FireAid Hires Law Firm To Review Dispersal of Funds From Benefit Concert

Above, the famous Moonshadows restaurant before and after the fire.

It looks like those behind the FireAid benefit concert that raised over $100 million, purportedly to help those who were affected by the wildfires in January in Los Angles County, has hired a law firm to review the disbursements made. Many noted that organizations having nothing to do with the fires are getting the funds.

They have taken much criticism over the past few weeks by victims of the fires. They are also angry at the foot-dragging by Los Angeles and California officials over rebuilding permits. L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom had promised expedited permitting, but have failed to do so.

Variety posted an article on FireAid and it begins with:

FireAid has hired a law firm, Latham & Watkins, to review the dispersal of roughly $100 million in funds that were raised in conjunction with a massive benefit concert earlier this year, the charitable organization announced Monday. FireAid released a letter it sent to Rep. Kevin Kiley of California about the internal review, shortly after the congressman posted it on his X account.

Some congresspeople and journalists have hit the organization with questions in recent weeks about how the money was given out, with stories picking up particular traction among conservative-leaning news outlets. FireAid has every reason to take the skepticism seriously, as Kiley and others have brought their issues or questions to the attention of President Trump, who on Friday posted a message that began, “‘FireAid’ is a total disaster. Looks like another Democrat inspired scam.”

To read more, go here.

From Fox 11 News:

Hundreds Stranded As Cruise Ship Flees Hawaii Tsunami

Above, the coastline near Hilo on the Big Island. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Russian earthquake wreaked havoc with cruise lines in Hawaii Tuesday.

A tsunami warning was issued and cruise ships left Hawaiian ports, most notably Hilo Harbor, on the Big Island stranding passengers for several hours.

According to Beat of Hawaii:

As sirens blared across Hawaii on Tuesday afternoon and evening, one of the most dramatic scenes unfolded quietly on the Big Island in Hilo Harbor. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America was forced to abandon port hours ahead of schedule due to tsunami evacuation orders. In the rush to leave, more than 300 passengers and crew members were left behind, many of whom were stranded without transportation, a place to go, or any clear sense of what would come next.

The decision to leave the port abruptly was driven by protocol. Following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, tsunami alerts were issued for Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. The U.S. Coast Guard ordered vessels out of Hawaii’s ports for safety, and NCL complied.

But timing proved difficult. With sirens already sounding and traffic completely snarled across the Big Island and the entire state, hundreds of Pride of America passengers were unable to get back to the ship before it departed port. 

To read more, go here. 

2025 Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Schedule

July Over Already?

Above, the trip included a return visit to Devils Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This had to have been the fastest July in my memory. We're already at the last day of the month and August 1 is tomorrow and the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial begins.

Given the drought conditions in New Mexico, it would not have been wise to shoot off any Independence Day fireworks. Some bans were put in place (and some were ignored).

My month of activities started on July 6 when Mitch Geriminsky and I head off to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota for some history exploring. We were going to leave July 8, but decided to leave two days earlier and just take our time driving through Utah and Colorado to get to Cody, Wyoming for the Winchester Arms Collectors Association's gun show.

Above, inside the Plains Indian Museum in Cody. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 We saw some interesting places along the way, such as Flaming Gorge National Recreational Area. We stayed one night in Moab, Utah, which came in handy for me in scouting the area for when I plan to return there in September to help out with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation marathons. 

Above, the vacation included a stop at The Wrangler store in Cheyenne. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Other activities included touring the Little Bighorn Battlefield, Devils Tower and roaming around the Black Hills of South Dakota. We ended the trip on July 17. This was my longest vacation trip since the 2017 Great American Eclipse trip. 

August will be mostly noted for me by getting the Jeep repaired and the deck repaired, which is not as exciting as July.

8 Rifles That Will Make You RICH (Never Sell These!)

"8 Rifles That Will Make You RICH (Never Sell These!)" by Rifle Ready.

"Animal House" Released 47 Years Ago (July 28, 1978)

Yeeouch! It is hard to believe that the 1978 comedy classic, Animal House was released 47 years ago (as of July 28). 

