Video: "Do I Regret Leaving California?"

Above, at Redondo Beach's King Harbor fish market last September. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Last September, I visited L.A. for the first time in the five years since I moved to New Mexico. I was there for a high school class reunion in El Segundo. 

While I had a good time seeing many classmates at the reunion and elsewhere, I noticed how things have deteriorated in the five years since I moved. Crime is rampant, freeways and streets are clogged and gasoline is sky-high. 

The drive from the San Fernando Valley to El Segundo took almost two hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic. My anxiety level went up. I found that I can no longer tolerate such driving conditions. It used to be a "piece of cake", only because I was used to it back when I lived there. Living in New Mexico, the joy to take a ride returned.

By the time my visit was over, I couldn't wait to get back to Jamestown, New Mexico. 

I first saw the following video, "Do I Regret Leaving California?" at Gary Julian's The People's Republic blog. The girl speaking in the video visited L.A. for the first time since moving to Prescott, Arizona and her experience echoed mine. 

If one is contemplating moving the hell out of Commiefornia, a viewing of this video can be useful.

Superman Loses Head In Windstorm

Superman is invulnerable to bullets, fire, artillery and many other things, but apparently wind isn't one of them.

The Metropolis Illinois News posted the following on Facebook:

Above, the Man of Steel sans head. Photo by Metropolis Illinois News.

*Breaking*

It is confirmed that the wind today blew off Superman's head.

Maintenance crews are asking the general public to avoid the area, as they work fervently into the night to reattach.

 Here's the stature before its decapitation:

Above, the statue in November 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

NOTE: This story is possibly a fake one. A couple posted a video of themselves in front of the statue and the head was on it.

NMSSA Legislative Update 2/27/23

Today's action in Santa Fe saw three bad results and one good one. First, this morning in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee, SB44, the ban on carrying an open or concealed firearm within 100ft of a polling place, passed on a party-line vote. That bill now heads to the House Judiciary Committee. The second committee meeting was today's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. The first bill they heard was HB9, the bill that imposes criminal penalties on a gun owner if a minor commits a crime or hurts someone with their gun. The bill passed on a party-line vote, but it was amended several times in the committee. Some of the changes were good, some were bad, but it will have to return to the House side for concurrence if it passes the Senate side. The next stop for the bill is the Senate Finance Committee. The second gun bill the committee heard was SB114, a bill we supported. SB114 would have updated New Mexico's concealed carry laws for the changes to New Mexico's liquor laws that were made in 2021. The bill would have expanded the types of alcohol a restaurant could serve and still allow patrons to concealed carry in it. That bill was tabled on a party-line vote. Finally, in the good result of the day, SB171, the ban on the sale or transfer of many types of ammunition, NFA Firearms and certain semiautomatic pistols, was tabled in the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 6-3 vote. Three Democrats joined the Republicans on the committee in voting to table the bill. A tabled bill can be brought back up again, but at this point in the session, doing so is unlikely. Nevertheless, we will continue to watch the bill for the remainder of the session. There are still a lot of bills we are watching, while none are scheduled for committee or floor votes at the moment, that can change very quickly. Please take the time to contact your State Representative to ask them to oppose HB100, the proposed 14-day waiting period for gun purchases. Here is a link to a pre-drafted email opposing the bill.

 

Woke Mob Is Now After 007

Above, my collection of Ian Fleming James Bond novels. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"The campaign to make everything culturally bland, boring and sterile continues" - Summit News.

James Bond 007 has succumbed to the woke mob, or at least the owner of the literary rights to Ian Fleming's novels has.

Of all the idiotic things in recent years, this one really takes the cake. Ian Fleming's original James Bond novels are being censored (this is what's really going on) so that people won't get offended by racial, sexist and other "politically incorrect" terms and attitudes.

Summit News reported on a story in The Telegraph that the James Bond novels of Ian Fleming are to be edited by "sensitivity readers".

They wrote, in part:

And then the woke mob came for Bond.

According to a report in The Telegraph, “sensitivity readers” are being employed to scour the original James Bond books to look for and remove any ‘outdated’ content including ‘racist’ comments.

The latest publications of the books, written by Ian Fleming, will also reportedly contain a trigger warning notifying readers that they may find some of the storylines hurt their feelings.

