RPNM Calls Gov. Lujan Grisham's Reopening Plan "An Illusion"

 

GOV. LUJAN GRISHAM’S COUNTY-BY-COUNTY TIERED REOPENING PLAN IS MERELY AN ILLUSION GIVING PUBLIC FALSE HOPE IN CRISIS   GOVERNOR’S SYSTEM IS DEEPLY FLAWED, AND SHE’S READY TO SCAPEGOAT REPUBLICANS   Albuquerque, November 30--In the early history of New Mexico, explorers talked about mirages--they appeared as vast lakes in the distance. To the starved and thirsty, they represented hope in a dry and arid land. When they got closer, the mirage moved farther away or disappeared completely, taking hope with it.   Gov. Lujan Grisham’s proposed 3-tier red, yellow and green light plan to systematically reopen New Mexico is nothing more than a colorful mirage in a land where hope is fading.   Reopening counties based on COVID-19 spread rates may sound practical, but a modest analysis reveals structural flaws in this plan.   The first flaw is that 32 of our 33 counties are in the red zone and may never make it to yellow. With the soaring COVID-19 rates, one local biostatistician noted that statewide we are far from meeting needed requirements: “You’ll expect to be in the red…for 20 to 30 weeks,” according to expert Hubert Allen.   That’s more than 7 months with school closed, and businesses and churches at 25% capacity!    The second major flaw is revealed when looking at what the mirage of green status actually accomplishes.    Even if a county turns green, most businesses can still only operate at 50%. After months of being shut down or operating at reduced capacity, businesses have become fragile and jobs have become more scarce. Let’s say that a company has made it this far. It’s expended most of its available cash paying the rent and utilities while it was shut down. Owners have been fighting to make ends meet and have spent life savings—their resiliency is gone; the job creators are done. They are ready to give up.    Now the governor tells them the best they can hope for is to be open at 50% 5-7 months down the road.    Perhaps the most revealing action of the Lujan Grisham Administration comes from Tripp Stelnicki, a spokesman for the governor. In a curious and angry rebuttal in a KOB4 report, he answered legitimate questions about the 3-tier plan. At one point, he indicated the governor is already trying to shift blame for the situation New Mexicans find themselves in stating: “Republicans have been demanding exactly this county-by-county framework” and insisted that the media  “hold them accountable.”     Mr. Stelnicki is trying to sell the idea that enacting a county-by-county program after months of shutting down rural stores is equivalent to what Republicans have been suggesting. That is a rather large stretch in logic.    He seems to have forgotten that for months, he and the governor have been making residents in safe counties drive into population centers to shop at big box stores where they inevitably were exposed to more COVID-19 than they would have been if their local stores had been able to operate.    Add to this that the schools are still shut down and our historically low performing education system is letting students fall further behind. The state is still facing a slow-motion train wreck that will leave us little hope.    The governor also made it clear that regardless of what the Supreme Court said last week, she will continue to punish churches and people of faith, so you get a sense of where this governor and her staff are coming from, but you get little knowledge of where they are headed.    It is more apparent than ever that they do not know the answer to that key question.   “The governor has failed the state since March. Period. Yes, she should have assessed where the worst problems were and taken appropriate action back then, but it’s very late now,” said Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce. “Other states have learned to live with the virus and have opened up schools, churches and businesses. Instead, our governor has punished New Mexico, collapsing its economy, closing businesses and pushing thousands to the unemployment lines. The damage is done. The governor’s inequitable actions have been unscientific and unconstitutional. This new tier system is a mirage, and even experts admit it’s not viable. I do know that hope is fading fast in New Mexico.”

New Sink and Faucets

Above, the new sink and faucet in the guest bathroom. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, at long last, I got the guest bathroom sink and faucet installed, along with the faucet in the master bathroom (same style faucets).

All I have to do with the two bathroom sinks is to paint the countertops. 

The sink in the guest bathroom looked pretty gnarly, so I replaced it. The one in the master bathroom is fine. The only problem (with both bathrooms) were leaky faucets. 