Singer Stephen Bishop posted the following at X:

Animal House was released 47 years ago today. I wrote and sang the theme song, along with another track in the film called ‘Dream Girl.’ And yes, I’m the guy on the stairs whose guitar gets smashed by John Belushi. I still have the guitar and it’s signed by the entire cast. pic.twitter.com/XJXRGwzFy1

— Stephen Bishop (@BishSongs) July 30, 2025

Lever-Actions That Should Be Reliable—But Aren’t

Above, a Winchester 94 on display at the Cody Firearms Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Lever-action rifles have become quite popular these past few years. So much so that manufacturers have been introducing new ones.

Not all firearms are created equal. Some perform better than others. This also includes lever-action rifles.

MSN has posted a slideshow article on 10 lever-actions that should be reliable, but aren't.

The Winchester 94 made the list, but it isn't the pre-64 ones nor the ones that came out before modifications were made for accommodating scopes. (Hint-hint!)

The slideshow begins with:

Lever-actions are supposed to be the dependable workhorses of the rifle world. Simple, slick, and proven over time—that’s the reputation they carry. But not every lever-gun lives up to that image. Some are finicky with ammo, others jam more than they should, and a few have parts that just don’t hold up. Whether it’s poor build quality or overcomplicated design, these lever-actions have let more than a few folks down when they needed them most. Here are ten that seem reliable on paper—but disappoint in the real world.

To see what they are, go here.

Norwegian Cruise Line To Build Waterpark At Great Stirrup Cay

Above, yours truly at Great Stirrup Cay aboard a tinder boat. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Last summer, a friend and I took a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Norwegian Sky.

One stop on the cruise has us at Great Stirrup Cay, a private island owned by Norwegian. We spent the day there jet skiing. They have other activities available for cruise passenger (such as swimming with pigs).

Next year, a new waterpark will open on Great Stirrup Cay.

According to Cruise Industry News:

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) today announced details for its private island transformation on Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, highlighted by a massive new waterpark that will be ready in time for the summer 2026 cruise season.

“Great Stirrup Cay has always been an amazing part of the Norwegian Cruise Line guest experience and continues to be one of our highest rated destinations,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line.

“This new waterpark is an outstanding addition to our recent announcement about other amazing new amenities on the island, soon to debut. With each phase of our enhancements, we’re bringing ashore more of what our guests love about sailing with NCL,” added Herrera.

The company said in a press release that the nearly six-acre Great Tides Waterpark will open in summer 2026, featuring cliff jumps, jet karts, swim-up bars and splash zones.

To read more, go here. 

"Close Encounters" and Devils Tower KOA

Above, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is screened nightly
with Devils Tower in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During our recent trip up to Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and South Dakota, one stop was at Devils Tower National Monument, famous for appearing in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). It took us a few hours to reach Devils Tower from the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana.

During our one-night stay at the Devils Tower KOA Kampground, we joined other campers for the nightly screening of the movie. 

Above, a view of Devils Tower from our campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The KOA screens the movie every night when they are open. In an article in 2023, Cowboy State Daily showed that they seemed to have a larger screen and provided some seating. When we attended, the screen was smaller and we had to bring our own chairs. 

Still, we enjoyed our screening (until it started getting cold out). 

The Cowboy State Daily article began with:

DEVILS TOWER — What was once a common hayfield is now an uncommon campground.

The Devils Tower KOA campground is No. 1 in the national campground system for having above 90% occupancy on one-night stays during the summer season.

A lot of that is location.

“We’re the perfect distance from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone,” Zannie Driskill, who co-owns the Devils Tower KOA with her husband Ogden, told Cowboy State Daily. “So, if you leave Cody, you get here late afternoon or early evening. And if you leave Mount Rushmore, you get here, you know, a little after lunch and you can be here all day. And if you jump up the next morning, you can be in Cody without traveling too hard or anything.”

But there’s more at work here than just near-perfect distance from two world-famous landmarks.

The campground itself is a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s located just below Devils Tower, the tallest columnar formation of its kind in the world, and it’s where Steven Spielberg filmed “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” a 1977 box office smash that set records and helped rescue Columbia Pictures from bankruptcy.

To read the full article, go here. 

The Second Amendment Is A Civil Right

Believe it or not, the Second Amendment is a Civil Right. 

Democrats and others from the Left have not treated it as such and have gone to great lengths to undermine it. Thankfully, we have an administration who will vigorously defend the Second Amendment.

