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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

3rd Circuit Ruling on Machine Guns and the Second Amendment

Last week I discussed the question of "How Will They Come For Our Guns?" I noted that if you believed that the Second Amendment was created to ensure that Americans would be able to possess the arms necessary to keep them free from tyranny (i.e., military weapons), those weapons were seized a long time ago with the passage of the National Firearms Act in 1934. 

Well, it has been just over 80 years since the NFA was passed, and its corrosive effect on the Second Amendment has shown up again in a new decision from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. The Truth About Guns has the story, and reports:
A panel for the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a district court ruling and sided with the government against a man who was authorized by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to manufacture a post-1986 machine gun through a trust, only to have the permission rescinded and his property confiscated. ...

[The Court wrote:]“We reiterated that ‘[a]t its core, the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to possess non-dangerous weapons for self-defense in the home,’ and thus, under Heller, ‘restrictions on the possession of dangerous and unusual weapons are not constitutionally suspect because these weapons are outside the ambit of the amendment,’” the opinion states. “[G]overnments may restrict the possession of machine guns.”
In 1934, they knew such weapons fell within the ambit the Second Amendment; that is why the law did not outright "ban" machine guns, but "merely" imposed a tax on the sale of machine guns (permitted under the taxing provisions of the Constitution). Now, according to the 3rd Circuit, machine guns are not even protected by the Second Amendment. If this ruling stands, there is nothing to stop the government from simply outlawing any weapon falling within the "dangerous and unusual" category.

May 31, 2016 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

"Race abandoned! Eerie pictures show the slow decline of an deserted NASCAR track as nature reclaims the once-popular speedway"--Daily Mail.

  • A new Woodpile Report is up. Many interesting links and commentary, as always. Out of them, there is one in particular that stood out to me: an article by Pat Buchanan entitled "The Great White Hope." The article touches on the controversial subject of white demographics, with Buchanan discussing that although white males only account for 31 percent of the population in the United States, it is not only legally permissible to discriminate against them, but mandated. He explains:
The world has been turned upside-down for white children. In our schools the history books have been rewritten and old heroes blotted out, as their statues are taken down and their flags are put away.

    Children are being taught that America was “discovered” by genocidal white racists, who murdered the native peoples of color, enslaved Africans to do the labor they refused to do, then went out and brutalized and colonized indigenous peoples all over the world.

      In Hollywood films and TV shows, working-class white males are regularly portrayed as what was once disparaged as “white trash.”

        Republicans are instructed that demography is destiny, that white America is dying, and that they must court Hispanics, Asians and blacks, or go the way of the Whigs.

          Since affirmative action for black Americans began in the 1960s, it has been broadened to encompass women, Hispanics, Native Americans the handicapped, indeed, almost 70 percent of the nation.

            White males, now down to 31 percent of the population, have become the only Americans against whom it is not only permissible, but commendable, to discriminate.

              When our cultural and political elites celebrate “diversity” and clamor for more, what are they demanding, if not fewer white males in the work force and in the freshman classes at Annapolis and Harvard?

                What is the moral argument for an affirmative action that justifies unending race discrimination against a declining white working class, who have become the expendables of our multicultural regime?
                  A vast area of at least 800,000 hectares is currently being affected as the swarms of insects, each measuring about 8 centimeters long, annihilate fields of corn and other crops.
                    It's been more than 30 years since this part of southern Russia suffered such a dense plague of locusts, according to local officials.
                      Officials say at least 10% of crops have already been destroyed, and the locust feeding frenzy is far from over, threatening to devastate the livelihoods of local farmers.
                      • "America’s ‘recovery’ is baloney — we’re actually broke"--New York Post. The author references a recent report from the Federal Reserve that found that the average American had less than $400 available to cover emergencies, and concludes that what the report really is saying is that Americans are broke. If true, then the current international trading system is in serious trouble, and the economies of China and other cheap manufacturing economies hang in the balance.
                      • "Venezuela Enters Phase II Of Apocalypse"--Anonymous Conservative. According to the author, this second phase is when the government, itself, runs out of money and resources to keep the government employees paid and fed. The author then projects what would happen in a similar situation in the United States:
                        ... An r-strategist nation needs the government. An r-strategist nation will sacrifice to keep the government, in the hopes it will spread the misery equally. An r-strategist nation will do anything to have a government protect them from freedom.
                          I suspect large swaths of America will be different. Large swaths of America have no need for the government. Large swaths have begun to see the federal government as a refuge of scoundrels, and a producer of misery. From healthcare, to surveillance, to environmental regulations, to firearms restrictions, to government targeting based on political beliefs, to forced settlement of Muslim foreigners, much of the federal government these days is at best, a costly non-entity, and at worst a net-negative to freedom and happiness. ...
                            There was a Russian political scientist who postulated that America would eventually see a debt crisis, and that this would produce a sudden dissolution of the federal government akin to what happened to the Soviet Union in the late eighties. The federal government would not have the money to pay it’s employees, and thus the employees would have to drift away to seek a means of support elsewhere. Once it lacked employees, the authority of the federal government and its ability to act would disappear, and the government would dissolve, replaced by loose amalgamations of states into several regional mini-nations. I crossed paths with an American who lived in Russia for a long time, and he said the Russians all took this ultimate outcome for granted, having seen it themselves from the inside. Looking at Venezuela, and the magnitude of the collapse to come, it doesn’t look as if they were that far off.
                              This is the problem the r-strategists face. The more the rabbits panic as things head downhill, and the more onerous they make the government as the Apocalypse approaches, the more the nation will embrace its dissolution as the Apocalypse approaches phase two.

                              Video: Rapier v. Longsword

                              Those of you interested in Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) may find this video of sparring between someone using a longsword and someone else using a rapier to be interesting:


                              I don't know the skill levels of the men involved, but it seems that the two weapons are fairly evenly matched which somewhat surprise me because I would have expected the rapier to, overall, be a quicker weapon.

                              Friday, May 27, 2016

                              How Will They Come For Our Guns?

                              The Truth About Guns has posed the question to its readers asking "Question of the Day: HOW Are They Coming For Your Guns?"

                              First, the government has already come for our guns. If you believe that the Second Amendment intended to safeguard the people's right to own arms capable of resisting government tyranny, then the government has already confiscated (or at least made it nearly impossible to obtain) the most useful weapons in the 1930s when the National Firearms Act was passed. World War I unmistakably demonstrated that the era of massed riflemen was over, and that explosives (however projected or directed at a target), large caliber cannon, and machine guns would rule future battlefields. (The importance of aircraft was not as clear at that point, but became apparent within the next decade). And so the National Firearms Act was born to make sure civilians could not own those types of weapons. And by the time inflation had eaten away at the cost of licensing an automatic weapon in the late 1980s, the law was amended to prohibit the manufacture of new automatic weapons for sale to the public. Most of our Second Amendment rights were eliminated long before most of us were born.

