Road Trippin' With Matt Davis: Utah and Arizona

Above, West and East Mittens and Merrick Butte in Monument Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since National Plan For Vacation was just the other day, here's something that people should consider.

It is a video on visiting Utah and Arizona by Matt Davis on 10 WJAR.

They start with:

We’re back on the road with Travel Expert, Matt Davis. In our cross-country trip, Davis gives us his top recommendations when traveling through Utah and Arizona.

In this segment, Davis shares that Utah is actually his second favorite state to travel through, other than Hawaii which is his first choice!

One reason behind his love for the state of Utah are all of the beautiful national parks there, including the Arches National Park and the Canyonlands National Park. When it comes to sighy-seeing in Arizona, one of Matt Davis’ top recommendations is the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Another recommendation is of course the Grand Canyon.

To see the video, go here. 

Federal Law Banning Handgun Sales 18- to 20-year-olds Is Unconstitutional

Since 18 year olds are adults by law, then they should have all rights that goes along with it. 18 year olds as adults has been around since the early 1970s.

An appeals court has ruled that the federal law banning handgun sales to 18 to 20 year olds is unconstitutional.

CNN reported:

CNN - A conservative federal appeals court said Thursday that a federal law banning the sale of handguns to 18- to 20-year-olds is unconstitutional, elevating a significant question about the Second Amendment’s reach in the wake of recent major Supreme Court rulings on gun rights.

It is the latest major ruling against an age-based firearm restriction and one that comes as the Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on how the Second Amendment applies to older teens.

The new ruling from the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals pointed to the landmark 2022 Supreme Court ruling known as Bruen that established a historical test for assessing the constitutionality of gun restrictions. It also reviewed the legal challenge against the more recent decision by the Supreme Court that refined the Bruen test while upholding federal restrictions on gun possession for people accused of domestic abuse.

To read more, go here.

Model 12 Winchester (Video)

By Hickok45

Winchester Model 94 .30-30 (Pre 64) Video

By Hickok45

 

Some Snow Is Better Than No Snow

Some snow is better than no snow, I guess.

Now that the sun is up, I can see how much of a dusting we received overnight.

At best, it is about a half inch, or a midgeon less than that. Still, at least the trees will get some moisture. We need far more, though.

A couple of pictures of the yard:

Airliner and Helicopter Collide In D.C.

An American Airlines commuter on approach to Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC collided last night with a Blackhawk military helicopter and both crashed into the Potomac River.

So far, no survivors have been found. The plane carried around 60 passengers, many of which were members of the US Figure Skating team.

I have to wonder how such a collision happened. If the airliner were on normal approach to Reagan National, what was the helicopter doing in the plane's path? Did airport's flight controllers see the aircrafts on their radar monitors? 

Here's a report from Fox 8: 

UPDATE:

It has been reported that air traffic control asked the Blackhawk if they see the American Airlines jet and they said they did. In the video, there is another jet shown. Could it be that the Blackhawk thought that was the jet air traffic control was referring to?

Finally!

So far, it isn't much, but it is snowing now in Jamestown.

I woke up a while ago and when I went for a cup of coffee, I took a look outside and it is now snowing.

It is about a half inch deep in spots, but it is more than what we got a few weeks ago.

I took these pictures:

It is still snowing. Hopefully, it will continue for some more hours.

2nd Amendment Rally At The Roundhouse March 8

 

ECV El Rancho Hotel Plaque Dedication Gallup Sun Article

Above, the plaque dedicated August 10, 2019 at the El Rancho Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Even though it has been a few years since the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus dedicated a plaque at the El Rancho Hotel & Motel in Gallup, New Mexico, I hadn't seen the following article from the Gallup Sun until this morning.

I was looking for something else and the article popped up during a search.

They began it with:

The Lost Dutchman Chapter No. 5917 of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus, a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving the heritage of the American West, dedicated a plaque to the El Rancho Hotel, Aug. 10.  The location, at 1000 E. Hwy. 66, is now a historical site.

The El Rancho Hotel was constructed in 1936 for R.E. Griffith, brother of filmmaker D.W. Griffith, and served as a base camp for movie crews and actors. That site and its proximity to western landscapes, made it an ideal place to make movies.