The next project will be saved for next year and that is to paint the interior of the house. I was considering doing that this year but the investment account went down last spring. Now that it has gone back up, I will see about getting it done next year.

I got the plumber through Home Depot. The cost was much cheaper than I expected.

Biden Gun Control Proposal Could Bankrupt Firearms Industry

The Democrats never give up. 

By hook or crook, they aim to take away our Second Amendment rights.

The latest is Joe Biden's proposal to do away with federal legal protections for gun manufacturers.

According to Breitbart:

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s plan to do away with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) could bankrupt the entire firearms industry.

President George W. Bush signed the PLCAA into law in 2005 as a way of protecting firearms manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits. But Biden campaigned on opening up firearm manufacturers to suits tied to the criminal misuse of the products they make.

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s plan to do away with the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) could bankrupt the entire firearms industry.

President George W. Bush signed the PLCAA into law in 2005 as a way of protecting firearms manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits. But Biden campaigned on opening up firearm manufacturers to suits tied to the criminal misuse of the products they make.

That's why it is imperative that the GOP retain control of the U.S. Senate to block such dangerous legislative proposals.

To read more, go here. 

A "Priceless Discovery" From Graceland

Above, publicity photo for Change of Habit. Universal Pictures photo.

In-between the Dick Van Dyke Show and the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary Tyler Moore appeared in Elvis Presley's last movie, Change of Habit.

The son and daughter-in-law of Mary's husband, Grant Tinker, paid a visit to Graceland and came upon a "priceless discovery" in one of Graceland's gift shops. Her husband balked at buying the item, citing its price, but they later found it was worth to them every cent, and more.

Tinker's daughter-in-law, Rhonda Rich, wrote a piece on the discovery in the Savannah Morning News. 

She begins with:

Whenever Tink and I visit Graceland, Elvis Presley's home, we enjoy traipsing through every gift shop on the premises. There are many.

On our last trip, we bought an "Elvis Live in Las Vegas" double album. It is a Graceland exclusive with colored vinyl – I love playing vinyl on a record player – that has one hot pink record and one bright yellow.

Later, we wandered through the biggest store, searching for "You Ain't Nothin' But A Hound Dog" collars for our two hounds (there is no such thing, but it's a good idea). My attention was captured by a large coffee table book about three inches thick and featuring a vivid 1968 black-and-white image of a mod-looking Elvis with sideburns and longish hair.

It was an extensive pictorial and story-laden account of Elvis' last movie, "Change of Habit." Elvis' co-star in that movie – the final in a long line of beautiful love interests in his films – was Mary Tyler Moore, Tink's stepmother. It was an odd Elvis movie that didn't capture the fancy of audiences because, in an extreme stretch of fantasy, he played a doctor and Mary played a nun.

The discovery was made days later at home when they unwrapped the shrink-wrapped book.

To read more, go here.

Biden's Pick For Press Secretary's Hat

Lookie at what Rep. Dan Crenshaw turned up:

Georgia Emergency Order On Voting Machines

Some interesting and good news from attorney Lin Wood on the case of Georgia election results:

Sen. Rand Paul On Election "Data Dumps"

About 15 minutes ago, Senator Rand Paul Tweeted the following:

Interesting . . . Trump margin of “defeat” in 4 states occurred in 4 data dumps between 1:34-6:31 AM.  Statistical anomaly? Fraud? Look at the evidence and decide for yourself. (That is, if Big Tech allows u to read this)

Anomalies in Vote Counts;  https://votepatternanalysis.substack.com/p/voting-anomalies-2020

 

RV Ready For Cold Winter Storage?

Above, The Beast in the GOCO Beast Barn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those in cold climates, the following is for them.

RV Life has some winterizing tips for RVs in cold winter storage.

They begin with:

If you’re not a fan of cold winters, now’s the time to start planning your snowbird escape. If this isn’t in your plans this winter, here’s how you can ensure your RV is safely tucked away for storage and in top shape come spring.