The warning will read “This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace.” 

The editing of the books is to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the first ever Bond book Casino Royale.

What exactly is ‘offensive’ is yet to be determined, but presumably it could extend to the fact that Bond is a straight white man who likes to fratenize with multiple women at any one time, drinks heavily and doesn’t have a single simp cell in his body.

The report notes that ‘sexual descriptors’ have been edited or altogether removed, including one scene in Live and Let Die where a group of men watching a stripper are described being “like pigs at the trough”.

At this rate, they will have to completely rename Octopussy.

Here's what The Telegraph posted, in part:

James Bond novels have been rewritten to remove a number of racial references from Ian Fleming’s work, The Telegraph can reveal.

All of the author’s thrillers featuring 007 are set to be reissued in April to mark 70 years since Casino Royale, the first book in the series, was published.

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, the company that owns the literary rights to the author’s work, commissioned a review by sensitivity readers of the classic texts under its control.

The Telegraph understands that a disclaimer accompanying the reissued texts will read: “This book was written at a time when terms and attitudes which might be considered offensive by modern readers were commonplace.

“A number of updates have been made in this edition, while keeping as close as possible to the original text and the period in which it is set.”

The changes to Fleming’s books result in some depictions of black people being reworked or removed.

Dated references to other ethnicities remain, such as Bond’s racial terms for east Asian people and the spy’s disparaging views of Oddjob, Goldfinger’s Korean henchman.

References to the “sweet tang of rape”, “blithering women” failing to do a “man’s work”, and homosexuality being a “stubborn disability” also remain.

This is just plain sheer stupidity. What's wrong with, "Don't like it, don't read it"?

Will "Pussy Galore" be soon known as "Penelope Galore"?

The Cost of Investing in Precious Metals

Above, 2023 Silver Britannia coins from the Royal Mint. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Biden Administration is screwing up the economy. Billions are being sent to Ukraine to the extent that we may be left without enough arms for our own defense, thereby goading Russia into World War III. Millions of illegals are flooding across our border with no resistance. Congressional spending has gone into the stratosphere with Biden's approval. 

Small wonder there's runaway inflation. This is forcing people to seek a hedge in precious metals. Day by day, the dollar is losing value.

What is the cost of in investing in precious metals? This question is the topic of a new article in The Epoch Times.

They start it off with:

Gold and silver and other precious metals like platinum and palladium provide valuable security in times of financial turmoil. Despite price fluctuations, physical precious metals pose no credit risk and retain an intrinsically high economic value even when the stock market crashes.

What are the costs of precious metals investing, and what associated expenses are involved in a precious metals portfolio?

To read more, go here.

Climbing The Key West Lighthouse

Above, the Key West Lighthouse from the Hemingway House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I toured Key West, Florida four years ago this coming April, I was on the top balcony of the Hemingway House and spotted the Key West Lighthouse nearby.

From the balcony, I took the above photo of the lighthouse.

Since then I found that a view of the lighthouse was shown in the 1989 James Bond movie, Licence To Kill with a similar view as my photo's.

TheTravel posted an article on visiting the Key West Lighthouse (which I should have done, but didn't).

They begin with:

The stunning views from the top of the Key West Lighthouse are a sight to behold. With a climb of 88 iron steps, visitors find themselves perched atop the 18th-century structure, taking in the expansive, sweeping views of the surrounding area. Initially built in 1847, this lighthouse served as a beacon of safety for countless ships entering the port, warning them away from hazardous reefs. Today, adventurous travelers can take on the challenge of scaling this historic structure to experience a bird's eye view of Key West like no other.

The observation platform offers an unparalleled view of the town's famous sunsets, making it the perfect spot to catch the sun as it disappears below the horizon. For more than 100 years, lighthouse keepers kept watch from the top of this tower, ensuring the safety of sailors and the preservation of the historic structure. Now, visitors worldwide can follow in their footsteps and experience the thrill of climbing to the top of this iconic Key West landmark.

To read more, go here. 

Snow In Los Angeles Two Years In A Row

 

A few years before the Daily Planet took up residence in Los Angeles City Hall (1953, to be exact) in the Adventures of Superman, a rare snowstorm hit Los Angeles in January 1949.

