Author Archives: Joe

People Have their Own Falsehoods

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Quote of the Day

Democrats didn’t like what voters told them on election night, and they don’t seem to like hearing what they have to say to each other in the fallout. 

If they want to avoid defeat and become a reasonable party again, they will have to learn how to listen to each other, and their voters, again. 

Max Thornberry
November 24, 2024
Democrats turn on each other in battle for soul of the party

I get it that reality is tough. But reality eventually wins.

This gets back to something I have been saying for years. There is a process by which one can determine truth from falsity. Many people not only don’t use a process, but they also can’t comprehend that such a process exists.

For some people truth is what they believe. Many people have beliefs which not only lack evidence but are in despite of evidence. They may not say this explicitly, but they use phrases that mean that. My “favorites” are variations of “people have their own truths.”

It would be more accurate to say, “people have their own falsehoods.” There is some ultimate truth “out there.” But frequently it is tough, really tough, to get at it. Some people have beliefs much closer to truth/reality, but ultimately it boils down to people believe different falsehoods.

Just because everyone is “wrong” it does not mean everyone is equally wrong. I think this truth escapes the majority of the Democrat Party leaders. They can correctly find flaws in the in their political opponents’ beliefs. This does not mean the Democrat Party belief system is correct or even better.

No Reason to Believe They Are Not That Stupid

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If New York’s powers that be really are stupid enough to go after Peanut’s family on this — and there’s no reason to believe they aren’t — they not only will get their anti-gun butts handed to them in court, but they’ll deserve to be ravaged by all of the furies of PR hell they’ll raise along the way.

Either way, it seems that Peanut may get the last laugh.

Jennifer Sensiba
November 24, 2024
How Peanut the Squirrel Might Get Revenge on New York’s Gun Control Laws – Shooting News Weekly

Via Richard.

I think the problem is the powers that be cannot comprehend there are or should be limits to their powers. And, of course, they also believe they are the smartest people “in the room.” This leads to a whole cascading wall of failure.

They Are Not Distracted by the Truth

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Our reverence for the truth… might have become a bit of a distraction that is preventing us from finding consensus and getting important things done.

Katherine Roberts Maher
CEO and president of National Public Radio
2022 TED Talk

See also here.

Those following the gun owner’s rights movement should not be surprised by this attitude. Our opposition certainly gets things done without being distracted by the truth.

I am, of course, reminded that some people can’t handle the truth.

Grok Answers “What is Boomershoot?”

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I asked Grok, X’s AI chat bot, “What is Boomershoot?” This was its answer:

Boomershoot is an annual high-power rifle shooting event held in North Central Idaho, near Orofino. Here are the key details about Boomershoot:

  • Event Overview: Boomershoot is known for its unique targets which are explosive. Participants engage these targets with long-range precision rifles at distances ranging from 375 to 700 yards.
  • Targets: The targets consist of high explosives, with the closest and smallest being 4-inch square boxes filled with an ammonium nitrate and potassium chlorate-based mixture. Larger targets, used for longer ranges, are 7-inch squares with a stronger explosive charge. When hit by a bullet, these targets explode, providing immediate feedback to the shooter.
  • Event Structure:
    • Main Event: The primary day involves participants shooting at these explosive targets, typically held on a Sunday in late spring. Over a ton of explosives can be mixed and used over the event’s duration.
    • Precision Rifle Clinic: Held on the days before the main event, this clinic offers training with both steel and explosive targets, focusing on precision shooting techniques.
    • High Intensity Events: These are evening events where participants can shoot at closer distances and experience more explosive action, with a limit on participants to manage the quantity of targets.
  • Safety and Regulations: Safety is paramount at Boomershoot. Participants must adhere to strict safety guidelines, including rules on muzzle awareness, loading, and firing only on command. Joe Huffman, the event’s organizer, holds an ATF Type 20 License for manufacturing high explosives, ensuring compliance with federal regulations.
  • Community and Culture: Boomershoot not only serves as a shooting event but also fosters a community of firearms enthusiasts, offering opportunities for camaraderie, learning, and celebration of marksmanship. The event includes social activities like a Saturday night dinner featuring guest speakers, further enhancing its community aspect.
  • Location and Logistics: The venue is near Cavendish, Idaho, with specific directions available on the event’s website. Participants are encouraged to prepare adequately, with advice on equipment like spotting scopes and ammunition.
  • Cancellation History: Boomershoot has faced cancellations or modifications due to external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the event’s adaptability and focus on participant safety.

