Author Archives: Joe

Lessons Learned

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The Declaration of Causes of Taking Up Arms of July 6, 1775, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and John Dickinson and passed by the Continental Congress, protested Gage’s seizure of arms as follows: The inhabitants of Boston being confined within that town by the General their Governor, and having, in order to procure their dismission, entered into a treaty with him, it was stipulated that the said inhabitants having deposited their arms with their own magistrates, should have liberty to depart, taking with them their other effects. They accordingly delivered up their arms, but in open violation of honor, in defiance of the obligation of treaties, which even savage nations esteem sacred, the Governor ordered the arms deposited as aforesaid, that they might be preserved for their owners, to be seized by a body of soldiers; detained the greatest part of the inhabitants in the town, and compelled the few who were permitted to retire, to leave their most valuable effects behind.

A Virginia gentleman wrote to a friend in Scotland on Sept. 1, 1775: “We are all in arms, exercising and training old and young to the use of the gun. No person goes abroad without his sword, or gun, or pistols.”

After the British army abandoned Boston on March 17, 1776, the selectmen returned and discovered that the surrendered arms that had been stored in Faneuil Hall were damaged or destroyed. What was left was sold as replacement parts and scrap.

Gage’s confiscation and destruction of their arms contributed to the Americans’ historical mistrust of government control of their firearms. His promise that surrendered firearms would be returned to their owners was a lie. The longstanding American aversion to firearm registration that continues today is rooted in the historical experience that it will lead to confiscation.

Stephen P. Halbrook
June 23, 2025
Gun Control Had a Lot to do With the Shot Heard ’Round the World | An Official Journal Of The NRA

The Declaration of Causes of Taking Up Arms was 250 years ago today. The lessons learned the hard way then are still valid today.

And one of the most important lessons is that gun grabbers have always lied. It is part of their culture.

Socialism is Economic Cancer

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Thanks to a clip surfacing on social media today, we see that Mamdani is not hiding this. In fact, he has been strikingly open about what he believes and what he plans to do. You can listen to his comments for yourself here.

Speaking in 2021 at the Young Democratic Socialists of America Organizing Conference, Mamdani said his goal is to “continue to elect more socialists” and to be “unapologetic about our socialism.”

He followed that with two key objectives: boycotting Israel and “seizing the means of production.”

The phrase “seizing the means of production” is not some vague slogan—it is the core tenet of Marxist revolutionary ideology. It means that private property, businesses, and industries are taken from their owners and turned over to collective or state control.

Historically, this has been done not through elections or peaceful reform, but through authoritarian rule, state violence, and mass suppression.

Quoth the Raven
June 30th, 2025
“Seize The Means Of Production”: Mamdani Lays Bare His Agenda

Part of me wants to say, “Go for it! You can be a bad example for the current generation.” But that would be like rooting for cancer in your foot. It is already stinky, and it is not something you show off to your friends, but cancer is still a really bad thing.

Kevlar Overalls

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The suit uses a combination of kevlar, a heat-resistant synthetic fibre that was originally used as a replacement for steel in racing tyres, and other materials that have the ability to absorb the impact of shrapnel.

Kevlar is not as effective at stopping bullets as the ceramic plates often used in traditional body armour. However, it is lighter and provides good protection against shrapnel, which has become the main battlefield threat because of the proliferation of drones.

Major Shyriaiev said his experience of drone warfare prompted him to design the suit.

He said: “The idea of these armoured overalls was my initiative and is something that hasn’t existed before.

“The reason for thinking about this is drones. When an enemy of a drone drops a grenade or explosive device, whether it hits a soldier or group of soldiers, there is shrapnel and ballistic powder flying around, which have different starting velocities and weight.

Danielle Sheridan, Daniel Hardaker
June 30, 2025
‘Hero of Ukraine’ commander develops drone-proof uniforms

Something to think about if you see drones as future adversaries.

AI Hallucination?

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Interesting concept. But I suspect there was an AI and/or writer hallucination involved in some of the description details.

US Hypersonic Engine Breakthrough Sparks Global Response from China and Others

With the successful flight test of a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) by Venus Aerospace, the United States has accomplished a significant milestone in hypersonic propulsion. This next-generation engine, which has been theorized since the 1980s, provides previously unheard-of thrust and efficiency, allowing cars to leave conventional runways and reach speeds of Mach 4 to Mach 6. The RDRE promises both defense and commercial applications because it is small, inexpensive, and scalable in contrast to conventional rocket engines.