Above, is a photograph of snow-covered streets in the Civic Center section of Los Angeles with City Hall and the Federal Court building in the background. 

The storm that brought blizzard warnings in Los Angeles County this past week motivated some people to post photos of the snow in 1949 Los Angeles. I found these interesting since I was born in Los Angeles and the snows in Los Angeles were a little before my time. 

As it turned out, the city was also had snow in January 1948. The photo below was taken on January 7, 1948 in the Cahuenga Pass near Universal Studios.

Above, Cahuenga Pass (U.S. 101) that connects the San Fernando Valley to the Los Angeles basin.

About An Inch

Above, today's snow, so far. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The storm that pummeled Southern California and sparked the first blizzard alert there in years is now over Arizona and New Mexico.

We're are now having light snow showers, but earlier, it dumped about an inch of snow in Jamestown, New Mexico.

The "worst" of it has already passed, so if there's any more snow, it will be at around a 5% chance.

UPDATE (1353):

Looks like I spoke too soon. It is snowing again now and pretty hard, too.

Fed Risks A Repeat of the 1970s

Wondering what's driving down prices of gold and silver?

It looks like the Federal Reserve will be meeting shortly to raise interest rates again as inflation (i.e., Bidenflation) continues to roar on.

According to The Market Oracle (U.K.):

Gold and silver markets drifted lower again this week as investors braced for additional Fed rate hikes to come.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve released the minutes from its latest policy meeting. Policymakers agreed on the need for additional increases in interest rates. They settled on just a 0.25% bump up at their last meeting. But some dissenters called for a larger 0.5% hike.

Since the Fed’s last move, incoming economic data is emboldening the hawks. A superficially strong U.S. jobs report combined with stubbornly high inflation readings suggest central bankers have more work to do.

Following the Fed's policy meeting earlier this month, Chairman Jay Powell declared that disinflation was taking hold. But since then, inflation indicators have shown the opposite -- that prices levels in the economy continue to come in high and continue to exceed most forecasts.

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard is casting doubt on Powell's call for disinflation to take hold. Bullard says monetary policy is not yet sufficiently restrictive. And in recent remarks, he warned that if the Fed is too soft on inflation, we risk a repeat of the 1970s.

High interest rates is one thing nobody is nostalgic for when it comes to the 1970s. 

To read more, go here.

Silver Spot Price Below $22.00/toz

Last week's silver spot price ended under $22.00/toz. This couldn't be better timing for buyers at the National Money Show this coming weekend in Phoenix.

Buyers who track silver spot price can use this to their advantage in getting great deals on silver coins and bullion at the show. 

 According to Monex:

The silver spot price can rise or it can go even lower this week. It will be interesting so see what happens.

More Snow

Above, snow on January 21. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anytime now, we're going to have a snowstorm roll into the area (maybe starting at 8:00 this morning). 

Just when most of the last storm's snow has mostly melted away, another storm comes in.

According to the National Weather Service:

 Today

Snow showers, mainly between 8am and 11am. High near 36. Windy, with a south wind 20 to 30 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

NMSSA Legislative Alert 2/25/23

 

The schedule for the Monday meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee was finally released this evening, two of the anti-gun bills in the committee will be heard on the 27th. HB9, the bill imposing criminal penalties on gun owners if a third-party minor uses their firearm to commit a crime or injure someone, will be heard. It already passed the House side, so it is making its way through the Senate side now. Here is a pre-drafted email you can send to your State Senator to oppose the bill. SB171, the bill banning the sale of certain semiautomatic pistols such as AR pistols, NFA firearms, and many types of commonly used ammunition, will also be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. Here is a pre-drafted email you can send to committee members asking them to oppose the bill. The committee meeting starts at 1:30pm, or half an hour after the floor session concludes, in Room 321 (Zoom Link). Additionally, SB114, a bill that we support, will also be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday. The bill proposes a small, only a few words, change to New Mexico's concealed carry laws. After New Mexico's liquor laws were overhauled a few years ago, many restaurants that used to only sell beer and wine now sell other types of alcoholic drinks as well. This bill changes the language of Section 30-7-3 from: "a restaurant licensed to sell only beer and wine that derives no less than sixty percent of its annual gross receipts from the sale of food for consumption on the premises," to: "a restaurant licensed to sell spirituous liquors, cider, beer or wine that derives no less than sixty percent of its annual gross receipts from the sale of food for consumption on the premises." The bill strikes the word "only" and adds spirituous liquors and cider to the existing law. This change would allow individuals to once again concealed carry in restaurants they used to be able to carry in before the liquor laws were changed. SB44, the ban on carrying open or concealed firearms with 100ft of a polling place while voting is underway, will be heard in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee on Monday the 27th at 8:30am in Room 305 (Zoom Link). The bill passed the Senate side, so it is now starting to move on the House side. You can use this link to send a pre-drafted email to committee members opposing the bill.

