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Tuesday, February 6, 2024
NMSSA Legislative Update 2/5
Monday, February 5, 2024
Jeep Drive Today
Today was spent grocery shopping in Gallup (after breakfast at the El Rancho Hotel) and then doing some Jeep driving.
The temperature was a bit warmer today than yesterday, otherwise I would have done some Jeep driving on my birthday.
It is now around 54°.
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| Above, up at the top of Whispering Cedars Road. |
Newsom's Marxist Electric Bills
The Looney Left Report
If there is ever a reason to be grateful for moving out of Commiefornia, this one gets the grand prize!
Last year, the one-party state passed legislation making people's electric bills based on income rather than actual usage. Sounds like something out of a socialist/communist country, doesn't it?
A post in The Federalist blog today caught my attention. So I did some searching. It didn't take long.
According to the Washington Free Beacon:
California governor Gavin Newsom is standing by the state’s soon-to-be-implemented "equitable" policy to base electricity bills on income, rather than usage, even as public and political opposition to the idea builds in the Democratic coalition.
A spokesman for the governor said on Tuesday that Newsom is looking forward to seeing a final proposal from the state's utilities commission "that is consistent with" the 2022 law that required the agency to devise an income-based billing system.
"California must combat climate change by rapidly expanding the use of clean electricity in our vehicles and buildings, while at the same time making it more affordable for low-income Californians," the spokesman said in a statement.
Newsom’s commitment to California’s income-based electricity billing plan followed a press conference by a group of Democratic lawmakers who want to reverse the policy, after they voted in its favor as part of a 2022 budget bill. Citing public outcry, they condemned the plan as another price hike for Californians’ astronomical energy bills that would punish conservation-minded households while also subjecting everyone to invasive income checks.
See? This is what you get when a Marxist political party has total control of the state's government. They are using the excuse of "climate change" (which is total bullplop) as an excuse to impose this Marxist act.
To read more, go here.
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 this week, we have Tommy James & The Shondells with their second number one hit, "Crimson & Clover" released in December 1968.
From Wikipedia:
Tommy James and the Shondells is an American rock band formed in Niles, Michigan, in 1964. They had two No. 1 singles in the U.S. – "Hanky Panky" (July 1966, their only RIAA Certified Gold record) and "Crimson and Clover" (February 1969) – and also charted twelve other top 40 hits, including five in the Hot 100's top ten: "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Sweet Cherry Wine" and "Crystal Blue Persuasion"'.
Sunday, February 4, 2024
NM House Passes Gas Hike Bill
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| Above, a California gas station. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
To paraphrase Will Rogers, Democrats never met a tax they didn't like. Or hike.
You may be familiar with the high gas prices in California due to similar laws. How would you like to pay $5-6 per gallon in New Mexico?
This may be happening in New Mexico as eco-leftists in the legislature are proposing a "clean transportation fuel standard" that, if passed, will hike gasoline prices fifty cents or more.
The Piñon Post reported:
The New Mexico House of Representatives voted Sunday to pass a “clean transportation fuel standard” that will increase gas prices by around 50 cents per gallon or more. The passage was narrowly secured with a vote tally of 36-33, reflecting a divided stance among the legislators, with Democrats joining all Republicans to reject it.
The bill in question, identified as a modified version of House Bill 41 by the House Judiciary Committee, seeks to lay the groundwork for a statewide initiative focused on diminishing the carbon intensity associated with transportation fuels. The ambitious targets set by this initiative aim for a reduction of at least 20% from the levels recorded in 2018 by the year 2030, escalating to a minimum of 30% by 2040.
Proponents of the bill, such as sponsor Rep. Kristina Ortez from Taos, argue that the establishment of such standards is crucial for attracting clean fuel businesses to New Mexico.
States that have adopted similar standards, such as California, Oregon, and Washington, admit that they directly increase fuel prices in these states.
Contact your legislator and tell them to NOT support this crazy bill.
To read more, go here.
NMSSA Legislative Update 2/4
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31st Anniversary of My 39th Birthday
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| Above, Monument Valley in October 2022. |
This would be an ordinary Sunday except for one thing: today I am celebrating the 31st anniversary of my 39th birthday (as President Reagan used to say).
So far, over 70 well-wishes have been received at Facebook and elsewhere. For those who were thoughtful to send them, my deepest thanks.
It is hard to believe that only a few years ago that whenever I was asked my age, I would reply, "I'm too young for MediCare and too old for women to care." Well, I've gone past that.
It is indeed a blessing to have lived this long. I often think of contemporaries who have passed on, including friends and family members. I plan on keeping on. Staying active is the key to longevity. As of now, I am feeling fine. The medical emergency I had five years ago was a wake-up call. I have lost weight, eating healthier and follow my doctor's orders along with taking my medications.