Emphasis added.

No matter how cool that is I do not want my car leaving a runway and reaching speeds of Mach 4 to Mach 6. I am quite certain the brake technology on present day cars is inadequate.

Your mileage may vary.

Over 50 Years of Failure

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According to a Gallup poll taken the year after NCCH’s founding (1975), when asked “Do you think there should or should not be a law that would ban the possession of handguns, except by the police and other authorized persons?,” 41 percent of Americans stated that there should be. Asking the same question in 2018, only 28 percent of those polled supported such a measure.

After 45 years of failure to achieve their goal, a more introspective group might consider that there may be a defect in their ideas rather than their marketing. However, history suggests that it is only a matter of time before “Brady” undergoes yet another name change. They should spare themselves the consulting fees. Continuing the trend of creating ever more concise names, the group should further truncate “Brady” to just “Y.” As in: Why does this decrepit handgun prohibition organization still exist?

National Rifle Association of America, Institute for Legislative Action
March 26, 2019
Blast from the Past: Proof Found That Brady Campaign Still Exists! | Buckeye Firearms Association

Y indeed? That was in 2019. It has now been over 50 years of mostly failure, lies, and more lies.

Their founding goal was to ban all handgun possession except for a few exceptions. They have failed after trying for over fifty years. And they have even lost ground with public carry now being (mostly) acknowledged as a constitutionally protected right in all 50 states.

Since 2019 they have changed their name, yet again, to “Brady United” and cannot even afford to hire an intern.

The dustbin of history is their future.

Fifth Circuit Decision Stands on 18-to-20-Year-Olds Buying Handguns

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The ban on commercial pistol sales to 18-to-20-year-olds will likely go unenforced in parts of the country following a Trump Administration decision not to further pursue one case against it.

On Friday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) quietly allowed a deadline to file an appeal with the Supreme Court in the case Reese v. ATF to pass. As a result, a unanimous January decision from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals–which covers Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana–will stand. The panel held that a combination of federal statutes banning licensed firearm dealers from selling pistols to young adults violates the Second Amendment.

Jake Fogleman
July 1, 2025
DOJ Declines to Appeal Ruling Against Federal Handgun Purchase Ban for Adults Under 21 | The Reload

Just two weeks ago, the Fourth Circuit Court upheld the same law.

I suspect progun groups will appeal the Fourth Circuit decision and SCOTUS will probably accept the request for cert. This will probably result in a resolution by June of 2026.

What I want to know is how will the 4473’s be handled until SCOTUS resolves the issue? Will there be a special “Fifth Circuit” 4473? Will the DOJ announce they will decline to prosecute until the circuit split is resolved?

We live in interesting times.

See also:

First Amendment for Exercising the Second Amendment

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Our latest legal briefs again argued that because AB 2571 implicates core First Amendment rights, any restrictions must survive strict scrutiny and be narrowly tailored—something the court appeared to accept. There were some powerful moments at the argument, especially when the state’s attorney argued trying to defend Assembly Bill 2571, a law that bans advertising firearms to youth shooters. The Ninth Circuit panel was notably and vocally skeptical of the state’s lawyer’s arguments, pressing hard on the state’s efforts to carve out exceptions to the current injunction that blocks the law from taking effect so that most advertisements could still be banned. The state’s efforts seem to have failed, but we won’t know for sure until the Ninth Circuit issues its ruling.

Michel& Associates, P.C.
June 30, 2025
Ninth Circuit Scrutinizes California’s Youth Firearm Advertising Ban

I find it interesting that if the good guys use a First Amendment argument in support of gun owners, then the Ninth Circuit appears to be more supportive. That worked in Nordyke (1997). But it still failed in SB 915 (2024).

USB Cyber Security Threat

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You need physical access or someone stupid enough to try using a USB drive they found, but this would dramatical speed up a attack.

Unless you found a computer someone forgot to lock before walking away, I don’t think this would work at my company. Brute force logins are not possible, and data cannot be transferred to external hard drives, thumb drives, etc.

Still, it is a very cool device.

Via email from Rolf.

Coil Guns are Real

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I have thought about making something like this for decades. As an electrical engineer, the physics were within my grasp. But I always had more important things to do.

