video calls for dogs to interactive touchscreens for parrots, the work is laying the foundations of what scientists describe as an "animal internet." The project goes beyond enrichment activities, aiming to give animals more autonomy in shaping their own environment, the Financial Times reported.
The Financial Times piece includes details from studies on dog and parrot internet arrangements. Some studies were conducted here in the USA.
Would you like to communicate with an animal via internet?
This incredible shot was captured by Shasta Schlitt (Everything Back Yard Chicken). Her rooster, Jay, jumped in to defend one of his hens from a hawk. The hawk didn’t survive the encounter, but Jay—though left with a few puncture wounds—pulled through and is doing well. What a brave protector!
Life can be rough for some of our pets.
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* * *
Meet The PetMorons
We are waiting for PetMoron news. It seems that most of them are photo-shy this week, or perhaps they are occupied on the internet.
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PetMoron Adjacent Animals
Encountered by Members of The Horde
Thanks again, KT, here are some more turtles. I meant to send this in last week but time escaped. These are fairly recent from earlier in July. Whenever you see them in the water, and they know you can't easily get to them, they will still keep a baleful eye on you while you're there--as you can see from the one on the thin branch. It's hard to see on the other one, as his head is positioned oddly (it's lower left in the picture), but I believe he's doing the same.
Thanks for the weekend threads!
BeckoningChasm, East Tennessee
They are fun!
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&&&
From jsg:
This is Charlie. Charlie hangs out on the back garage light at least 3-4 times a week.
We like Charlie. He's very low maintenance.
Charlie is great!
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Thank you for sharing your pet and animal photos and stories with us today.
If you would like to send pet and/or animal stories, links, etc. for the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, the address is:
petmorons at protonmail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.
Very nice landscaping at the NY Mets baseball academy/complex in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. They really do very nice work and take pride in manicuring the facility.
Thanks again for all the posts you do!
-scampydog
Thanks, scampydog! You described that landscaping perfectly!
It's September, and here are some scenes from a farmer's market in Ogden, Utah, where an enthusiast has been encouraging people to grow fruit trees, including under winter protection. What looks good to you?
Have you ever sold produce at a farmers market?
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Architecture and Landscaping
Keep up on the latest trends:
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Ah, Nature
Related plants from New York State, Sarah Hinkling:
Red Clover:
Water Mint:
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Feature Flower
KUDZU
They are not all bad.
- fd
Yes, THAT kudzu. The one that swallows stationary school buses.
Kudzu is edible and is used medicinally, but may not be as useful for alcohol misuse as sometimes hoped. It has some drug interactions and side effects.
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Gardens of The Horde
Actually, this is from a cousin. This geranium was about to be discarded after a funeral, but she heard it calling, "you can save me" as she held it over the trash can. Looks pretty good now.
What's going on in your garden? Harvesting anything? Saving anything?
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Hope everyone has a nice weekend.
If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:
ktinthegarden at g mail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.
Frames of reference have all changed - for some of us
—K.T.
But for others, the story remains the same
(credit - Statues and the People They Salute)
I don't have much of a "theme" for today's thread. I have been reading from some sources that normally do not catch my attention, but I have had a hard time bringing my thoughts together.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM: Student support for violence, bans on ‘controversial’ speech hits ‘record highs’ in annual survey. “More than a third of students would ‘at least rarely’ accept the use of violence to stop a campus speech (34%), 10 percentage points higher than its 2021 survey, while majorities would block other students from attending such a speech (54% versus 41% in 2021) and shout down a speaker (71% from 66%), all ‘record highs.'”
The problem is that the universities accept and teach these attitudes.
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Are we allowing kids to think that they could become legends for killing people designated as oppressors?