Water can hurt your RV the most during storage. Both fresh and wastewater systems need the proper attention. If you don’t get the water out, expansion can break pipes and create lots of misery.

Here are some quick tips to refer to time and time again for hassle-free storage and an effortless spring for when you’re ready to hit the road again.

To read more, go here. 

Number of Tribal National Parks Is Growing

Above, Monument Valley Tribal Park is operated by and is a part of the Navajo Nation. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The National Park Service isn't the only body (government or otherwise) that administers national parks and monuments in the U.S.

Several Native American tribes have created Tribal National Parks around the country. A new one has just been created.

According to InsideHook:

This week brought with it the announcement of a new national park, one which will eventually encompass 444 acres on the border of Nebraska and Kansas. The governing body setting this new park up isn’t the National Park Service, however; instead, it’s being established by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska.

A report from the Associated Press notes that the Ioway Tribal National Park “will overlook a historic trading village where the Ioway people bartered for buffalo hides and pipestones with other tribes during the 13th to 15th centuries.” When it’s completed, Ioway Tribal National Park will join a growing number of tribal national parks across North America.

It’s worth mentioning here that this isn’t an exclusively American phenomenon. Similar parks have been established in other countries where Indigenous populations faced warfare, oppression and relocation in the name of colonialism. Booderee National Park, located on the east coast of Australia, is owned by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community and jointly managed by Parks Australia and the Indigenous community there. 

The Ioway Tribal National Park was made possible, in part, by a donation of land by the Nature Conservancy of Nebraska. That puts the park in line with two growing movements: One, of raising awareness of where Indigenous peoples have historically lived. The other involves donating land outright, which has taken place on governmental, institutional and personal levels.

To read more, go here.

Visit A Ghost Town With "Wild" Animals

Above, four of Oatman's "locals" strolling on Route 66. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last December (has it really been that long ago?), I paid my third visit to the famous Oatman, Arizona, where wild burros roam the town's streets.

Oatman is situated on historic Route 66 and is a fun place to spend a few hours or even a whole day.

RV Travel has an article on Oatman, along with a video, on what's there to see.

They begin with:

There’s a certain ghost town along Route 66 where wild animals roam the streets, and where the local merchants encourage tourists to feed them. Oh, they’re not so wild that people are afraid of them (but don’t stand behind and get kicked: that’s another story).

Okay, the town is Oatman, Ariz., which is located along historic Route 66 just east of where the Mother Road enters California.

And the wild creatures are burros. They’re descendants of the animals once owned by miners but then abandoned when the gold or silver didn’t meet expectations. They roam freely in much of the Desert Southwest, but Oatman is the only town that takes a special interest in them and coaxes them into its one-block downtown to entertain tourists.

If you've never been to Oatman, a visit there is a "must-do" for you.

To read more and see the video, go here.

He's Ready To Eat

Above, Buddy watching intently. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Each day, when I start up the car or Jeep in the morning, Buddy watches intently to see if I am heading over to feed him. He always goes to the corner of his pen to watch me approach. He did so again this morning.

Above, Buddy enjoying his breakfast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Then, when I pull into his yard, I can tell he's excited to be fed as he gets very animated and walks around his pen in anticipation.

Above, now I know where the term "eats like a horse" comes from. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Who said animals are dumb?

Sunny and Clear Week

Above, the mesas about a year ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Winter Weather Advisory has ended and I see that we had a light dusting of snow overnight.

Right now, it is around 25° outside.

That should be it for snowfall, at least for a while. It will be sunny during the coming week, although the temperatures will be in the high 30s to the 40s.

According to the National Weather Service:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 44. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 47. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 22.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 46.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 19.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 39.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 19.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 39.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 20.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 43.

Save 40% On Your National Park Bucket List Trip

Above, Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful Inn. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Are there national parks in your "bucket list" of places to see?

If so, you're in luck! Xanterra, a concessionaire of several national parks has a deal that can make that bucket list dream come true.

According to The Points Guy:

Socially distanced vacations and road trips are all the rage in the age of coronavirus. National park vacations are especially popular.