There are Three Time Dimensions and Only One Space Dimension?

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A new theory about time has really changed what is known about the cosmos. According to this new theory, time may actually have three dimensions. This then could also mean that space may be one-dimensional instead of three-dimensional, as we currently know it. This method of looking at the cosmos may then possibly explain some of the peculiarities of quantum mechanics, such as particles being in two places at the same time. It would even possibly explain the hypothetical faster-than-light particles.

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Objects are able to start off being faster than light, but they are never able to then slow down below that limit. Researchers have noted that faster-than-light observers see three dimensions of time and then only one single dimension of space, instead of the three spatial dimensions of time and one dimension of space. This would then mean that particles follow more than one trajectory at the same time – basically travelling into more than one future simultaneously. From a “slower-than-the-speed-of-light” point of view, these faster-than-the-speed-of-light objects act like waves. According to researchers, this perspective may explain some of the mysteries surrounding quantum mechanics.

Carien B.
June 13, 2025
1905 Einstein’s theory about to be dismantled ― Experts find time’s ‘hidden dimensions’

I’m going to have to think about this one for a long while. It is a little too warped for me to get my mind around it. It’s great thought food, though.

Protect Our Treasure

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Let me rephrase this. Supposed I handed you $1 Million dollars in cash to hold and keep safe for me every Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. And the place where you work and keep this treasure safe is public property — or at least open to the public. The building is not built like a bank or courthouse. It has no armed guards at all doors or other elevated security — other than a sign warning people about bringing weapons on to the property. Bad people know these facts.

Now let me add that 20 to 25 other people also hand you $1 Million dollars in cash as well, under the same conditions. Which means every Monday through Friday, from 8 to 3, you are holding and taking care of $25 Million. This is your job, you have promised to return the money, safely, to all the people every day at 3 p.m.

Now do you want to be armed?

Don Kilmer @donkilmer
Posted on X, May 26, 2024

The brainwashed teacher’s sign is additional essential context:

Spending Less Triggers Collapse

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The dynamic that leads to collapse is as invisible as the extremes. Once the organization–household, institution, corporation or nation-state, the dynamic is scale-invariant–has hardened into a brittle state of stasis, it’s impossible to shrink the budget without collapsing the entire structure.

I call this the Rising Wedge Model of Breakdown: as expenses, self-interest and debt all expand, it becomes increasingly difficult to slash expenses without triggering the implosion of the organization.

Under the guise of cutting the fat to save the muscle, what actually happens is the muscle is cut to save the fat. This is a complex process, but in summary, the most competent realize the organization is dysfunctional and cannot be salvaged in its current bloated state of denial, and so they immediately jump ship.

The naive who believe they can turn the situation around give it their best effort but the resistance to any meaningful sacrifices is so tenacious that they burn out and quit.

That leaves the delusionally incompetent who reckon they’re finally getting the power they long deserved. This leads to the substitution of PR and artifice for actually reducing the organization to a sustainable level, for what’s required is not just a revised spreadsheet but an entirely new culture and value system.

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The story of the next decade is the playing out of the Rising Wedge Model of Breakdown / The Ratchet Effect throughout the entire status quo: households, institutions, corporations and nation-states will all hasten to cut muscle to save the fat and then wonder why everything is imploding under the weight of delusion and denial.

As noted previously, what’s required is not just a revised spreadsheet but an entirely new culture and value system. Without that, we get zip, zero, nada in meaningful adaptation to new realities.

charles hugh smith
June 5, 2025
oftwominds-Charles Hugh Smith: The Ratchet Effect: Easy to Spend More, Spending Less Triggers Collapse

The key takeaway is that spending less triggers collapse.

Prepare appropriately.

Prosecute the Swamp Rats

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In the National Instant background Check System (NICS) data, it appears most of the denials are false positives. Hard data on the errors found in the NICS system are not available.  John has pointed out there are very few prosecutions of people who have been denied by the NICS system compared to the number of those denied. John stated  NICS denials are often based on the phonetic spelling of the last name. The denials are not done with high levels of certainty. Because many people in the same ethnic group have similar sounding names, and because Blacks and Hispanics have much higher rates of felony convictions than Whites or Asians, it is likely Black and Hispanic people are denied from purchasing firearms in the NICS system at a much higher rates than people who are not Black or Hispanic.