They told us that words are violence. That silence is violence. That speech must be policed, feelings must be protected, and disagreement is a form of oppression. But somehow, actual violence? Stabbings, riots, threats, mobs, glorifying terrorism - that gets a free pass. Or worse, a blue check and a book deal. We’re watching the collapse of moral clarity in real time. The same people who light candles every September 11 and post “never forget” are now cheering for movements that chant “globalize the intifada” - a phrase that, in practice, means suicide bombings, knife attacks, and rockets fired at kindergartens. We saw it on October 7. We’ve seen it for 20 years. And yet, those who say “free Palestine” with no qualifiers are treated like moral leaders, while those who raise concerns about Hamas, radical Islam, or jihadist slogans are treated like bigots. Look at who gets promoted. You’ve got an openly radical academic like Mohamed Mamdani - who supported Hamas “resistance,” called the NYPD a terrorist organization, and praised violent uprisings -running for mayor of New York. The city that buried thousands after 9/11 is now seriously entertaining putting a pro-intifada ideologue in charge of its police and schools. This isn’t progress. It’s surrender. And now? We have people getting murdered for the crime of being conservative and for holding the wrong views.
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Quotes
Charlie Kirk seemed to be keeping his priorities in mind. Do you remember the few moments when it was thought that he might survive, but be paralyzed, sort of like Dennis Prager? This is Dennis, with some thoughts about Charlie:
As an American, we have lost the most articulate spokesman for America and its unique value system—a country founded to be free, based on Jerusalem and Athens, the Judeo-Christian value system and the Greek emphasis on logic and reason. Charlie was a uniquely gifted individual who, in his teens, created the largest movement of young Americans committed to preserving and growing America and its ideals. He tirelessly went from campus to campus, from Oxford to Utah, dialoging with any student who wished to debate him. Using his vast reservoir of facts and his exceptionally speedy and articulate mind, he gave them what seemed to be unlimited amounts of time, and then calmy eviscerated all their anti-American, anti-Western, and anti-Judeo-Christian positions. I watched an inordinate number of these exchanges and thanked God that Charlie Kirk was there to do this work. America’s youth in particular have lost a moral and intellectual leader, one who would, perhaps, have one day become their president.
As a committed Jew, I thank God regularly that a non-Jew, a committed Christian, became one of the few great public spokesmen on behalf of Israel and the Jewish communities outside of Israel. Few Jews could match Charlie’s knowledge and eloquent arguments on behalf of those two entities.
As Dennis, I have lost a very close friend. Charlie repeatedly visited me in the various hospitals that I have been in since November 12 of last year, when I suffered a catastrophic fall which has left me paralyzed. When members of the nursing staff heard that Charlie Kirk was visiting me, my room became the most popular one in the hospital. Charlie brought me the manuscript of his forthcoming book arguing that everyone—Christians as well as Jews—should observe Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, just as he and his family had begun to do from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. It is a measure of our close relationship that he dedicated the book to me. His brilliant exposition of these arguments provide clear evidence for the non-necessity of a college education for most young Americans.
My heart breaks for his young widow, Erika, and for his two children, who have lost as great a man and a father as children can have. And for Charlie, who did not live to see them grow up. For one of the first times in my 20 years with my wife, Sue, I have seen her sob uncontrollably. The Prager home is in deep mourning, as are the homes of countless Americans. The loss to us personally and to the country generally is immeasurable.
Dennis Prager
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Hard for me to see how employers can bear the liability now of keeping on board anyone who expresses deadly wishes for another or celebrates the death of another.
The Classical Saturday Coffee Break & Prayer Revival
—Misanthropic Humanitarian
[Yes Tommy, pray for Mis. Hum.]
Good morning boys and girls and everything in between. What a trying week it has been. Before we enter the Prayer Revival just a few housekeeping matters to take care of. (Rulz for those of you in Whitefish Bay)
1) This is an open thread. Feel free to lurk, opine and/or bloviate within the AoSHQ guidelines.
2) Be kind, be nice.
3) No running with sharp objects.
4) Have a great weekend.
I received the following prayer from a friend who I attended church with. I thought I would share with you before our regular Prayer Revival.
