Pre'64 vs Post'64. 5 minute comparison!

Battle of the Winchester 1894's. Pre'64 vs Post'64. 5 minute comparison! video by DadBodOperator.

Summary:

5 Minute quick comparison video of the Pre 1964 Winchester 1894 and the post 1964 Winchester 1894

 

Buc-ee’s Sues A Tiny Ohio store Over Its Beaver

Above, the Buc-ee's travel center near Galveston, Texas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following may be considered another "David and Goliath" kind of battle.

Buc-ee's is suing a small business for trademark infringement. 

Here's the story according to an article in RV Travel and it begins with:

Buc-ee’s is known to road-tripping RVers for enormous travel centers, rows of gas pumps and one of the most recognizable beavers in America. Now that beaver is at the center of a federal trademark fight with a much smaller beaver in Ohio.

Buc-ee’s filed suit July 28 against Beaver’s Mini Mart, a neighborhood convenience store in Beavercreek, Ohio. The Texas-based travel center chain says the store’s cartoon beaver logo and branding infringe on Buc-ee’s trademarks and could lead customers to believe the businesses are connected.

At first, the dispute looked like a classic David-and-Goliath story. Buc-ee’s operates massive travel centers across a growing portion of the country. Beaver’s Mini Mart is a small local store in a city where beaver imagery isn’t exactly unusual.

But Buc-ee’s co-founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin III says there’s more to the story.

To read more to the story, go here. 

Haruo Nakajima: Ninth Anniversary

Above, Haruo Nakajima and yours truly at the 2013 Mad Monster Party.

It is hard to believe at how time seems to fly, especially when one gets older. 

I saw a Facebook G-FAN magazine page post this morning remembering Haruo Nakajima. Unbelievably, it was nine years ago today (August 17, 2017) he passed away.  

I first met him at G-FEST 2000 in Hollywood. I saw him several times over the years since then. I served as his "wrangler" at the 2013 Mad Monster Party convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

It would be appropriate to raise a glass in memory of the original Godzilla today!

Silver Rises 3.35% On August 07, 2026

It has been a while since I took at look at how silver is doing. The spot price of silver is up this morning.

According to an article in USA Today:

How much is silver per ounce today?

As of Aug. 7, 2026, at 8:05 a.m. ET, the spot price of silver was $64.22 per ounce, according to the latest market data. That's up 3.35%, a gain of $2.08 from the previous close of $62.14.

One year ago, silver traded at $37.87 per ounce, meaning prices have risen 69.59% over the past 12 months.

To read more, go here. 

What Winchester Never Told America About the Model 94

What Winchester Never Told America About the Model 94 video by Arms Archives.

Summary: 

The Story of the Rifle Winchester Walked Away From.

For seventy years, the Winchester Model 94 was the most trusted deer rifle in America. Born from the mind of John Browning and chambered in the mythic .30-30, it was forged by generations of men in New Haven, Connecticut, and handed down from father to son.

But behind the scenes, Winchester was already betraying the men who bought it. In 1961, executives looked at a century of American heritage and decided it was too expensive to build. They secretly hollowed out the Model 94, swapping forged steel for cast iron and machined parts for stamped sheet metal, cutting the cost by 54% without ever putting a word of warning on the box. It was a calculated corporate decision that started the slow death of the New Haven plant, eventually locking the doors on a working-class town and leaving 7.5 million hunters holding the history a boardroom threw away.

This is the story of John Browning's masterpiece, the quiet 1964 deception that cheapened it, and why the rifle Winchester abandoned became the one gun America refuses to let go of.

 

Open Rodeo Roughstock Buckout

Above, the junior bull riding event. Photo by Armand Vaquer

Last evening, I attended the Open Rodeo Roughstock Buckout at Red Rock Park's rodeo arena. It is part of the weeklong annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. This is my favorite time of the year living in the Gallup-Jamestown, New Mexico area.

Upon arrival, I immediately noticed that a new awning had been built over the south grandstand. It is huge!

Here it is:

The awning will come in handy to shade spectators during rodeos on hot summer days. 

Naturally, I took some photos of the rodeo events.

Don't Underestimate the . 30 - 30

Don't Underestimate the . 30 - 30 video by Harrell Brothers In Arms.

Summary:

Paul Harrell evaluates the effectiveness of the .30-30 Winchester cartridge by shooting various targets, including soda jugs and pumpkins, at different distances. The presentation addresses common misconceptions regarding the rifle caliber's accuracy, drop over distance, and practical applications in hunting.