Above, some of the ECV brothers at the El Rancho Hotel. 

The plaque is in the hotel's main lobby under a portrait of Armand Ortega.

To read the full article, go here.

Captain America Star Has A Problem

Above, the traditional Captain America.

Walt Disney and Stan Lee must be spinning in their graves.

The lastest is the new Captain America movie with its star, Anthony Mackie, badmouthing America. This is just another example of woke B.S. out of Disney.

According to the Gateway Pundit:

The star of a new ‘Captain America’ movie, based on the Marvel Comics character, recently told an audience that he doesn’t think the character should represent America.

Advanced ticket sales for this movie are not great and now they’re going to get even worse.

Why is it that so many actors ruin the films they’re starring in by saying stupid, woke things like this? It’s very much like the star of the new Disney ‘Snow White’ movie, who has done everything she can to make sure the movie will flop by merely talking in interviews.

As Fox News points out:

Disney, who owns Marvel Studios, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

To read the full article, go here. 

RFK Jr.: "I Am Pro-Safety"

 

“I want to make sure the Committee is clear about a few things. News reports have claimed that I am anti-vaccine or anti-industry. Well, I am neither; I am pro-safety,” Kennedy will say in his opening statement in front of the Senate Finance Committee. https://t.co/0nhWaDjyav

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 29, 2025

Gold, Silver Rally On Safe-haven Demand

Above, Canadian silver maple leaf coins. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those who are investors in gold and silver, the Tuesday rally for both is good news.

Kitco News reported:

(Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are solidly higher in midday U.S. trading Tuesday, on safe-haven demand amid wobbly U.S. equities after the steep U.S. stock market sell off Monday. Uncertainty regarding U.S. President Trump’s policy actions in the coming days/weeks is also prompting risk aversion in the marketplace that is benefiting the precious metals. Gold is scoring gains today despite a higher U.S. dollar index and a rise in U.S. Treasury yields on this day. February gold was last up $28.50 at $2,767.00. March silver was up $0.466 at $30.875.

To read more, go here. 

Storm Is A Dud

When I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was to take a look outside.

It was dry as a bone out. We were supposed to get the snowstorm come through overnight but, so far, it has been a dud.

According to the National Weather Service for Jamestown:

Overnight

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 19. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Wednesday

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday

A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 11am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 15 to 20 mph.

We shall see. But I am not getting my hopes up. 

Trump Invited To Commemoration of Atomic Bombings

Above, the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan have invited President Donald Trump to their cities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings that led to the end of World War II.

The Japan Times reported:

The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have requested that U.S. President Donald Trump visit the atomic-bombed cities this year to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the attacks and the end of World War II.

“We hope that you will listen to the voices of civil society, visit the atomic-bombed cities, listen to the firsthand accounts of the hibakusha and fully grasp the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accept the hibakusha’s earnest desire for peace,” Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the new U.S. president.

The mayors emphasized Washington’s key role in reining in the proliferation of nuclear weapons as “tensions continue to worsen” across the globe ahead of the anniversary of the attack on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, and on Nagasaki three days later.

The U.S. bombings of the two cities killed an estimated 214,000 people, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.

Above, the hypocenter monument in Nagasaki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here. 

National Plan For Vacation Day

Above, yours truly at Devil's Postpile National Monument in 2016.

Guess what today is?

It is National Plan For Vacation Day. What exactly is that?

According to National Day Calendar: 

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated on the last Tuesday of January, is a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year.

The only vacation I am currently planning (at least so far) is one for early July in Cody, Wyoming, Little Bighorn Battlefield and the Black Hills of South Dakota. The last time I've been in those areas was around 1990. 

I've been meaning to do this trip in 2019, but the pandemic put a little crimp on it. 

California Sides With Mexico Against US Gun Industry

Besides turning California into a hellhole cesspool, radical Democrat liberals have been trying to diminish Second Amendment rights.

Gun control radicals are siding with Mexico against gun manufacturers and the Second Amendment.

