Beignets

by Pawpaw in PawPaw's House on 2026-02-14T19:27:00Z

 Beignets (ben-yay) are a New Orleans pastry, popularized by the Cafe DuMonde in New Orleans.. Normally eaten at breakfast with a cup of hot coffee, If you can't make it to the Big Easy, you can buy the mix on store shelves or from Amazon.

Or, you can make beignets yourself with what you have in the fridge.


Get a can of whop biscuits.  You know, the kind in the cardboard roll.  The kind you whop on the counter to open.  Yeah those.  Cut then into quarters, then drop them in hit oil until they are golden brown.  Drain on a rack or a paper towel lined tray and sprinkle confectioners' sugar across them.

Serve warm.  You are welcome.

Meme Dump!

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2026-02-14T15:10:00Z




Quote of the Day The link between saturation media coverage of mass murder, spree killing, jihadi attacks and copycat crimes is well established. It must stop. News-media organizations that persist in literally glorifying these villains beyond any reasonable news value … Continue reading

Valentine’s Day greetings!

by TPOL Nathan in The Price of Liberty on 2026-02-14T14:00:00Z

Yes, the 14th of February is a major benefit-generator to all kinds of commercial, money-grubbing enterprises: candy, flowers, dining venues, greeting cards, candy, beverages, even nightwear, and did we mention candy? Valentine’s Day has a romantic and affectionate tone, is … Continue reading

Automotif DCXII...

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2026-02-14T13:09:00Z


A 1971 Ford F-250 Custom Styleside in Grabber Blue with aftermarket decals and partly blacked-out grille. Photographed using a Nikon 1 V3 and 1 Nikkor 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 VR zoom lens.

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FL: Miami - Police Investigate Shooting Death as Self Defense

by Dean Weingarten in GUN WATCH on 2026-02-14T12:40:00Z

In a Thursday afternoon update, Sunrise police told CBS News Miami that the shooting stemmed from an argument between two men, during which one of them shot the other.

They are not releasing the name of either the shooter or the man who died. 

Police said the shooting is being investigated as an act of self-defense and appears to be an isolated incident.



More Here


According to investigators, Pointer entered the store wearing a ski mask and pointed a gun at a customer, who ran toward the door. Pointer then fired, striking Greer and his girlfriend.

Surveillance video showed Greer fall to the ground, draw a gun, and fire. Pointer fled the scene, discarding a pistol reported stolen, and left in a Toyota sedan.

Pointer was arrested Tuesday evening in Bellevue, while Greer is being treated for gunshot wounds to his knee and hand.

Greer’s 31-year-old girlfriend was also hospitalized with a gunshot wound to her buttocks.

More Here


Some People’s Nerves

by SLG in pistol-training.com on 2026-02-14T12:00:00Z

Shooting a gun is not very difficult, though shooting one well has never been that easy. Not unlike many other things. Today, it is easier to learn than ever before, but still, people are people. The number one issue that needs to be overcome in order to shoot well at all, is the flinch. I […]

Saturday Meme Drop

by Midwest Chick in Midwest Chick's Place on 2026-02-14T11:30:00Z

Thanks again to B for the plethora of memes!

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 14, 2026

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-14T07:04:28Z

On February 14, 1803, writing the majority opinion text of the landmark Marbury v. Madison case, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall declared that any act of U.S. Congress that conflicts with the Constitution is null and void. — February 14, 1804: Karadjordje led the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire. — And February 14, 1942 was the birthday of the late Prepper/Economist Dr. Gary North. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This …

The post Preparedness Notes for Saturday — February 14, 2026 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 4, by Lodge Pole

by SurvivalBlog Contributor in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-14T07:03:09Z

(Continued from Part 3.) Pros and Cons of Raising Animals for Food As with anything in life, there are pros and cons. Below, I have compiled a list of my personal pros and cons when it comes to raising animals for food. Pros You can control what variety/species of animals you want to raise to give you the most amount of meat. You can choose the type of meat you want to have in your household. If you like peacock meat, you can raise it. If you like ostrich eggs, you can raise it. With chickens, you can control the …

The post Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 4, by Lodge Pole appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Editors’ Prepping Progress

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-14T07:02:53Z

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds …

The post Editors’ Prepping Progress appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-14T07:01:28Z

“Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. And the glory of …

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The growing divide among the States

by TPOL Nathan in The Price of Liberty on 2026-02-14T02:00:00Z

Headlines this week continue to illustrate the growing de facto secession taking place in the “United States” in 2025. As Tom Knapp pointed out, many States that are labelled red or blue are not reliably so. But the big urban … Continue reading

Desert Eagle Buyer's Guide

by WesKL in The Firearm Blog on 2026-02-14T01:00:00Z

If you’ve watched an action movie within the last 40 years, you’ve likely seen the Desert Eagle in the hands of one of the actors. The large-caliber, gas-operated pistol is iconic and conveys “I mean business,” which is why it appears in Deadpool & Wolverine, The Matrix, Snatch, Eraser, Commando, RoboCop, Boondock Saints, Austin Powers, Terminator, and many, many more. The video game industry also loves this pistol, but is this admiration purely fictional, or is it rooted in practicality?
This Photo Of The Day is just for fun, but there’s a serious question behind it, asked by many. Should I buy a clip-on thermal or a dedicated thermal rifle scope? Hang on and get some advice, while you admire some cool, suppressed firearms in 300 Blackout and 9mm.

Accessory Kit for the Stevens 325-B

by Dave Markowitz in Blog O'Stuff on 2026-02-14T00:06:00Z

Today I put together an accessory kit to help keep the Stevens 325-B .30-30 running in the field.

All items were bought from Numrich Arms.

Numrich warned that the magazines may require final fitting. However, both of mine locked into the rifle easily and fed three rounds into the chamber.