 

Lever-Action Rifles Worth Owning Before Prices Climb

Above, Henry Big Boy Steel Side Gate .327. Photo by Alexander's Store.

When I found my 1962 Winchester 94 rifle in .30-30 back in 2019, it was before the pandemic started and prices skyrocketed.

I found one in great shape and under $500.

I don't see high prices in used guns abating anytime soon. But there are some lever-action rifles worth owning before prices do climb and The Avid Outdoorsman lists 20 of them.

They begin with:

Lever-action rifles are no longer the inexpensive woods guns that filled used racks a generation ago. Interest in pistol-caliber carbines, suppressor-ready hunting rifles, straight-wall cartridges, and traditional American  firearms has pushed demand well beyond the old cowboy-action crowd. At the same time, several desirable rifles are produced in limited batches or disappear from catalogs without much warning.

That does not mean every lever gun is a smart purchase. Decorative editions and heavily accessorized models can cost far more than their practical value justifies. The rifles worth buying are the ones with useful chamberings, proven actions, distinctive construction, or configurations that would be difficult to replace after production ends. These 20 rifles deserve a closer look while they can still be found without paying collector-level prices.

To read more, go here. 

The Story Behind Key West’s Famous Free-Roaming Roosters

Above, one of Key West's feathered inhabitants wandering in a restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. Along the way, we stopped in Key West, Florida for a few hours.

While in Key West, I took a tour of the Hemingway House and toured the Shipwreck Museum along with shopping.

I stopped at a bar/restaurant for a break. While there, I noticed chickens walking around the tables. 

Southern Living posted an article on Key West's famous wild roosters that wander the streets.

They begin it with:

If you’ve ever strolled the quirky streets of Key West, you’ve seen them. Between pastel homes, Duval Street bars, palm trees, and the Southernmost Point, a population of loud, proud roosters struts and scratches across roads, down sidewalks, and even, occasionally, through traffic.

Florida’s version of pesky pigeons in city parks, the free-roaming roosters and hens of Key West are as naturalized a citizen as any, and a colorful symbol of the freewheeling spirit of the Conch Republic. Sometimes celebrated, always tolerated, the wild birds are as much a part of Key West as sunset celebrations and key lime pie.

To read more, go here.

Protect Your RV Every Time You Plug In

RVs (trailers and motorhomes) are loaded with electronics that could get damaged during a sudden power surge. This is especially so of they are plugged into an outlet that may get a sudden surge from a lightning strike.

That is why surge protectors are necessary to protect one's RV electrical system and appliances when plugged in. I use mine when I store my RV in its garage and it is plugged in.

RV Life has posted an article on protecting RVs every time they are plugged in.  

They begin with:

Plugging into shorepower is one of the most routine parts of setting up camp, but the power at the pedestal is not always predictable. An RV electrical protection device should be used every time the rig connects to outside power. That includes campgrounds, a home outlet, an RV storage facility, and yes, even a generator (if compatible).

The reason is simple. Every connection introduces a new power source, and electrical conditions can change after the RV is plugged in. A pedestal that worked during a previous stay may now have a worn receptacle, loose wire, missing ground, or damaged neutral. Voltage that looks normal in the morning can drop when campground demand rises, or it may climb when a utility problem develops.

A surge protector or electrical management system (EMS) provides a layer of protection between those conditions and the RV’s converter, inverter/charger, refrigerator, A/C equipment, microwave, TVs, and electronic control boards. The two product types do not always provide the same protection, but either must be connected to do its job.

 To read more, go here.

20 Rifles That Deserve A Permanent Place In Your Safe

Above, my 1980s vintage Ruger 10/22. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is wondering what rifles deserve a permanent place in a gun safe, The Avid Outdoorsman posted a list of 20 rifles that do.

Two rifles I own made the list: the Ruger 10/22 and the Winchester 94.

They begin their list with:

Some rifles are easy to sell because another one can be purchased later without much trouble. Others become difficult to replace the moment they leave your hands. The price goes up, production ends, the replacement does not shoot as well, or you realize the rifle filled more roles than you appreciated while you owned it.

A permanent keeper does not need to be rare or expensive. It needs to offer something that remains useful after newer designs arrive. That could mean dependable  hunting performance, inexpensive training, historical significance, unusual mechanical quality, or a level of versatility that prevents the rifle from becoming obsolete. These 20 rifles deserve serious thought before they are ever placed on the used rack.

To read more, go here. 

Visit New Mexico: A Democrat Utopia

Visit New Mexico: A Democrat Utopia video by The Babylon Bee.

Summary:

Tired of your ordinary, boring life in a red state? Why not visit…New Mexico?

 

What Happened to the AURORA MODEL KITS?

What Happened to the AURORA MODEL KITS? video by Dan Monroe / Movies, Music & Monsters.

Summary:

Dan Monroe explores the history of the Aurora Plastics Corporation, tracing its origins from a simple injection molding shop to a pop culture icon. The discussion covers the evolution of their legendary monster and sci-fi model kits, their massive commercial impact on youth culture during the 1960s, and the factors leading to the brand's eventual closure.

I bought my first Aurora monster model kit at the 1961 Los Angeles County Fair which was Frankenstein sculpted to look like Boris Karloff. I still have it. I had most of the Universal monsters but they broke over the years. I did buy the Polar Lights Dracula re-issue model kit a few years ago. It is sculpted to look like Bela Lugosi.

I bought further monster model kits at Boys Market in Los Angeles.

Why Most Americans Have the Wrong Survival Guns?

Why Most Americans Have the Wrong Survival Guns? video by Survival Gear Showcase.

Summary:

These are the 7 guns that actually matter when the grid goes down — ranked by ammo availability, mechanical simplicity, and real-world versatility, not hype.

From the AR-15 and Glock 19 to the Ruger 10/22, the Mossberg 500/Remington 870, and the surprisingly capable Henry Big Boy X, this breakdown covers what survives when the supply chain doesn't.

 

Streetcar A-Bomb Damaged Now Used For Tours In Hiroshima

Above, a Nagasaki streetcar in 2007. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I visited Hiroshima in 2004 with G-TOUR, we mainly confined our visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome. 

At the time, I did not see any streetcars there. A few years later, I did see streetcars in Nakasaki when I visited it. They reminded me of old Los Angeles when streetcars were operating. They were removed in 1963 in favor of buses.

There is one streetcar in Hiroshima that did survive, although damaged, the atomic bomb. It is now being used for tours.

According to The Japan Times:

HIROSHIMA – A tour offering views of Hiroshima’s reconstruction following the U.S. atomic bombing 81 years ago aboard a streetcar that survived the blast started Sunday.

The tour uses Hiroshima Electric Railway’s streetcar No. 653, which was damaged in the blast on Aug. 6, 1945, in the closing days of World War II.

The streetcar resumed operations four months later after undergoing emergency repairs, and became a symbol of the city’s reconstruction. It is still operated for special events, with its livery restored to that at the time of the bombing.

The latest tour will run a total of 19 times on weekends and holidays through Oct. 31, on a loop line that opened in March.

To read more, go here. 

October Looks To Be A Little Busy

October is shaping up to be a somewhat busy month.

The Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus will be in New Mexico.

From the chapter's Facebook page:

I am pleased to announce that we will have a history trek to Pinos Altos New Mexico, October 9-11. This event will be very similar to the satisfactory 2019 trip to Gallup, New Mexico; where we will not haul the cookshack or the hawker, and our Widders are welcome. Major details: We will stay in Silver City, NM. We will visit the Pinos Altos Museum Saturday afternoon. We will have dinner at the historic Buckhorn Saloon and Opera house Saturday October 10 at 6pm.

Then, a week or so later, I will be in Albuquerque for Mia Asano's concert.  

Of course, October is known for Halloween on the 31st.

Mowing Day Today

Above, Barking Spider Acre three years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is mowing day for me.

Since the temperature today in Jamestown, New Mexico is expected to reach 95­° today, I plan on getting on the mower around 8:00 this morning before the temperature soars. 

From the National Weather Service: 

Today

Sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the morning.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

Tuesday

Patchy smoke between noon and 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 92. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind around 10 mph becoming south in the evening.

Barking Spider Acre's brush isn't too high, but I will concentrate around the RV garage (GOCO Beast Barn) and some areas where it has gotten high from the recent monsoon rains. I will also concentrate on the back yard behind the house and garage. That has started to get a little overgrown from the rains. 

I have about a half a tank of gasoline in the mower, but I do have some in gasoline containers just in case.

Hickok45: Model 12 Winchester SlugFest

Model 12 Winchester SlugFest by Hickok45.