If you’ve always dreamed of doing a bucket list trip to a national park, there may not be a better time to plan one.

Xanterra is the concessioner for all accommodations inside some of the best U.S. national parks, including Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. They are currently running a “Bucket List Travel” sale that could save you as much as 40%. 

For more details, go here. 

Aerial Tours of Mount Fuji

Above, a Shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Gee, it is too bad that none of us can go to Japan at present for a vacation trip, for a domestic airline in Japan has come up with something that sounds interesting and fun.

It's an aerial flight over Mount Fuji.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

SHIZUOKA--As airlines around the world struggle to navigate industry turbulence caused by the pandemic, a regional carrier is getting a lift thanks to one of Japan’s national symbols: Mount Fuji.

While Japan's highest summit remains closed to visitors due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Fuji Dream Airlines Co. is managing rock-solid sales on a sightseeing flight that lets passengers enjoy the view from up above.

The special tour has become so popular that tickets sell out immediately almost every time it starts accepting reservations.

Using a chartered plane that can accommodate about 80 passengers, the flight offers panoramic views of Mount Fuji, the Japan Alps, Kurobe Dam and other landmarks for 60 to 90 minutes.

The flight is attracting attention as a popular form of tourism amid the pandemic, even though the travel plan was first introduced in 2010.

It is a welcome boon in a devastating year for the industry, this airline included.

Fuji Dream Airlines was forced to ground all its flights from late April to mid-May due to the coronavirus outbreak.

To read more, go here. 

RPNM: Native American Heritage Day

 

Dear Friends,   This is Native American Heritage Day, a time to honor and celebrate tribal communities around New Mexico and the rest of our great nation. I, along with RPNM, want to recognize the many Native American communities for their extraordinary accomplishments and many contributions.    New Mexico’s tribes are and will continue to be a valued part of New Mexico, an important treasure, and I encourage everyone to learn more about our Native American culture that has made our state a special place to live.   Native Americans have enriched our state through their proud heritage. We all pay tribute to their members who invest and contribute so much to New Mexico’s daily life.    Sincerely, Steve Pearce, Chairman      Republican Party of New Mexico

It's Starting!

Above, Buddy having breakfast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few minutes ago, I got back from giving Buddy his breakfast.

It was a good thing that I did. It is about 30° outside and already it is starting to snow. The National Weather Service said 8:00, but it has already started. They were an hour off.

Above, diving in. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I barely got the car into the garage before the snow showers really started falling. After I got home, the ground was already beginning to turn white.

Above, the ground is already turning white. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Buddy was watching me intently when I came out side and got into and started the car. When I gave him his flake (or leaf) of hay, he came right over and started devouring it. Nothing wrong with his appetite!

Yoshinoya: None In New Mexico

Above, people waiting for buses near a Yoshinoya in Chiba Prefecture, Japan in 2014 . Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I moved out of California, I've missed two hamburger restaurants (well, since my heart attack of two years ago, I've curtailed consuming red meats): In-N-Out Burger and Tommy's.

There's a third fast food restaurant I do miss, but I would have to curtail visits there as well over the same issue. That would be beef bowls at Yoshinoya. I was thinking about them the other day.

Unfortunately, Yoshinoya restaurants are only in California. There was one in Las Vegas, Nevada, but that has since closed down.

Snow Is On It's Way

Above, New Year's Day 2019 snow. Photo by Armad Vaquer. 

It looks like the snow will begin (if it does) and about 2 1/2 hours from now. That's around about the time I'd head outside to feed Buddy next door.

And, a couple of hours or so after that, I would have to head down to the Flying J to check my mailbox. I guess I'll have to bundle up. I can tolerate it better if we don't get gusty winds along with it.

According to the National Weather Service:

 Overnight

A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. Calm wind. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday

Snow showers likely, mainly after 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 33. East wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Above, Akiki Wakabayashi's autographed photo.

Thanksgiving night was an enjoyable one as the local "Jamestown Gang" got together at Greg & Marlo's for dinner.