Photos and VIdeos In National Parks May Require Permits

Above, the entrance sign to Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

These are weird times we're living in.

Suppose you go to Grand Canyon National Park on vacation and shoot videos or still photographs of your visit and post them on YouTube or some other social media that's monetized, you could be busted by the National Park Service and fined for not obtaining a permit to do so.

Sounds bizarre, right?

RV Travel posted an article stating that this is the case.

They start it out with:

Do you film videos for your YouTube, TikTok, or other social media site? If you shoot video on property managed by the National Park Service and your site is monetized, look out! Ditto for still photos that you end up posting. A recent court ruling says anyone who has the “intent of generating income” from video shot in national parks—and other lands managed by the Service—must receive advanced permission to do so. Shoot without a permit and post it, you may find yourself in the crosshairs of the law.

"The simple act of photographing or videotaping a funny animal in, for example,Yellowstone, and then posting it online may once again be illegal just because a permit was not obtained beforehand."

To read more, go here. 

Lawsuit Could Upend Operations of Recreation.gov

Above, at camp at Chaco Canyon's Gallo Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in July 2021, I went to Chaco Culture National Historical Park for a little visit, which included camping in my motorhome at the park's Gallo Campground.

I made my camping reservation through Recreation.gov., which is the official website for making camping reservations on federal lands. Unbeknownst to me, Recreation.gov is administered by a private company contractor and has been so since 2018. 

Herein lies the problem: they have been charging fees for reservations, which is illegal according to a lawsuit.

RV Travel discusses this lawsuit in an article.

They start it with:

Wilson, et al., v. Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc., et al.

A federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, VA, could upend the operation of Recreation.gov, the website that RVers and other recreational users must use to reserve campsites on federal lands.

Since 2018, the U.S. government has outsourced the operation of Recreation.gov to Booz Allen Hamilton (“Booz Allen”) of Fairfax, VA, a vast international consulting firm and major U.S. federal contractor. During that time, Booz Allen redesigned the Recreation.gov website and smartphone app and began taking reservations. The company created a fee structure for its services that included an array of fees for making campground reservations, acquiring hiking and river rafting permits, drive-through vehicle permits for national parks and monuments, and other recreational activities. Recreation.gov reveals no disclosure that the site is operated by any entity other than the federal land agencies. The use of the top-level domain attribute “.gov” adds to the opaque nature of the cite.

Lawsuit filed for refunds of “Junk Fees”

On February 11, 2023, the Washington D.C. law firm Tycko & Zavareei filed a lawsuit against Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. over the fees on behalf of seven plaintiffs, requesting certification as a class action. Plaintiffs are seeking more than $5 million in refunds of fees the law firm calls “Junk Fees” and compensatory and punitive damages.

In their complaint, plaintiffs aver that their case is about holding Booz Allen, a multibillion-dollar for-profit federal contractor, responsible for forcing American consumers to pay “Ticketmaster-style Junk Fees” to access National Parks and other federal recreational lands in violation of the Federal Lands Recreational Enhancement Act (“FLREA”).

The complaint cites many so-called Junk Fees, such as those that Recreation.gov charges users through the Recreation.gov website and app. They include, among other things, “park access reservation fees,” “processing fees,” “reservation fees,” “permit fees,” “lottery fees,” and “cancellation fees.”

The lawsuit differentiates between the so-called junk and bogus fees and does not include “use fees” lawfully charged and retained by the Federal Agencies and not paid to Booz Allen.

As far as I can recall, I've only gone though Reservation.gov for camping reservations once since 2018, and that was for camping at Chaco Canyon.