That is the topic of an article in America's 1st Freedom. They begin it with:

Harmeet Dhillon, the recently confirmed Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, a division within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), has announced a new focus: The protection of the Second Amendment against any state or local government that hopes to undermine it. “Prior Republican administrations haven’t paid a lot of attention to affirmatively doing that,” said Dhillon, with the result being that “city after city, state after state are eviscerating those rights” while “mocking the Supreme Court.” Henceforth, she concluded, that mockery will have consequences.

Dhillon suggested that the decision to make the Second Amendment “a focus of the Civil Rights Division” may come as a “surprise to many people on both sides.” And, given the way that the right to keep and bear arms has often been treated in the nation’s capital, she is probably right. As a historical matter, though, the move ought not to surprise anyone, for, instead of being an aberration or an innovation, ensuring that the Second Amendment was “affirmatively” extended to everyone was one of the first things that Dhillon’s agency ever did.

To read more, go here. 

Bill Maher Is Right

I've noticed this about lefties. One I know (a Godzilla movie historian) came out a few years ago and said to me in 2017:  "I don't break bread with Trump supporters." We haven't spoken since. 

I am sending this to him.

Bill Maher: "The stupidest thing the left does, and this dinner is a perfect example of it, is having this attitude toward the right that... 'We are so far above you that we won't even sit down at the same table with you!' ... Good luck..."pic.twitter.com/DdUhGYM21d

— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) July 28, 2025

Cruise Ship Superstitions

Above, the Celebrity Mercury was renamed when it was sold.
 Isn't it a no-no to rename a ship? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's something interesting: Cruise ship superstitions. 

Oddly, superstitions do exist and modern cruise lines still keep them in mind.

Cruzely posted an article on cruise ship superstitions.

They begin with:

When it comes to superstitions, there’s arguably nowhere that they play a bigger role than at sea. It makes sense. Back in the old days you needed every bit of luck when you headed out to sea, unsure of when you might be home again.

But while modern ships are much safer than sailing hundreds of years ago, the superstitions still survive in maritime culture. From christening a ship by breaking a bottle on the bow to taking your first step aboard with your right foot to never renaming a boat, there are a number of these quirks that many mariners still continue to follow.

But there’s one superstition you find on cruise ships that might actually make it harder to get around the ship… if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

To read more, go here. 

"Dark Shadows" On The Roku Channel

 

Besides the over-air channels broadcast in New Mexico, I also have The Roku Channel.

A few days ago, I mentioned that they have a channel dedicated to the court-tv show, Hot Bench.

Above, this caught my eye on the Roku Channel's listings.

Well, yesterday, I discovered by accident that they also have a channel dedicated to the 1960s daytime "spook-opera", Dark Shadows.

Last night, I saw the first episodes introducing the character of Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid). 

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 Gerry Rafferty with his 1978 hit, "Baker Street" from his solo album City to City. 

From Wikipedia: 

Gerald Rafferty (16 April 1947 – 4 January 2011) was a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was "Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973. His solo hits in the late 1970s included "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line" and "Night Owl".

Rafferty was born into a working-class family in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His mother taught him both Irish and Scottish folk songs when he was a boy; later, he was influenced by the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan. He joined the folk-pop group the Humblebums (of which Billy Connolly was a member) in 1969. After they disbanded in 1971, he recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back? Rafferty and Joe Egan formed the group Stealers Wheel in 1972. In 1978, he recorded his second solo album, City to City. A heavy drinker for much of his life, Rafferty died from liver failure in 2011.

It's That Time of Year!

Above, Hatch chile peppers I bought. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, I returned home from Gallup where I had my usual Sunday breakfast at the El Rancho Hotel and did some grocery shopping.

Among the items I picked up at the market were some Hatch Valley chile peppers. Yes, it's that time of year!

Above, a lot of people in New Mexico buy Hatch chile peppers by
 the box. These will be gone in no time! Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I will likely make my chile relleno casserole some time this week. I will have to roast the peppers first.

Bon appetit!

SCOTUS To Take Up Ban On Gun Ownership For Marijuana Users

The federal statute of banning firearm possession by marijuana users is likely going to be heard in the U.S. Supreme Court. 

I have always felt that this law was ridiculous.

According to Townhall:

The Supreme Court will consider hearing a gun control case related to a federal ban on firearm possession by marijuana users.