Funny thing. I was just down at the Flying J and waiting in a long line at the checkstand. A fellow behind me and I struck up a conversation. He is a long-haul trucker and he thought I was one too. He said, "You look like a trucker!" I told him no, I am a retired insurance adjuster and the only thing I drove in my job was a desk.
I'll just close this with something President Reagan told former President Jimmy Carter at the dedication of the Carter Library in 1986. Reagan told Carter, as it was also Carter's birthday, "Life begins at 70!"
Here's where I find out if that's true.
Winchester 62A Pump Action Rifle
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| Above, my grandfather's Winchester 62A pump action rifle. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Before I bought my Ruger 10/22 rifle, I primarily did target-shooting with my maternal grandfather's Winchester 62A .22 pump action rifle in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The 62A is known as a gallery gun that took .22 short, .22 long and .22 long rifle cartridges. When I shot with it, I used .22 long rifle cartridges.
Based on the rifle's serial number, it was made in 1947.
It is a good firing gun. The video below will show how easy and quick one can shoot with it. The next time we go shooting (most likely in the spring), I will bring it along.
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Amelia Earhart's Plane In Sonar Image?
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| Above, Amelia Earhart and her Lockheed Electra. |
One of the great mysteries of the first half of the 20th Century is what happened to famed aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan.
Sonar images near Howland Island in the South Pacific may have located her airplane.
According to CNN:
CNN — One of the greatest enduring mysteries is the fate of beloved pilot Amelia Earhart.
Nearly 87 years after the famed aviator and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared over the Pacific Ocean during an attempt to fly around the world, underwater archaeologists and other marine experts are still trying to unravel what happened.
The US government maintains that the aviation pioneer and Noonan crashed into the ocean after running out of fuel, but some believe the duo became castaways on an island or that Earhart was a spy whom the Japanese captured.
The record-breaking Earhart disappeared at the top of her game, becoming a trailblazing icon for women pilots.
And a recent find may add a new chapter to Earhart’s unfinished story.
Ocean secrets
A research team believes it has found Earhart’s twin-engine plane deep beneath the waves.
Ocean exploration company Deep Sea Vision sent an expedition to the Pacific Ocean between September and December. While using sonar imaging to map the seafloor with sound waves, a small aircraft-shaped anomaly appeared more than 16,000 feet (4,877 meters) down.
To read more, go here.
Study: 1.1 Million Americans Joining RV Lifestyle, Including EV Owners
If there was one thing we learned (or already should have) during this winter season is that electric vehicles (EV) are useless (and even potentially deadly). There have been numerous reports over the past few weeks that cold temperatures are not good or EV batteries and charging stations.
Despite this, some RV owners are saying they plan on buying an electric vehicle or even already one one, according to a recent study. Others are planning on joining the "RV lifestyle".
RV Travel has posted an article on this study.
They begin it with:
A recent study commissioned by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) concerning electric vehicles (EVs) and EV owners revealed the following:
- 30% of leisure travelers who have used an RV already own an electric vehicle.
- An astonishing 17% of leisure travelers who have used an RV plan to buy an electric vehicle within a year.
- An additional 16% of RV users plan to purchase an electric vehicle sometime in the future.
- 50% of leisure travelers who own an electric vehicle intend to tow an RV with it.
- Remarkably, 22% of current electric vehicle owners and 30% of those planning to buy an electric vehicle are considering purchasing an electric motorhome.
Per the study, “Leisure travelers are defined as any U.S. residents who has taken some type of leisure trip in the past 12 months.”
To read more, go here.
NMSSA Legislative Update 2/2
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Friday, February 2, 2024
Sleaze In Fulton County
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| Above, D.A. Fani Willis from her Facebook page. |
In a breaking news story, the Daily Caller revealed that the Fulton County District Attorney and the appointed special prosecutor prosecuting former President Donald Trump have a personal relationship.
The Daily Caller reported:
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis confirmed a personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade in a court filing Friday, though denied the relationship provided her with any financial benefit.
A co-defendant of former President Donald Trump alleged in a Jan. 8 motion that Willis improperly benefited from awarding Wade a lucrative contract when he took her on vacations using money he earned from his position, claiming this was grounds to disqualify Willis and dismiss the case. Willis responded Friday by arguing that their relationship does not represent a conflict of interest and never provided her with any financial benefit.
“While the allegations raised in the various motions are salacious and garnered the media attention they were designed to obtain, none provide this Court with any basis upon which to order the relief they seek,” the filing states.