In October of 2020, John Lott was appointed as a senior adviser for research and statistics at the Office of Justice Programs. This was the second time he had worked for the government in D.C. When John got to DC, John went to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and proposed a study of the NICS denials including data on race and sex. The BJS thought it was a great idea.

The the BJS sent the request for data to the FBI. went through the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The BJS thought the idea of analyzing the NICS data was very good. When the Bureau of Justice Statistics contacted the FBI, The FBI responded, claiming there was no way we can get this done before January 20th. In any case, we are sure the Biden Administration will not be interested. After more emails and calls, the FBI response was: we just can’t think of any reason why anyone would want to break down this data by race and sex.

John responded: You guys break down everything by race and sex. What’s the big deal with this?

The BJS tells the FBI, it is not your decision to make. We decide what to look at and study. Your job is to collect and give us the data.  The FBI refuses and the BJS persists. Finally, the FBI says the BJS will have to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

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The AG, Bill Barr, orders the FBI to stop mucking around and send the data to the BJS.

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The FBI dithers and delays. After a couple of weeks, the BJS receives the data, but something is wrong with it. It does not make any sense. The BJS complains, and the FBI apologizes, says they do not understand what went wrong.  There are more delays, then the FBI sends another batch of data, which still doesn’t make an sense. This sequence happens a couple more times. The last time the FBI sends data which does not make sense is on January 19, 2021. Then the Biden administration takes power.

Dean Weingarten
June 22, 2025
GUN WATCH: John Lott Expounds on FBI Politicized Resistance to Data Sharing (corruption?)

End NICS. Drain the swamp. Prosecute the swamp rats.

Via JPFO.

Socialism is Like Polio

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Via The Atlas Society @TheAtlasSociety:

If only there were a vaccine that did not have such a high lead content and a corresponding high rate of serious side effects.

The Sprint Towards Communism

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The Left sprints towards Communism.

The Right jogs behind tut-tutting and muttering about the lesser evil.

Alice Smith @TheAliceSmith
Posted on X, June 4, 2025

She is not wrong.

Prepare appropriately.

On Obedience

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Via The Atlas Society @TheAtlasSociety:

[sarcasm] Give up your guns. It is for the safety of everyone. [/sarcasm]

Another Brick in the Wall

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In a sharp and unanimous 3-0 decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down California’s controversial “one-gun-a-month” law. This law, which limited law-abiding residents to purchasing just one firearm every 30 days, was found to violate the Second Amendment. The case, Nguyen v. Bonta, has now set a powerful precedent in favor of gun rights and against what the court called “meaningful constraints” on constitutionally protected conduct.

Lisa Greene
June 24, 2025
California’s Firearm Quota Law Just Got Wrecked in Court

The California claims were so unbelievable that we got a unanimous decision out of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals!

This win was brought to you by SAF and FPC. Please consider donating money. I donate thousands of dollars to them every year.

See also the following:

Her Vote Counts as Much as Yours

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Amazing.

Liberalism is a mental disorder.

Read When Prophecy Fails for what to expect next.

All Good Humor Contains Truth

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That tactical edge also helped when Iran struck a building that belongs to the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. “Iran claims to have attacked a Mossad building with missile strikes,” the post read. “Fortunately, no one was there … everyone is in Iran.”

C. Douglas Golden
June 21, 2025
Israel Uses Unidentified, Special Weapon for Simultaneous Assassination of 9 Iranian Nuke Scientists

There probably is more than a little truth to this.

I chuckled.

This Could Be Consistent with My Hypothesis

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Do you remember my hypothesis about our universe being a black hole? I was not the first, but I did come up with it independently and added the black hole being in the forward direction of our time axis.

There are now people who suspect the origin of our universe was not a big bang, but a bounce from a black hole:

Universe was not formed in big bang but ‘bounced’ out of black hole – new study

The Universe may not have started with the Big Bang, but instead “bounced” out of a massive black hole formed within a larger “parent” universe, according to a new scientific paper.

Professor Enrique Gaztanaga, from the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, said that the current Big Bang theory was problematic as the laws of physics “broke down” when used to explain it.

His new explanation, published in the journal Physical Review D, suggests that the Universe was formed as a result of a gravitational collapse in a larger universe which generated a massive black hole leading to a rebound or “bounce” causing our universe to emerge.

It appears this hypothesis is consistent with my hypothesis.