Boomershoot has built a reputation over the years for being an exciting and challenging event for those passionate about shooting sports, with a strong emphasis on safety, precision, and community.

This is a great answer.

Gold Price Forecasts

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The current spot price of gold is $2,656.41. But what will it be a few months or years from now?

From earlier today we have a self-proclaimed expert saying:

Gold Won’t Save You From Historic Market Bubble Bursting: Henrik Zeberg

“I think gold is actually in a kind of a smaller bubble by itself now,” Zeberg stated. “I think you’re going to see a rather strong decline in gold to the very reasons that I just said talked about here.”

Zeberg’s bearish stance on gold is rooted in his expectation of a deflationary bust. As the economy contracts and inflation falls, the US dollar is likely to strengthen, making gold a less attractive asset.

“I don’t want to hold gold into that environment,” he said. “I actually think it’s a very bad environment to hold gold.”

From an entire panel of experts on October 22nd:

Latest Gold Price Forecast & Predictions | Gold Eagle

Gold Forecast 1 Year
Bullish: $3,200
Medium-term price drivers:
US dollar, bear market in stocks and recession, investor sentiment

Gold Forecast 3 Years
Bullish: $4,825
Long-term price drivers:
US dollar, US budget deficits, central bank monetary debasement, negative real interest rates, and the potential for an uptick in sovereign buying.

I’m reminded of something an old engineer I knew many years ago was fond of saying:

The wonderful thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.

Nukes for Ukraine?

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I understand the temptation. I’m not convinced it is a good idea.

US and Europe consider granting Ukraine ”punishing blow” capability to prevent future ceasefire violations – Euromaidan Press

Several officials even suggested that Biden could return nuclear weapons to Ukraine that were taken from it after the fall of the Soviet Union. That would be an instant and enormous deterrent.

If they had not taken the nukes from Ukraine initially, the entire mess might have been avoided.

Look at what happened to the American Indians, the German Jews, etc. The examples are endless. Never give up your right to self-defense or your weapons.

The Best in Life Arrives Next Summer

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Quote of the Day

We are on a path to have “assault weapon” and standard capacity magazine bans declared unconstitutional nationwide by summer. If SCOTUS decides to accept the case, which most observers think they will, then we probably will win.

See also what Mark Smith has to say:

If it is successful, it will be just short of 31 years after the original national “assault weapon ban.” It will “only” be 17 years after the Heller decision.

The 1994 ban and Ruby Ridge motivated me to buy my first gun and start advocating for gun owner rights. It has been a long fight for me and much longer for a lot of other people. And even if we win this case, it will be far from over. We need to start prosecuting the perpetrators of these rights infringements. Otherwise, it will be another 30 years until their constant whining is little more than noise.

That said, a win will be a really big deal. A win will crush our opponents moral and create a powerful precedent. It will be among the best things that has happened on this long journey.

As said by Conan when asked, “What is best in life?”

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

Why Do Humans Mate in Seclusion?

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Despite considerable cultural differences, a striking uniformity is argued to
exist in human preferences for concealing sexual intercourse from the sen
sory perception of conspecifics. However, no systematic accounts support
this claim, with only limited attempts to understand the selective pressures
acting on the evolution of this preference. Here, I combine cross-cultural and
cross-species comparative approaches to investigate these topics. First, an
analysis of more than 4572 ethnographies from 249 cultures presents sys
tematic evidence that the preference to conceal mating is widespread
across cultures. Second, I argue that current anthropological hypotheses
do not sufficiently explain why habitual concealment of mating evolved in
humans but is only seldom exhibited by other social species. Third, I intro
duce the cooperation maintenance hypothesis, which postulates that
humans, and a specific category of non-human species, conceal matings to
prevent sexual arousal in witnesses (proximate explanation). This allows
them to simultaneously maintain mating control over their partner(s) and
cooperation with group members who are prevented from mating (ultimate
explanations). I conclude by presenting a comparative framework and
predictions to be tested across species and human cultures

Yitzchak Ben Mocha
June 7, 2020
Why do human and non-human species conceal mating? The cooperation maintenance hypothesis | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Interesting.

I didn’t read the paper in detail, but it appears to me he is ignoring a significant subculture. There are lots of people who video their sexual activities and post the video on the Internet. There are sex clubs in all western large cities. At these clubs’ people have sex with their spouse in front of other people. They also have sex with people not their spouse in group settings. If this were an evolutionary beneficial behavior, why would people seek out others and places to defy the norm?

I agree that this is far from mainstream. And I have often wondered why people seek seclusion. Growing up on the farm it was common to see the cattle, cats, and chickens mating. It just did not make sense to me that people were so private about it. There was no emotional damage to any of the animals. And it was my understanding chimp, monkeys and other primates mated in public. So, what is going on with humans?

If Mocha’s hypothesis is correct, it’s a restriction created by men for their benefit. One would then expect women to be more inclined than men to engage in public sex. I don’t believe this is the case. On the other hand, women are much noisier during sex than men. This lends credence to the idea that they have an evolutionary bias toward getting attention when they are highly aroused.

I’m glad Mocha put some thought into it. His hypothesizes are far better than anything I came up with. I’m not entirely convinced they are correct, but they are worth discussing and testing.

Interesting Caliber Selections

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A bolt action, multi-barreled, precision rifle, with a ten-round magazine. Very cool.

New Marine Corps sniper rifle is officially operational

The Marine Corps has officially hit full operational capability on its new sniper rifle a year ahead of schedule.

The Corps chose the Mk22 Mod 0 Advanced Sniper Rifle, manufactured by Barrett Firearms, a company widely known for their groundbreaking work in developing the .50 caliber sniper rifle, as a changeable, multi-barrel rifle to replace two existing long rifles and give shooters three caliber options within their main shooting platform.

Those caliber options include the standard 7.62mm, the .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum. The caliber diversity allows shooters to select a munition for specific missions that might require more distance or more penetrating power. The rifle uses a 10-round magazine.

The .338 Norma Magnum cartridge pushes a 300-grain Sierra Matchking out the barrel at 2,700 fps.

The .300 Norma Magnum cartridge achieves a blistering 3,000 fps with a 220-grain bullet.

Those are some interesting calibers for a 15.2-pound rifle. They must deliver some serious kick.

Get more information and clues on how to buy your own here.

I wonder how long it will be before someone brings one to Boomershoot.

Longevity Escape Velocity

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Faster please:

Scientists believe that by the 2030s humans could live forever

Humanity’s quest to defy aging is entering a transformative phase. The concept of “Longevity Escape Velocity” (LEV) now serves as a cornerstone in debates over the future of human life.

This idea suggests that advancing medical technology could enable life expectancy to outpace the passage of time, potentially leading to a form of immortality. But such a possibility raises profound ethical, societal, and economic challenges.

LEV borrows its name from physics, where “escape velocity” describes the speed required to break free from a gravitational pull. Applied to aging, it envisions a scenario where biomedical advancements outstrip the aging process, potentially rendering death from old age obsolete. Although still speculative, the theory has gained both ardent supporters and cautious skeptics.

Leading geneticist George Church believes this vision could materialize within our lifetimes. Similarly, Sourav Sinha of the Longevity Vision Fund predicts that with sufficient investment, LEV could be achieved in a few decades. Their optimism is rooted in breakthroughs in gene editing and cellular rejuvenation.

…

Dr. Aubrey de Grey, who coined the term LEV, criticizes society’s resignation to aging, likening it to accepting bad weather. His optimism is shared by futurist Ray Kurzweil, who anticipates the arrival of LEV by 2028. However, this timeline seems ambitious given the rigorous approval processes for new medical treatments.

Kurzweil also predicted LEV would be reached by 2024. I figured I would make it that far, and he moved the goalpost. I expect it will be moved again. The only way I see it not moving is if a black market appears for some treatment.

They Can’t Run, They Can’t Hide, The Internet is Forever

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Quote of the Day

Just the ones with TDS!!

(tiny dick syndrome)…

Karls_quest (@Karls_Quest)
Posted on X, November 20, 2023

It’s not only another Markley’s Law Monday; it is another science denier (see also here)!

His account is deleted, but the Internet is forever:

I’m Going to Need a Deeper Bunker

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Quote of the Day

The head of America’s largest bank told an audience at the Institute of International Finance that his team is running scenarios in preparation for a global conflict involving nuclear powers.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, told the crowd that war was imminent and nuclear proliferation was a greater existential threat than climate change.

“World War III has already begun. You already have battles on the ground being coordinated in multiple countries,” Dimon said at the annual event in Washington, DC.

William Koblensky Varela
November 18, 2024
Jamie Dimon Says He and His Team Are Preparing for Serious Conflict with Russia, China.| Moneywise

I need a deeper bunker, and more supplies stored away. Nuclear winter is tough in an already cold climate.

Trump was Made a Martyr

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Quote of the Day

The yearslong effort to vanquish Donald Trump in court was a dismal failure. For liberals like me, it may be tempting to attribute the collapse of the various cases against him to convenient explanations of process or personnel. The more uncomfortable truth is that our search for political salvation primarily through the law has backfired. To oppose Mr. Trump in his second term, liberals must learn the lesson of this defeat, which is that there is no alternative to persuading our fellow citizens of our beliefs.

Samuel Moyn
Yale professor of law
November 22, 2024
Opinion | The Legal Battle Against Trump Was a Miserable Failure – The New York Times

Basically, they made President a Trump a martyr. The overreaching on all the legal claims made Trump a sympathetic figure. People related to him on this because they have been suffering abuse inflicted by the “liberals” for decades. The more they attacked him with such thin legal cases, the stronger the sympathy became. People became more and more convinced the attackers were on the side of evil.

Moyn doesn’t understand a key point. Alternatively, he is deliberately dodging it. His political bedfellows know what he avoids saying here. They are pushing a faulty belief system that cannot be sold to the majority of the people. In today’s world, lawfare is of one of the only tools they have to achieve their goals. The Internet exists, so restricting information through “approved gatekeepers” does not work as well as it used to. The remaining other primary option they have is criminal violence. And they don’t have the numbers or the monopoly on firearms to win on that front either.

Hence, they are losing their battles for mind share.

As a side note, here is a useful hack. You can use it to read some pay walled websites, such as the New York Times. This works on Windows Edge. I’m not sure about other browsers or operating systems.

  1. Go to the web page you want to read.
  2. Type “Ctrl-A” (select all).
  3. Type “Ctrl-C” (copy).
  4. Open up something that will accept HTML from the clipboard, such as Word.
  5. Paste the clipboard into the document.
  6. Read the entire web page.

National Concealed Carry Reciprocity and Suppressors Deregulation

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Quote of the Day

Trump defeated Harris handily and pro-gun senatorial candidates secured a GOP Senate majority and the House is poised to remain in GOP control. This trifecta provides an opportunity to secure pro-Second Amendment legislation that has heretofore eluded both the White House and Congress.

Such legislation includes national reciprocity for concealed carry, which Trump supports, and a hearing protection act, which would remove suppressors from NFA (1934) oversight and regulation.

The previous Trump administration was on the cusp of securing a hearing protection act in 2017, but it was torpedoed by then-Speaker Paul Ryan (R) following the October 1, 2017, Las Vegas attack. Although Yahoo News reported that Ryan tabled the act “indefinitely,” Trump and the GOP-led Congress can pursue suppressor deregulation anew.

AWR Hawkins
November 7, 2024
With Trump, Gun Rights Groups Seek to ‘Make America Pro-Gun Again’ (breitbart.com)

We should try for this. Even if we only move the Overton Window a bit, it will make future actions easier. Future action options include court rulings and reintroducing the bills in the next legislative session.

Already WWIII?

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Quote of the Day

Joe Biden‘s administration has allowed Volodymyr Zelensky to launch American-made missiles into Russia, with allies of both Donald Trump and Putin decrying the move as escalation towards World War Three. In his statement, Medvedev took the warnings a dramatic step further, declaring it is “already WWIII”.

In response to the move by the US, Putin has signed a new decree, titled the “Fundamentals of State Police in the Sphere of Nuclear Deterrence”, which, state-run news agency TASS reports relaxes the parameters by which Russia will respond to attacks with nuclear weapons. The document reportedly states: “Nuclear weapons (NW) are an extreme measure to protect the sovereignty of the country.

Liam Doyle
November 19, 2024
Vladimir Putin’s top crony Medvedev warns West and NATO ‘World War 3 is here’ – World News – Mirror Online

Is this just saber rattling? A bluff? Or is this a serious threat that requires I now need to head for the hills of Idaho?

Political Philosophy Questions

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Quote of the Day

Are individuals a means to social ends or an end in themselves?

Is society supposed to serve individuals or do individuals serve society?

Do conscience and reason function at the individual or the collective level?

These are the questions of our time.

Alice Smith (@TheAliceSmith)
Posted on X, August 13, 2022

I think the answers are obvious, but these are political philosophical questions I will let you answer on your own.

We Live in Interesting Times

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This is not what I want to be reading in the news:

Putin lowers the threshold for using his nuclear arsenal after Biden’s arms decision for Ukraine | AP News

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday formally lowered the threshold for Russia’s use of its nuclear weapons, a move that follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russian territory with American-supplied longer-range missiles.

The new doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power.

I really wish I could live in an underground bunker in Idaho for the next few months.