The high court is reportedly expected to have a private discussion on whether it will take up the case of US v. Cooper on September 29. The law has been roundly criticized by gun rights advocates who argue that it is a violation of the Second Amendment.

The case centers on LaVance LeMarr Cooper, who was prosecuted for owning a firearm as a marijuana user, which made him a “prohibited person” under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), a federal criminal statute that bars certain people from owning firearms or ammunition.

This subsection targets those who unlawfully use controlled substances.

To read more, go here. 

Custer's Last Stand: Most Accurate Hollywood Movie?

Above, Last Stand Hill today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My recent visit to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana was an interesting one. People can envision how the battle took place as the area looks much like it did back in 1876, with the exception of the monuments placed there over the years.

Above, George Armstrong Custer, May 1865. Library of Congress photo.

One has to ask, "What Hollywood movie is the most accurate portrayal of Custer's last stand?"

From what I have gleaned via Google, Son of Morning Star (1991), a two-part miniseries is the most accurate. 

According to the U.K.'s Television Heaven:

Other than Waterloo, no battle has generated more discussion than the defeat of Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the Little Big Horn in 1876. News of the massacre of five troops of his 7th US Cavalry at the hands of "uncivilised" tribes came as a profound shock to Americans celebrating the Centenary of their Declaration of Independence with a huge exhibition dedicated to the industrial and technological progress of their country.

Custer himself has been portrayed many times and in many different ways on the big screen: Errol Flynn played him as a self sacrificing hero in 'They Died With Their Boots On,' Ronald Reagan as a dim sidekick in 'Santa Fe Trail,' Robert Shaw as a tightly controlled psychopath in 'Custer of the West,' and Richard Mulligan as comedy relief in 'Little Big Man.' Yet most historians agree that the most authentic portrait was on television - from Gary Cole in Son of the Morning Star, a two part "miniseries." They also tend to commend the production as a whole for its accuracy.

To read more, go here.

Son of Morning Star full movie:

RVing With Guns

Above, at the Hardin, Montana KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Carrying a gun while camping.

This is a "tradition" that both grandfathers, my dad and I have practiced over the years. You never know what sort of predator one may encounter. As the Scout motto says, "Be Prepared!"

During our recent trip to Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota, both my friend Mitch and I packed heat.

This is the topic in today's newsletter in RV Travel.

They begin their article with:

We know many of our readers RV with firearms. In the video below, MJ and Izzy of Endless RVing tackle the topic of RVing with guns. The pair says a lot of RVers make some fundamental mistakes, and they created this video to help keep everyone safe when RVing with firearms. Some of the mistakes could seriously injure you or others, or worse. So if you carry a firearm in your RV, check these out!

As a bit of background, Izzy has been a police officer for more than 24 years and a firearms instructor for more than 10.

The couple breaks this topic down and keeps it simple with three things you should ALWAYS do and three things you should NEVER do when carrying a firearm in your RV.

To read more, go here. 

Beware of "Sneaky" Resort Campground Fees

Above, Circus Circus RV Park didn't charge resort fees in 2015,
 but they did in 2017. So I went elsewhere. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I must be pretty lucky.

In the 10 years of RVing since I bought my motorhome, I have never been charged with "resort" camping fees. Circus Circus RV Park in Las Vegas started charging resort fees, which I declined and stayed elsewhere back in 2017. I stayed there two years prior and was not charged any such fees.

According to an article in RV Travel, these "sneaky" resort fees are cropping up on travelers.

They begin the article with:

Booking a campsite used to be simple, but times have changed. Instead of kicking back by the fire, campers now have to dodge complicated rules and unexpected costs. Picking a spot for your RV is starting to feel like some kind of strategic challenge, where you need a CPA, a lawyer, and a good blood pressure monitor just to make it through the reservation page.

In the video at the end of the post, Andy from The Camping Loop is on a rant, and he has tips for what to look out for. 

 To read more, go here.

Crowd Awaits Trump In Scotland

 

Monica Crowley posted:

Can confirm https://t.co/NThmv90wK0

— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) July 26, 2025

Wild Bill's and Calamity Jane's Graves

When we visited Deadwood, South Dakota a week ago, we didn't go to Mount Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried.

For one thing, RVs aren't permitted on the access road to the cemetery. Also, I didn't see any tram service that goes to the cemetery. We're just too old to try to "hoof" it up there.