According to the Buckeye Firearms Association:

The willingness of some in the U.S. to aid a foreign power in an assault on American industry and Americans’ Constitutional rights is sad and disturbing.

On Jan. 17, California Attorney General Rob Bonta proclaimed his support for Mexico’s position in the ongoing case Smith & Wesson Brands Inc, et al. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos. The case, now at the U.S. Supreme Court, is an attempt by the Mexican government, working with U.S.-based gun control advocates, to undo the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), make the U.S. firearms industry a scapegoat for Mexican lawlessness, and impose billions of dollars in liability on American gun manufacturers for violence perpetrated by violent criminals south of the border.

Readers should know that the PLCAA was enacted in 2005, with broad bipartisan support, to protect the firearms industry from frivolous and politically motivated lawsuits. In the mid-1990s, gun control advocates, big city politicians, and trial attorneys teamed up to use the courts to bilk the gun industry for millions and force them to agree to gun control measures that gun control supporters were unable to enact in Congress. The suits sought to hold members of the industry liable for the criminal behavior of those who misused their products.

I, for one, am glad that I moved out of Commiefornia. This coming week will mark seven years since I did so.

To read more, go here.

 

The First Traffic Lights Were in L.A.

A little Los Angeles history, courtesy of Ralph Story of PBS So Cal:

For more on Semaphore traffic light signals, go here.

Snow In Arizona, So Far

Above, a nice roaring fire at the El Rancho Hotel on Sunday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that we may be getting some snow this afternoon. But that's only a 10% chance according to the National Weather Service. That will increase to 50% tonight.

On their opening page: 

A slow moving storm is pushing east from Southern California into the Southwest bringing light, but continuous snow.

Already Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona in Arizona had been getting snow. Jack Rabbit Trading Post in St. Joseph, Arizona reports none, so far. 

The forecast now stands for Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico:

 Today

A chance of sprinkles between 11am and 5pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Tonight

A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. South wind around 5 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday

Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Wednesday Night

Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday

A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 11am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 38. West wind 15 to 20 mph.

Columbia Caves To Trump!

 Sebastian Gorka posted this on Facebook:

19 Million Projected To Board Cruise Ships In 2025

Above, yours truly jet skiing last year during Bahamas cruise.

During my lifetime, I've been on three cruises.

The first was in Alaska in 2001, then to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in 2019 and then, last year, to the Bahamas.

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked in Nassau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that I was part of 18.2 million Americans who took a cruise in 2024. According to AAA, more will be taking cruises this year.

According to Upper Michigan's Source:

DEARBORN, Mich. (WLUC) - AAA is diving into the cruise industry, releasing its first-ever cruise forecast for 2025 on Monday. This year is projected to hit record numbers for the third consecutive year.

The report is similar to the travel forecasts AAA releases for major holidays. It examines the number of U.S. residents who will take an ocean cruise from a U.S. or international port.

AAA forecasts that 19 million Americans will go on ocean cruises in 2025. This is a 4.5% increase over 2024 when 18.2 million Americans went on cruise vacations. It’s also 34% more than the pre-pandemic peak of 14.2 million in 2019. 

To read more, go here. 

8 Best Things To Do In New Mexico

Above, Roswell, New Mexico's International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those wondering what to do during the coming summer vacation season, Lonely Planet has posted a list of 8 best things to do in New Mexico.

I have lived in the state for seven years and I've traveled around the state during that time. But that only scratched the surface.

Still, the things the list includes are worth considering.

They begin with:

They don’t call it the Land of Enchantment for nothing.

New Mexico does indeed entice, thanks to otherworldly desertscapes, weird rock formations and more wonders of nature you’ll find only here. Yet it’s perhaps the state’s unique culture – visible in the adobe architecture everywhere, quirky frontier towns, container loads of chile pepper and an abundance of preserved Indigenous history – that truly etch the 47th state into visitors’ memories.

No matter what time of year you visit, here are eight ways to begin getting to know this marvelous place. 

To read more, go here. 

Snow Week (We Hope)

Above, after a storm in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is a possibility of some snow showers (20%) tonight in Gallup and Jamestown. 