In an affidavit attached to the filing, Wade stated that their relationship developed in 2022, and that they had no relationship other than as friends at the time of his appointment. He notes that expenses for personal travel “travel were roughly divided equally between us.”
To read more, go here.
UPDATE (2/3/24):
I asked a friend who is a retired deputy district attorney what she though of this and this was her response:
Horribly unethical on so many fronts! I hope she and he get disbarred!
Breakdown of The History of UFO Crashes
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| Above, a crashed UFO diorama at the Roswell International UFO Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Since I have been holed up indoors due to rain and snow showers and not having posted anything pertaining to Unidentified Flying Objects in a while, here's a story that caught my attention.
If you thought Roswell, New Mexico was the first (in 1947) UFO crash, well, you're mistaken. The Trinity atomic bomb test in 1945 (two years before Roswell) caused UFO to crash.
KLAS (out of Las Vegas) has an article with the breakdown of the history of alleged UFO crashes.
They begin it with:
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Stories about crashed saucers and coverups have been around since the end of World War II. But now, these stories are being taken seriously in Washington.
When former intelligence officer David Grusch testified last July about nonhuman craft hidden away for decades inside special access programs, it caught some members of Congress and major media off guard.
However, the lore of crashed saucers and dead aliens is hardly new and the claims have leaked out many times in the past 76 years.
The grandfather of crashed saucer tales is Roswell. A story that didn’t emanate with UFO nuts, but came from the U.S. military.
To read more, go here.
Winchester Mystery House
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| Above, a 1988 adult ticket to the Winchester Mystery House. |
Back around 1988, we took a family vacation to Northern California. During this trip, we went to Big Sur, Monterey, Klamath and Sacramento. We also stopped in San Jose to tour the famous Winchester Mystery House, built by Winchester Repeating Arms heiress Sarah Winchester.
From Wikipedia:
The Winchester Mystery House is a mansion in San Jose, California, that was once the personal residence of Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearms magnate William Wirt Winchester. The house became a tourist attraction nine months after Winchester's death in 1922. The Victorian and Gothic-style mansion is renowned for its size and its architectural curiosities.
It is sometimes claimed to be one of the "most haunted places in the world", but there is no evidence to support this belief. Much of the lore regarding the Winchester House and its owner is fanciful, unverified, and often provably false.
The Winchester Mystery House is still open for tours today. For information, check the official website by going here.
Affordable Eclipse Adventure By RV
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| Above, at a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho for the 2017 Great American Eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
We are almost two months away before the solar eclipse.
Already, hotels and campgrounds are being booked up by sky-watchers. Travel and Tour World has posted an article on which mode of travel for the event is more economical for the family budget.
They begin it with:
When it comes to enjoying the captivating sights and sounds of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8th without breaking the bank, many Americans are discovering that opting for an RV adventure and celebrating at one of the 5,000-plus campgrounds along the eclipse’s path is a more budget-friendly alternative to air travel and hotel stays. A recent survey by Priceline on flights and hotel rates in cities along the eclipse route revealed an average airfare of $587 per person and a nightly hotel rate of $238. In contrast, camping in picturesque parks or family-friendly campgrounds comes at a fraction of the cost, with many sites available for under $75. For those interested in renting an RV for the occasion, it’s possible to secure one that accommodates up to 8 people for less than $100 per night.
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| Above, at a viewing area in Roberts, Idaho just before the start of the Great American Eclipse. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When the Great American Eclipse took place in August 2017, I booked my campsite months in advance at a KOA Kampground in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. That was a memorable trip!
To read more, go here.
Forty Years of ECV
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| Above, my official "sheepskin" of ECV membership. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
I forgot to mention that last month (gettin' old) marked 40 years since I was initiated into the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.
Glenn Thornhill and I went through the initiation rites at the New Helvetia Chapter No. 5 Crab Feed doins in the Sacramento area in January 1984.
We were in Sacramento for a friend's wedding and it happened that the chapter had their annual crab feeds that weekend.
Joining ECV was one of the best things I've ever done. I still enjoy going to Clampouts and other activities. Fortunately for me, a Clamper chapter, Lost Dutchman Chapter No. 5917 + 4, covers Arizona and New Mexico. So I've joined them. Prior to moving to New Mexico, I was mainly active in Platrix Chapter No. 2.
Here's to another 40 years!
Rain, Snow Showers This Weekend
It looks like snow showers, rain and gusty winds are part of the weather menu over this weekend.
I was considering going to the Second Amendment rally in Santa Fe Saturday, but snow showers are forecast on Friday and into Saturday there. Looks like I am staying put at home.