I did visit the cemetery in 1990. 

A photo by Dave Williams in Facebook states that this is how Wild Bill's and Calamity Jane's graves look today:

 

Above, Wild Bill's grave is on the left and Calamity Jane's is on the right. Photo by Dave Williams.

Here's how the graves looked in 1990:

Above, Wild Bill's and Calamity Jane's graves in 1990. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The graves look a lot better now.

The First Commercial Smokeless Rifle

From InRangeTV:  

Note: There's some bloopers. He says "95" instead of "94" three times.

Court Strikes Down CA Ammo Background Check Law

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down California's law requiring a background check for ammunition purchases, ruling that the law violated the Second Amendment.

CalMatters reported:

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down California’s first-in-the-nation law requiring background checks for ammunition purchases, another blow to the state’s gun control framework that has been pared down, case by case, since the U.S. Supreme Court dramatically expanded gun rights in a monumental 2022 decision. 

The California law that forced ammunition purchasers to pass a background check was passed by voters in 2016. Gov. Gavin Newsom, at the time the state’s lieutenant governor, championed the initiative and was its primary advocate. 

In 2018, before the law went into effect, a group of gun rights advocates and ammunition vendors sued to block the law. 

To read more, go here. 

10 States With Highest and Lowest Gas Prices

Above, at the Cody, Wyoming KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My recent RV trip that took me through Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota was a good trip. Thankfully, gasoline prices were in the $3.00/gallon neighborhood or less.

The total fuel cost for the trip was $902.88, which is to be split 50/50 with a friend who came along. That, plus campground fees incurred, were still cheaper than a cruise for each of us.

RV Travel has posted an article on 10 states with the highest and lowest gasoline prices.

They begin it with:

If you’re planning to hit the road in your RV this summer, be ready to pay up at the pump—especially out West. With California gas averaging $4.52 a gallon, and prices across the Pacific Northwest states not far behind, fuel is once again one of the biggest expenses for road trippers. Would you like to know the 10 highest and lowest gas prices by state? We can oblige you!

Unlike the West, states like Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas are offering some of the lowest prices in the country—closer to $2.70 a gallon—making them prime stops for filling up. Whether you’re crossing the country or just cruising regionally, knowing where gas is cheapest could make a big difference to your travel budget.

To read more, go here. 

Obama and The Russian Collusion Scandal

It appears that former President Barack Obama was up to his ears with his involvement with the Russian collusion hoax that cost taxpayers a lot of money with the related "investigations".

The declassified documents were presented by Tulsi Gabbard:

Fox News Bret Baier reviews the disclosure and what it all means:

RVer's Guide To Getting Medical Help

Above, the medical center I was airlifted to in Twin Falls, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Getting sick on the road (while RVing) happened to me once.

That took place in Wells, Nevada in 2018 where I was with friends at the Wells Fun Run car show. I had a heart attack (or something quite close to it) that had me airlifted to a hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho to have two stents put into a coronary artery. Luckily, I had insurance coverage that covered everything, including the medical helicopter ride.

Getting sick while RVing is something most of us don't plan for. That's where an article in RV Travel comes in handy. It is a guide to getting medical help while on the road.

They begin with:

One thing many RVers don’t plan for is getting sick while traveling and/or needing medical help on the road. So, what happens if you or a travel buddy need medical care while on the road? How can you find a good doctor or get the quality medical help you need?

Plan healthcare—just in case

RVers plan their travel routes, secure RV camp reservations, plan what to pack, and schedule trip activities. That’s a lot of advanced planning. We don’t usually plan on getting sick. If you are in good health and have kept up to date with annual health visits, getting sick while on vacation probably doesn’t even enter your mind. Maybe it should.

To read more, go here. 

Exploring the Norwegian Sky 2025 Tour

Above, yours truly at the pool deck's smoking area having a cocktail and stogie.

In a little less than a month from now, it will have been a year since the cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Norwegian Sky of Norwegian Cruise Line.

It was a good cruise, four days long. We went to Nassau, Freeport and Great Stirrup Cay (where we jet skied). 

The Norwegian Sky is an older 1990s cruise ship with a maximum of around 3,000 passengers. It is a smaller ship whose size is my preference over the mega-behemoth cruise ships that are coming into service by many cruise lines. If you don't want to be around too many people, this ship is ideal.