Lord, thank you for our relationship. Without you and your wisdom I would be lost. You have provided for me and my family again and again. You have protected me, comforted me, and have given me strength when I was tired and weak. Thank you.
I'm scared, Lord, and I don't know what to do. Evil seems to be everywhere and on everyone's minds. You tell me to forgive, but I'm finding it hard to. You tell me to love my enemy, but I'm finding that impossible. I feel lost, surrounded by Satan's lies. You tell me to see the good in people, but I just can't anymore. Even parts of my family and friends have been tricked by the enemy. The evil one has used the world to convince them that sin is acceptable. That your word doesn't have to be followed, because it doesn't line up with what they want to believe. Help them, like you have helped me, to see your light. Help them realize this is spiritual war and that there is only one side that is righteous. Your side.
Lord the enemies are at the gates, what am I to do? I trust you, but please help me, my family, and your church. We are all in danger from the evil one. We are hurting and in need of your strength. When you said that the world would hate me because of you. I didn't realize how true that would be. Faith in you is the only comfort I have. Don't let the world shake that faith.
Jesus, I pray you have mercy on all who have died in your name. From the ancient Apostles to Charlie Kirk, all who have bled in your name, Lord help them and their families. Help the people who are confused, help the people who have turned from you and are now lost in ideology and hate. Help me to not hate those who support Satan and his evil ways. Help my children to stay in their Baptismal grace and for them to not fall into confusion and mental illness. Help your Church, we are suffering right now.
Lord, we are waiting for your return. Please hurry, we need your Kingdom here on earth. This world is lost and we need your mercy more than ever. I pray for my enemies, I pray for your grace to forgive and help me to not get lost in this world. In your Father's name, Amen.
*****
AoSHQ Weekly Prayer List
Please submit any prayer requests to me, “Annie’s Stew” at apaslo atsign hotmail dot com. Prayer requests are generally removed after four weeks unless we receive an update.
Prayer Requests:
8/20 – rickb223 sent an update. His wife, Stacy, was diagnosed with Stage 4 endometrial cancer on 3/5/23. She had been seeing an oncologist in Plano, TX, but after two years, the chemotherapy was no longer working, and was doing more harm than good. They wanted to try and let her body heal for a couple of weeks. She went on hospice 8/1/25. They thought they would have more time, but God had other plans. She went Home at 10:20 am, to be with her father, brother, granddaughter, and our Lord.
8/22 – NR Pax requests prayers for his father, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s on 8/20.
8/30 Update – Dad was in the ER all Tuesday night after taking a tumble. He is on medication for Parkinson’s so now it’s a matter of seeing how much that helps.
8/23 – SpeakingOf could use prayers. SpeakingOf’s father’s lung cancer has returned, and due to dad missing SpeakingOf’s mom, dad does not want any treatment and is in hospice. SpeakingOf is worried and fearful and heartbroken and would appreciate God’s mercy at this time.
8/23 – Tecumseh Tea gave a status. She is steadily improving from her heart attack. She said she feels mostly like herself again. She is looking for a new cardiologist, since the one she saw had zero interest in her or her heart.
8/28 Update – Tecumseh Tea is in the hospital again with heart issues. Please pray that they can figure out what is going on and how to treat it.
8/25 – Grammie Winger posted that Rev is doing well, but she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer last week.
9/6 Update – grammie winger sent her love and how much the Horde has meant to her over the years. She said her time is being measured in days and weeks now, and that soon she will go to that place that Jesus has prepared for her. She said she will miss the group so much.
8/25 – BurtTC is dealing with a family matter and could use some prayers.
9/4 Update – BurtTC’s mother passed away. BurtTC asked for prayers for her family, who suffering the loss. Her soul is safe and at peace in heaven.
8/26 – Axeman would appreciate prayers. He just gave the verbal approval to move his mom to hospice.