The RG-57 cleaning kit is based around a pull-through, a couple bore brushes, a broom-like brush,  an AKM tool, and a small oil bottle, all contained within a tin reminiscent of vintage pipe tobacco tins. The tin is contained in vinyl pouch with a snap, and a coarse net-like cleaning cloth.



The two bore brushes attach to the patch pulling loop with a hook. I tried the pull-through with one of the large cotton cleaning patches and it pulled through easily, dry or wet.

This site has a nice overview of the kit. Note that mine came with a different kind of pouch to keep it in.

I filled the oil bottle with Ballistol. Apparently the East Germans used it for gun oil, not solvent. Because Ballistol is a CLP it'll be good for both cleaning the rifle and protecting it against rust.

I got turned onto the East German grenade pouches by Jess on the Endurance Room YouTube channel, where he uses one to hold his fire kit. They contain a divider which for my uses I cut out. Numrich has them cheap in NOS condition.

I also added a small Ziplock bag with some cotton flannel cleaning patches.







This kit should handle most needs short of an obstructed bore or a stuck case. If I encounter either in the field I may be able to knock out a bore obstruction by dropping the pull-through's weight on it, but a stuck case would require a cleaning rod to knock out.

IMO, this would be a good setup for one of these rifles kept as a truck gun.

While out hunting I'd have this in my pack with at least one of the spare magazines in a jacket pocket.

What if you want a classic wood-and-steel hunting rifle with generations of history behind it … but you also want to take advantage of the improvements in firearms technology over the past few decades? The new Mauser M98 Das Original allows you to have your cake and eat it too, and it even offers the classic bolt-action rifle in a never-before-available magnum chambering.

My Fingers Are Grateful

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-13T23:24:20Z

I bought a parting tool for the lathe.  This is a very sharp thin blade that mounts on the cross-slide for cutting off pieces of the victim at precise locations. 

In the past, if i need to cut a small amount off of a tube, I had to either hold the tube closer to the blade than I preferred or if the amount was small enough, use the lathe to slowly plane off a few thousandths of an inch, again and again.

In this case, I needed to remove 1.85" from the PVC tube.  It was so elegant. 

Why I Think The World-Shattering Nature of AI is Hype

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-13T20:53:32Z

This is not the first time a new technology has appeared with the fear that existing workers will soon be unemployed in vast numbers.  Remember that in 1790, 98%+ of Americans worked on farms. Yet we do not have a 98% unemployment rate.

The development of machine tools and other elements of the Industrial Revolution did not cause mass unemployment. Instead, there was something called "de-skilling." What had been highly skilled craftsmen were replaced by lesser skilled operatives using mills, lathes, and similar tools to mass produce identical parts that other lesser skilled workers assembled into clocks, guns, then eventually cars, aircraft, and houses. All these less skilled workers were paid far better than their craftsmen predecessors because the highly efficient factories were so profitable that employers could afford to pay high wages to attract workers.

How many Americans in 1790 owned a click or a watch.  Far fewer than today.  None could own modern marvels such as cars, revolvers, semiautomatic rifles, or dishwashers. Yes, none of those existed in 1790. That is my point. Each step forward created unimaginable wealth and creativity that allowed for new technologies and jobs to go with them. 

There are jobs that AI will destroy, the equivalent of individual flintlock rifle makers. Such makers continue to work into the mid-1800s. What they did was obsolete but they soldiered on and retired. I doubt many young men in 1840 looked for a chance to apprentice to one of these old-fashioned craftsmen,'who retired or died.

More Evidence AI Is Mostly Hype

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-13T20:32:36Z

2/10/26 Ars Technica:

Alphabet has lined up banks to sell a rare 100-year bond, stepping up a borrowing spree by Big Tech companies racing to fund their vast investments in AI this year.

As others have observed, few companies from 1926 have survived 100 years without completely evaporating (e.g., Texaco) or defaulting on their bonds (GM).  How many tech companies of 2000 are anything like their former importance?  A few. Many others are either gone or of such limited importance as to be unrealistic payers of bond interest.

For the Record

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T19:55:07Z

I’m still trying to figure out what’s constitutional about any of what they do. [Via WiscoDave]

The post For the Record first appeared on The War on Guns.

It’s a Big Club and Look Who’s In It

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T19:43:09Z

Top Goldman Sachs lawyer Kathy Ruemmler will leave the investment bank at the end of June. Her announcement follows the release of documents detailing her often chummy conversations with notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. [More] She’s the same one who would not allow House Oversight to interview the National Security Council apparatchik who got Phoenix … Continue reading "It’s a Big Club and Look Who’s In It"

The post It’s a Big Club and Look Who’s In It first appeared on The War on Guns.

Thanks for Nothing?

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T19:31:03Z

Via email: Q: Will the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act get a vote? I am an original cosponsor of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. Once it passes the Senate Judiciary Committee, it will go to the full Senate. I look forward to voting for this legislation so Idahoans with concealed carry permits can exercise their rights … Continue reading "Thanks for Nothing?"

The post Thanks for Nothing? first appeared on The War on Guns.

American-Made G36C: Now Available to Civilians. Kinda.

by Iain Harrison in Recoil on 2026-02-13T19:10:51Z

Found in almost every video game, but almost impossible to get in America. With a little effort, the G36C is finally here.

We’re the Only Ones Flashy Enough

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T19:02:01Z

A U.S. Border Patrol agent was briefly arrested last week after attempting to bring a flash-bang grenade through security at McAllen-Miller International Airport in Texas, prompting a police response and raising questions about airport security enforcement and prosecutorial decisions. [More] Charges were dismissed against him but not against a “civilian’ who forgot his handgun in … Continue reading "We’re the Only Ones Flashy Enough"

The post We’re the Only Ones Flashy Enough first appeared on The War on Guns.

[SHOT 2026] Hands On with Steyr’s New AT Pistols

by Matthew Moss in The Firearm Blog on 2026-02-13T19:00:00Z

At SHOT Show 2026’s Industry Day at the Range TFB had the privilege of getting early access to the range to cover the ceremonial First Shot of SHOT. One of the benefits of this was we were able to get hands on as soon as the range went hot and I was able to put a couple of magazines through Steyr’s new AT family of 9x19mm pistols.