This morning, we are having some winds and scattered rain in Jamestown. More is on the way.
According to the National Weather Service:
Thursday, February 1, 2024
The Convention That Wasn't
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| Above, the front of Sammy C's Rockin' Sports Pub & Grill. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
A little while ago, I returned home from Gallup.
I went there to attend the McKinley County Republican Pre-Primary convention at Sammy C's Rockin' Sports Pub & Grill. It is owned by Sammy Cioda, who is a radio announcer at KYAT-FM for Millennium Media.
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| Above, the main hallway/lobby of Sammy C's. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When I got there, there was nothing to indicate that there would be a convention or any kind of meeting at the announced time of 12:45 PM. So, I went to the bar and ordered a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice). I hadn't had one in years. It was good.
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| Above, the bar, where a women's breakaway rodeo was shown on the monitors. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
When I sat down at the bar, Sammy C came in and greeted everyone. He makes it a point to greet his customers. I met him three years ago. We were introduced by Nandoh.
I wandered around the place to look over Sammy's collection of sports and entertainment memorabilia. It is quite a collection.
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| Above, enjoying my screwdriver in the bar. |
When 12:45 arrived, I and others asked about it. Sammy said the time was moved to 5:45 this evening. Apparently, the McKinley County GOP didn't tell anyone.
Since we are supposed to get a rain and/or snow shower storm coming in after 2:00, I decided to leave and do some grocery shopping before heading back to Jamestown.
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| Above, a standee of Sammy C near the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
Although disappointing, it wasn't a wasted trip as I got out of the house and enjoyed looking over Sammy C's memorabilia.
California Ammo Background Checks Tossed By Federal Judge
2024 is starting out good for California gun owners.
A federal judge has ruled that Californians don't need to pay for and pass a background check every time they buy ammunition.
According to KRCR News:
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California residents don't have to pay for and pass a background check every time they buy bullets, a federal judge has ruled.
The Tuesday ruling by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez took effect immediately. California Attorney General Rob Bonta asked Benitez on Wednesday to delay the ruling to give him time to appeal the decision. It's unclear if Benitez will grant that request.
Many states, including California, make people pass a background check before they can buy a gun. California goes a step further by making people pass a background check, which cost either $1 or $19 depending on eligibility, every time they buy bullets. A few other states also require background checks for buying ammunition, but most let people buy a license that is good for a few years.
Benitez said California's law violates the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because if people can't buy bullets for their guns, they can't use their guns for self-defense. He criticized the state's automated background check system, which he said rejected about 11% of applicants, or 58,087 requests, in the first half of 2023.
To read more, go here.
How To Visit Monument Valley In 2024
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| Above, a morning view of John Ford Point. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
We're only now just starting the second month of 2024, but vacation season will start in four months.
In case one is now thinking about a vacation to somewhere, The Planet D has posted a guide to vising Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in 2024.
I have been to Monument Valley several times, most recently in October 2022. I camp at nearby Goulding's Lodge Campground. If one is interested in geography or old western movies, it is a place worth seeing
The Planet D begins with:
Monument Valley just hits differently. The red-sand desert floor stretches over 92,000 acres across the Utah-Arizona border, dotted with sandstone buttes and dirt roads. This region is best known for Monument Valley Tribal Park – a once frequent filming location for old Western movies. You’ve already seen the valley on your TV screen. It has featured as a backdrop for all the John Wayne films, plus classics like Forrest Gump. But there is more to the valley than just good looks. You can visit attractions like the Navajo Shadehouse Museum and enjoy incredible hiking trails.
Researching Monument Valley is so much fun. It is one of the most famous sections of any Arizona road trip and one of the leading US road trips. Between the red-sand scenery and Hollywood-worthy scenic drive, Monument Valley has wiggled its way onto millions of bucket lists.
To read more, go here.
Gallup Historic Building Facade Restoration
While in the historic downtown area of Gallup yesterday, I saw this notice in a window of the Gallup Coffee Company shop:
It looks like the facades of some of Gallup's historic buildings will have their facades restored, funded (in part) by Uncle Sam.
There's quite a number of historic buildings in Gallup, one of which houses the Gallup Coffee Company. It is nice that efforts to preserve and restore them are under way.
Dollar At ¥146.79
Now that we're in a new month (where the hell did January go?), it is time to take a look at how the U.S. dollar is faring against the Japanese yen in foreign exchange.
This is a major factor in travel to Japan by Americans.
According to Bloomberg, here's where the dollar stands at present:
USD-JPY X-RATEUSDJPY:CUR
(JPY)
As of.
146.7900
–0.13–0.09%
NMSSA Legislative Update 1/31
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