                              As for the remaining weapons, the answer is that it will proceed just as it has been done in the past. Such weapons will be outlawed slowly--in the name of public safety and controlling crime, of course--or ownership will require onerous fees or licensing process.
                              Example: Hey, everyone should have to take a $300 dollar safety class before they get a firearm. That is reasonable. And don't forget the licensing fee and the fingerprinting fee. And your ex- needs to sign off....
                              There will be the occasional small sprints forward, such as banning a whole class of firearms (for example, assault weapons, "Saturday Night Specials"), but overall it will be a creeping ban.

                              And when it is illegal to own firearms (or a class of firearms), people will either turn in the weapons, or hide them for fear of confiscation. They certainly won't use them.

                              Raids will be made on occasion to make sure that those weapons still hidden will remain unused and hidden. Of course, the raids will be against a "bad" person: a drug user, a person with a history of mental problems, someone with a restraining order against him or her, someone selling unpasteurized milk, raising rabbits for meat, or perhaps in the course of a search based on some other pretext. (If you own a banned firearm, you are by definition a "bad" person). The point is that the raids don't necessarily need to be based on or conducted for the purpose of arresting someone for possession of the banned weapons, but through raids or searches for firearms or other reasons, there will be a fairly constant, albeit, small number of arrests and prosecutions for possessing banned firearms. And a trickle of arrests for possessing the banned firearms will tend to keep the sheep in their place.

                              The government will also outlaw or make it onerous to buy other things needed for shooting. Background checks and taxes or outright bans on ammunition. Bans on magazines. Bans on lead. Hazardous materials fees on gun powder. Limits on the quantity of ammunition or components that a person may own, store, or buy.
                              Example: You know lead is toxic, right? No more casting bullets unless you pay a fee, obtain a license, and put in ventilation hoods.
                              And, of course, don't forget the social stigma that will amass against owning or using a firearm.
                              Example: Only a criminal needs a gun, right? Only a cruel person would hunt Bambi, right?
                              It will be piecemeal and never enough to spark general outrage.

                              It has been facilitated by indifference (e.g., the attitude that I'm a hunter, so I don't care about a ban on military firearms, or handguns) and wanting to compromise (e.g., we should consider common sense restrictions, or engage in dialog). The way to stop it is to be politically engaged and have an attitude of no compromise, ever.

                              (Update: 6/1/2016: minor correction).

                              Plague Warning for South West Idaho

                              Ground Squirrel 
                              The Idaho Statesman reports that plague has been detected in ground squirrels in southwestern Idaho. From the article:
                              Ground squirrels found dead in the desert in Ada and Elmore counties have initially tested positive for plague, prompting a warning from public health and wildlife officials for the second year in a row. 
                              Authorities are still confirming the diagnosis. But people out and about in the desert southeast of Boise and Kuna should take precautions for both themselves and their pets, including not feeding rodents and not handling sick or dead rodents. This year, the area in question runs as far north as Interstate 84 in Boise, including the Boise Airport. 
                              A bacterial disease, plague can be spread by the bites of fleas or by direct contact with infected animals. The plague is believed to have reached Idaho in about the 1930s and has likely been in the ground squirrel population for decades.

                              May 27, 2016 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

                              Self-Defense/Firearms:
                              • It's Friday, so time for another "Weekend Knowledge Dump" from Active Response Training.
                              • "Say NO to ‘Favorite’ Weapons"--Ammo Land. The gist of this article is that you should be able to pick up any firearm--even one that is unfamiliar to you--and be able to use it effectively.
                              • "The NEW UPDATED Army Rifle & Carbine Training Circular, FREE for Download"--The Firearms Blog. The article has photos/excerpts of the circular, but you can download it as a PDF here.
                              • "Real Facts About School & Other Mass Shooting Defense Tactics"--Ammo Land. Basic take away is that in most cases, the shooters know they are on a short time table, and will generally shoot for about 10 minutes before killing themselves. Thus, anything to disrupt the shooter's plans will save lives as they run out of time.
                              • "Quick Magazine Tip"--Arctic Specter. The author writes, "when you’re spending 24-72 hours laying in a dark hole, you won’t always be able to find that next magazine you need quite as easily.  In fact, you likely have removed your rack system altogether and have it layed out in front of you.  That being the case throwing a little bit of luminescent tape on the floor plate of your magazine can go a long way." He then demonstrates what to do using a PMAG.

                              Other Stuff":
                              Now for the weirdness. None of the ancient DNA samples have any descendants or close relatives today. Zip. “no ancient haplotype shares a common ancestor with a modern haplotype more recently than ~9,000 years ago. Their samples were mostly taken from large population centers along the western coast of South America: apparently those people went extinct after Columbus.

                              Thursday, May 26, 2016

                              Got Tribe?

                              The need to build or belong to a "tribe" is a common refrain among prepper and survivalist instructors and advocates. In this context, is generally refers to building a close and strong social network of friends and family from which you can seek help, or to which you will provide assistance, in times of emergency and need, up to and including physically defending one another. This is not the topic of this post. Rather, my topic is that whether you like it or not, you probably belong to a tribe--perhaps more than one, depending on how the term is used. And if this tribe is targeted for some reason, you, also, will be targeted because of your membership in that "tribe."

                              There are several definitions of tribe.  One definition is "a group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest." Thus the modern "urban tribe" consisting of groups of friends or roomies that hang out with each other, as exemplified in various popular sitcoms over the past 25 years including Seinfeld, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, and Big Bang Theory. The term "urban tribe" was originally coined, however, as reference to "young city people that gathered in relatively small, fluid groups" with "shared common interests that [are], in general, different from the interests of mainstream culture" such as Goths, Skinheads, Metalheads, etc. Thus, in this sense, it exists at a level above gangs.

                              But there are other, more primal, tribes. The definition of tribe includes "a group of people that includes many families and relatives who have the same language, customs, and beliefs." But it can be more expansive than this definition allows, and to get a clearer understanding of the term, it is best to study the etymology of the word. According to Wikipedia: "The word is from Old French tribu, in turn from Latin tribus, referring to the original tripartite ethnic division of the Ancient Roman state: Ramnes (Ramnenses), Tities (Titienses), and Luceres, corresponding ... to the Latins, Sabines, and Etruscans, respectively." Thus, the word may be, in certain contexts, nearly synonymous with ethnicity. (I use ethnicity in the official definition, which is that "[e]thnicity represents social groups with a shared history, sense of identity, geography and cultural roots, which may occur despite racial difference"). Thus, for instance, in history we might discuss German tribes, Celtic or Pictish tribes, Indian tribes (referring to the indigenous population of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries), Pushtun or Uzbek tribes, and so on.

