Heads Up

Bouncing back, and wish this didn’t have to be the first new post up after the medical. Keep your heads on swivels, and if your Church does not have security or a security plan, get one. Keep in mind that there have actually been three events recently, with the two worst being the terrorist on a boat firing into a restaurant and the Church ramming and shooting.

With all the vitriol being lashed out at “Christian Nationalists” and “fascists” (etc., etc., etc.) I’m surprised more haven’t cut loose — yet. For the record, I think that a number of accounts on anti-social media who are doing this are doing so to extend kill orders. I’m looking at Gavin’s account as being but one.

Why? Because they are losing. If they had a counter to Charlie Kirk, they would have used it instead of shooting him. Given that the government spigot through the NGOs has been tapered down (still not off but getting there), funding is low. Soros and others are picking up the slack, but it’s not the same and a lot of things, including the paid protestors, training, and travel are now able to be more easily tracked and traced.

Yet, it is an abundance of riches that is not yet easily taken advantage of. For all that Pam Bondi — who has led an amazing job on winning the court cases against the over-reaching (and IMO corrupt) judges and desperate, frivolous lawsuits seeking to hamstring the Trump administration — and Kash Patel are having to work without a solid base, or even a trustworthy legion. DOJ and FBI need to be fumigated and honest operators recruited. That is going to take a while, no matter what. The upcoming shutdown may drive out more of the swamp, or at least make it easier to fire them, but you still have to get people in who are honest, will honor their oaths, and follow the Constitution and the Law.

I really do hope there are mass-resignations and walkouts resulting from the Comey indictment. Comey is one of the larger sleazeballs in DC, but far from the largest or worst. Really hoping that the current indictment is a holding action so that more charges can be brought against a man who bragged openly about the illegal things he did. The Statute of Limitations may apply to many of those, but betting it doesn’t apply to all. Also wondering how conspiracy issues (and charges) could change that a bit. I can but dream. The faster we can root out and get rid of those who forswore their oaths and pursued political vendettas in violation of the law and Constitution, the better. That goes double for those involved with J6 and the malicious prosecutions afterwards.

Which brings me back to the fact that those of the “godless authority” that is progressive politics are losing right now and know it. They see power slipping from their grasp and they will stop and nothing to try to recover it. Note who has not tamped down the rhetoric (progressives) and who has been trying to keep things from exploding (almost everyone else). Fact is, between the losing and the rhetoric, I’m surprised more hasn’t already happened.

There are a lot of idiots out there who want Civil War 2.0 and are doing all they can to make it happen. And (again, and again, and again) I say they are idiots not living in or dealing with reality no matter what “side” they are on. The communists/socialists are going by a playbook that hasn’t been reality in almost a hundred years. The WEF-types are in the same boat (those that aren’t part of the communist/socialist progressives). Things have changed. Their playbook hasn’t.

I think things are going to get better if we can hold on and keep things from exploding. Long term. Fact is, the short term is going to get worse, potentially a LOT worse, before it gets better. A lot of the lunatics are going all-in, and throwing more than just gasoline on the fire. That is going to push the least-stable to act. I think that is not going to go well, or at least not as they think it will go.

Just look at Antifa being designated a terrorist organization and investigations opened into operations, funding, etc. Not what they expected (or at least not this soon). Again, though, the problem is enough honest people in place to conduct, evaluate, and coordinate actions and charges. Trump needs to keep going nuclear on appointees, and they need to step up recruitment of good people to go in below them.

Which is all well and good, but leaves us — The People — with a problem. We can’t trust the FBI, most Federal LE, or even that much local LE and prosecutors (I wouldn’t trust our local prosecutor with anything). So, we need to step up.

Keep your heads on swivels. If you can do so without a lot of fanfare, beef up security at your Church, events you are involved with, etc. When you are out, be prepared for terrorist attacks such as those that have just happened. And, yes, those were terrorist attacks as they were designed not only to inflict casualties, but fear so as to change behaviors. Don’t care what “side” anyone behind them was, I condemn and reject them utterly.

When out, be prepared. I’ve started carrying my personal trauma kit with me places, especially to Church. Might I suggest that in addition to whatever other preparations you may undertake, make sure you have appropriate first aid with you that you can share at need. Also, keep in mind cover and concealment when eating out and such.

Meantime, pray. Pray for those at the Church shot up yesterday, pray for those at the restaurant, and pray for our Nation and the Republic. If your first thought yesterday was to go on a rant that they were not “real” Christians, please talk to a priest as you are missing the point of being a Christian. We can argue dogma later, after they aren’t trying to kill us all. As for me, I’m praying for those at the Church, those at the restaurant, and for all of us. For we need Divine Grace to get through the days ahead with our Republic and our souls intact.

Be prepared. Keep your friends and family close, and your things where you can find them in the dark. And Pray. Often.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Three Good Reads

On the mend, but still not fully back. However, I do have three good reads for your consideration.

First up is The Land That Forgot About Wolves. Second is You say You Want A Revolution. Third up is the launch of Sarah’s latest book. Two solid food-for-thoughts and a fun series to go with it (dessert?). Enjoy.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Apologies

Got several things I want to post, but didn’t post much yesterday and probably not today either. Long-term readers may remember I went to the ER a bit over a year ago with severe inflammation of parts of my digestive system. There really were only two major possible culprits, and for better or for worse we now know which one did it.

On Sunday, at our “Coffee Hour” after service (which is often a meal), someone insisted I try a bite of a dish that had been brought in. I did so. By the time I woke up Monday, the system was unhappy with me and I was trying everything I could to avoid going to the ER again. It made my last massage therapy appointment for a while interesting.

Turns out, I have issues with garbanzo beans and I am not alone. It is not a typical allergy (may be a Non-IgE issue), but a sensitivity to certain proteins, of which garbanzo beans are graced with an abundance. No real treatment, but the best thing to do is to avoid all legumes to prevent problems and to prevent the possibility of having this slide into a full allergy.

So, I’m trying to ensure any inflammation gets tamped down without needing to go the doctor. Too much going on this week. Besides, had a doc last year who suggested cutting out portions of my intestines and I’m not real keen on that idea yet. It may come to it, but I will hand that off to the Lord.

Take care, and more soon.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Backpacks And Artificial Shoulders Pt 2

I wanted to follow up on this post and thank everyone who offered suggestions and advice. I can’t thank you enough!

Yesterday afternoon, I spent a good bit of time at a locally-owned outfitter with a gentleman who went over current load-bearing technology and pack systems. It was a bit eye-opening, and the days of simple hip belts and such is long gone. I actually got to try on a system or two, and then work out the system and pack for my frame.

I’ve got more reading to do and I plan to go to a chain outfitter this week or next to try on another brand of pack (and verify the size I need). Bit more research, but well worth it and some of these newer pack systems truly rock. Also looking into new passport/ID holders, billfolds, and the like. I’ve been using an ID holder I picked up at Camp Victory, Iraq, as my wallet since 2007, and it is time for something new. So, looking at waterproof and RFID-blocking options, of which the outfitter yesterday had several.

Oh, I should mention that the Osprey packs several recommended have an option for an attachable day pack that could serve as my carry-on luggage as well.

Thank you all for the inputs, and for the introduction to the newer packs and systems. Much appreciated.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

No Pasarán Returns

Four months ago, for reasons known only by Google, it was taken down. Now, the blog No Pasarán has been restored. Not sure why, but a lot of people raised a stink about the situation and somebody at Google finally got around to noticing. About time.

No Pasarán has been around for 21 years (as has this blog) and is a great resource for those wanting a different view of what is going on in France and Europe. Relentlessly anti-communist, pro-truth, and with a sense of humor, it has shared a side of France (and Europe) oft missed by corporate media.

Good to see it back, and check them out if you get the chance.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Nasty Winter Ahead?

Looking around, my back is getting a nasty itchy feeling about this coming winter. I fear it is going to be a nasty one, on more than one level.

I’m trying to set some preparations for the fact that I’m worried it may be a very cold and snowy/icy winter. There are some signs and portents that it may be so. As for the weather guessers (my name for forecasters), they seem to have a spread that would make Vegas proud. That said, number of interesting people are in the nasty winter camp.

I really want to get at least one more Mr. Buddy emergency heaters, and stock up on propane. Between camp stoves and heaters, I will be able to stay warm and cook — and people who’ve been there know what a difference a hot meal can make. I’m pretty well set on blankets and such, and am continuing to experiment with solar power additions to the power and lighting game. The more options you have for power and light, the better.

I’m even trying to get the landlord to invest in some power backups and a small generator, but not sure I’m going to have any luck. Did add some options to my Amazon wish list in that regards.

Snow, ice, and storms can bring down power lines in a hurry. It’s not too late to do trimming around power lines and such to keep ice from bringing them down. I’m also encouraging that around here.