According to the National Weather Service, the detailed forecast for Gallup/Jamestown area is as follows:

 Today

Sunny, with a high near 49. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.

Tonight

A 20 percent chance of snow showers after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday

A 30 percent chance of snow showers after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. South wind 5 to 10 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Snow showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

Snow showers. High near 35. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday Night

Snow showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday

A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 38.

Expected Snowfall

Fingers are crossed in New Mexico this week as a possible snowstorm will be moving into the state. The storm is expected to hit Wednesday-Thursday this week.

The map below from the National Weather Service shows how much snow is expected around the state. The Jamestown/Gallup area may see around 2.2 inches. Nearby Grants (about 35 miles east of Jamestown) will see a little higher amount at 2.7 inches.

As I've mentioned previously, this has been a dry winter and we can use the water.

The National Weather Service has issued a Special Weather Statement:

Special Weather Statement

National Weather Service Albuquerque NM

217 AM MST Mon Jan 27 2025

NMZ201>241-272200-

Northwest Plateau-Chuska Mountains-Far Northwest Highlands-

Northwest Highlands-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains-

West Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains-

San Francisco River Valley-Tusas Mountains Including Chama-

Jemez Mountains-Glorieta Mesa Including Glorieta Pass-

Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-

Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains-

East Slopes Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Upper Rio Grande Valley-

Espanola Valley-Santa Fe Metro Area-

Middle Rio Grande Valley/Albuquerque Metro Area-

Lower Rio Grande Valley-

Sandia/Manzano Mountains Including Edgewood-Estancia Valley-

Central Highlands-South Central Highlands-Upper Tularosa Valley-

South Central Mountains-

Johnson and Bartlett Mesas Including Raton Pass-

Far Northeast Highlands-Northeast Highlands-Union County-

Harding County-Eastern San Miguel County-Guadalupe County-

Quay County-Curry County-Roosevelt County-De Baca County-

Chaves County Plains-Eastern Lincoln County-

Southwest Chaves County-San Agustin Plains and Adjacent Lowlands-

217 AM MST Mon Jan 27 2025

...WINTER STORM TO BRING MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW TO PORTIONS OF

NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NM WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...

A winter storm spreading over northern and central NM Wednesday is

expected to peak in coverage and intensity late Wednesday through

Wednesday night and Thursday morning, before exiting NM Thursday

night. Generalized snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches are favored

for areas along the Continental Divide and highlands adjacent to

the northern mountains. Higher amounts of 4 to 12 inches will

favor the northern mountains and highlands above 7,500 feet. Minor

to moderate impacts will result from this for these areas,

favoring the I-25 corridor from Raton to Santa Fe, northern

mountain passes and along I-40 through the Continental Divide and

central highlands east of Albuquerque. Currently a dusting to

couple of inches are favored within the Albuquerque metro area.

Little to to no snow is favored for lower elevation areas south of

U.S. Highway 60 including Socorro and Roswell.

There is still considerable room for the forecast to change

between now and Wednesday, specifically regarding snow amounts in

the middle elevations between 5,500 to 8,000 feet. This includes

Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Stay up-to-date on the latest forecast

information. Have alternative plans for travel and outdoor

activities to prepare for this period of inclement winter weather.

Winter safety and preparatory information and tips can be found

at https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-before.

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 start off the week, we have Blue Oyster Cult and their 1976 hit, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" from their Agents of Fortune album. This song brings me back to the summer of 1976. It was released on May 4, 1976. It remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 20 weeks. It was rising on the charts when I went to the 1976 Republican National Convention in August. In reached number 12 in the U.S. and number 7 in Canada. 

From Wikipedia:

Blue Öyster Cult (/ˈɔɪ.stər/ OY-stər; sometimes abbreviated BÖC or BOC) is an American rock band formed on Long Island, New York, in the hamlet of Stony Brook, in 1967. The band has sold 25 million records worldwide, including 7 million in the United States. The band's fusion of hard rock with psychedelia, and penchant for occult, fantastical and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, had a major influence on heavy metal music. They developed a cult following and, while achieving mainstream hits like "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (1976) and "Burnin' for You" (1981), their commercial success was limited. Both songs, and others such as "Godzilla" (1977), remain classic rock radio staples. The band were early adopters of the music video format, and their videos received heavy rotation on MTV in its early period.