Sportsmonkey posted a video on the Norwegian Sky titled, "Exploring the Norwegian Sky 2025 Tour". 

As the video states, the ship is older and smaller, which includes the staterooms. But I didn't spend my time in the room. I hung out mainly on the pool deck at the smoking area.

Here's the video:

Top 5 Best .30-30 Lever Guns Still Dominating in 2025! (Video)

From Firearms Zone: 

Zayra's Café In Springer, New Mexico

Above, Zayra's Café in Springer, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last week was the first time I drove from Colorado to Albuquerque on Interstate 25.

After entering New Mexico, the highway takes drivers through Raton, New Mexico. Raton is the home of the NRA Whittington Center.

According to Wikipedia:

The NRA Whittington Center is one of the largest and most comprehensive shooting facilities in the United States. Owned and operated by the National Rifle Association of America, the centre is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colfax County, New Mexico.

I didn't see any signs along the highway for the NRA Whittington Center. 

Anyway, Interstate 25 is a long stretch of road between Raton to Albuquerque. At least there's a few towns sprinkled here and there along the route. It mainly is in cattle ranch country.

One such town is Springer. There isn't too much there, but at least there's Zayra's Café.

Zayra's Café is a small family-run restaurant with a western motif inside. Thankfully, when we stopped there for a food break, the food was good. I had chicken enchiladas.

Gun Control Groups Can't Stomach Women Gun Owners

Women gun owners is a fast growing segment in society these days.

This fact has gun control groups in a tizzy. 

NSSF posted: 

Leave it to gun control groups to suggest that half of the law-abiding population of the United States shouldn’t be considered for gun ownership. And it’s the half of the population that owning a firearm for self-defense benefits the most in time of need.

Sure, in the past, women were not the segment of the population that immediately popped in to mind as being firearm owners. But now in 2025, shouldn’t that be different? Women already have the same rights as men – including the right to keep and bear arms. Firearms are a part of the American culture, enjoyed by everyone of any color, race and nationality. And over the past five years, industry data has shown women are the fastest-growing demographic of gun buyer. It makes sense that firearm industry businesses would pay attention to their customers and cater to their needs.

But that’s not how many gun control activists and gun control groups see it and they are now aghast that lawful firearm manufacturers would cater their advertising and marketing efforts to appeal to women.

Oh, the thought!

To read more, go here. 

FIRE Act Introduced To End Magazine Capacity Restrictions

The radical left Democrats are going to scream bloody murder over this one, especially if it passes and is signed into law by President Trump.

A bill has been introduced in Congress banning federal, state, and local governments from restricting firearm magazine capacity.

According to USA Carry:

WASHINGTON, DC — In a bold move to safeguard Second Amendment rights, Congressman Tony Wied (WI-08) introduced the Freedom from Improper Regulation and Enforcement (FIRE) Act on July 17, 2025. The proposed legislation would ban federal, state, and local governments from restricting firearm magazine capacity, effectively eliminating a patchwork of regulations that limit magazine size across different jurisdictions.

The FIRE Act prohibits any federal agency from implementing magazine capacity restrictions and blocks state and local governments from enacting or enforcing such laws. The bill has already gained support from several House Republicans, including original cosponsors Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Mike Collins (GA-10), Dave Taylor (OH-02), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), and Russ Fulcher (ID-01).

“For too long, the federal government has infringed on Americans’ Second Amendment rights while maintaining a confusing, inconsistent system that lacks a uniform national standard and invites legal disparity,” Wied stated. “The FIRE Act ensures that law-abiding gun owners can access magazines of any size, no matter where they are in the United States. It’s well past time we take the Founding Fathers’ words ‘shall not be infringed’ seriously.”

The bill is a direct response to a wave of state and local laws that restrict so-called “high-capacity” magazines, often defined as those holding more than 10 rounds. These laws vary by jurisdiction and firearm type, creating legal uncertainty for gun owners traveling across state lines.

To read more, go here. 

Campground Reviews Posted

Above, Moab KOA Kampground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since returning from the 12-day trip to Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota and Colorado, I have campground reviews posted at RV Life Campground Reviews.

During the trip, we stayed at eight campgrounds, most of them were KOA Kampgrounds.

