California Excise Tax On Firearms Prompts Lawsuit

Another great example of what happens when a state becomes a one-party state of radical socialist Democrats is the 11% excise tax on firearms, parts and ammunition in California. 

This has prompted a lawsuit (as well it should have).

Fox News reported:

A consortium of Second Amendment advocacy groups and two residents filed suit seeking to block California’s new 11% excise tax on firearms, parts and ammunition.

The case, Jaymes v. Maduros, alleged that the Supreme Court has previously ruled that constitutional rights should not be subject to taxation, and sought to block the tax that went into effect July 1.

One of the precedents cited was Murdock v. Pennsylvania, in which the court sided with a Jehovah’s Witness who had been required to purchase a permit to evangelize door-to-door in Westmoreland County.

In that regard, the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), National Rifle Association (NRA), California Rifle & Pistol Association and the two civilians filed their complaint against California Department of Tax & Fee Administration Director Nicolas Maduros in his official capacity, citing similar protections.

I am glad that I moved out of that rotten state.

To read more, go here.

Guide To Mesa Verde National Park For First-Timers

Above, Square Tower House at Mesa Verde National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living in the Four Corners region of the U.S. (where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet) gives me easy access to places such as Durango, Monument Valley, Petrified Forest National Park and Mesa Verde National Park. Each are roughly a 3-hour drive from home.

Mesa Verde National Park is situated near Cortez, Colorado. I have been there several times, including camping there twice. My most recent visit was four years ago.

For those who have never been there, Lonely Planet has posted a guide for first-timers.

It begins with:

Around the year 550 CE, the Ancestral Pueblo people began settling in what is today southwest Colorado. Here, on a slightly sloping section of the Colorado Plateau, they farmed, made pottery, wove baskets, and built sprawling villages within the canyon walls.

Then, around 1300 CE, they moved away and never returned. It’s not clear why the Ancestral Pueblo deserted the place that had been their home for roughly 700 years. But they left behind many clues about their rich cultural heritage, which today’s archaeologists are still eagerly studying.

Recognizing the value of the Ancestral Puebloan’s artifacts and cliff dwellings, President Theodore Roosevelt created Mesa Verde National Park in 1906. It was the first national park to “preserve the works of man,” as Roosevelt said, in addition to natural resources. The park protects nearly 5000 archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings.

Mesa Verde is one of four national parks in Colorado. Though it’s the farthest from Denver, this archaeological marvel is well worth the extra drive time. Here’s what to know as you start planning your first visit.

To read more, go here. 

Rex Museum Gutted By Gallup Librarian

Above the Rex Museum in Gallup. Photo by @newmexiconomad.

For months, I noticed that the Rex Museum in Gallup has been closed and wondered what's going on. 

Last evening, we had dinner at Martin Link's for Independence Day. While there, we had a discussion about the latest goings on in Gallup and the topic of the Rex Museum came up.

It seems that the head librarian had some photos she took of Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial she wanted to display and she asked the city government if she could display them at the Rex Museum. They granted permission.

Sounds harmless, right? Wrong. It turns out she gutted the museum of its historical displays so that she could display her pictures and put them into storage somewhere. 

After she was done displaying her photos, she didn't return the museum's displays. So they are in limbo somewhere.

It was my suggestion last night that if she doesn't put the displays back into the museum she should be demanded to do so (or forced to by lawsuit in court, if necessary) with a time deadline. 

I don't know her name and it wasn't mentioned.

Silver Over $30/toz

It has been a while since I last took a look at how the spot price silver is doing.

Currently it is over $30/toz at COMEX.

Here's the current spot price:

Most Memorable 4th of July

Above, shuttle Columbia and chase planes over Edwards Air Force Base on July4, 1982. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For me, the most memorable Fourth of July was in 1982.

Paul Evans and I attended the Dodger game at Dodger Stadium on July 3. From there, after the game and fireworks show, we drove to Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert to attend the landing of space shuttle Columbia following the mission designated as STS-4.

Above, yours truly after arriving at Edwards Air Force Base. Photo by Paul Evans.

Perhaps about a half million people drove to Rogers Dry Lake to view the landing. We met with Glenn Thornhill and Arleigh Kerr at the viewing area.

President and Mrs. Reagan also attended. 

Above, another view of Columbia during its landing approach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After the landing of Columbia, President Reagan gave the word for the take-off of space shuttle Challenger atop a modified Boeing 747. Challenger and the 747 flew over the crowd. 

Here's a couple of videos of that day:

Happy Independence Day!

Have a happy and safe & sane Independence Day!

 

Lonely Planet: Guide To O'ahu

Above, a view of Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that vacation season is here and one is planning to spend a vacation in Hawaii, Lonely Planet has posted guide to O'ahu for first-timers. Oddly, it doesn't mention paying a visit to Pearl Harbor. That should be a must-see for everyone, especially first-timers.

It begins with:

Welcome to Oʻahu, home to some of the most well-known natural landmarks in the world – from famed Waikiki Beach to towering Diamond Head to the surfable North Shore.

Known as a beautiful beach destination, this island is great for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing to your heart’s content. But beyond the sunny shorelines, Oʻahu has a wealth of greenery-filled hikes, internationally-inspired restaurants, and cultural landmarks for you to explore.

To read more, go here. 

Leaked Dem Poll: Trump Leading In NM

Above, Donald Trump by Asya.

It looks like former President Donald Trump's hitting hard on illegal immigration and the open border during the debate last week is starting to pay off (not to mention Biden's poor performance).

Trump is now leading in New Mexico and other Democrat states according to a leaked Democrat post-debate poll. No wonder the Democrats are in a panic.

According to the Piñon Post:

A new leaked Democrat poll conducted after Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance shows Democrats are losing in many traditionally Democrat-leaning states, including New Mexico.

“A confidential polling memo circulating among anxious Democrats is confirming some of their worst fears: President Joe Biden’s support has started to tumble in key electoral battlegrounds in the wake of his disastrous debate performance in Atlanta, and Biden’s diminished standing is now putting previously noncompetitive states like New Hampshire, Virginia, and New Mexico in play for Donald Trump,” wrote Puck News.

“What’s more, Biden has taken such a reputational hit that he is polling behind other alternative Democratic candidates—including Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer—in hypothetical one-on-one matchups against Trump.”

The results show Biden falling behind by 0.5 percent in New Mexico to Trump, 0.6 percent in Virginia, and three percent in New Hampshire, showing blood in the water. 

Granted, it is still early, but it is interesting to see how things are beginning to trend.

To read more, go here. 

The .30-30 Winchester: An American Classic

It is interesting that a bullet created during the 19th Century is still a popular round.

Such is the case with the Winchester .30-30 that arrived on the scene in 1895.

NRA Family took a look at the .30-30 Winchester. 

They begin with:

In 1894, Winchester began manufacturing what has become one of the most popular lever-action rifles of all time, the Model 1894. Initially, the gun was offered in two blackpowder calibers, .38-55 and .32-40. However, it was the next year, August of 1895, that the company really set the shooting world ablaze with the introduction of the first two smokeless powder cartridges ever produced for American sportsmen, the .30-30 and the .25-35. While the .25-35 has fallen by the way, the .30-30 continues as a popular and viable choice for riflemen.

Originally, Winchester called their new cartridge the .30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire). It featured a 160-gr. bullet (some sources say it was 165) at about 2,000 feet per second (fps). Eventually, the 150-gr. bullet (2,390 fps) and the 170-gr. load (2,200 fps) became pretty much the standard offering.

To read more, go here. 

 

World UFO Day 2024

Above, a crashed flying saucer display at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that today is World UFO Day.

What's World UFO Day?

According to the Business Standard:

Every year on July 2, people all over the planet observe World UFO Day. This extraordinary day is all about studying the Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and bringing people together to discuss possibilities of life beyond Earth. In 2024, World UFO Day falls on a Tuesday.

To listen for more, go here. 

Gas Prices Will Fly For the 4th of July

When I last looked, the price for unleaded regular at the local Flying J was $3.159/gallon. I don't know what it is today, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is higher than that.

Nationally, gas prices are higher for the Independence Day holiday.

According to RV Travel: 

Just in time for holiday RV travel, the national average for gas prices shook off nearly three weeks of stagnation, moving a nickel higher since last week to hit $3.50.

In AAA’s most recent gas price report (June 27), the outfit noted the cost of oil crossed the $80 per barrel mark, putting upward pressure on pump prices. With oil costs accounting for about 54% of what you pay at the pump, more expensive oil usually leads to more expensive gas. Yes, gas prices will fly for the 4th of July.

To read more, go here. 

Rush Limbaugh Inducted Into Florida Broadcasters Hall of Fame

Last Thursday, Rush Limbaugh's brother David accepted the award for Rush’s induction into The Florida Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Above, David Limbaugh accepting the award for Rush’s induction into The Florida
 Broadcasters Hall of Fame this past Thursday. David Limbaugh X photo..

Mowed The Yard

Above, after the mowing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since we had a bit of a break the monsoon rains (we've gotten a lot), I took the opportunity to mow Barking Spider Acre yesterday evening.

I usually mow in the morning, but since it was cloudy and cool, it was the perfect conditions to mow. The ground was a little soft, but not muddy. The brush was getting thick on the ground. It is very green in the area from all the monsoon rains we've been getting.

Above, the area in and around Jamestown is green from the monsoon rains. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I did have a little problem while mowing the front along the road. The mower got stuck in the soft dirt near the drainage ditch that parallels the road. But I was able to pull it out with the Jeep in short order and I finished the mowing.

Once done, I relaxed over a bottle of Alien Amber Ale on the deck.

Above, it's Alien time.

We'll be celebrating Independence Day at Martin Link's on Thursday. His backyard is on a hilltop and we get great views of fireworks, even some from Window Rock, Arizona miles away.

Biden's Family Urges Him To Stay

If His Fraudulency Joe Biden's family has any say about it, he is staying in the race. 

It is plainly obvious that he does not have the mental or physical abilities he needs to serve another term. It looks like his whole family is involved with elder abuse in urging him to stay in the race.

Newsmax reported:

President Joe Biden's family members privately trashed his campaign advisers this weekend at Camp David, blamed them for his failure in Thursday's debate, and urged Biden to either fire or demote people, Politico reported.

According to three people who were told about the family discussions but were not directly involved with them, there is no immediate expectation that the president will listen to their advice.

Biden's family members complained about the debate practice: that he could not pivot to attack more, that he could not outline a vision for a second term, and that he was overworked.

Politico reported that the blame was cast mostly on staffers, including senior adviser Anita Dunn; her husband and Biden's attorney, Bob Bauer, who stood in for former President Donald Trump during debate rehearsals; and former chief of staff Ron Klain, who ran point on debate prep.

However, Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz said in a statement, "The aides who prepped the president have been with him for years, often decades, seeing him through victories and challenges. He maintains strong confidence in them."

Biden allies and staffers have blamed many factors for the president's bad debate performance, such as his having a cold or being overprepared. However, as the finger-pointing has moved toward Biden's advisers, it has allowed the family to overlook Biden's own failings in the debate.

To read more, go here. 

Dollar At ¥161 In Tokyo

We're now in a new month and travel to Japan is still roaring.

Who can blame foreigners? The U.S. dollar is at its highest level since the "bubble years" against the Japanese yen in Tokyo trading.

Were does the dollar stand today against the yen?

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

USD/JPY161.09

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.

To to begin this week, we have "Hang On Sloopy" by the McCoys from 1965. The video is circa 1975, featuring Lisa Leonard Dalton, a former Gazzarri's dancer.

From Wikipedia:

The McCoys were a rock group formed in Union City, Indiana, United States, in 1962. They are best known for their 1965 hit single "Hang On Sloopy". Originally named Rick and the Raiders, they changed their name to "The McCoys" from the B-side of The Ventures' hit record "Walk, Don't Run" titled "The McCoy".

The original members were all from Union City; however, the Zehringer boys were initially from Fort Recovery, Ohio.the band members were guitarist and lead singer Richard Zehringer (later known as Rick Derringer), his brother Randy (later known as Randy Z) on drums, and bassist Dennis Kelly. This first line-up was known as The Rick Z Combo, and later known as Rick and the Raiders.When Kelly left for college, the Zehringers were joined by bassist Randy Jo Hobbs, saxophonist Sean Michaels, and keyboardist Ronnie Brandon. This was the line-up that took the name of "The McCoys". Brandon left the group in 1965 and was replaced by Bobby Peterson on keyboards.

Their best-known hit is "Hang On Sloopy", which was #1 in the United States in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in October 1965 and is the official rock song of the state of Ohio. It also is the unofficial fight song of the Ohio State Buckeyes and is played at many Ohio State athletic events by the OSU bands. Sales of the single in the US alone were over one million copies. Other hits include a top 10 cover of "Fever" (Billboard #7) and a top 40 cover of Ritchie Valens's "Come On, Let's Go" (Billboard #21).