There Can Be Only One

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T18:41:58Z

No Republicans to appear on ballot in 2026 New Mexico Senate election [More] So what do you do when there really is NVOWOOT? [Via Michael G]

The post There Can Be Only One first appeared on The War on Guns.

An integrally suppressed bullpup precision rifle - now doesn’t that sound like a cool package? Well that’s what Desert Tech have put together, a new handguard for an integrally suppressed version of their SRS series of rifles. The SRS SD kit is a carbon fiber handguard an and a full length Picatinny top rail which can be mounted on late model SRS A2s and SRS M2s.
Caldwell dropped the biggest piece of the ClayCopter puzzle at SHOT Show 2026 with the Surface-to-Air launcher . If you caught the  original ClayCopter handheld unit  last year, this is the next step up. It’s a ground-based, hands-free launcher that turns your backyard into a sporting clays course. It's not a traditional clay thrower. The ClayCopter targets are biodegradable spinning disc-style targets that fly differently than standard clays, and they only break when you hit them, not when they drop.

For You Materials Science Nerds

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-13T15:00:00Z

 Why 304 stainless steel is less corrosion resistant than you may assume:


And if, like me, you have ever wondered what distinguishes 304 from 18/8 stainless steel.


Quote of the Day While there’s certainly always a place for civil disobedience, I think “just don’t comply” and boating accident jokes are not a real solution to the expansion of authoritarian gun control laws. Hard truth: They don’t care … Continue reading
In this Ascend episode, we learn how Go WYLD helps women take that next step into the outdoors through real experiences.
Hearing, comms, performance, and downstream liability all get better when the rifle is less abusive to everyone standing near it.

You Can’t Stop the Signal?

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T13:45:15Z

CTRL+PEW Sues California in Federal Court Over 3D-Printed Gun Files [More] Who else aims to misbehave? [Via WiscoDave]

The post You Can’t Stop the Signal? first appeared on The War on Guns.

Suffer the Children

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T13:36:48Z

Ally Kotetsu, who describes himself as “a non-binary transgender woman who is transrace Japanese,” is campaigning both online and in public through an effort he calls Beyond the Plus, which advocates for the rights of “beings who are romantically or sexually attracted to beings who are below the age of 18.” [More] Love is love? … Continue reading "Suffer the Children"

The post Suffer the Children first appeared on The War on Guns.

Tab Clearing...

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2026-02-13T13:32:00Z


The Best Defense?

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T13:18:46Z

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is defending gun rights [More] Did he do anything at all to try to stop Letitia James from extraditing Lawrence DeStefano?

The post The Best Defense? first appeared on The War on Guns.

Give You a Lyft?

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T13:08:28Z

Two Lyft drivers killed in Cleveland in separate attacks 36 hours apart [More] But…but…but… The only thing lower than feral retard parasites who prey on the working poor are corporate whores who require their vulnerability. [Via JG]

The post Give You a Lyft? first appeared on The War on Guns.

Rye and Broadleaf Against the Cold

by David in Musings Over a Barrel on 2026-02-13T13:05:00Z

After nearly two weeks of resorting to the cigar lounge for a smoke — mostly due to bitter cold temperatures — I was finally able to spend some time enjoying a cigar and drink on the porch this past week. As enjoyable as the lounge is, I prefer selecting from my own humidor. As the sun was beginning its descent, the outside thermometer read 31° — “mild” enough to be counteracted by the propane heaters.

I grabbed a Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 652 and a pour of Buzzard’s Roost Cigar Rye to accompany the cigar.

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust cigar had been sitting in my humidor for five months. A dark, USA-grown Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper sits tight and smooth over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The blend includes some ligero leaf among the filler tobaccos.



The cigar comes in solidly full-bodied, with deep, rich notes of dark chocolate and espresso right off the bat. A bit of black pepper joins in as the cigar warms. Joined by a dark sweetness, the spice never dominates but instead adds depth to the profile. The bold, rich flavors remain steady and consistent throughout the smoke.

The Buzzard’s Roost Cigar Rye is a pour I’ve enjoyed on numerous occasions, as evidenced by the declining level in the bottle. Batch 2 of the line was released in the fall of 2022 and takes a different path from many so-called “cigar blend” whiskeys. Rather than relying on secondary finishes in cognac, port, or wine casks, this expression begins with a mash bill of 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley and is bottled at a moderate 105 proof. The whiskey is matured in specially treated barrels — including char #1 oak and finishing techniques designed to introduce subtle smoky and tobacco-like nuances — an unusual step that hints at the profile to come.  

The rye spice arrives first on the sip, followed quickly by notes of tobacco, char, and a touch of citrus brightness that keeps the whiskey lively. Caramel and citrus-tinged rye notes settle into the foreground, while gentle smoke lingers for quite some time on the palate. The smoky finish is mild, evocative of tobacco and seasoned wood rather than a campfire.



I initially had some apprehension that the potent flavors of the Mi Querida Triqui Traca might overpower the subtle smoky accent of the rye. However, I found the pairing to be quite delightful. There’s enough spice from the rye to stand up to the bold cigar, and its smoky accent is not lost. In fact, I felt that the charred wood notes in the Buzzard’s Roost were actually lifted somewhat by the cocoa and pepper of the cigar.

The nearly two-hour smoke was a relaxing and refreshing diversion from the bitter cold and ice-covered landscape we’ve been experiencing. The heaters did their work well, though I suspect the cigar and rye deserved most of the credit.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Rise of the Machines

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T13:01:59Z

BREAKING NEWS: AI COULD DESTROY 2ND AMENDMENT [Watch] He makes it sound like we won’t fight and there won’t be human targets. [Via Jess]

The post Rise of the Machines first appeared on The War on Guns.

Advance to the Rear

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T12:58:27Z

HOMAN BACKS DOWN, THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEDITION NOT ARRESTED [More] Putting the “bull” in “bulldog”... [Via Wynn A]

The post Advance to the Rear first appeared on The War on Guns.

Quantity Has a Quality All Its Own

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T12:42:28Z

How Many Guns in the U.S [More] Now do how many “Only Ones” and how many of those are deployable.

The post Quantity Has a Quality All Its Own first appeared on The War on Guns.

Writer’s Block

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T12:35:04Z

America’s Gun Lobbyist Blocked Me [More] What did he say that was untrue?

The post Writer’s Block first appeared on The War on Guns.

Because Guns…

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T12:13:33Z

Shooting at South Carolina State University leaves two dead [More] Y’ever notice Codes of Conduct work about as well as signs? Am I right in assuming it’s not because the shooter was “woman”?

The post Because Guns… first appeared on The War on Guns.

Elections Have Consequences

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-13T12:00:10Z

New congressional map could turn Virginia’s 6-5 Republican edge into 10-1 Democratic advantage ahead of midterm elections [More] If only something could have been done to prevent this…

The post Elections Have Consequences first appeared on The War on Guns.

Shoot Gooder

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2026-02-13T11:57:00Z


There's a neat training opportunity in Texas at the end of the month. The class is called "Near and Far: The Complete Handgun Fight", co-taught by Greg Ellifritz and Jeff Gonzales.

Greg describes it thusly:
"The course combines a day of my extreme close range gunfighting concepts with a day of Jeff teaching the long range handgun curriculum he developed for a federal law enforcement agency in the context of active killer/counter-terrorism engagement."



.

Investigators say a man had just left a nearby gun range and was driving home when he was followed by three suspects.

Police said the suspects attempted to rob the man and grabbed a bag containing guns. The victim was armed with two guns, and a shootout ensued involving multiple firearms. During the exchange, the victim shot one of the suspects in the chin area.

The suspect who was shot was transported to a hospital and is expected to survive. Police have not released details about the suspect’s condition or whether any weapons were recovered.

More Here 

 


Weekend Knowledge Dump- February 13, 2026

by Greg Ellifritz in Active Response Training on 2026-02-13T11:33:39Z

Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.   The Timer Trap “Use a timer, but remember: your current skill level is what you’ve earned through consistent practice—not your occasional best time.”     Top 20 Tactical Training Programs In the US for […]

We are our own surveillance state

by Midwest Chick in Midwest Chick's Place on 2026-02-13T11:30:00Z

Well, in some way, I’ve got to give kudos-props to whoever talked the US populace into creating their own surveillance state in the name of safety (cough, cough… women). With the prevalence of Ring cameras (yes I have some), Nest, and other home camera options that are available, it’s almost impossible to go anywhere without […]
Uthmeier is one of the Sunshine State's strongest Second Amendment proponents.

Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 13, 2026

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-13T07:04:59Z

On February 13, 1633, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for trial before the Inquisition for professing the belief that Earth revolves around the Sun. — February 13th is the birthday of Robert Charles “R.C.” Sproul (born 1939, died December 14, 2017), a well-respected American Calvinist theologian — Today is also the birthday of General Chuck Yeager (born, 1923), the first man to break the sound barrier. He passed away on December 7, 2020. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First …

The post Preparedness Notes for Friday — February 13, 2026 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

(Continued from Part 2.) Water for the Flock For the first several years of raising fowl, I had a 20-gallon rubber water tote in the chicken coop. Every couple of days, I would have to dump all the water out and refill it because the chickens would sit on the edges of the tote and defecate into the water. In the heat of summer, the water would turn green within a day or two, spoiling all the fresh water. I was wasting more water and time than necessary. I began designing a gravity fed water system with a livestock auto-feeder …

The post Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 3, by Lodge Pole appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Economics & Investing Media of the Week

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-13T07:02:21Z

In Economics & Investing Media of the Week we feature photos, charts, graphs, maps, video links, and news items of interest to preppers.  This week:  A graphic showing countries with the highest levels of household debt. The thumbnail below is click-expandable.         (Graphic courtesy of Reddit, based on IMF data) Economics & Investing Links of Interest WSJ: U.S. Budget Hole Set to Deepen by Trillions”.  A key quote: The U.S. is projected to run a deficit of $1.85 trillion, or 5.8% of gross domestic product, in the year that ends Sept. 30, and then stay about level …

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The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-13T07:01:01Z

“It is by no means an irrational fancy that, in a future existence, we shall look upon what we think our present existence, as a dream.” – Edgar Allan Poe

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

Artesian Well

by Joe in The View From North Central Idaho on 2026-02-13T05:17:47Z

I thought I had posted a picture of the pump daughter Jaime and I put on her well. I can’t find it now, so maybe I remember sharing it with people at work. The back story is that last May … Continue reading

That is a 25mm eyepiece in it, not what I will use in it for the wide angle, high brightness finder.  
.
The tube needs to be shortened another inch to get more infocus distance for the helical focuser to go between extension tube and eyepiece. Then a little touch up paint on the PVC. I am pleased with the optical quality of what was a $15 objective lens. This has not received much of a test; chromatic aberration is more of an issue as magnification and brightness go up 

With the 25mm eyepiece, I get 6x, 7.5 degree field of view. The exit pupil is 10mm so roughly 75% of the light gathering capacity is lost going into a 5mm human pupil.  That is still more than three magnitude deeper into the sky than the naked eye.  I have no stars available for testing but used outdoors, the image is noticeably brighter than naked eye.

A couple possible choices of eyepiece for finder. The Svbony 25mm Plossl is cheap. It would give me 6x, but the Plossl design has a slightly wider apparent field of view, so i would get 8.2 degrees of sky. The Svbony 40mm Plossl would get me 3.8x and more than 10 degrees of sky. AstroMania 40mm is a bit wider so 12 degrees of sky. I am not sure that the extra field of view is really necessary and lower magnification means giving away light 

More thoughts on “the pizza caper”

by TPOL Nathan in The Price of Liberty on 2026-02-13T02:00:00Z

Yesterday, we published a long, perhaps apocryphal story about a 2nd grader who was punished for being kind to a classmate. For trying to share his lunch with the classmate who was served the “cheese sandwich of shame” because his … Continue reading

The MK12 SPR: The Multi-Tool of the AR World

by Toby M in The Firearm Blog on 2026-02-13T01:00:00Z

The AR-15 has become the most prolific modern rifle in America—and for good reason. Its modularity, accuracy, ergonomics, and proven track record make it a top choice for self-defense, competition, and professional use. But among all the possible configurations, there’s endless debate over which build is truly “best.” There is personal conjecture from both professionals and content ninjas alike. Today is an examination on the original modern-day patrol carbine, the MK12 SPR; more than a precision weapon, the SPR is the do-all shooter; the SPR is the multi-tool of ARs.
Today’s POTD features the PTR GIR 100, a faithful U.S.-made interpretation of the Heckler & Koch G3, then rebuilt to copy the Swedish Ak4 battle rifle. Built around the classic roller‑delayed blowback system, the GIR 100 leans heavily into its Cold War roots with a parkerized finish and period-correct green furniture that immediately sets the tone. An 18-inch tapered barrel keeps the profile balanced, while the traditional steel SEF lower preserves the original manual-of-arms familiar to G3 users worldwide.
Welcome back to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we talked about some of the biggest problems when it comes to carrying a concealed firearm. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here  to check it out. This week, I want to take a look at some ways to keep sharp when it's brutally cold out. Going to the range when it's well below zero is one of the toughest ways to train and if we are being honest, it can be counterproductive when you're wearing a ton of layers and heavy gloves. A few weeks ago, we talked about how carrying in extremely cold weather can make things tricky and going to the range in these conditions can be equally tricky.

Belts

by Pawpaw in PawPaw's House on 2026-02-12T23:39:00Z

 I used to own a number of belts.  Duty belts, dress belts, gun belts, casual belts and everyday belts. This morning, I was down to two.  A dress belt I used on dressy occasions, and an everyday belt that held the Model 60 on my waist.

That dress belt was bought, as I recall, sometime around 2004.  It hasn't been worn since I retired in 2019.  All the other belts that own, (excepting the competition rig that carries my Colt holster), went away over the years.  So, I'm down to three belts.  The dressy one, the everyday rig, and the competition rig.

Today, I had to go to a funeral.  I put on slacks and got out the dress bel.  Put it on and when I went to tighten it, broke that sumbitch in half. It had dry-rotted.  Just damn.  I put on the everyday belt and went to the funeral.

I need to go buy a dress belt, something that looks better than the plain, old everyday rig I normally wear.  And that pisses me off to no end.  It's just aggravating.  Now that I think about it, my everyday belt is about five years old.  It might use an update too. I guess it's time to go down to Boot Barn or Cavender's and see what they have hanging in the racks.

And that's where I am with that.

Joe Bonamassa & Beth Hart - I'll Take Care of You

by Borepatch in Borepatch on 2026-02-12T23:31:00Z

It's been a while since I posted Blues on Thursday.  Mea maxima culpa.

So here's what may be the Platonic Ideal of a Blues Ballad.  If you don't like the Blues but you do like Pink Floyd* then you'll like this.

 

* A band with deep roots in the Blues. 

Cutting Off Oil to Cuba

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-12T21:01:36Z

Are they not on board with reducing greenhouse gases?
I laughed. It thought it was was brilliant. YMMV.

Maybe it’s time to stop dousing the fire in gun owner bellies, especially with top administration officials making inane comments that spit in the faces of Second Amendment activists — the very people Republicans need to win. [More] In what reality is making core constituents feel like they’re being used smart politics?

The post Disparaging Armed Citizens Undermines Trump Administration’s Credibility first appeared on The War on Guns.

[SHOT 2026] Aly & Kaufman Introduce AKB-23 LSW

by Matthew Moss in The Firearm Blog on 2026-02-12T19:00:00Z

Last year at SHOT Show 2025, I was stoked to run into the guys from Ally & Kaufman who were offering a cool lower receiver kit that pairs with a Brownells BRN-180 18.5" upper receiver to create the ‘SA80 at home’. This set up, the AKB-23 got a lot of attention and had developed further with an SA80-style pistol grip, a ‘Carbine’ handguard, L85 flash hiders and a range of SA80-style carry handles with sight mounts for ACROs and Micros.

Garbage Out

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-12T18:06:12Z

Hughes struck that entire response, noting that Solis had admitted he failed to disclose his use of AI in the filing. Hughes also blasted Solis for using “hallucinated and false citations,” online court records show. [More] Who ever heard of such a thing? Y’know, you do that in writing and academia, and it’s considered plagiarism. … Continue reading "Garbage Out"

The post Garbage Out first appeared on The War on Guns.

Just because we’re used to doing something a certain way doesn’t mean it can’t be done better. That’s how just about every advancement, ever, in firearms design came about—someone rethinking the normal. And that is spreading over to the world of optics these days, with green visual elements replacing red-colored elements. That’s the key feature behind MCG Tactical’s new Boar boresighter; it takes the normal red dot used for such equipment and replaces it with green.

Meanwhile, Across the Pond…

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-12T17:56:10Z

Mass suicide, coming soon to a refuge near you… [More] Although I’m not sure I’d be including John Cleese in any points I hoped to make… [Via Michael G]

The post Meanwhile, Across the Pond… first appeared on The War on Guns.

OldNFO has an important post about how Microsoft is moving very aggressively to a 100% online subscription licensing model.  This is important enough that I won't excerpt any of this; instead, you should go read the whole thing.  It's not too  long, but if you care about the security of your home network (especially the whole who has access to my data and can I even know thing), go read.  I'll wait.

What this means is that you don't own any Microsoft software.  Sure, you may think that because you paid them money (most often when you bought your computer - some of that purchase price went to Microsoft in the form of a license fee for Windows).  But you actually don't own "your" copy of software.  At all.

Rather, you have the right to run the software on your computer.  That may not seem like a big difference, but it is.  The license agreement (you know, the one you didn't read before you clicked "I Agree") allows Microsoft to change the terms of the agreement at any time, at their pleasure.

Microsoft has just done this in a big, big way.  Key new stuff in Windows 11 is:

  • AI integrated with your operating system
  • Online presence is critical for lots of Windows now (e.g. AI)
  • Windows will nag you until you put all your data online (OneDrive) whether you want to or not. 

The proper technical term for that first bullet point is that your Windows operating system is essentially now an "AI Agent" which if you are a regular reader you know is very, very bad security juju.

Combine this enormous security hole with the requirement to essentially be online 100% of the time (bad security) and the liklihood that OneDrive will slurp all your data to some Internet black hole in a Microsoft data center, Windows is simply unsecurable.

Yes, I know that is inflammatory, but there is simply no way that you can get assurance that your security is sane.  I say that as someone who has spent decades inn Internet Security (and particularly in security assurance).  Not to put too fine a point on it, but I don't think that I could get decent assurance that things aren't going "bump in the Net".  For most of the readers here, it's not even worth trying.

So what do you do, assuming that you are not a tech nerd like me?

Interestingly, Microsoft has just flipped the technical script on this.  It used to be that it was easier to stay on Windows than to move to alternatives like Linux.  Now that's out the window, at least if you want to protect your data from that OneDrive vacuum cleaner and whatever the AI agent will do to you. 

But this is admittedly a big step for a lot of people.  So as it turns out, you can "kick the tires" on all the different flavors of Linux without installing it.  All you need is a web browser. 


This is really slick.  The Linux equivalent of the Windows Start Menu lets you try all the apps (I use the Office apps which are every bit equivalent to Word and Excel, etc, and will save files in Microsoft format like .DOCX).

Take a few weeks poking around, you will likely see that it's not a big learning curve.  

Best Tactical Lever-Action Rifles: Old Guns Learn New Tricks

by Megan Kriss in Recoil on 2026-02-12T16:42:56Z

The space-age lever-action rifle is more practical that you might think. With some new upgrades, it's easy to enhance the classics.

L-a-a-ambert!

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-12T16:10:08Z

This guy got arrested at a Christmas parade in Florida for wearing a body armor vest concealed under his shirt. The problem is, that wasn’t illegal. I saw this in the news, with cops taking a victory lap and Karens rejoicing about it, so I put in a request for the footage, and just got … Continue reading "L-a-a-ambert!"

The post L-a-a-ambert! first appeared on The War on Guns.

Rost Martin RM1F pistols are polymer-framed striker-fired handguns chambered in 9x19mm. The grips of these pistols feature the company’s signature Responsive Grip Texture and interchangeable backstraps. The magazine release buttons and the slide release levers are ambidextrous. The capacity of the flush-fit magazine is 17 rounds. With the flush-fit magazine inserted, the RM1F pistol has a height of 5.1” and weighs 23 oz.

None Dare Call It Treason

by admin in The War on Guns on 2026-02-12T15:36:20Z

Only one House Dem voted in favor of voter ID, proof of citizenship in US elections [More] Gee, it’s almost like they have an ulterior motive… Funny, how the number 213 keeps coming up with Democrats. Good thing this has nothing to do with that “single issue”!

The post None Dare Call It Treason first appeared on The War on Guns.

Free Books- Part 332

by Greg Ellifritz in Active Response Training on 2026-02-12T15:02:54Z

Amazon has a tremendous number of FREE ebooks on their website.  You can find thousands of free kindle books on Amazon’s site every day.  These books can be downloaded to a Kindle reader or a free App on your phone or personal computer.  Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can download a free […]

Death Ray Spray-and-Pray

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2026-02-12T14:36:00Z

Apparently the valiant men and women of the United States Customs and Border Protection agency were using borrowed Army anti drone lasers to protect us from the scourge of children's mylar party balloons (or, since I suppose they could have drifted north from Ciudad Juarez across the Rio Grande, los globos).
A Pentagon plan to use a high-energy, counter-drone laser without having coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration about potential risks to civilian flights prompted Wednesday’s unprecedented airspace shutdown over El Paso, Texas, multiple sources told CNN.

Two people familiar with the matter said later Wednesday that Customs and Border Protection, not the US military, was in control of the laser technology when it was used this week around El Paso to shoot down balloons.
I'm having flashbacks to that time they shut down the entire city of Boston for a guerilla Aqua Teen Hunger Force ad campaign featuring Lite Brites.

.

Meme Dump!

by Tam in View From The Porch on 2026-02-12T14:03:00Z




The Complete Combatant’s Shelley Hill ran across an article dealing with the “Physiology of Anger,” at Mental Health, by Dr. Brindusa Vanta. Shelley breaks down the article and applies it to everyday life with stresses that can escalate anger.
Quote of the Day When will there be a national reckoning for those who misled us? None of the dire predictions about carbon emissions throwing us into global catastrophe offered by scientists, politicians, or international organizations over the past 50 … Continue reading

FIREARMS SAFETY THEN AND NOW

by Mas in on 2026-02-12T14:00:00Z

One of the best electronic gun forums for collectors and enthusiasts is www.smith-wessonforum.com.  It was there that I found this artifact of the past: https://smith-wessonforum.com/threads/us-post-office-revolver-methods-handbook.788619/ . You will find a US Postal Service manual there, from circa 1967 according to the original poster, showing USPS personnel how to handle revolvers. To this day, postal inspectors […]
Have you ever wondered what the SHOT Show is like through fresh eyes? Return guests Kevin and Bryce from The Carry Handle Podcast just made their debut on the show floor, and they’ve got stories to tell. Tune in this week as these SHOT Show virgins unpack their first-time experience, the standout gear that caught their eye, the places they went, the good and bad that they saw, as well as the hard-earned lessons from diving headfirst into the firearms industry's biggest event of the year. Please give a warm welcome back to returning guests Kevin and Bryce!
I wrote a piece enumerating the various modifications that one can perform to a carry revolver to make it more useful, and which ones may cause more trouble than they're worth.



Thursday Meme Drop

by Midwest Chick in Midwest Chick's Place on 2026-02-12T11:30:00Z

Thanks to B for a bunch of these and to steves6 for the last one.

The National Instant background Check System (NICS) adjusted figures for January, 2026 show a slight drop from those of January, 2025. From the National Shooting Sports Foundation:

The January 2026 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,198,879 is a decrease of 0.7 percent compared to the January 2025 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 207,557. For comparison, the unadjusted January 2026 FBI NICS figure of 2,172,185 reflects a 5.6 percent decrease from the unadjusted FBI NICS figure of 2,299,989 in January 2025.

As noted by the NSSF, the unadjusted NICS numbers, which include checks for various gun permits and re-checks for the same, are down 5.6%. This is likely a reflection of the increasing "permitless" or Constitutional Carry states.

On a positive note, the NSSF’s report on NFA items saw a massive increase compared to 2025. From the NSSF:


“The January 2026 NFA figure of 206,871 is an increase of 121.2 percent compared to the January 2025 figure of 93,518.”

 

 

 

Other than a slight jump up in 2006 - 2008, the rise in firearm sales reflected in the adjusted NICS figures, corresponds to both the Heller decision in 2008 and the election of Barack Obama as President in late 2008. The prominent spikes in sales occurred just after the re-election of President Obama in 2013, the run-up to the election of President Donald Trump in 2016, and the aftermath of the 2020 election during the first year of the Biden administration. 

By comparison, the years of the George W. Bush presidency, the first Trump term, the last three years of the Biden Administration and the first year of the second Trump term have been relatively flat.  The jump up from 2005 to 2025 has been enormous. 2000 - 2005 sales look flat and similar to 2022 - 2026.  When adjusted for population increase, estimated gun sales per capita have increased in January. 

The US population 2000-2005 averaged about 287 million, with adjusted NICs about 535,000 for those first of the year months. From 2022 - 2026 the population averaged about 337 million, with adjusted NICS about 1.20 million for those Januarys.

Analysis: Several factors are in play. Foremost are the enormous changes in the political structure since 2008. President Obama, elected to bring closure to race-division in the United State, did the opposite, exacerbating and escalating racial strife to levels not seen since the 1960s. He was able to form a new coalition of single white women, homosexuals, Asians, blacks, and others except white, straight men.  His policies were a weak USA, elevation of Iran, a weak NATO, and elevating the climate hoax for the benefit of China. The reaction to these destructive policies was President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden was President Obama's third term. It was disastrous. President Trump, in his Second term, is presiding over a counter revolution to the "fundamental change" President Obama forced on the nation.

Both the Republicans and the Democratic party have been unwilling to take the heat to step away from the crippling and suicidal debt inflicted on the USA. The only solution appears to be extraordinary growth. President Trump has been promoting this potential avenue to survival.

Part of the growth is an tremendous increase in productivity in the United States. It is one of the reasons for the rise in firearm sales. Excellent, practical firearms are historically cheap in the United States, when considered in constant dollars. The primary reason is the cost of making them has dropped due to superior technology. This correspondent grew up with the Savage 99. It is an excellent deer rifle. So are the Winchester 94 and the Marlin 336.  They are wonderful examples of the gun-makers art at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the smokeless powder, non-corrosive primer era.

The requirements to produce those rifles are not well suited to the more efficient technologies of the 21st century.  A new rifle in these models runs over $1200 and up. A new semi-auto based on the AR15 platform performs as well, with better accuracy, for 1/3 to 1/2 the cost.  Good centerfire defensive handguns are available, new, for less than the constant dollar cost of a surplus 1911A1 in 1960. A new, semi-auto .22 rimfire can be had for less than a quarter of the constant dollar cost of a semi-auto .22 in 1960. These prices are in spite of increasing, choking government regulation.

At the moment, sales appear to be leveling off. There may be some market saturation. Handguns have become more popular than rifles or shotguns. Serious innovation maybe rewarded, but is a gamble. Rising prosperity may bring more sales. Rising security may inhibit sales. The Trump Department of Justice has declared the ban on mailing handguns by the USPS  unconstitutional. How this may affect sales is unclear.


©2026 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch
 

 

 

 




A 17-year-old boy who was breaking into a vehicle in Southwest Philly overnight was shot after an off-duty officer with the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office and a family member fired at him, officials said.

According to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, the incident happened at about 3:30 a.m. along the 7300 block of Bunting Place, in Southwest Philadelphia, when an off-duty officer for the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office spotted someone breaking into his private vehicle.

Small said "for reasons unknown at this time," the officer fired his gun at the the individual inside the vehicle, a Honda Accord. Another member of the officer's family also fired his gun at the teen, Small said.


More Here


TX: Gunfight, Wounded Victim Returns Fire, Kills Attacker

by Dean Weingarten in GUN WATCH on 2026-02-12T11:15:00Z

Navarro, who was known by at least one person at the party, arrived at the scene armed with a gun and started causing a disturbance, authorities said. During the disturbance, Navarro fired at least one round into the crowd inside the apartment, authorities said.


The man who was shot possibly returned fire, striking the shooter, police said. Detectives are continuing to interview multiple witnesses.