Summary:

The old Model 12 certainly deserves to have some fun "slugfesting"!

 

Budget Friendly Beauties - Affordable Deluxe Winchesters

Budget Friendly Beauties - Affordable Deluxe Winchesters video from The Cinnabar.

Summary:

Shooting a couple of deluxe beautiful Winchester rifles that didn't break the bank.

The Cinnabar showcases two high-deluxe Winchester lever-action rifles, examining their history, refinishing techniques, and restoration potential. Beyond their collectible appeal, these firearms are put to the test on the range to evaluate their practical performance and suitability for the upcoming hunting season.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

For the first entry of August, we have The Electric Prunes with their 1967 hit, "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)." It was recorded in 1966 and made it to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1967.

From Wikipedia:

The Electric Prunes are an American psychedelic rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. Much of the band's music was, as music historian Richie Unterberger described it, possessed of "an eerie and sometimes anguished ambiance." Their most successful material was by songwriters Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz, though the group also penned their own songs. Incorporating psychedelia and elements of embryonic electronic rock, the band's sound was marked by innovative recording techniques with fuzz-toned guitars and oscillating sound effects. In addition, guitarist Ken Williams' and singer James Lowe's concept of "free-form garage music" provided the band with a richer sonic palette and exploratory lyrical structure than many of their contemporaries.

We Are Hanging Up The Keys and Aging Out of Our RV

Above, at Arches National Park in Utah last summer. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Sooner or later, each of us will be so old that we can no longer do the things that were once easy to do.

Fortunately, I have not reached that point... yet! But there will come a time that I may not be able to drive my motorhome for long road trips. I managed to do a long trip last summer with a friend to Utah, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Colorado at age 71. Taking one's time with more days to do so is a big help.

But there are some RV enthusiasts that have reached that are "aging out" of the RV game. 

Nanci Dixon posted an article on this at RV Travel.

She begins with:

A few weeks ago, I wrote about our RV seemingly falling apart on our trip to Minnesota and lamented all the work and maintenance it required. I even said that I was at the point of selling it in Minnesota and renting a small U-Haul trailer to take our too-much-stuff back to Arizona.

Aging out

It is not just the maintenance and massive costs of gas, insurance, and license; we are getting older. My husband just doesn’t have the stamina, eyesight, or reaction time to drive “Miss Ruth Brown” thousands of miles each year anymore. I never thought we would age out; I thought it was other people that aged out. I should be glad he is aware of his limitations, but still wish it wasn’t so. I am faced with the ultimatum of downsizing our rig, or I agree to drive it.

Above, camping at the Moab, Utah KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read the full article, go here. 

5 Cruise Lines That Just Aren't Worth It Anymore

Above, yours truly enjoying an adult beverage on a cruise to the Bahamas two years ago.

Although I have been on three cruises in my life (Alaska, Cuba, Bahamas), it is not my favorite mode of travel and it never has been. RVing is.  

That being said, I did enjoy those cruises. But I noticed that the cruise lines passengers are being nickel-and-dimed, especially on adult beverages and food. People are starting to feel that cruises just aren't worth it anymore.

AOL posted an article on five cruise lines that aren't worth it anymore. I have cruised on two of the five.

They begin it with:

Cruising built its reputation on being the closest thing to an all-inclusive vacation. One fare covers endless food, a cabin that moves between destinations while you sleep, and entertainment every night. That reputation is getting harder to defend. Across several of the biggest names in the industry, gratuities have climbed, drink and dining packages have shrunk, and small perks that used to come standard now carry a price tag. For anyone trying to travel on a budget, the gap between what a cruise fare promises and what actually shows up on the final bill has never been wider.

None of this is guesswork or internet grumbling. It's a pattern of dated, documented fee increases and cutbacks announced across major lines over the past several months, backed by passenger surveys, company emails, and industry reporting. Here's a look at the cruise lines where the numbers back up what passengers have been saying. While these cruise lines still appeal to many travelers, recent fee hikes and shrinking inclusions mean they may no longer deliver the value they once did.

To read the full article, go here. 

Rain Later In The Week (Maybe)

Above, Grandpa's Grill, the location of our Saturday breakfasts. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been relatively dry here in the Four Corners region this weekend. 

The last rains were short downpours of a few days ago. But the rain we did receive helped green up the area. 