8/27 – Ben Had sent an update on JT. He is doing well and sends a “Hiya” to the Horde.
8/28 - Grumpy and Recalcitrant asks for prayers for Pixy Misa, who runs the morning tech thread. Pixy has been suffering from edema (water retention and swelling of the extremities). In addition to the swelling, there has been significant pain in both feet, and now one hand. Please pray that the doctors and nurses take this problem seriously. Pray that God guides their minds and hands in the diagnostic and treatment processes, so that Pixy may be restored to full health. Pray that He sustains Pixy through this health trial.
9/6 Update – Grumpy and Recalcitrant sent an update: Pixy has been on medication to reduce the water retention, and has shed many pounds in a short time, and has a cream to apply to his feet to help with the pain. Both are helping a lot in short order. Things are not fully back to normal yet, but there has been big progress and a lot of relief from how bad it was. Thank you for your prayers, Horde.
8/30 – Accomack requested prayers for his wife, who is hospitalized with babesiosis that advanced to hemolysis. She is anemic to begin with and won’t be discharged until her red blood count returns to normal.
9/1 Update Mrs. Accomack should be discharged on 9/2. Thank you for your prayers.
8/30 – The Walking Dude requested prayers for his mother, who fell and broke her hip. She is in the hospital, and will be in rehab for weeks/months? She is 90 years old. Please pray for her recovery. Thank you very much; he really appreciates the prayers.
9/5 – Inogame requested continued prayers for his wife. It seems like they may have two blessings on the way, not just one, since there seems to be a second heartbeat. In a few weeks they will know for sure. He asks for prayers that they be doubly blessed if the Lord wills it.
9/5 – Teresa in Fort Worth gave an update that she was very ill (throwing up), and was going to spend a day or two at the hospital while they figure out what is going on (and give her IVs due to dehydration). It doesn’t seem to be related to the cancer.
9/7 Update – Teresa still cannot keep solid food down. The CT scan showed something odd (metallic) in her stomach, so she will have an MRI on 9/8.
9/6 – Tbodie sent an update on a son, who has pancreatic cancer at age 36. He just finished his sixth round of chemo. Please pray that the family will know that God is in control and that the son and daughter-in-law will know He is there for them.
9/6 – “Perfessor” Squirrel sent his thanks to the Horde for their prayers over the past few weeks, as he went through a difficult time at work. He announced he will be moving to a new job (at the same university) on 9/22. It will be similar work as before, but a different boss, and that is good.
9/6 – vmom deport deport deport asked for prayers for Sophia, age 12, who was still fighting for her life with a bullet in her brain after the trans school shooting in MN.
9/7 – Moki would be grateful for prayers for a nephew who just had a heart attack. He is 54 years old, and has 3 kids under age 5.
9/7 – GWB requested prayers for a neighbor who is suffering after multiple back surgeries and in a LOT of pain.
9/9 – Pookysgirl asked for prayers as Pooky has a procedure to hollow out his prostate on 9/23. They are not sure of the long-term implications of his acute kidney injury, but his kidneys are recovering. God has worked miracles to keep Pooky with them in the past, as an answer to many, many prayers.
9/11 – D sent an update for Susan, his wife, and her battle with cancer: Thank you, everyone, again for your prayers for Susan. Her cancer markers went down at the last Dr visit, but she is back to having abdominal pain that is making it hard to eat right. They are trying to get her weight up and thank God for the good days they do have. The really good news is that she is able to walk around again without the fear of falling over.
9/11 – Annie’s Stew asks for prayers of comfort for Charlie Kirk’s family (first and foremost), prayers for this country as we all grieve, and that God would reveal His will for us, as we move forward as individuals and as a country.