More Here


Dealing With The Threat Of Invasive Species

by Sheila Stokes in The Zelman Partisans on 2026-02-12T08:43:26Z

In 1876 Kudzu first came to America. It made it’s debut at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, in the Japanese Pavilion. It was an ornamental plant with fragrant flowers and lush foliage, and became popular as a porch shade plant. It was presented again in the South at the New Orleans Exposition in 1884–1886, and was … Continue reading Dealing With The Threat Of Invasive Species

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 12, 2026

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-12T07:04:15Z

February 12, 1935: The 785-foot long rigid airship USS Macon (pictured above, at Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California) was downed in a storm off Point Sur, California, with the loss of two lives, and 64 people rescued. — On February 12, 1873 US Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1873, abolishing bimetallism and placing the country on the gold standard. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 123 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three-Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, …

The post Preparedness Notes for Thursday — February 12, 2026 appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

(Continued from Part 1.) The following are the basic tools I use to harvest and butcher fowl: Large stainless steel bowl. I put several quarts of water in the pot (the amount of water varies on how many birds I am harvesting) to keep the meat from drying out and to help keep flies away if they are present. I also butcher where running water is easily accessible to wash my hands when necessary. Sharp knife. My preferred knife for cleaning and butchering is a medium-sized, antique, high-carbon steel butcher knife with a very thin blade. This knife is from …

The post Raising, Hunting, and Harvesting Animals – Part 2, by Lodge Pole appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-12T07:02:51Z

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, Washington state’s knife ban legislation. A Knife Ban is Planned in Washington Reader D.S.V.  spotted this: Draconian Knife Ban Bill Rises from the Dead in Washington. A pericope: …

The post The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

The Editors’ Quote Of The Day:

by James Wesley Rawles in SurvivalBlog.com on 2026-02-12T07:01:27Z

“Hunting forces a person to endure, to master themselves, even to truly get to know the wild environment. Actually, along the way, hunting and fishing makes you fall in love with the natural world. This is why hunters so often give back by contributing to conservation.” – Donald Trump, Jr.

The post The Editors’ Quote Of The Day: appeared first on SurvivalBlog.com.

What AI Is Good For

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-12T04:48:28Z

Define the problem.

For a 6" diameter 6061 aluminum disc supported at three edges with a 20 pound weight at center how thick should it be?

After showing how it calculated it. Grok said 0.04" then said triple that to avoid any problems with the various ways to interpret support positions. This is really quite a bit thinner than I expected. I had planned on 1/8" thick for CFC.
Clever: In the new study, the scientists tracked how the radio signals from Juno back to Earth bent as they passed through Jupiter’s atmosphere, before cutting out when the planet blocked the signal entirely. Those measurements allowed the team to … Continue reading

Switching to Aluminum Has Some Advantages

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-12T03:03:24Z

I had planned to cut a 6" disc from CFC.  Aluminum disc's 6" diameter are readily available. 
Readers, this story is longer than most commentaries; we hope you will still read the whole thing. We do not know if the following story is true. But some of us here at TPOL have personally seen incidents like this … Continue reading
We are only a few weeks into 2026, and it looks like this year might see quite a few battles between pro-firearms activists and anti-gun legislators across the U.S.; we’ve already seen several states introduce highly restrictive legislation, and there might be more to come. Below, see a list of states that are either working on significant new firearms restrictions this year, or see similar restrictions from previous years’ legislative sessions coming into effect. This list is not comprehensive; research your own state’s laws if you are concerned. But it hits the highest points.
Photo Of The Day, and we go full Special Forces. The story takes us underground, where the 22nd Assault Company of Belgium’s 3 Para transformed Brussels–Schuman  metro station into a Close Quarters Battle training environment. Far removed from open terrain, this setting emphasizes confined spaces, limited sightlines, constant civilian infrastructure, and the need for rapid decision-making under pressure.
James Earl Jones is known for lots of things—he played famous roles like Darth Vader’s voice in Star Wars and not-so-famous roles like General Solomon in the Command & Conquer video games. But he was also (perhaps to the surprise of those who only know him for his thespian work) a former military officer, earning his Ranger tab in the 1950s, and he had a very respectable firearms collection that is now up for sale at Checkpoint Charlie’s. It’s a wide collection, with interesting semi-auto handguns, single-shot target pistols and a few classic Wild West revolvers—like this Colt 1877 Lightning.

FreeCAD Tutor

by Clayton Cramer in Clayton Cramer. on 2026-02-11T23:36:00Z

Grok has been helping me figure out how to replace CFC with aluminum tube with minimal weight increase. It appears that .5" OD .035" wall is slightly stiffer than the CFC tube that I now use for the axes. This lets me reuse my existing polar and declination housings, bearings, and drive gears.

I have been attempting to learn to use FreeCAD and no tutorial seems to get me over the first step of converting a two dimensional drawing into a 3D object.  I know at least one of you has admitted FreeCAD experience. I would be quite happy to pay someone to use Remote Desktop Connection and help me past this obstacle.


UPDATE: Just realized that I do not need to replace existing housing and axes  They are already cut 

Harbor Freight

by Pawpaw in PawPaw's House on 2026-02-11T22:45:00Z

Referencing some recent comments on the previous post. 

Harbor Freight, or as I call it, Hobo Freight, is a constant in my shop.  I buy a lot of Harbor Freight tools, because they work.

My buddy, Jay, who died in December, had his A&P license and ran a small manufacturing business where he made tools for the helicopter maintenance trade.  Jay didn't mind spending money on tools, that is how he made his living.  His machine shop had big lathes, mills, all the high-dollar stuff.  In the welding room, I happen to notice one day that every bench had a cheap, Hobo Freight angle grinder on the bench.

I asked him about it.

"They work," he said. "And when they quit, I go buy another one for $15.00."  He appreciated high quality tools but realized the value in a cheap angle grinder that would work for him for two or three years. Sometimes there is value in cheap tools.

Twenty years ago, I didn't trust battery tools.  If I could find a plug and string an extension cord, I could work all day.  Nowadays I don't care to work all day.  When the battery needs a recharge, I take a break.

I can still do a full days work, it just takes me most of the week.

Any man who is 70 and works as hard as he did when he was 35, didn't do much when he was 35.

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