We're in a bit of a heat wave according to the National Weather Service. But, they do forecast some precipitation towards the end of the week. We'll see.

Here's the forecast for Gallup/Jamestown:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 93. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the evening.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the morning.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Isolated showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then isolated showers between 9pm and midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday

Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Sunny, with a high near 91. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Friday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 90.

Friday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.

The .30-30 Winchester Model 1894 - Firing it Out West

The .30-30 Winchester Model 1894 - Firing it Out West video by Part-Time Explorer.

Summary:

Winchester is known as "the gun that won the west". With that, I simply had to bring my antique Winchester rifle out west with me. Let's dive a bit into the history of this rifle and fire off a few rounds between the deserts of Nevada and the wilderness of Wyoming.

The model 1894 Winchester was first produced in 1894, but were redesigned in 1895 to accommodate smokeless rounds - being the first rifle to do so. Used in both world wars and becoming the most successful high-powered rifle in the United States, the rifle was produced regularly until 2006. In the 1960's, Winchester changed the way the rifle was made in order to save on production costs, using cheaper material and lower quality methods. In more recent years, production was moved overseas. The rifle in this video is from 1949, when these rifles were in their prime.

NRA Museums: Winchester Model 1894 Lever Action Carbine

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30 cal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Google is acting up. This started yesterday. I generally have it set for the last 24 hours on different subjects but it is not limiting itself to that range.

But it did come up with something of interest to me that was posted in 2010 by NRA Museums. It is on the history of the Winchester 1894 (or Winchester 94).

It is an interesting article, especially for those of us who are fans of the firearm.

It begins with:

Winchester's first smokeless powder lever-action rifle, the Model 1894 Rifle is by far the company's most successful centerfire rifle. This John Browning-designed firearm is still in production, and over five million have been manufactured. Originally priced at $17.50, Model 1894s available today sell for several hundred dollars. As with other Winchester lever-actions, the Model 1894 is available in rifle, carbine, trapper's model carbine, takedown, and extra-lightweight versions. This example was manufactured in 1925.

John Moses Browning (1855 - 1926) was a true genius of mechanical design. The son of a Mormon gunsmith, he began working full-time in that profession at age 15. His 1878 design for a single-shot metallic cartridge rifle resulted in the first of many patents that he would receive during his lifetime. In partnership with five of his brothers, Browning later opened a machine shop in Ogden, Utah, but the firm's output of three guns per day could not keep up with demand for his products. One of his rifles was purchased by a representative of Winchester Repeating Arms Company and shipped to Thomas G. Bennett, the firm's General Manager, who purchased the patent rights for $8,000 and hired the Browning brothers as Winchester "jobbers". 

To read more, go here. 

Winchester Model 12 Overview

Winchester Model 12 Overview video by The Hunting Gear Guy.

Summary:

The Winchester Model 12 (1912) is a great takedown shotgun from yesteryear. It's a pump action shotgun known for its smooth action and high-quality internal construction. Unlike modern shotguns that use stamped parts and aluminum receivers, the Model 12 is built from steel and walnut.

This model is a take down design, meaning the barrel and magazine tube can be easily separated from the receiver for transport or cleaning. While it was an innovative powerhouse in its day, using one today for modern hunting requires understanding its limitations regarding steel shot and shell length.

Are Casino Carpets Ugly On Purpose?

Above, a casino in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a topic I've never thought about.

Are casino carpets ugly on purpose to keep people gambling? 

That is the topic of an article in RV Travel. Frankly, I figured that they are designed the way they are to hide spills. 

The article begins with:

Many RVers like to stop at casinos on their trips. They stop for a buffet, or sometimes to stay overnight in a casino RV park or for free in a parking lot. And, yes, some like to gamble. If that’s you, have you ever noticed that the carpeting in at least some of those casinos is gaudy, even ugly? 

In Las Vegas, one of the most enduring gambling myths is that the loud, colorful carpets in casinos are designed to keep people gambling longer. Is that true?

To read the full article, go here. 

Japanese Yen Surges to ¥157

We are now in a new month and we're still in the summer vacation season, so it is time to see how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in foreign exchange.

Japan Today reported:

NEW YORK - The Japanese yen briefly surged to the lower 157 level against the U.S. dollar in New York on Friday, with Japanese government sources confirming a yen-buying, dollar-selling intervention by currency authorities.

Trading at 157.24 per dollar for a brief span, the yen hit its strongest level since mid-May.

To read more, go here.