For submission guidelines and other relevant info, please contact Annie's Stew, who is managing the prayer list. You can contact her at apaslo at-sign hotmail dot com. If you see a prayer request posted in a thread comment, feel free to copy and paste it and e-mail it to Annie's Stew. She tries to keep up with the requests in the threads, but she's not here all of the time, so she may not see it unless you e-mail it to her. Please note: Prayer requests are generally removed after four weeks or so unless we receive an update.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
The first is the i5 120, a six core part that has the exact same specs as the Core i5 12400 from 2022, mostly because that's what it is. Admittedly not an awful part, particularly if you didn't run a workload that would make good use of the "efficiency" cores, because it didn't have any of those.
The second is the i5 110, a six core part that has the exact same specs as the Core i5 10400 from 2020, mostly because... Yeah. The 10th generation chips didn't even have "efficiency" cores yet, so you're safe there. But you will need to find a five year old motherboard and DDR4 RAM for it, because none of this modern stuff will work.
And a couple of older models I dug out to see how things have improved over the years.
Couple of things immediately evident:
First, the more expensive Legion Tab boots much faster, which it should do since it has a much faster CPU (Arm X3 vs. A76 cores).
Second, while the Legion Tab has a glossy screen, the Idea Tab is matte. Very matte. Lenovo's marketing material describes it as "paper-like" and at first glance that is correct.
UTF-8 is the default implementation of Unicode, and Unicode is an attempt to create a single alphabet that can encode every human symbol ever, from all languages including ones we can't read and ones that have syllabaries or pictograms rather than alphabets, and also everything else.
But it's just an alphabet. There is no embedded context as to what language you are using if the same symbol appears in more than one. Which happens all the time.
Which makes it impossible to write anything that can be read unambiguously.
If you are wondering how the AI learned to generate useful fake medical data, then your most likely guess is precisely correct: It was trained on real human medical data.
The issues here are large enough and obvious enough to provide roosting space for the entire former eastern seaboard population of the passenger pigeon.
Well that was tough. It was unbearable to hear. I cannot imagine what it was like to have to give that speech, thinking of those tiny orphaned children.
I wonder if he was fearless. I wonder if he was scared. I wonder if he just did it anyway?
-- Mike Rowe
Low-T High-Calorie Potato Brian Stelter: "Matthew Dowd is no longer an MSNBC political analyst, according to a network source." Matt Dowd, former Disney Groomer Corporation Political Director and John McCain advisor (of course), is the one who blamed Charlie Kirk's shooting on the real assassin, Charlie Kirk, claiming that Charlie's "hateful words lead to hateful actions."
"For years, the radical left has compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to NAZlS... this type of language is DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE for the terrorism we're seeing in our country today.
And it must stop RIGHT NOW!"
Fat-F*ck Pritzker blames Trump's rhetoric for the ramp up of political violence! May he rot in hell! [CBD]
Podcast: Jim Lakely of Heartland.org joins us to discuss the blockbuster polls they have released over the last week. Americans 19-39 seem to be embracing socialism, overt redistributionist policies, destruction of our rights, and international control of our country! But there is hope on the horizon!
Podcast: 2A ban for trannies? Venezuela attack is Congress dropping the ball, RFK Jr...Maniac or disrupter? Heartland.org poll is a sad commentary on American education, and more!
James Varney: Reflecting on Hurricane Katrina twenty years later, and the partisan uses Democrats found for it There was fear aplenty. But the truth is, a lot of the panic Americans saw on television was performative. The throngs of people along Convention Center Boulevard sat patiently in the broiling weather, five or six deep in folding chairs on the sidewalk, waiting for something, someone, to arrive. Then, a television crew or photographer would show up, and people would pour into the street, falling on their knees, screaming and gesticulating to the camera. It was an awful situation, obviously, but when the camera wasn't on them, it was remarkable how patient and orderly everyone was.
Forgotten 80s Mystery Click I'm gonna get high, man, I'm gonna get loose/
Need me a triple shot of that juice
Podcast: 600,000 Chinese spies given visas? Scotland relies on 14-year-old girls for their defense, tariffs work! mortgage fraud is the new thing, and more!
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