Thankfully, the conversations didn't include politics as we all need a break from it, even if only for a few hours. Much of it centered over James Bond movies as You Only Live Twice, Live and Let Die and The World Is Not Enough were on the telly (that's British for television). 

Interestingly, I noticed some details in You Only Live Twice that I hadn't before as Greg has one of the biggest big-screen television sets around. They were mainly details of background shops in Tokyo as Bond (Sean Connery) was walking to a meeting at a Sumo wresting arena with Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi).

Russell Asbill and I had a good chat about celebrity autographs we have in our respective collections.

After dinner (I was very stuffed and couldn't finish an excellent apple pie), heading out to the car to go home was quite chilly. It had to be in the 20s. But, since the sky was clear, the Milky Way was nicely displayed in the cold air.

I ended up going to bed early. (Food coma, you know.) That's why I am up so early.

It is probably going to snow today. So far, it hasn't. I hope it holds off until after I feed Buddy this morning.

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening. 

Oregon Governor Advocates Thanksgiving Snitching

Left-wing wacko Governor Kate Brown is urging Oregonians to snitch on their neighbors if they see them celebrating Thanksgiving with "too many" guests.

The New York Post reported:

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is urging residents to rat out their neighbors who break COVID-19 restrictions by having too many guests over on Thanksgiving.

Brown recently limited the number of people allowed in a private home to six as part of a two-week “freeze” for the entire state to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Oregon has more than 66,000 reported cases in the state, according to The Oregonian.

“Look, this is no different than what happens if there’s a party down the street and it’s keeping everyone awake,” Brown told KGW8 last week. “What do neighbors do? They call law enforcement because it’s too noisy. This is just like that. It’s like a violation of a noise ordinance.”

This is a typical totalitarian tactic used by the Nazis and communists in the 20th Century. What's next, Governor? Gulags?

To read more, go here.

Winter Weather Advisory

 

Above, the mesas a year ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
317 AM MST Thu Nov 26 2020

NMZ206-262300-
/O.NEW.KABQ.WW.Y.0020.201127T1300Z-201128T1100Z/
West Central Mountains-
317 AM MST Thu Nov 26 2020

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 4 AM MST
SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches
  with up to 5 inches possible above 7,500 feet. Winds gusting as
  high as 35 mph.

* WHERE...West Central Mountains.

* WHEN...From 6 AM Friday to 4 AM MST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The combination of light snow with cold
  temperatures and breezy winds will elevate the potential for
  travel impacts along the I-40 corridor, especially along the
  Continental Divide.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling.

The latest road conditions for New Mexico can be obtained by
calling 5 1 1, 1-800-432-4269, or visiting nmroads.com.

"Godzilla vs. Kong" To Go Streaming?

Since everything else in life this past year has gone haywire, now it has been reported that Warner Bros. is considering sending Godzilla vs. Kong direct to streaming before a theatrical release.

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Godzilla vs. Kong, the forthcoming monster movie from Legendary Pictures, looks likely to be the latest big franchise movie to head to a streamer.

Knowledgeable sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Netflix has made an offer of more than $200 million for the film while WarnerMedia has blocked the deal while preparing an offer of its own for its streamer, HBO Max. Legendary declined to comment while a Warner Bros. spokesperson said: "We plan to release Godzilla vs. Kong theatrically next year as scheduled."

To read the full story, go here.

White Friday

Above, an early snowstorm two years ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is expected to be sunny, although cooler than yesterday.

Tomorrow will be a different story as a Winter Weather Advisory has been called, starting at 0600 tomorrow morning and will go to 0400 Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

So, instead of Black Friday, it'll probably be a White Friday instead in Jamestown, New Mexico. At least the cold temperatures will help keep people indoors at home so they won't spread COVID-19. The current lockdown in New Mexico is supposed to end Monday.

 Thanksgiving Day

Sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Increasing clouds, with a low around 23. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Friday

A 50 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. East wind 5 to 15 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Pennsylvania Republican Hearing on 2020 Election

Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania held a hearing today on what happened in the state during the election.

From C-SPAN:

President Trump joins a meeting of Republican lawmakers in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that the election was rigged and must be overturned. His attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who appears in person, alleges mass voter fraud with mail-in ballots.

 To view the hearing, go here.

Noel Neill's 100th Birthday

Today would have been the "Original Lois Lane's" 100th birthday.

Actress Noel Neill was born Noel Darleen Neill on November 25, 1920 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was the first live-action Lois Lane in the Kirk Alyn Superman serials. She replaced actress Phyllis Coates in the Adventures of Superman television series in 1953 that starred George Reeves. 

She passed away on July 3, 2016.

To commemorate Noel's 100th birthday here are a couple of autographed items she gave me. Both items are larger than my scanner bed, so some parts of the images were not included.

Above, Noel received her "Golden Boot Award" in 2004.

From Wikipedia:

The Golden Boot Awards is an American acknowledgement of achievement honoring actors, actresses, and crew members who have made significant contributions to the genre of Westerns in television and film. The award is sponsored and presented by the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

Above, an autographed reproduction lobby card for Atom Man vs.
Superman  (1950), which is the second Kirk Alyn Superman serial.
Noel is on the lobby card, but it was too large to include that portion.

 

Colder Than A Witch's...

Since I have a worker coming in anytime between 8:00 and 1:00 today, I braved the 20° temperature a few minutes ago to feed Buddy.

To say it was "colder than a witch's t*t" (as my dad used to say) would be a little understatement. I warmed up the car, drove over to Buddy's corral and gave him his flake (or leaf) of hay, and then jumped back into the car and headed back home.

Before going inside the house, I took this quick shot of the thermometer:

By the way, the National Weather Service was a little off in their temperature forecast. They said the low would be 18°, it was 14° about an hour ago.

Travelin' Cat

Above, Sierra at Goulding's Lodge Campground near Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My cat Sierra probably has been in more states during several travels since she was born in August 2015 than many people have in their lifetimes. I adopted her (or did she adopt me?) in November of that year. 

To date, she has been in the following states: California (where she was born), Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico (where we live now), Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Illinois, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri and Wyoming.

I keep her up-to-date veterinary records in the motorhome just in case they're needed.

Grand Teton National Park Saw Record Visitation In October

Above, the Grand Teton mountain range. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Like Yellowstone National Park, its next-door-neighbor to the north, Grand Teton National Park saw record attendance for the month of October.

National Park Traveler reported:

The rush to get outdoors this year has impacted many areas of the National Park System, and at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming that rush in October nearly doubled visitation for October 2019.

This October saw an estimated 351,173 recreation visits, an 88 percent increase compared to October 2019.

Here are the numbers: 

2020—351,173

2019—186,487

To read more, go here. 

Ammoland: Is .30-30 Winchester Ammo Ideal for Personal Defense?

Above, Winchester .30-30 ammo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This evening, I was perusing Ammoland.com for news or deals on 9mm ammunition. Right now, there's an ammunition shortage (regular readers of this blog would know that from prior posts) and current available supplies have been marked up in price.

While looking, I came upon an article on the Winchester .30-30 ammo. The gist of the article is: Is Winchester .30-30 ideal for personal defense? It is interesting that this question was brought up since the .30-30 have proven itself as a popular hunting round.

The Winchester .30-30 is a 120 year old round and mainly used in Winchester 94 lever-action rifles. I bought a Winchester 94 (1962 vintage) last year. That's why the article caught my attention.

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94.

The article starts with:

USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- There’s been a lot of talk over the years, in gun shops, around camps and occasionally even in print that the .30-30 Winchester rifle should finally go the way of the Dodo.

I have heard more than one conversation between so-called learned experts that it’s a useless round past the 100-yard mark and that even at that distance, it’s really barely just getting by and that’s just for hunting. So what about the .30-30 as a viable defense round? Is it any good, or should it be hung over the wall with Granddad’s antique snowshoes and left as a memory of another time?

        

        .30-30 Winchester Ammo

Most experts, of course, will throw out there that the best choice for a defensive round would be some semi-auto rifle, and in many cases they would be right, but in some locales, the laws are not always on the side of gun owners, and in some cases, those semi-auto rifles, are restricted or have to be “compliant” which to many of us, translates into another word. Neutered. For instance, in my particular state, any AR platform can’t have a pistol grip with a detachable magazine, which can only be 10 rounds anyway so they have this bizarre stock that resembles PVC pipe or you can have a pistol grip but must load from a stripper clip from the side at an angle. I applaud the gun makers for coming up with alternatives, but these guns are still shadows of their former selves.

Getting back to the .30-30 Winchester, look at the round itself. The 150 grain round is listed at 2,400 fps, and while this isn’t blowing the doors off the competition when you compare it to the .308 or .30-06, you have to be impressed when you compare it to one of the most respected military rounds on the planet, the 7.62x39mm, which with its 123 grain FMJ is also listed at the 2,400 fps mark.

One of the reasons the .30-30 Winchester has always been so popular is because of the gun it was chambered in. Putting the round into the 1894 Winchester rifle and the more desirable carbine with its 20-inch barrel standard gave the shooter a gun that weighed a little more than six pounds and was only thirty-seven inches long. Compare that to say an SKS which weighs over eight pounds and is three inches longer. If the Winchester 94 is not your thing, the Marlin 336 Rifle and it’s predecessors, the 1893, the 1936 and the Model 36 are all fine guns in their own right.

The article then gives a very interesting history of the Winchester .30-30 and discusses its effectiveness in personal defense. It is a good read.

To read the full article, go here.

A Cold One Tonight (I Am Not Talking Beer)

Above, Buddy having breakfast this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, I gave my neighbor's horse Buddy his dinner. It is about 46° outside, but the wind makes it feel much colder. 

After feeding Buddy, I headed over to the GOCO Beast Barn to flip on The Beast's holding tank heaters. Read on and you'll know why.

I figured that last night's snowfall would be melted away by this afternoon. Well, I was right! It is almost gone.

Tonight, it is going to be very cold, 18° (according to the National Weather Service). 

The next chance for snow is Thanksgiving night/Friday morning.

The forecast for the next three days:

This Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 44. Northwest wind around 15 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light southwest in the evening.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 52. Light southwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 21. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thanksgiving Day

Sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 23.

Friday

A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Supermarket Shutdowns: NM Governor's Health Orders Forcing People Into Long Lines

Above, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Lunatic Gov. "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham is ordering closure of supermarkets in communities for two weeks where "reports" of coronavirus had been made. This is forcing people into long lines where sources of food and groceries are limited.

On top of that, the governor's offices is lying about it.

The Washington Examiner reported:

A dozen grocery stores around the state have been forced to close for two weeks because of a public health order issued by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at a time when the state’s residents are suffering from record high unemployment and food insecurity, critics say.

The order requires businesses with four or more rapid responses of COVID-19 cases reported within in a 14-day period to close for two weeks.

More than 25 essential businesses were shut down as of Monday afternoon, including a number of grocery stores and major retailers.

The closures include two Walmarts in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe, an Albertson’s in Roswell, a Smiths Food & Drug Center in Albuquerque and New Mexico Food Distribution Center in Albuquerque.

Access to purchase food is now limited because of another order issued by the governor requiring capacity limitations at all stores. New Mexicans are now waiting outside, standing in line for up to two hours, local news reports indicate, which the governor’s office has disputed.

The governor’s office said, “The state is not forcing anyone to stand in a crowded line, as you suggest,” in response to requests for comment from KOB4 News TV.

Have you ever heard the term gaslighting? This is what the governor's office is doing. I suggest you look it up.

But John Block at Pinon Post says the governor’s office claims are “untrue and easily disprovable.” He posted photos of New Mexicans waiting in long lines outside of grocery stores with dates and time stamps. The photos were taken between Nov. 13 and Nov. 23.

To read more, go here. 

This must be what Venezuelans have to go through.