This lawsuit is definitely one to watch. If this goes class action, then those of us who were subjected to the "junk fees" would be added plaintiffs in this case.

To read more, go here. 

Trying Out A Wine

Above, Bogle Vineyards Petite Sirah. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, after coffee down at Denny's in the Flying J, I headed into Gallup for some grocery shopping. I wasn't going to get much, but ended up spending just over $100. 

One the things I was going to get was some wine to mix with the spaghetti sauce for the spaghetti I was planning to make today.

While at the market, I was chatting with the liquor department manage and he recommended some petite sirah to mix with the spaghetti sauce. He said it will bring out the spices in the spaghetti sauce. So I bought a bottle to try out. It is from Bogle Family Vineyards in Clarksville, California, 2019 vintage.

So, right now, the spaghetti is cooking. While preparing it, I poured a glass of it and proceeded to do some wine-sippin'.

It is a good wine, not as strong as my usual sippin; wine, Rex Goliath Merlot. Not bad.

2023 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin (W) Orders Begin March 2

Above, the American Silver Eagle bullion coin. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The regular American Silver Eagle bullion coin has been available for a few weeks. I have one already.

Yahoo! Finance has reported that the proof edition will be available for orders on March 2 at $80.00/coin. These are minted at West Point.

They reported:

Washington, DC, Feb. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Mint (Mint) will accept orders for the 2023 American Eagle Silver Proof Coin (W) beginning on March 2 at noon EST.  This one ounce proof coin is minted to demand, with orders limited to 25 coins per household for the first 24 hours of sale.

Produced at the United States Mint at West Point since 1986, American Eagle Silver Proof Coins are collector versions of the official United States Mint American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins.  These popular silver collectibles were updated in 2021 with a refreshed obverse (heads) and a completely redesigned reverse (tails) to mark the 35th anniversary of the American Eagle Coin Program.

To read more, go here. 

NMSSA Legislative Update 2/24/23

 

With about three weeks to go in the 2023 Legislative Session, none of the bills we are watching were heard in committee or were voted on in a floor session. However, that will change next week. SB44, than ban on carrying open or concealed firearms with 100ft of a polling place while voting is underway, will be heard in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee on Monday the 27th at 8:30am in Room 305 (Zoom Link). The bill passed the Senate side, so it is now starting to move on the House side. You can use this link to send a pre-drafted email to committee members opposing the bill. While we are still waiting on official confirmation, we have heard from several sources that the Senate Judiciary Committee will be hearing some of the anti-gun bills currently located in that committee on Monday. The bills currently in the committee waiting to be heard include HB9, the firearm owner criminal liability bill, SB116, the bill that bans anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing or possessing a semiautomatic firearm, and SB171, the ban on certain semiautomatic pistols, NFA Firearms, and many types of commonly used ammunition. Once the official schedule is released for Monday, we will send another update. But as they may not release it until Sunday, we wanted to alert you now. The meeting will be Monday afternoon, we will provide the Zoom link when we receive it. HB100, the 14-day waiting period bill is still waiting for a vote by the full Floor of the House. Why has it been there for a week with no vote yet? The vote is expected to be very close. This means we must to keep up the pressure against the bill. You can use this link to send a pre-drafted email to your state representative opposing the bill. Even if you have already contacted your state representative about the bill, please do so again. HB101, the ban on the sale of semiautomatic and .50 caliber rifles and registration of currently owned ones, is still in the House Judiciary Committee. The bill's sponsor is doing a third re-write of the bill. It is not currently on the committee's schedule, but it could be added last minute. We will send an update as soon as we have any info on what will happen. Neither SB427, a second version of a 14-day waiting period, nor SB428, the attempt to circumvent the PLCAA to make it easier to sue gun manufacturers and FFLs, have been heard in their first committee yet, the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. Here are links you can use to send pre-drafted emails to committee members asking them to oppose the bills: Link for SB427, Link for SB428. Earlier this week, I spoke with Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation about the bills we have seen introduced in the 2023 Legislative Session. Here is a link to the podcast where I was able to do a little bit deeper dive on each of the bills introduced.

UFO Sites To Visit In The U.S.

Above, an alien on display at the Roswell International UFO
 Museum and Research Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who are interested in UFOs (or UAPs), RV Travel posted an article on "wacky, weird UFO sites to visit in the U.S."

One of the places mentioned is Roswell, New Mexico, which I visited during the annual UFO Festival in July 2018.

They begin with:

Recently, U.S. F-16 and F-22 fighter jets shot down three “UFOs” flying over North American airspace. The Pentagon recently reported that the U.S. government has received more than 350 reports of UFOs since 2021. (The government names these sightings as “unidentified aerial phenomena.”) Even if you’re not a UFO enthusiast, this news is certainly intriguing. It reminds me of the fascinating places you can visit and learn more about UFOs right here in the USA.

Since the article is from RV Travel, I should mention that we stayed at Trailer Village RV Park in Roswell.

Above, the office of Trailer Village RV Park in Roswell. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

Japan Is Finally A More Affordable Travel Destination

Above, Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan has been known to many as a very expensive place to visit.

I never found that this was the case. I found Japan no more expensive than anywhere else. It is comparable to the U.S. for hotel rooms, transportation (the Japan Rail Pass makes it even more affordable) and food. One just has to know where to look and go to.

HuffPost has posted an article whose premise is that the country is more affordable post-COVID than during pre-COVID times for foreign visitors. This is true since the dollar now gets more yen in foreign exchange.

They start with:

Japan, high on the bucket list for many travelers due to its popular culture, food, history and art, but often unaffordable for many or overcrowded for others, is now in a “sweet spot” to visit.

Japan was among the countries that took longer to reopen to foreign travelers after COVID pandemic closures, finally welcoming visa-free tourism in October 2022. And the first foreign tourists to return to historically expensive Japan have found a much more affordable country to visit.

To read more, go here. 

COINage Magazine

COINage magazine has been around since 1964. I (or my dad) used to pick up copies at the local liquor store (along with comic books) back in the late 1960s and the early 1970s.

I recently subscribed to it and the first issue arrived today. It started out as a quarterly, but now is a bi-monthly magazine. It is now published by Beckett Media.

In looking through the issue, there are some articles that caught my attention. One in particular is an article on digital money. My quick scan of the article found that it echoes a blog post on crypto currencies I posted last November (The Federalist blog originally caught my attention to problems (including trust) with crypto/digital currencies).

Another article that caught my attention was coin collecting of Star Wars. I wasn't aware there was such a thing as Star Wars coins. Well, you learn something new everyday. 

Along with articles, the magazine includes "The COINage Price Guide" of U.S. coins. That should come in handy. I am presuming that the Guide is a regular feature. 

The Ammo Shortage 2023

Above, Cabela's ammo shelves during the height of the shortage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In many ways, the ammunition shortage still goes on.

Granted, it is less severe than it was over the past two years. In recent months, I have found the ammo shelves fully stocked at Cabela's in Albuquerque. Two years ago, they were almost totally empty. But not all calibers are available and some types of cartridges, like hollow points, are harder to find.

Recently, I had to go online to find .357 Magnum hollow point ammo. Cabela's had .357 Magnum ammo, but not in hollow point, the last time I went there. If I can't buy what I want, I won't buy. 

Above, Cabela's ammo shelves after the shortage started easing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Outdoor Life posted an article, "The Ammo Shortage Revealed These Truths" last week.

They begin it with:

In his four decades of running D&G Sports and Western in Glasgow, Montana, Darrell Morehouse has never seen ammunition pricing and availability as unpredictable as it’s been in the past three years. That’s telling, considering the several ammo shortages he’s seen through the decades.

Sure, some of what Morehouse calls “crazy-ass” dynamics stem from supply-chain uncertainties and binge buying fueled by the Covid-19 pandemic. But his view from the gun counter at an independent sporting goods store in eastern Montana isn’t that different from the business manager of a bullet manufacturer in Utah.

“We’re in reaction mode, just trying to keep up with changing situations almost on a daily basis,” says Michael Painter, director of marketing and product management for Barnes Bullets. “We’re probably better off than a lot of our competitors because we’ve brought so much of our manufacturing processes in-house, but I can tell you that every day is some kind of a new challenge.”

One day it might be a scramble to find a new source of gunpowder that Barnes chooses for its factory-loaded ammunition. Another day it might be absorbing a jump in the commodity price of copper, the metal that Barnes, as a pioneer in the non-lead ammunition movement, requires for many of its products. Another day it might be negotiating terms with the distributors who put boxes of the company’s bullets on the shelves of retailers like Morehouse.

To read more, go here. 

Silver Spot Price Down To $21.35

A little bit ago, I took a gander at Monex's Live Silver Spot Price and it is down some more to $21.35/toz. If one is a buyer, this should mean there's some good deals to be had in buying silver bullion and coins. 

As it happens, I will be attending the National Money Show next week in Phoenix, Arizona. This would definitely be a great opportunity to find some bargains. While at the show, one should keep regular tabs on the silver spot price and do some serious haggling with the dealers.

Hopefully, the show won't be too crowded.

For more information on the National Money Show, go here.

Shoveled Snow

Above, the mesas today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Finally, I was able to go outside to shovel the walkways. The thermometer says that it was 40° outside, but because of the windchill, it seemed colder.

In any case, I got the walkways shoveled. The snow must have a high moisture content as it was heavy than what we usually get here. That has been the case with the other recent storms.

As I am writing this, snow showers have started. Hopefully, they won't undo the shoveling I did.

After I finished, I poured myself a cup of coffee to warm up and then went out and took a few photos.

Where Can You Find Free RV Hookups?

Above, the 30 amp outlet at my cousin's in California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Suppose you're on the road and need to stop somewhere to stay the night. But, you need a place that has at least electric hookups available.

Where can you stay and plug in your RV for free? If there are no friends or family that you can plug into their outlet (make sure to have a "dogbone" electric adapter with you) where you're at, what can you do?

RV Life has posted an article on these questions.

They begin with:

RV camping gives you access to a wide variety of amenities, including electricity and running water. But unless you want to drain your battery or rely on solar power, you’ll probably want to stay somewhere with electrical hookups.

Unfortunately, most places that have RV hookups require a fee, but this isn’t always the case. So you’re probably wondering: Where can I plug in my RV for free?

Believe it or not, there are some free RV parks that provide complimentary hookups. In most cases, this only includes electricity and not water or sewage. But beggars can’t be choosers! It’s a rare find if you can locate a place where you can park for free AND enjoy electrical access. There are also some private institutions that have amenities for RVers, such as casinos.

In most cases, you’ll need to pay to plug in your RV, but if you do some research ahead of time, you may be able to locate a few places that will help you out for a night or two. Otherwise, you’ll need to be prepared to pay a fee, dry camp, or rely on solar panels/a generator. Let’s talk about some places where you can plug in your RV for free.

To read more, go here. 

1949 Snow In Los Angeles

Above, ladies with a snowman in North Hollywood in 1949. 

It is funny that Southern California is bracing for blizzard conditions, according to news reports. Snow in the mountains above Los Angeles and along the Grapevine on Interstate 5 is not unusual.

Back in 1988, we had a clampout at Crystal Lake in the snow with Platrix Chapter No. 2. I had a tent trailer at the time and we were comfortable inside with the propane heater I had. Snow was on the ground when we arrived and it snowed off and on during the clampout. Some guys couldn't handle it and left. We stayed and got a special commemorative patch for our efforts.

As far as snow in the L.A. basin and the San Fernando Valley is concerned, it happened in 1949. This was a little before my time, mind you.

From the Los Angeles Times archives:

On Jan. 10, 1949, in the middle of the worst housing shortage in Los Angeles history, more than half an inch of snow covered the Civic Center. The San Fernando Valley was pelted with the unfamiliar white stuff for three days, accumulating almost a foot. The Rose Bowl was transformed into “a dishpan full of milk,” by one account. An Alhambra hardware store put up a sign that said, “Snow Plows for Rent — Hurry!” A snowman appeared in Eagle Rock, wearing a sombrero, and the city of Reno, Nev., sent L.A. a snow shovel.

We had some snow mixed with hail in the South Bay around 1978. And, in 1988, we had some snow in Warner Center in the San Fernando Valley. I remember being in both.

Snow is extremely rare in L.A., so when it does happen, the locals go crazy in trying to deal with it.

To see some photos of the L.A. snow, go here.

Possible More Snow Today

Above, eight miles away. McKinley County Office of Emergency Management.