Home Preparation For Wildfires

Since it has been a dry winter, the Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico can face wildfires like California. 

The Gallup Fire Department posted the following on Facebook (thanks to Victor Gomez for passing it on):

With the wildfires happening in California, your Gallup Fire Department has been getting phone calls on what citizens can do to protect their home in the event of a fire like that here. We wanted to share some tips with you that you can use at your home. If you have more questions please do not hesitate to contact us at 505-722-4195.

Snow Coming?

Above, a year ago near our fire station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

According to the main page of the National Weather Service:

Storm Brings Rain and Snow to the Southwest U.S. this weekend; Heavy Snow and Rain for Alaska

A storm will pass through the southwestern U.S. this weekend with widespread rain and mountain snow. Rainfall will be mostly beneficial but poses a risk for dangerous debris flows over recent burn scars.

Well, we sure can use the snow (or even rain) here in the Four Corners region. It has been a dry winter so far. 

The forecast for the Gallup/Jamestown, New Mexico area:

 Today

Sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 18. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 49. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Monday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Tuesday

A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night

Snow showers likely, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

Snow showers. High near 36. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday Night

Snow showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday

A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.

Thursday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Friday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 19.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

RV Camping On A Budget

Above, a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Everything is getting more expensive these days. That also includes travel. Airfares, hotels, resorts, campgrounds, cruises and restaurants are jacking up prices.

For the RVer, some budget planning can help save money. 

This is the topic of an article in RV Life. They provide expert tips and tricks on saving money. 

The article begins with:

Are you looking for budget-friendly ways to enjoy RV camping this year? You’re not alone. Rising costs have many RVers rethink how they’ll be camping in the coming camping season. Luckily, one of the best parts about the RV lifestyle is that it’s flexible. That means you don’t need to break the bank to have fun in your RV. We researched the best ways to save money on RV camping and live big for less. And we’re happy to share our favorite tips and tricks for RV camping on a budget.

To read more, go here. 

The Inventor of the Loop Campground

Above, Yosemite's North Pines Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One learns something new everyday, as so the saying goes.

I learned something new this morning while reading the RV Travel Sunday Newsletter.

It is about the man who invented the loop campground. I've never given it a thought before until this morning.

According to Chuck Woodbury in RV Travel:

I bet you have never heard of Emilio Meinecke. I hadn’t until recently. If you are in a campground right now, whether in a national park, national forest or a KOA, please stop reading for a moment and walk out your RV’s front door and look around. You will see evidence of his work.

Emilio Meinecke, born in 1869, was a plant pathologist for the U.S. Forest Service. His major claim to fame, however, is as the inventor of the loop campground. It was about 90 years ago, in the early 1930s. His design changed camping forever. You know the design because you’ve seen it too many times to count — a one-way loop road, with auto pullouts every so often that designate individual campsites. In most cases, each site had (and often still does) a fireplace and/or campfire.

To read more, go here. 

Harlan Ellison's "Pay The Writer"

This morning, I revisited the late, great writer Harlan Ellison.

It is hard to believe that it will be seven years since his passing this coming June 28. 

Every writer should view this clip on YouTube, "Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer".  He is spot on in his comments. It was "a memorable (and timely) rant from the... feature documentary on Harlan Ellison, "Dreams With Sharp Teeth"."

Here's the video: 

He had been criticized as being abrasive and argumentative during his life. Maybe so, but much of what he said rang definitely true. 

Trump Executive Order To Release More JFK, RFK, MLK Assassination Files

Above, Elm Street in Dealey Plaza in 2021. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

President Donald Trump is continuing to make good on his campaign promises.

The latest is that he issued an executive order to declassify and release the remaining files on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

According to CBS News:

President Trump announced that he'll declassify any remaining files from the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. He signed an executive order at the White House Thursday.

After an aide announced the president was signing the executive action "ordering the declassification of files relating to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.," Mr. Trump said, "That's a big one, huh? A lot of people are waiting for this for a long — for years, for decades."

The president instructed his aide to give the pen he used to sign the order to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of the late Robert F. Kennedy and Mr. Trump's nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services. The elder Kennedy served as U.S. attorney general and New York senator and was a Democratic presidential candidate when he was slain in 1968.

To read more, go here. 

Democrat Proposes Outlawing "Spanking The Monkey"

Looney Left Report 

Here's one for the crazy file.

A Mississippi Democrat wants to outlaw masturbation to "hold men accountable" for abortions.

The Gateway Pundit reported:

A bill put forward by a Mississippi Democrat is essentially seeking to outlaw masturbation.

Democrat State Sen. Bradford Blackmon this week introduced the “Contraception Begins at Erection Act,” which would prevent men from masturbating or engaging in sexual activity when there is no “intent to fertilize an embryo.”

The legislation put forward this week proposes fines of $1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for subsequent violations.

Blackmon, a first-term senator representing a district north of Jackson, is apparently seeking to hold men accountable for their role in women having abortions.

One has to wonder how such a law is to be enforced. Put a meter on every man's you-know-what?

To read more, go here.

Navajo Nation Sues Over Chaco Canyon Protections

Above, ancient pueblo Indian ruins at Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Navajo Nation is taking advantage of the change in presidential administrations by filing a lawsuit against the Department of the Interior in federal court over Chaco Canyon.

According to E & E News:

The Navajo Nation is heading to federal court to challenge a long-standing freeze on fossil fuel and mineral development within New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon.

The lawsuit filed last week in federal court in New Mexico challenges the Biden administration’s 2023 decision to withdraw federal lands within a 10-mile radius of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to thousands of historical and spiritual artifacts. The move received strong support from the Pueblo and Hopi tribes.

The Navajo Nation alleged the Interior Department made its decision without properly consulting with its members about the economic consequences for tribal communities that are already facing financial hardship. 

To read more, go here. 

Trump Shuts Down Biden’s White House Office of Gun Control

Above, the White House. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

President Donald Trump has shut down the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Joe Biden's little by-pass of congress to attack Second Amendment rights.

Ammoland reported:

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is congratulating President Donald Trump for quickly following through on a promise to shut down the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which was a thinly disguised Biden administration gun control operation.

“This gun control bureaucracy had no place in the White House, and it should never have been created,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb.

“Its supporters are having fits on the Internet, which convinces us that President Trump’s swift action was correct. It was already reported that the staff of this operation resigned prior to the transition of power, which suggests they knew what was coming, so they abandoned ship to avoid being fired.”

To read more, go here. 

10 Best-Selling Lever-Action Rifles In The U.S.

Above, lever-action rifles on display at the Billy the Kid Museum
in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lever-action rifles have made a big resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Companies such as Rossi, Smith & Wesson, Marlin (now owned by Sturm, Ruger & Co.) and others are manufacturing them to meet high demand. 

24/7 Wall St. has listed ten the best-selling lever-action rifles of today in the United States.

They begin with:

Designed in the United States over 170 years ago, the lever-action rifle is, perhaps, the most iconic American firearm. An offshoot of earlier prototypes, the Henry and Spencer lever-actions were the first successful, widely produced repeater rifles — and were used by some U.S. Army units as early as 1860. In the following decades, lever-action rifles were used across the Western frontier.

24/7 Wall St. Key Points:

• Lever-action rifles are perhaps the most iconic American firearm. 
• First gaining popularity over a century and a half ago, lever-action repeaters remain relevant today — and Americans have some clear preferences for certain makes and models.

To read more, go here.

Indoor Day

Above, too cold out to do any Jeep driving. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like I'll be staying indoors today.

According to my thermometer outside, it is around 10°. 

The forecast Jamestown by the National Weather Service:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 29. Wind chill values as low as -5. North wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 9. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 48. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night

Increasing clouds, with a low around 23. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 10 to 20 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Sunday Night

A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm, then a slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday

A slight chance of rain and snow showers after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night

A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm, then a slight chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday

A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Wednesday

A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 37.