The KOA Kampgrounds were (in order of stays):

• Moab, Utah
• Vernal, Utah
• Cody, Wyoming
• Deadwood, Wyoming
• Hardin, Montana
• Devils Tower, Wyoming
• Colorado Springs, Colorado

The non-KOA campground:

Eagle RV Park, Thermopolis, Utah

To access RV Life Campground Reviews, go here. 

Flaming Gorge Resort

Above, Flaming Gorge Resort Fly Shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While traveling to Cody, Wyoming, we stopped at Flaming Gorge Resort for breakfast.

Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area straddles Utah and Wyoming. It is a huge reservoir with plenty of camping, fishing and water sports activities available for vacationers and sportsmen. 

Above, a little oddity for sale in the Fly Shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Flaming Gorge Resort's restaurant's food was good! 

After breakfast, we perused around the Fly & Tackle Shop. They have plenty of fishing and camping gear along with gift items. 

Above, Mitch Geriminsky outside of the restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Flaming Gorge is a beautiful area with pine-covered forests. I am tempted to go back for a few days of camping.

For more information on the resort, go here.

Devils Tower National Monument

Before heading to the Black Hills of South Dakota, we stopped for the night at Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

I had been there before in 1990, but that was only a quick stop before proceeding to Yellowstone National Park. 

We stayed at the Devils Tower KOA Kampground. The campground shows Close Encounters of the Third Kind nightly. We joined other campers at the night's screening. 

Before leaving, we took a drive into Devils Tower National Monument and took some photos along the way.

Below are various photos in and out of the national monument of Devils Tower.

Custer Battlefield Trading Post

Above, the front of the Custer Battlefield Trading Post. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After touring the Little Bighorn Battlefield, we headed out and went to Custer Battlefield Trading Post. 

Above, inside the restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with a big gift store, they also have a restaurant. I had an Indian Taco (known in New Mexico as a Navajo taco). It was quite good and filling.

Above, the Indian taco. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Outside the park, they are the nearest restaurant to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. 

For more information, go here.

In-N-Out’s Billionaire Heiress Is Quitting California

Above, an In-N-Out Burger in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One thing I miss about California is In-N-Out Burger (Original Tommy's is another). Fortunately, plans are underway to open In-N-Out restaurants in the Albuquerque area.

In-N-Out CEO Lynsi Snyder is leaving Commiefornia for redder pastures, namely, Tennessee.

Fortune reported:

Lynsi Snyder is a born and bred Californian, and makes no secret of her love for the state where her grandparents founded cult burger empire In-N-Out. But the CEO revealed she is leaving the Golden State for Tennessee, where the company is building a new eastern territory office, teasing a potential push to expand even further across the U.S.

Snyder took over the West Coast chain at the age of 27, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, father and uncle who led the business prior to her succession.

Having grown up in Northern California, Snyder recounted in a recent episode of the ‘Relatable’ podcast how she worked her way up the ranks of the business, from toiling away in stores to helping her grandmother with community work, to running the business’s merchandising branch.

Now at the helm of the business with a net worth of $7.3 billion, Snyder is expanding In-N-Out into new pastures and wants her family to benefit from the change too.

“There’s a lot of great things about California, but raising a family is not easy here. Doing business is not easy here. The bulk of our stores are still going to be here in California, but it will be wonderful having an office … growing out there.”

You can thank the Democrat Party in Commiefornia for the exodus of businesses and people fleeing the state. I left before it really started getting bad there. 

To read more, go here.

Buffalo Bill Cody Museum

Above, visitors to the Center are greeted by this statue of Buffalo
Bill Cody at the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Buffalo Bill Center of the West contains five museums: Whitney Western Art Museum, Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Cody Firearms Museum and the Draper Natural History Museum 

We took in three of them: The Cody Firearms Museum, Plains Indian Museum and the Buffalo Bill Museum.

On the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Center's website states:

A Must-See Wild West Museum

The Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming is one of five museums at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. It’s a western history museum about the museum’s namesake, as well as some of the biggest characters in the West like Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, Pawnee Bill, and other members of the Wild West Show. 

If you want to learn about cowboy folklore and pop culture on your way through the Yellowstone area, this is your place to visit. 

There were many paintings and photographs of Buffalo Bill Cody in the museum along with artifacts of the era he lived in.

For more information on the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, go here.

Some photos: