Liberals Taking More Interest In Gun Training

"Politics makes strange bedfellows," it has been said over the years.

Right now, another example of strange bedfellows is that liberals are now taking firearms training in higher numbers, according to gun trainers.

Recent ICE incidents have dawned on liberals that the Second Amendment civil right belongs to them too. 

NBC News reported:

The federal government’s recent messaging around gun holders has created a deluge of unlikely Second Amendment advocates — including those previously opposed to or disinterested in gun ownership.

Gun groups across the country are seeing skyrocketing requests for firearm training from women, people of color and liberals, according to national gun coalitions and local trainers who spoke with NBC News in recent weeks.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has shot 13 people during immigration enforcement operations since September. But January’s high-profile killings of Minneapolis residents Alex Pretti and Renee Good, both U.S. citizens, have stoked renewed fears nationwide about federal violations of constitutional rights.

 To read more, go here.

NBC News: More Americans Are Living In RVs

Three years ago, I was in Los Angeles for our 50th high school reunion with two friends. While in L.A., we drove around and visited some old haunts in the South Bay area of L.A. County.

At one point, we found ourselves driving in the Ballona Creek wetlands north of Westchester and LAX. We saw streets lined with parked RVs. They were all bumper to bumper. These weren't vacationers, they people were living in their RVs.

RV Travel has posted an article on a NBC News report that more Americans are living in RVs. After seeing how things were at the Ballona Creek wetlands, I am not at all surprised.

The article (which includes a video) begins with:

This short report from NBC News brings to light something that most of us who travel by RV already know: Many more people are living in RVs these days, not because they want to experience the great American road trip or spend some time with nature. No, they are living in RVs because it’s the only way they can afford to put a roof over their head.

As rents and home prices continue to climb, a growing number of Americans are turning to RVs as full-time homes. For many, it’s less about adventure and more about affordability.

To read more and view the video, go here. 

 

Norovirus Hits Over 70 People Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise

Above, the Royal Caribbean ship, Majesty of the Seas, in Havana
 Port. I caught a cold on this cruise ship. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is one main reason that cruise ship traveling is not my favorite way to vacation: diseases.

Two out of three cruises I have taken had me get sick. They were relatively minor, one a 24-hour flu and the other a head cold.  

With the trend of cruise lines introducing bigger cruise ships, carrying around 5,000 passengers and crew, they are floating petri dishes. 

It has happened again. An outbreak of norovirus occurred on board a Royal Caribbean ship 

According to NBC News:

Over 70 people aboard a 13-day Royal Caribbean cruise have reportedly fallen ill from norovirus ahead of its final destination in Miami, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

The outbreak on the Royal Caribbean International ship Serenade of the Seas, which departed from San Diego on Sept. 19 and is scheduled to arrive in Miami on Thursday, was reported to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program on Sunday. The program is set to help prevent and control the introduction and spread of gastrointestinal illnesses on cruise ships.

The CDC reported that 71 out of 1,874 passengers and one of 883 crew members have "reported being ill during the voyage" and noted that predominant symptoms included diarrhea and vomiting.

To read more, go here. 

Trump: Kirk Assassin Apprehended

A suspect has been apprehended in the Charlie Kirk assassination.

This has been confirmed by President Trump as reported by NBC News:

Trump announced in an interview on Fox News this morning that law enforcement have the suspect in the Kirk shooting in custody.

“I think, with a high degree of certainty, we have him — in custody ... everyone did a great job we worked with the local police, the governor, everybody did a great job," he said.

To see more, go here. 

48th Anniversary of Elvis Presley's Death

Above, Elvis Presley's Grave at Graceland in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a rainy August day in Hawthorne, California and I was watching the James Cagney movie, One, Two, Three when a news bulletin interrupted the movie.

Elvis Presley had died.

My mom was working out in the yard (she was an Elvis fan) and I went out and immediately told her the news.

It was one of those news events where people can remember where and what they were doing when hearing the news. That is still true with this story, even though we're two years shy of the fiftieth anniversary.

Here's a video from NBC News with David Brinkley reporting:

Elvis's Granddaughter Fighting Foreclosure of Graceland

Above, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion in Memphis. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Elvis Presley's granddaughter, Riley Keough, is fighting a foreclosure of Graceland, alleging that some signatures are forgeries.

NBC News reported:

Elvis Presley’s granddaughter is trying to halt the court-approved sale of Graceland, the late singer’s Memphis, Tennessee, compound.

Riley Keough, a successful dramatic actor also known as Danielle Riley Keough, has filed a claim in Tennessee civil court that alleges the creditor behind the foreclosure claim used forged signatures.

Keough, who was granted virtual control of Graceland Mansion and much of Elvis' estate after her mother, Lisa Marie Presley, died last year, alleges in the suit that the creditor's paperwork on a $3.8 million loan to Graceland trustees, with a deed of trust on the compound pledged as collateral, is fraudulent.

In a statement, Elvis Presley Enterprises — the entity that runs Graceland and the assets of the Elvis Presley Trust — suggested the announced sale is a scheme.

“Elvis Presley Enterprises can confirm that these claims are fraudulent. There is no foreclosure sale. Simply put, the counter lawsuit has been filed is to stop the fraud,” it said.

To read more, go here. 

The Gun Lobby Has A New Leader In D.C.

As the National Rifle Association struggles following the corruption trial of Wayne LaPierre, other pro-gun groups are poised to fill the void, such as Gun Owners of America.

But, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) appears to be the new leader in D.C.

According to NBC News:

WASHINGTON — The top advocate for the gun industry in Washington is spending more than ever to influence the federal government. The group accuses President Joe Biden of waging war on the Second Amendment. It resists any effort to create universal background checks and argues that attempts to crack down on untraceable “ghost guns” are unnecessary. 

And it’s not the National Rifle Association. 

The NSSF, founded more than 60 years ago to promote hunting and recreational shooting, has grown into the country’s largest firearms trade association. The organization spent more than $5.4 million on federal lobbying last year, more than in any other year in its history and more than twice as much as the NRA, according to federal records.

The NRA — long seen as synonymous with the gun-rights movement — has struggled with declining membership and revenue, as well as internal scandals. The latest blow came when its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, was found liable for corruption in a New York court last month. 

As the NRA cuts back on federal lobbying, its troubles have created an opportunity for other gun-rights advocates to expand — especially the NSSF. 

To read more, go here. 

Melanie, R.I.P.

Above, Melanie Safka.

Sad news this morning. 

Melanie Safka, best known as Melanie, passed away on January 23 at age 76. The cause of her death has not been released. She was spotlighted on this blog in a Classic Rock Music Monday last year..

From NBC News:

Melanie, the singer who performed at Woodstock in 1969 and had major pop hits with “Brand New Key” and “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” in the early ’70s, died Tuesday at age 76. News of the death came from her publicity firm, Glass Onyon PR.

No information on the cause of death was immediately given. But Melanie — full name Melanie Safka — had been in the studio earlier this month working on a new record of cover songs, “Second Hand Smoke,” for the Cleopatra label; it would have been her 32nd album, the label said.

Her three children, Leilah, Jeordie, and Beau Jarred, posted a message on Facebook, writing: “We are heartbroken, but want to thank each and every one of you for the affection you have for our Mother, and to tell you that she loved all of you so much! She was one of the most talented, strong and passionate women of the era and every word she wrote, every note she sang reflected that. Our world is much dimmer, the colors of a dreary, rainy Tennessee pale with her absence today, but we know that she is still here, smiling down on all of us, on all of you, from the stars.”

Her children asked that at 10 p.m. CT Wednesday, “each of you lights a candle in honor of Melanie. Raise, raise them high, high up again. Illuminate the darkness, and let us all be connected in remembrance of the extraordinary woman who was wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to so very many people.”

To read more, go here. 

Gun Ownership in America Hits Record High

Above, Ron Peterson Firearms in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Despite efforts by Democrats to destroy the Second Amendment, more Americans are owning guns than ever before.

Ammoland reported:

In an unprecedented surge of gun ownership across the United States, a recent NBC News poll has revealed a wonderful statistic: more than half of American voters, a staggering 52%, report that they or someone in their household owns a gun.

This figure, the highest ever recorded in the history of the NBC News poll dating back to 1999, indicates a significant cultural shift in the American electorate’s attitude toward gun ownership​.

However, this trend isn’t just a flash in the pan. Over the past decade, there has been a consistent increase in gun ownership. Back in 2013, only 42% of Americans reported household gun ownership. This number jumped to 46% in 2019 and has now reached its current peak.​

To read more, go here.

Social Security and A Government Shut-Down

This coming Sunday, if the congress (House and Senate) and the White House don't come to an agreement on a spending bill, the government will shut down.

What does that mean for those of us geezers who are collecting Social Security? Nothing.

According to NBC News (via AOL):

If the federal government shuts down on Sunday, numerous publicly funded agencies will stop work and their employees won't be paid, but Social Security checks will still go out.

Social Security is considered a mandatory program and it isn't funded by the shorter-term appropriations bills passed by Congress and signed by the president. That means its operations and funding don't stop when the government shuts down.

That's important for a large portion of Americans, as about 67 million people are currently receiving monthly Social Security benefits, according to the Social Security Administration. Those benefits primarily go to retirees, but also to people with disabilities as well as dependents of deceased beneficiaries.

Medicare and Veterans Affairs benefits also continue being distributed during a shutdown.

To read more, go here. 

Default "May" Delay Social Security Payments

Social Security benefit payments may be delayed. 

It isn't known if this is a scare tactic or not, but it is a good idea to prepare for the worst case scenario.

According to NBC News:

With the odds of a U.S. debt default increasing, Social Security advocates warn beneficiaries they should be prepared in case their payments are interrupted.

Negotiations around whether the nation's ability to borrow money should be expanded have been ongoing, but Congress and the White House have yet to reach an agreement on the path forward.

The impasse has placed the U.S. in a precarious financial position, and leaves some of the most vulnerable Americans at risk.

Dan Adcock, director of government relations and policy for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, said there is a "good chance" that in the event of a default, millions of Americans' benefits would be disrupted.

"Seniors should be prepared if they're financially able," Adcock said, adding they should consider putting off discretionary purchases "so they have enough to tide them over." 

Not a foregone conclusion

Analysts suggest it isn't certain that the government will miss payments to Social Security recipients in the event of a default. The matter would likely depend on how much cash is on hand if or when the debt ceiling is breached.

The staggered schedule of Social Security payments, which relies on an individual’s birthdate to determine which part of the month they receive them, means not all beneficiaries would be equally affected in a missed or partial-payment scenario.

To read the full story, go here. 

"My Darling Clementine"

 

 "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." - from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).

That line could sum up the 1946 John Ford movie, My Darling Clementine. It is a fictional version of the events leading up to and including the shoot-out at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona between the Earp brothers and the Clantons.

Since I have a trip coming up to Tombstone, I decided to watch My Darling Clementine last evening. It is the Criterion Collection version that I bought a few years ago starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, Victor Mature as Doc Holliday, Ward Bond as Morgan Earp and Linda Darnell as Chihuahua.

Not much, if anything, is historically accurate, but it is a beautifully shot movie and well acted. It was filmed in Monument Valley, which I find humorous as the real Tombstone doesn't look anything like Monument Valley. It has to rank as the darkest movie by John Ford.

The extras do provide the real facts about Tombstone. The one I especially liked was a NBC News report from 1963 with David Brinkley.

The movie scored a 100% rating at Rotten Tomatoes' Tomatometer.

I visited Tombstone back around 1988 and enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the upcoming trip.

"An American Adventure: The Rocket Pilots"

Here's a little something for you aviation history buffs: "An American Adventure: The Rocket Pilots"

It is a 1981 documentary on the X-15 rocket plane program from NBC News (back in the days when NBC News was a quality organization). I have it on DVD.

The video's synopsis:

A comprehensive documentary covering the history of aviation high speed innovation and advancement from the first powered flights of the Wright brothers up to and including the X-15 space plane. An emphasis is placed on the adventures and stories of the test pilots of Edwards Air Force Base, and how engineers of the era helped to develop the hardware and technical data that were eventually used by NASA in the design of the Space Shuttle.

Presented by Lloyd Dobyns for NBC News.

Putin Mobilizes More Troops For Ukraine War, Threatens Nuclear Retaliation

With Ukraine recently kicking Russia's butt in a counteroffensive, Russian President Vladimir Putin is getting desperate.

He is ordering more troops and appears to be threatening nuclear retaliation against the West.

NBC News reported:

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilization of his country’s military Wednesday, calling up reservists in a significant escalation of his war in Ukraine after battlefield setbacks left the Kremlin facing growing pressure to act.

In a rare national address, the Russian leader also backed plans for Russia to annex occupied areas of southern and eastern Ukraine, appearing to threaten nuclear retaliation if Kyiv continues its efforts to reclaim that land.

It came just a day after after four Russian-controlled areas announced they would stage votes this week on breaking away from Ukraine and joining Russia, in a plan Kyiv and its Western allies dismissed as a desperate “sham” aimed at deterring a successful counteroffensive by Ukrainian troops.  

Vowing that Russia would use all the means at its disposal to protect what it considers its territory, Putin accused the West of nuclear blackmail and warned: “This is not a bluff.” 

To read more, go here. 

Diplomats In Cuba Frustrated With Biden's Response To Their "Havana Syndrome" Illnesses

Above, the U.S. Embassy in Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Diplomats and staff at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba are frustrated that the Biden Administration is ignoring their "Havana Syndrome" illnesses and not getting them the care they need.

According to AOL News:

WASHINGTON — A group of U.S. diplomats and other government staffers suffering from symptoms consistent with "Havana Syndrome" are voicing frustration with the Biden administration's early response, and warning that injured workers are still being denied proper care.

In a letter to State Department leadership obtained by NBC News, the staffers say that in recent months, the government has continued to "reject scientific evidence regarding the injuries and treatment needs" and to "invalidate our injuries and experiences," alleging that military and intelligence officials injured by the same unexplained phenomenon are being treated more seriously.

"After four years of challenges, we were hopeful that the new administration would welcome a partnership with us to ensure those affected receive the care and treatment they need and ensure appropriate care for the new cases," the staffers wrote. "Unfortunately, our experience thus far has fallen short of our renewed expectations."

The letter adds to growing pressure on the Biden administration from Congress to better care for affected U.S. workers and get to the bottom of how they suffered brain injuries — still largely a mystery more than four years after the government started investigating what at first it called "targeted attacks." Like the Trump administration, the Biden administration has not found a definitive cause or culprit.

To read more, go here. 

CDC: Fully Vaccinated Can Ditch The Mask

Above, yours truly at Denny's last June.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that those who are fully vaccinated can ditch with masks indoors and outdoors in most circumstances.

NBC News reported:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 no longer need to wear masks or physically distance — whether indoors or outdoors in most circumstances.

"We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy," the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said during a media briefing Thursday afternoon.

"Based on the continuing downward trajectory of cases, the scientific data on the performance of our vaccines and our understanding of how the virus spreads," Walensky said, "that moment has come for those who are fully vaccinated."

 Let's see if New Mexico Gov. "Malevolent Michelle" Lujan Grisham takes heed of the CDC announcement and ends the mandatory mask requirement in the state for the fully vaccinated.

Those who refuse to get vaccinated now have an incentive to get it.

To read more, go here.

New Mexico's COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Success

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Several news outlets are lauding the state of New Mexico for its success in its vaccination program.

NBC News reported:

More than a quarter of the adult population in New Mexico is fully vaccinated, making the state the closest to achieving herd immunity. Officials say speed, equity, education and community partnerships have been critical.

I received my vaccinations in February in Gallup.

To see more, including a video, go here. 

Horses and the Townhalls

Above, Christmas enjoying her carrots. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was relatively a relaxing day.

I tinkered around the house, brought some carrot treats to horses Christmas and Buddy and drove around in the Jeep.

I watched President Trump's townhall last evening on NBC and "moderator" Savannah Guthrie was exasperating. The woman would not shut up and kept badgering and interrupting the President when he was trying to answer questions from her and members of the audience. 

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

At the same time, Joe Biden had his town carried by ABC and was hosted by George Stephanopoulos. In contrast to the President's grilling, Biden got nothing but "softball" questions and the townhall was described by many as a "lovefest". I am not surprised, considering that Stephanopoulos once worked for the Clintons.

The subjects of Burisma, Ukraine or Biden's son Hunter never came up in either townhalls. 

The election is about two weeks away and it cannot come soon enough.