The blizzard of yesterday was something else. On top of the snowfall, we also had high winds exceeding 50 mph at times. At times, I couldn't see the front or back yards. 

It is hard to tell just how much snow we received. The winds blew much of it here and there, so gauging the amount is not something that I have any expertise with.

Still, we had plenty, enough to keep me indoors for another day. At least I accomplished something: I found the missing 1892 Barber quarter. It was in a bag of Cuban money left over from the 2010 cruise to Havana.

According to the Weather Channel app on my phone, we have a 50% chance for more snow today. The National Weather Service pegs it as 40%,

Here's what the weekend ahead looks like:

Overnight

A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 18. Southwest wind around 15 mph. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday

A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly between 11am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. South wind 15 to 20 mph.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 54.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Sunday

Snow showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

The Great Blizzard of 2023

A few minutes ago, I took a look outside of the front door.

This is what I saw. The kitties will have soggy food when it thaws out.

It's about 2-3" now. More snow is on the way!

1976-S 40% Silver Kennedy Half Dollar

Since we have a blizzard outside, I figured it is best to remain indoors today.

Yesterday, a package arrived containing the 1976-S 40% silver Kennedy Half Dollar graded as gem proof. As I mentioned in a post a week or so ago, this was the last coin the U.S. Mint minted in 40% silver. 

Of all of the coins minted to celebrate the nation's bicentennial, the 1976-S Kennedy Half Dollar was the only coin to contain silver. All the others were copper-clad minted. 

After I found this out, I looked around and found a good deal on this one through APMEX.

The Snow's Here!

Above, just after the snow started. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The snow has arrived.

I was going to go to the post office at 8:30 before they start, but they arrived about 8:10. So there goes that plan.

For a while, the snow was falling pretty hard and accompanied by strong winds. So it looks like I'll make like a hermit and stay indoors.

Some areas are already getting hit pretty hard. One Facebook poster posted this an hour ago:

I-40 east bound coming from Winslow (i-40 closed to Flagstaff AZ road is pretty much dead up to Lupton AZ/NM Stateline) Manuelito NM Blizzard 0 visibility, Gallup NM starting to see the snow, very very high winds.  Snow plows are ready and waiting.

Storm of the Century is rolling in, stay safe and warm.

7:23 AM Stateline AZ/NM Lupton

7:30 AM Manuelito, NM

8:00 AM Gallup, NM

"Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S." Stomps Into U.S. Theaters March 22

Above, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S Japanese poster. Toho Co., Ltd.

20 years...already?! It hardly seems possible.

It has been 20 years since Toho's Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (known in Japan as Godzilla x Mothra x Mechagodzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.) was released in Japan. I first saw it at an American Film Market screening in Santa Monica as a guest of Toho Co., Ltd.

Now, to celebrate the movie's 20th anniversary, it will be showing at selected theaters around the country for one night only on March 22.

Collider reported:

Fans of the titular King of the Monsters can rejoice as the TOHO film Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. is stomping into American theaters for the first time in celebration of its 20th anniversary from Fathom Events, according to the franchise's official Twitter page. With tickets now available to pre-order, the screening of the film will take place for one night only on March 22.

This isn't the first time Fathom Events has hosted a Godzilla showing for domestic audiences. Recently, the film's predecessor Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla was screened on Godzilla Day last year in celebration of its 20th anniversary. In addition to the upcoming screening of the film, a short titled Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex, which initially debuted at the 2022 Japan Godzilla Festival, will play in front of the movie, offering fans another reason to revisit the kaiju classic on the big screen.

Below is a music video that came out at the time of the movie's release in 2003: 

To read more, go here.

In New Mexico, it will be playing at 7:00 PM March 22 at these Albuquerque theaters:

• Regal UA Cottonwood

  10000 NW Coors Blvd, Albuquerque, NM 87114

  Map  Add to Calendar
  7:00 PM

  Tickets via 

• Century Rio 24 Plex and XD

  4901 Pan American Freeway NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109

  Map  Add to Calendar
  7:00 PM

  Tickets via 

• Regal Winrock IMAX & RPX

  • 2100 Louisina Blvd NE, Bld 400, Albuquerque, NM 87110

    Map  Add to Calendar
    7:00 PM

    Tickets via