Thing is, I’ve got an itchy feeling about why this could be a nasty winter on another level. Frankly, I’m amazed that the anger I’ve been talking about hasn’t broken yet. Part of it is the “safety valve” that is provided by naming, shaming, and inflicting consequence culture (as opposed to cancel culture) on those saying and doing the worst of things. Part seems to be something else that I can’t quite put my finger on. But, they are holding for now.

How long they can hold is the interesting question. Ian makes some good points, and I would add that if the “ghouls” are not brought to heel, there’s a good chance the safety valve may be clogged. Also consider this food for thought from The Scuttlebutt. And in regards part of it, I do sometimes use the word “Normies” (usually in quotes) but with affection and a small amount of envy as there are days I wish I was one of them as I live here in flyover country.

All it will take to make this a truly nasty winter is one idiot, one person having a bad day when they respond to said idiot. We do not want to see here what many have seen elsewhere when civil war breaks out. Riding the ragged edge short of that won’t be nice or pleasant, but it will do far less damage. It may set some things back a year or two, but a civil war will change the country and potentially set back a great future (interplanetary species, advanced medical and health, and other things that are about to happen/break loose) by a century or three. Humanity is likely to survive, but our current level of civilization is not. So, let’s avoid going there if we can.

Let’s get through the winter and hope that it is not cold and nasty on multiple levels. Me, I’ve got things I want to do/am planning to do next Spring. Things that bring growth on many levels, and not necessarily just for me.

Fixing the problems that face us will not be easy or fun. Nor will it be easy to keep them short of that ragged edge. It is, however, the best shot for humanity and our future. Pray.

As always, be prepared. Keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

And Rumors Of Wars

I suspect I am like many right now, still processing the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I wasn’t a huge fan. I wasn’t his enemy. I knew he was out there, doing his thing and sometimes I agreed with him and sometimes I did not. I wish I had watched more of the full videos of his debates, as he was good at it and a happy warrior with it. He didn’t pull stunts, dodge, or belittle his opponents. He sought to change minds, and that takes a different approach.

Clearly he was good at it, and it got him murdered for talking. Those who are now calling to cool down and talk things out need to realize that’s not going to work this time because you murdered the man who was willing to truly talk and engage in discourse.

It’s also because a large part of the public, the “normies” if you will, who are not terminally online and such, not only saw Charlie assassinated before their eyes (how many millions have now seen the videos?) but they also watched as their neighbors, doctors, nurses, and teachers ripped off their masks and openly celebrated the death of someone simply because he talked and had beliefs that a bit over half the country hold. The normies realized that those people truly do want them dead and would celebrate their death just as they did Charlie’s death. And, this comes on top of Iryna’s death in Charlotte, which reached them and horrified them even before Charlie’s political assassination.

They have seen behind the masks, and are repelled by what they saw. They are catching on to the manipulation and outright lies being arrayed against them. They believe their lying eyes, and that’s both a good and a bad thing. It’s good in that they are waking up and facing reality.

It’s also bad in that this is a group where there is a LOT of anger out there. They have seen friends and family (or even themselves) cancelled for the made up ever-changing ‘sins’ of the woke. They saw their lives turned upside down during COVID. And then, cancel culture and control doubled down again. They have seen us go from a high-trust moderate-crime society to a low-trust high-crime society, and they are not happy about that either. The amount of anger out there frightens me, and I know it scares others too. That’s why several of us have been hammering away at the ‘keep calm’ and related messages. It is only going to take one idiot being idiotic to release that anger.

I honestly thought for a short time that the idiot who assassinated Charlie had done that. Thankfully, at least for now, the majority of the public (and let’s face it, the true progressives are less than a quarter of the population, like not even an eighth I suspect) is doing the normie version of rioting, looting, and burning: getting people fired for being uncivilized jerks. Unlike the woke, it’s not over made-up imaginary sins; rather, it is for the true sins of no impulse control and being willing to murder their fellow citizens simply for holding a different opinion. That’s not acceptable under the Social Compact (which I fear went out the window an couple of decades ago, along with having a high-trust society), nor is it theologically acceptable to Christians and a number of others.

On top of that, the normies are now having to think about things a number of us already have been thinking about. Will I or my family receive sub-optimal medical care simply for our beliefs? Will our schools target our children over our beliefs? (the answer is yes BTW). Et cetera et cetera et cetera. They realize that such people are a direct threat and responding to it in the nicest way they can — for now.

Thing is, the woke have never had consequences applied to them before. They have been coddled, protected, and shielded from even a harsh word, much less real-life consequences to employment and such. Why, that was only for the great unwashed, the victims of their cancel-culture antics, not them. They are not happy at having consequences apply to them, which sadly does up the ‘stupid-doing-something-stupid’ odds. Now that they are seeing their normal obfuscation via the media isn’t working, yet more are getting upset and scared. Which, again, ups the ‘stupid-doing-something-stupid’ odds. Then, add in that all the lies they are telling are getting the majority even angrier, and ramping up the trantifa contingent, well…

Seriously, pray. A couple of days ago, I started handing it over to God, as “ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” I think we will skate the razor’s edge once more, hopefully without really bad things happening. I expect further bad things; but, the reaction of the majority to the assassination gives me some hope, and a reminder that the woke are a small but vocal minority. They have held an outsized grasp on power, but it is slipping.

One thing I will recommend is that if you are on anti-social media of any type, and you are connected to anyone calling for war, especially now-now-now, disconnect. Unfollow, unfriend, mute, even block. Do the same to those spreading disinformation, quit giving them attention as they thrive on it and often get paid (openly or otherwise) for it. I may also cut back on my time online, as I have a lot of things to do, for both my future and for the pilgrimage. Those I can do something about. So, I will work on them and trust in God for the rest.

I’m going to leave you with some reads I’ve enjoyed or at least appreciated over the last few days. There are more I should link, but… Read this and this from the Bugscuffle Gazette; this one in regards Kipling from LOdlO; and, this one from Holly Math Nerd. Some good food for thought there.

As always, Be Prepared. Keep your family and friends close, and your things where you can find them in the dark.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Backpacks And Artificial Shoulders

If anyone out there has artificial shoulders like me (I have reverse replacements) and has used backpacks since, let me know what you’ve found. The pilgrimage is coming together, and it appears a suitcase is not going to work for portions of it.

One option is to use a backpack in place of a suitcase. The other option I’m looking at is using a suitcase for part of the trip, but have a smaller backpack as my carry-on and for times when suitcase isn’t going to cut it. The latter would work only if I do rent a apartment/room for the trip.

The only thing the doctor who did my surgery suggested is that I should get lots of padding for the shoulders. My thoughts are that a hip belt would be a good idea to keep pressure off the shoulders.

Thoughts?

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. If you want to know some of what it is going for, read here. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.

Decisions

This morning, I could have slept in and frankly I PLANNED to sleep in. For some reason, however, I activated the alarm so at 0345 my day began. I wasn’t feeling great, so got online and started to read. That was in some ways a mistake.

Someone I know, an author, who has been one of the stalwarts of not being stupid and avoiding flipping the switch, had his personal switch thrown by the assassination of Charlie Kirk. He’s all in on civil war, and there are some of his points with which I do have to agree. However, I think we can and should still avoid such. I much prefer the person who argued for a few waves of civil purges instead of civil war. It would be much better for us and for the future.

For all that the author’s posts made my heart heavy, it finished clarifying some things on which I had been thinking and had already disturbed my sleep. As regular readers know, I’ve been looking at a change in my life, one that could set me on the path to several destinations, including ministry.

For those that know me, or even if you don’t really, it’s not a place where one such as me should be expected to go. Of the major and minor sins, I think the only one I haven’t punched is directly killing another. I’m not particularly proud of parts of my past, and for all I tried to be a good person and a man, didn’t quite get there. Then again, Jesus didn’t come here to save the perfect, but the sinners.

A few weeks ago, I started the process but this morning the decision was firmly made. It is a scary one to make, on several levels; yet, it was also an easy one to make in the end. I have no idea where the path I am starting leads, but I am content to walk it. Some things which had troubled me have fallen away, and I lay aside the sword I carried for man. I choose to pick up a different sword, and walk a path I know not. Nothing will happen quickly I suspect, as it a process where things happen over time. I am content with that.

If you are the praying type, please do pray for me and my soul. Where I end up on this journey is not up to me; but, wherever the path leads me I will be content. I think I’ve suspected this path was in my future from the moment I stood up after being hit by lightning. Still scary in many ways, but only if I look at the past, and not to the present and future that have been granted to me by the Light.

One day I may share more, but for now this is enough. To borrow from Tolkien, I lay aside the old sword, staff, and guardianship. I pick up the new.