                              Supposedly we live in a post-tribal world--at least in industrialized countries--but it isn't actually true. We look around us and we see not only "urban tribes," as that term is used above, but clear and stark differences between ethnicities. This is the diversity of which we are told we should celebrate because it is necessary to a vital and developing country or civilization. I'm not attempting to address the issue of whether diversity is necessary or even desirable, but merely wish to address the issue that the "identity politics" is pushing the United States into different "tribes"--and the globalists (at least the neo-cons) are concerned that white Americans may begin to think of themselves as "white Americans" rather than simply "American."

                              Vox Day linked to an article at The Federalist entitled "How Anti-White Rhetoric Is Fueling White Nationalism" and written by David Marcus. While Marcus apparently has no issue with non-European ethnicities celebrating their "tribe," the author does not feel the same warm glow of "celebrate diversity" when he refers to "white nationalism," but uses the term in its pejorative sense as being synonymous with neo-Nazi or similar movements. And he views it as a palpable threat, writing:
                              What is new is the direct indictment of white people as a race. This happened through a strange rhetorical transformation over the past few years. At first, “white men are our greatest threat” postings tended to be ironic, a way of putting the racist shoe on the other foot. They were meant to show that blaming an entire race for the harmful actions of a few individuals is senseless. 
                              Then the tenor changed. What started as irony turned into an actual belief that white people, specifically white men, are more dangerous and immoral than any other people. Loosely backed up by historical inequities and disparities in mass shootings [ed.: apparently gangland shootings don't qualify as "mass shootings"], this position has begun to take a serious foothold. 
                              Strikingly, this shift in rhetoric undermines what was once the core of anti-racist efforts. Treating people equally has given way to making all of us ambassadors for our race. This is a classic theme in critical race theory, that people of color carry a burden of representation that white people do not. But foisting the baggage of representation onto white people doesn’t solve that problem. It makes it worse. 
                              Treating people equally has given way to making all of us ambassadors for our race.
                              White people are being asked—or pushed—to take stock of their whiteness and identify with it more. This is a remarkably bad idea. The last thing our society needs is for white people to feel more tribal. The result of this tribalism will not be a catharsis of white identity, improving equality for non-whites. It will be resentment towards being the only tribe not given the special treatment bestowed by victimhood.
                               
                              A big part of the reason white Americans have been willing to go along with policies that are prejudicial on their face, such as affirmative action, is that they do not view themselves as a tribe. Given the inequality of resources favoring whites in our society, it is a good thing that white people view themselves as the ones without an accent. Should that change, white privilege (whatever one views that to be) will not be eviscerated—it will be entrenched.
                              Marcus goes on to discuss and address where he believes educators have gone wrong in attempting to teach "white privilege" to young white males* because, as he sees, the vilifying of white men and Western history has created a backlash. Marcus observes that:
                              [Whites are] upset at having to confess guilt for events [they] had no control over. ... Moreover, many resent the pedagogical transformations that their history and culture are undergoing. White historical figures once held in too high esteem have swung the other way into utter disrepute. Also, the histories of no other peoples are being held to these lofty standards.
                              The problem, as Marcus views it, is that "[t]he combination of the confessional and universal aspects of white privilege and the reconstruction of white history has opened the door for white racial grievance-mongers." He also points out that "[t]he result of these societal double standards is for many a desire to lash out against it." What Marcus fears happening is that young white men will embrace not only a victim attitude--similar to that seen in the identity politics of other groups--but may embrace the ultimate crimethink: white superiority.**

                              Interestingly, Rod Deher tapped into a similar theme in his article "Re-Tribalizing America" at The American Conservative. He begins by noting the recent violent protests outside a Trump event in New Mexico, and the attack on Milo Yiannopoulos at a speaking event at DePaul University. Deher brands Trump and Yiannopoulos as provocateurs, but also admits that "they are proving something important about the militant left: that it is often racist against whites, and has no intention of allowing any opinions other than its own to be voiced in the public square. And whether in the streets or in a university lecture hall, it will use violence to impose its will." Similar, but more plainly than Marcus, Deher warns that the militant left will drive a lot of people into the arms of the militant right. He also writes:
                              The answer to this racist SJW garbage is not to embrace white supremacy! But without a forceful, effective, unambivalent response to the unhinged militant left, sooner or later the forces of white supremacy are going to organize the dispossessed, demoralized, chaotic white rabble, and the SJWs, as well as the Washington elites, aren’t going to know what hit them. God knows I’m not saying I want this to happen, but I think it probably will happen if we continue on this current trajectory. Slouching rough beasts and all that. It’s Weimar America.
                              (Emphasis in original).

                              I don't believe that people rejecting the left's racist socialism are going to run into the arms of national socialists (i.e., Nazis). But there probably will be a backlash, or should be. It will be necessary for the survival of our children and grandchildren.

                              We've been told over and over for at least a decade that the United States is becoming less white. For instance, in 2011, more minority babies were born than were white babies, and the Census Bureau estimates that whites will be a minority by 2045. Not only is this shift occurring, but we are told it is a good thing (although no one can, or will, explain why). But as whites become a minority, they will suffer more discrimination, not less. The leftist race-mongers will not suddenly stop because they "have won," but will press the advantage to eradicate their foes. While Marcus fears to go there, Deher concedes this point, relating an anecdote from a reader, who wrote to Deher:
                              Here’s a true story. When I was in medical school there was a group of 20-40 students who were self-defined “progressive brown people” (their words, not mine). I was once told by one member of this group that eventually brown people were going to “outnumber white people” and when “Texas goes Democratic” it is going to be “game over for white people”—they will end the hegemony of white culture and tax me so much there will be no privilege left to give my children. 
                              Here is the thing: whites represent to the leftist race-mongers what the Jews represented to the Nazis--scapegoats for all their perceived slights and deficiencies. And there is no guarantee that these soon to be majorities will treat whites any better than the Nazis treated the Jews. The issue is whether whites will go quietly to the gas chambers (which, frankly, given how much "law and order" and "white guilt" is so beat into our heads, is a real possibility) or not.

                              This article is not intended to be a political or cultural analysis, but a warning. If Matthew Bracken and many others are correct, the United States will see interracial conflict (i.e., a civil war). You won't be completely free to choose sides. You can choose to distance yourself from a particular racial group, but it will not have any significant impact on how the enemies of that group will view you. You can choose to not be involved in your tribe, but others tribes will still view you as being a part of your tribe. And you will be targeted for that reason.

                              Bracken has postulated that a loss of welfare benefits would trigger a civil war. It's one possibility. But it could also slowly build up, violence slowly escalating, like the spreading charring and smoke just before a pile of tinder bursts into flame. And then there is flame. I've noted before that we are in a civilizational collapse--have been for several decades--but we just can't see it because we are too close to the matter. The same applies to the civil war. In my opinion, it has already started; the flame may not be there, but the smoke certainly is.

                              Footnotes:

                              *It is interesting to me that Marcus singles out "white males." There are reasons why this is significant, but such are beyond the scope of this post.

                              ** Frankly, Marcus' essay is fairly transparent in its goal. It is primarily a screed against the Alt-Right, a nascent political and cultural movement that has overwhelmed the Republican old-guard in this current presidential campaign. Marcus is simply too afraid to openly admit that his article is an attack on the Alt-Right.

                              Wednesday, May 25, 2016

                              The Realist: Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit

                              This is a guest post from The Realist:

                              Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit -- Packaging

                              Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit

                              If you have ever spent any time searching for a product on Amazon, you can't help but notice their suggestions for other items to buy. One of their suggestions looks interesting, and the next thing you know you're looking at items you hadn't even considered before. In my case, I started out looking at the folding titanium Vargo wood stove (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042J2PL2/), and the next thing I knew, Amazon was suggesting Zombie Apocalypse survival items.

                              Oh, I'm a Walking Dead fan and, in general, a fan of modern zombie movies.

                              Anyway, I ended up ordering the Zombie Apocalypse Survival Kit in a Sardine Can (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083IZFDI) just to satisfy my curiosity. (Also available directly from the manufacturer at http://www.zombiesurvivalsardinecan.com/.)

                              The kit is described as containing "25 unique survival items." It contains a compass, whistle, matches, first aid instructions, razor blade, pencil, non-aspirin pain reliever, fire starter cube, adhesive bandage, energy nugget, wire clip, reflective signal surface, fish hook, fishing line & spool, duct tape, note paper, sugar, salt, gum, re-closable bag, antibiotic ointment, tea, safety pin, and alcohol prep pad.

                              When you peel back the lid of the sardine can, the first thing you see is a small ziplock plastic bag with an instruction sheet face up inside the bag. In addition to the instruction sheet, the bag contains a large paper clip, a book of 20 paper safety matches, a Lipton tea bag (drink or "soothing compress"), a 3-3/8 inch long piece of 2-inch wide duct tape on wax paper, a small salt packet, and some of the first aid supplies. The non-aspirin pain reliever (acetaminophen) and antibiotic ointment have an expiration date of about two years in the future.

                              Loose in the can you will find one fish hook, whistle, spool of thread, fire starter cube, pencil, 12 millimeter (approximately 1/2 inch) diameter button compass, razor blade, safety pin, adhesive bandage, packet of sugar, stick of gum, and a small Tootsie Roll (the "energy nugget").

                              The instruction sheet is 8-1/2 by 3-5/8 inches in size (one-third of an standard 8-1/2x11 sheet of paper). The front side contains a terse discussion about possible ways to use the contents of the kit. The back side contains some basic first aid instructions. The bottom third of each side of the instruction sheet is blank, and is identified to be used for notes.

                              With all the loose pieces, the first thing you should do after opening the kit is put everything in the ziplock bag to reduce the risk of losing items.

                              The can is intended to be used as a container for scooping and boiling water. The manufacturer intends for the lid to be used as a reflective surface for signaling. Good luck using the lid as a reflective surface, although in a zombie apocalypse you probably don't want to be noticed.

                              The first-aid items, such as they are, seem reasonable, and the quality is reasonable.

                              The manufacturer recommends using the paper clip as "a binding or animal snare." The paper clip, when unwound, would provide a roughly six inch piece of thick wire. I just don't see how six inches of heavy wire could be used as an animal snare. But, in the past I have fashioned paper clips into a variety of useful tools.

                              The "fishing line & spool" is a sideless prewound bobbin of light brown synthetic fiber thread. There is no indication of how much thread is supplied, but various searches suggest it could contain 80 to 100 yards of thread. I measured the tensile strength of the thread and found it to be around eleven pounds. There is a sufficient quantity of thread that it could be braided into stronger cords.

                              In light of the quantity of thread provided, I'm surprised a sewing needle wasn't provided to facilitate repairs of clothing or other equipment, or to be used to stitch up gaping wounds.

                              The safety pin is a standard one-inch closed size. The manufacturer recommends using it for mending, which is pretty obvious. The manufacturer also recommends using the safety pin as an "emergency suture" - no kidding.

                              While the piece of duct tape is surprisingly short, it can be cut into narrower strips to do various things. The manufacturer suggests using smaller strips for repairs and to use as secondary bandages.

                              I was actually quite pleased with the button compass. Most button compasses I see are liquid filled and the fluid will inevitably develop bubbles, which makes the compass unreliable. Since it was not liquid filled, it will never form bubbles or leak.

                              Contents of the Kit
                              All the packaging of various components, including the wax paper backing for duct tape, the gum wrapper, the Tootsie Pop wax paper wrapper, and the tea bag envelope could be used as tinder to help start fires. So, all packaging associated with the kit should be retained for later use.

                              Conclusions

                              In general, I see two problems with a sealed survival kit like this. First, you cannot open it to inspect the contents (both to verify the presence of items and to determine their quality). Second, you cannot add items to address deficiencies (e.g. the absence of a sewing needle in this kit). There are many inexpensive survival kits on the market, typically stored in a clear vinyl pouch, that can be easily opened for inspections and updates.

                              If you are serious about wanting a small survival kit that can live in a pocket or purse, put together one to fit in an Altoids tin. There are numerous sources for ideas on what to put in such a kit, but expect it to cost a lot more than the ten-ish dollars of this and similar sardine-can survival kits.

                              Would this kit help you survive a zombie apocalypse? Maybe, but probably not. This survival kit is not a magic talisman that will ward off zombies. There is really nothing in the kit that will help you fight zombies, except perhaps the matches for starting fires. As Walking Dead has taught, zombies are attracted to fire, which can be used as a diversion to draw zombies away. If you otherwise possess a lot of survival skills and are dressed appropriately for the weather/season/environment, this survival kit might make a short survival event a little less unpleasant.

                              I bought this survival kit for the "zombie survival" novelty factor. It would be a great Christmas stocking stuffer for the Walking Dead fan in your family. I do not consider it to be a serious survival product because of its limitations.

                              Monday, May 23, 2016

                              The Perversion Underlying Hollywood (Updated)

                              This past weekend, The Daily Mail ran the following report: "Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood says Hollywood is gripped by a powerful pedophile ring and Tinseltown is covering up a 'seedy' underbelly full of predatory 'vipers'." This is not the first hint of such activity, of course. As the article notes:
                              Shocking allegations that top Hollywood figures have been protecting child abusers have circulated widely in recent years. 
                              Several industry figures have been convicted following claims of sex abuse and former child actors - including The Goonies actor Corey Feldman, 44 - claimed he was 'surrounded' by molesters when he was a teenager. 
                              Anne Henry, co-founder of Bizparentz - a group to help young actors - said that Tinseltown is currently sheltering around '100 active abusers'.
                              And, of course, one of the most notorious cases involves Roman Polanski, a director revered by Hollywood.

                              Reading this reminded me of an article from Roosh V. from a couple months back: "Does The Hollywood Elite Use Rituals And Sexual Blackmail To Keep Its Stars In Line?" He suggests that "[e]very major actor in Hollywood has made a deal with the devil, and has had to trade things that you wouldn’t, often starting when they were children and passed around to pedophiles, as Corey Feldman revealed." Roosh admits that it is the stuff of conspiracy theories, and yet we seem to be living in an age where such theories increasingly are coming true. We live in interesting times, indeed.

                              Related: "Glenn Reynolds: When leaders cheat, followers ... follow"--USA Today.
                              But, of course, the CIA’s “accident” was only the latest in a long rash of “accidental” losses of incriminating information in this administration. The IRS — whose Tea Party-targeting scandal is now over 1,100 days old without anyone being charged or sent to jail — seems to have a habit of ”accidentally” destroying hard drives containing potentially incriminating evidence. It has done so in spite of court orders, in spite of Congressional inquiries and in spite of pretty much everyone’s belief that these “accidents” were actually the deliberate, illegal destruction of incriminating evidence to protect the guilty. 
                              Then there’s Hillary’s email scandal, in which emails kept on a private unsecure server — presumably to avoid Freedom of Information Act disclosures — weredeleted. Now emails from Hillary’s IT guy, who is believed to have set up the server, have gone poof.

                              Update (5/24/2016): "Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood backtracks on comments about Hollywood pedophile ring as he claims his words were taken out of context and insists he has 'no first hand experience' of predatory 'vipers'"--Daily Mail.

                              Thursday, May 19, 2016

                              We Don't Owe Japan An Apology For Using Atomic Weapons

                              I see from a news story from the AFP that "[v]ictims of the atomic bombings of Japan want an apology from US President Barack Obama when he visits Hiroshima next week, the head of a survivors' group said Thursday."

                              We don't owe them an apology because using the atomic bombs was the most humane option open to the United States. As Bill Whittle points out in the video embedded below, the use of the atomic bombs was militarily necessary, especially in light of the millions of estimated casualties (both Allied and Japanese) if the islands had to be invaded--fighting that would have gone on for years. Certainly, the Japanese government was not ready to surrender and resistance from the Japanese people would have been immense. Moreover, in both cases, the populace was warned (via dropping of leaflets) of the attack and given time to evacuate.

                              If the Japanese "victims" want an apology, they should look to their own government to apologize for having involved them in a war they could not win. By using the bombs we brought an early end to the war and saved millions of lives and many additional years of suffering that an invasion would have required. And that is not something that can be ignored.


                              Juxtaposition This: Life Expectancy


                              Wednesday, May 18, 2016

                              Breitbart: "22 Percent of Resettled Refugees in Minnesota Test Positive for Tuberculosis" -- Updated

                              One of every five refugees resettled in Minnesota by the federal government tested positive for latent tuberculosis [infection] in 2014, according to the state’s Department of Health. 
                              Only 4 percent of the general population in the United States tested positive for latent tuberculosis in the most recent report provided by the Centers for Disease Control.
                              Also:
                              26 percent of all foreign born cases of tuberculosis in Minnesota were from people born in Somalia. Somalians almost exclusively enter the state through the refugee resettlement program. 

                              Update (5/18/2016): "After 20 years of decline, tuberculosis inches up in U.S."--Star Tribune.
                              In the United States, Asians have the most cases and the highest rate of disease - 17.9 out of 100,000 persons. The top five countries of origin for foreign-born TB patients are Mexico, the Philippines, Vietnam, India and China. 
                              Immigrants and refugees are screened for TB and treated before entering the United States. Tourists, students and temporary workers are not screened. The CDC does not recommend across-the-board screening for everyone entering the United States, the CDC’s LoBue said. 
                              Because TB hits some ethnic and racial groups harder than others, TB patients can face discrimination and social isolation. Public health officials worry about finding ways to target high-risk populations with TB education and treatment without stigmatizing those groups.
                               Because we wouldn't want to offend someone carrying a deadly disease.

                              Monday, May 16, 2016

                              Al Qaeda Magazine Calling for Targeted Assassinations

                              Fox News reports:
                              The latest issue of Al Qaeda’s online magazine Inspire released Saturday calls on would-be jihadis to undermine the American economy by targeting business leaders and entrepreneurs, according to analysts who monitor web chatter from the jihadist organization.
                              (See also this Washington Times article). However that understates what is in this, the 15th issue of the magazine (this links to a site where you can download a PDF of the magazine if you wish--and yes, I'm sure that traffic to that site is being monitored by authorities). Besides the general propaganda, there are some alarming articles in this magazine. Following on the prior issue, this issue focuses on instructing the "Lone Wolf" or "Lone Jihadi," discussing strategy and specific tactics and information needed by such person. In support of the foregoing:
                              1. There is an article discussing the strategy and general objectives of a lone jihadi, together with another article discussing early Islam's attacks against economic targets.
                              2. There is an article discussing and encouraging knife attacks.
                              3. There is an article discussing home assassinations, including conducting reconnaissance (what to look for, how to get information, and so forth). 
                              4. Then, for carrying out such assassinations, the magazine discusses the manufacture of parcel or package bombs, magnetic car bombs, and what they term a "door-trap" bomb.
                              Specifically, as to surveillance, the magazine offers up the following advice:
                              What are the ways of locating the target's home?
                              1. You can get the information related to the targets through his friends and relatives
                              2. You can directly follow up the target from the place of work to his residence or by placing a tracking device in his car.
                              3. You can obtain any documents that point to the place of the target through his transactions such as laundry or a restaurant etc.
                              4. Fixed phone numbers are usually listed in telephone directories such as yellowpages.
                              5. Obtaining information by calling the target through his mobile phone, luring them to give his residential address.
                               
                              What information is needed with regards to the residence before the execution?
                              1. You need to be familiar with the architecture of the house, entrances, exits and whether there is a yard or a garage.
                              2. You need to know the daily program in the house such as sleeping times…etc.
                              3. You need to know the target's daily time table of entering and leaving the house.
                              4. You need to know the times when the house is totally empty.
                              5. You need to know whether or not there are guards in the house.
                              6. You need to know whether the house has surveillance cameras, where and how many.
                              7. You need to know how many cars the targeted person uses, there types and parking places.
                              8. You need to know whether the garage is in the house or outside.

                              This is a dangerous development. I've noted before that our best defense against the terrorists is their shear stupidity, including the focus on targets that are "flashy" and of high propaganda value, but of little real consequence. This latest magazine indicates a shift toward trying to find and eliminate targets of consequence. Fortunately, even with this shift, they are still focused on CEO's and others at the top of the pyramid, and so still blinded by their desire for "flashy" targets. But this is a worrying trend that they may be becoming more competent.

                              May 16, 2016 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

                              Source: "Reclaimed by nature: Eerie images reveal abandoned buildings from across Europe which have been taken over by plant-life"--Daily Mail. More photographs and article at the link.

                              Survival, Self-Defense and Firearms:
                              • "Gerber Ghoststrike: My New EDC"--Advanced Survival Guide. For those of you that would prefer a lightweight fixed blade knife over a folder, you might want to take a look at this review. As a big plus, the reviewer also found the sheath to be excellent.
                              • "Kenai Chest Holster"--The Firearms Blog. A holster and rigging system designed for all-day carry on your chest. Although designed for the outdoorsman, I could see some circumstances where it could be used for concealed carry. A little pricey ($150) but looks interesting. I think for someone carrying a larger handgun while out and about in the woods, this would be a good system.
                              • "Chinese Wheelbarrow, Meet the Honey Badger Wheel"--No Tech Magazine. The so-called Chinese wheelbarrow places the wheel in the center with cargo/carrying areas on either side. The author of this piece takes a look at a modern version that has cargo boxes on each side of a wheel with pneumatic tires. With the cargo containers, it would not be very useful for yard/garden work, but it would be better for hauling loads along paths, such as from a parking area to a cabin or camping spot.
                              • "Pre-Hospital Treatment Of Burns"--Underground Medic. A good discussion of burns, and differences in treating chemical, radiation, electrical and contact burns. It also discusses burns of the airways. Important stuff.
                              • Glock Gadget Update: I received an email update indicating that samples received last week looked great, and anticipating that shipments would start to go out in 4 to 6 weeks.
                              Other Stuff:
                              Finally, the FOP chief worried about plans in the state capital to allow for totally anonymous complaints about supposed police misconduct, saying the policy will “light up this city.”
                                If complaints become anonymous, “most gangbangers” are going to have the department complaint line “on speed dial,” Angelo points out. He went on to warn that with anonymous complaints constantly flooding the department, officials will pressure cops to steer clear of areas where the complaints are emanating from and that is a recipe for retreat, Angelo says.
                                  Angelo said sergeants will only end up telling street cops to “stay away from that corner” because every complaint will result in a mound of paper work.
                                    “What happens with that,” Angelo warned, “when the sergeant tells us to stay away, we give them [the gangbangers] the corner. We lose the corner, we lose the block. We lose the block, we lose the community, and it’s going to light up this summer.”
                                    No one can be expected to accept an inferior status willingly. The black students, unable to compete on even terms in the study of law, inevitably will seek other means to achieve recognition and self-expression. This is likely to take two forms. First, agitation to change the environment from one in which they are unable to compete to one in which they can. Demands will be made for elimination of competition, reduction in standards of performance, adoption of courses of study which do not require intensive legal analysis, and recognition for academic credit of sociological activities which have only an indirect relationship to legal training. Second, it seems probable that this group will seek personal satisfaction and public recognition by aggressive conduct, which, although ostensibly directed at external injustices and problems, will in fact be primarily motivated by the psychological needs of the members of the group to overcome feelings of inferiority caused by lack of success in their studies. Since the common denominator of the group of students with lower qualifications is one of race this aggressive expression will undoubtedly take the form of racial demands–the employment of faculty on the basis of race, a marking system based on race, the establishment of a black curriculum and a black law journal, an increase in black financial aid, and a rule against expulsion of black students who fail to satisfy minimum academic standards.
                                    But, as I've noted before, liberals don't care about the consequences of their policies so long as the policies make liberals feel good about themselves.
                                    • "Erdogan and the Return of the Ottoman Empire"--The New Observer.  On May 30, 2015, Erdogan made a public speech that was only recently translated into English. The article summarizes: "Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called last year for the 'conquest' of Europe by Islam 'through emigration' into Europe and announced that the 'conquest is to have the courage, tenacity, and sagacity to defy the entire world even at the hardest times.'" The article has a lengthy excerpt from the speech.
                                    • "Pentagon: China Restructures for War"--The Washington Free Beacon. "The armed forces were reformed with new military regions, a new command structure, and updated strategies to better fight regional, high technology warfare, the 145-page report to Congress says."
                                    • "Venezuela State of Emergency: Country's President Accuses US of Plotting To Topple Regime"--Inquisitr. The article indicates that Venezuelan President Maduro has declared a state of emergency for a period of 60 days. Furthermore:
                                      While Venezuela’s Maduro has sworn that he will complete his term as president, protests in Venezuela are increasing and roughly 70 percent of citizens in the country want their president out this year. Before ordering the state of emergency, Maduro blasted his political rivals, calling them “coup-mongering elitists” who want nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of Brazil. That nation’s leftist leader, Dilma Rousseff, was recently impeached.
                                        As part of the recently-issued state of emergency in Venezuela, the country’s disputed president has ordered military exercises to begin next weekend. According to Maduro, the exercises are in response to “trouble makers” trying to incite and/or justify a foreign invasion of Venezuela.
                                        • "No room for refugees"--Vox Popoli. In 376, the Romans let approximately 90,000 Goths fleeing the Huns cross into and settle within the Roman empire. The Goths subsequently formed an army and plundered the region. 
                                        • Related: "America’s Thinning Cohesion"--Taki's Magazine. The author notes that the United States does (or did) have a national identity and culture that primarily descended from British culture and that provides a cohesion on a national level. The author goes on to argue that this cohesion is breaking down as the national identity is rejected by an increasing number of people. Although the author focuses on immigrants that refuse to assimilate, the same principle applies to progressives and their followers that, in general, have rejected Western values and culture.
                                        • "Leftists and Sexualizing Children"--Anonymous Conservative. The author quotes at length from a piece in Der Speigel about leftists in the late 1960's and early 1970's were sexually abusing children in Germany in order to bring about a "sexual revolution" among children. Why would someone do that? The Anonymous Conservative theorizes it is innate among the rabbits: they see K-selection as a threat and aberration and, therefore, something that needs to be fixed ... starting with the children.
                                        • Related: The Realist directed my attention to this article: "Sex and State Power — What’s Behind Obama’s Transgender Push"--Bookworm Room. The author of that article asserts that liberals obsession with sex and gender is that it is central to feelings of individuality and self-ownership, but, as we know from experience, the left cannot stand the thought of anything being outside the control of government. Thus:
                                          The practical problem for the Left when it tries to attack individuality as expressed through sexuality is the fact that a person’s sense of an inviolate physical self develops quite early, during childhood:
                                            Once a child individuates, he becomes aware of being his own self. … The most basic thing one can own is one’s own self, and not letting others touch that self in ways you don’t like is an exercise in self-ownership. (Emphasis mine.)
                                              The Left, therefore, needs to decouple self and body as early as possible in a person’s development — and it does this by bringing its own peculiar notions of sexuality into the realms of child-rearing and education.
                                              • George Orwell was an optimist: "Everything We Know About How the FBI Hacks People"--Wired
                                              • "Christian Principal Goes Into Exile"--Rob Dreher at The American Conservative. Writing about the new federal mandates on transgenders in public schools and expanding sex education to affirm transgenderism, Dreher warns: "[W]hat do you do when they effectively kick you out of the public square (in this case, the public schools) because of your religious beliefs? This is what traditional Christians are going to increasingly face in the years to come. In places like Fort Worth, Massachusetts, and many other locales, they are facing it now."

                                              Sunday, May 15, 2016

                                              Female Privilege and the Arc of Western Civilization (Updated)

                                              Pompeo Batoni, "Purity of Heart" (1752)
                                              A couple of the blogs I frequent have cited to an article by Amy Vowles at She Knows, entitled: "If equality means sending my daughters to war, I want no part of it." The author is an avowed feminist, but indicates that she is opposed to requiring women to register for selective service. Her argument for not drafting women into the armed forces is, of course, the very same arguments that had been made by conservatives for not opening up the combat arms of the military to women: that women are physically ill suited for combat.

                                              Vowles writes:
                                              When you are not included in something that no one wants to do — in this case, going off to war — it’s not discrimination; it’s a privilege. Some say women should give up that privilege in the name of equality between men and women. But here’s the thing about equality: Men and women are not equal. 
                                              That’s right — I’m a feminist, I am a mother of two girls, and I am saying that men and women are not equal. 
                                              In the event of a draft, sending women off to war does not present an equal opportunity to women by nature of the fact that women are physically different from men. As much as we may work to try to level the playing field between men and women, the physical differences between us as created by nature make us inherently unequal and cannot be universally overcome. 
                                              Combat is not an equal opportunity situation for men and women, because the average woman does not have an equal opportunity to survive a combat situation. The Army's own studies have shown that women have more than double the rate of injury of their male counterparts in combat training. I can only imagine that those numbers would be even more dramatic in actual combat. I can't fathom sending my daughters off to fight in an already dangerous situation, where they are known to be at a physical disadvantage.
                                              Notice that Vowles suggests that not being subject to the draft is a privilege; one that women are entitled to because they are less physically able than men. Left unsaid is why men should bear the burden of protecting women.

                                              I had recently written on this subject and suggested that there were two reasons why women traditionally have not been required to take up arms: that their role is to produce and raise offspring; and that they are less capable than men for engaging in combat (smaller, weaker, etc.). I also argued that women should be required to be included in the draft because these points were no longer valid: we live in a society that holds to a legal and social fiction that women are equal to men in all ways; and, given the low birthrates in Western nations, women are no longer fulfilling their roles to produce and raise offspring. Hence, there is no reason not to draft women into the military.

                                              Vowles concedes one of the points: that women are less physically capable than men. As a feminist, she cannot admit of women having a duty to produce offspring. Instead, she assumes that women are, for some reason, worthy of the privilege of being exempt from compulsory military service, while men are not. She does not explain, however, why women should be considered more worthwhile than men so as to excuse women from combat. She assumes that women, being weaker than men, are entitled to protection. But why? Well, the assumption is quite simple to ascertain because it is part of Western culture.

                                              Cultures have taken different approaches on how they treat women, taking into account both the physically weaker nature of women and their role in fertility (and guaranteeing that the husband would not be cuckolded by his wife). Islam, for instance, views women not only as weaker physically, but also morally. That is, women are viewed as a source of sin and are inherently sinful. If a man has extramarital sex with a woman, it is because she enticed him into it. Thus the reason that in Islam women are segregated from men, forced to wear concealing clothing, and socially isolated (such as requiring a male escort before venturing forth in public). If a woman is raped by a man, it is assumed that the woman was at fault and punished since, according to that culture, she is the sinful one and somehow enticed the man into acting as he did.

                                              Western civilization took a different tact, which derives from basic Christian beliefs--namely, the concept of Mary's immaculate conception of Christ. That is, Christ could only be born to Mary because Mary was immaculate, i.e., pure and wholesome. This belief transformed Western views of women. In the Christian West, the moral purity of Mary was extended to all women to the extent that by the time of the 19th Century, women were elevated on a moral pedestal on which they were presumed to be more pure and wholesome than men simply because of the fact that they were women. This, of course, led to a presumption that if a woman fell into sexual transgression, it was because she was seduced or raped by a man.* So strongly is this principle part of Western culture that, until very recently, it was a legal impossibility for a woman to sexually assault or rape a male because such were not recognized as crimes. And, of course, most Western churches hold to a belief that woman possess a moral high ground over men. In the LDS church, this has even led to a commonly held belief among many members that Eve's transgression was a conscious choice to do what was necessary, rather than her being duped by Satan into taking of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil; her inherent goodness prevented her from falling for Satan's lie.

                                              Of course, there has to be some accounting for reality, and, until recently, there was the conception of the fallen woman--of which Lilith is the archetype--who does act as a temptress in order to lead men into sin. (This is why a woman's sexual history was, at one time, important as to the issue whether she had been raped). But that was the exception. Women in the west did not need the strict oversight of Muslim culture because women in the West were constrained from promiscuity by the need to maintain their reputations, and protected by a legal code that would assume a rape so long as she had, in fact, maintained her reputation.

                                              So, although unspoken by Vowles, implicit in her argument is that there is some moral reason that men should lay down their lives to protect women: i.e., the thoroughly Western concept that women are the fairer sex (i.e., more pure and occupying a higher moral plane) and, for that reason, deserve protection. As a feminist, of course, she demands all the perks of the old gender system, without the burdens of such a system.

                                              Spengler, in his Decline of the West, noted that every culture eventually transforms into a civilization, technically proficient, but barren of the creativity that marks the culture. He wrote his book during the time that Western culture (what he termed, Faustian culture) had already completed (or nearly completed) the transition--the early 20th Century prior to World War I. At that time, the West had already begun its decline.

                                              What has intrigued me is the idea that another culture--the culture that replaces the Faustian culture--might already be in its infancy; that the first shoots might be discernible. To Spengler, arts and religion are the bellwethers of the growth of culture, as well as its decline. While it is questionable that Wagner's operas represent the peak of Western music, as Spengler suggests, it is self evident that rap, hip hop, and modern rock music represents a much lower plane of creativity and accomplishment in music than what was produced by Wagner, Mozart or Beethoven; and that modern art of all stripes, whether you are talking of Picasso or Mapplethorpe, are but degenerate works of those possession lesser ability than the great masters.

                                              In Spengler's views, the key distinguishing feature of Faustian culture was its focus on space and the infinite. To Spengler, this is most keenly shown in the landscape painting (a type of art almost unknown outside of the West) and the compositions of Wagner which he holds to be music describing vast spaces and drawing one upward into the heavens. This can be traced through religious beliefs as well. The early Western culture (what Spengler refers to as Gothic) was dominated by Catholic beliefs: a strict hierarchy with the Trinity at the top, and various saints and angels below, reflected by the hierarchy within the Catholic Church; and a similar belief a Devil with its own hierarchy of demons and devils. Faustian culture, however, applied space and infinity to God (and Satan) such that eventually God was seen as being omnipresent, appearing in everything, with no room left for a literal Devil. It is only a few short step from God being present in nature, to communing with God through nature, to determining that God is nature, and then doing away with God altogether and simply worshiping nature. Thus, to the Romantics, nature was God, and therefore nature ("mother nature" at that) and anything in close association with nature was "good" (e.g., the concept of the "noble savage"), while civilization represented a fallen state. The Romantics gave rise to Darwinism, which eliminated God and argued that all is nature, which in turn led to the thoroughly modern religion of environmentalism that sees humans and civilization as an evil that must be eliminated.

                                              As alluded to above, feminism is merely the extension of the Faustian belief that women were inherently more moral than men. While what constitutes morality has changed, the concept that there is a good, a higher morality, still remains. Thus, Vowles argument necessitates a belief that women are inherently better than men. Something that I see being rejected by the new culture that will replace Faustian culture.


                                              * Now, of course, Western society is in the process of even eliminating the distinction between seduction and rape in favor of a presumption that all sex between a man and a woman is rape. Men are no longer viewed as less moral than women, but to actively be immoral and a source of sin.

                                              Update (May 16, 2016): The American Law Institute will be voting tomorrow on whether to include affirmative consent as part of the model penal code, criminalizing sex where no affirmative consent was obtained. While not binding on the states, many states follow the lead of the ALI when it comes to criminal law, and the model penal code is widely taught in law schools. As the author of the piece I have linked to above notes, the risk here is not limited to just the law of rape/sexual assault, but is an attack on the broader concept of intent to support a criminal charge. More thoughts on the issue at The National Review, which warns that these type of laws shift the burden of proof from the prosecution to the defendant.

                                              Update (May 18, 2016): The proposal was voted down by the ALI.

                                              May 13, 2016 -- A Quick Run Around the Web

                                              Source: "All washed up: The haunting pictures of an abandoned water park reclaimed by nature (including crocodiles)"--Daily Mail. Photos and an article about the Ho Thuy Tien water park in Vietnam. Construction was abandoned in 2004, according to the article. More photos at the link.
                                                Compared to its Middle Eastern neighbors, Iran has made impressive strides in space technology in the past few years, putting the first satellite into orbit in February 2009; has emerged as a cyber power on the level of China or Russia; and has achieved significant advances in military hardware production, including sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles, main battle tanks, and medium and long-range ballistic missiles. The Iranian defense industry is making gradual inroads into global armament markets, with Iraq, Syria and Lebanon already receiving regular arms shipments to fight Islamic State and other rebel forces. The Iranian state is capable of projecting force in the Gulf and the Levant, and has often challenged the United States—successfully or not—to stay out of the Gulf region, showing a high degree of foreign-policy independence.
                                                  Furthermore, traditional elements of Iranian power, such as its strategic location with unfettered access to the Indian Ocean and considerable control over the Strait of Hormuz in the southern entrance of the Persian Gulf, through which one-third of the world’s seaborne oil shipments passes; its long shorelines on the Caspian Sea, connecting Tehran to the Central Asian states and Russia; a large and educated population; huge reserves of oil and gas; and an expanding industrial base contributing to nearly 40 percent of GDP, despite Western sanctions—all these buttress Iran’s bid for a major power role in the Middle East.
                                                  • The Decline of the West:
                                                  • The Obama administration orders all public schools to allow "transgender" students to use restrooms corresponding to their "gender identity." Letter (PDF) located here.
                                                  • "Britain ‘sleepwalking to catastrophe’ over race: Trevor Phillips"--The Telegraph. The article begins: "Britain risks 'flames' of racial and religious conflict because of a 'liberal self-delusion' over the impact of mass immigration, the former head of the equality watchdog [the  Equality and Human Rights Commission] Trevor Phillips claims today."
                                                  Recent agent-based computer simulations suggest that ethnocentrism, often thought to rely on complex social cognition and learning, may have arisen through biological evolution. From a random start, ethnocentric strategies dominate other possible strategies (selfish, traitorous, and humanitarian) based on cooperation or non-cooperation with in-group and out-group agents. Here we show that ethnocentrism eventually overcomes its closest competitor, humanitarianism, by exploiting humanitarian cooperation across group boundaries as world population saturates. Selfish and traitorous strategies are self-limiting because such agents do not cooperate with agents sharing the same genes. Traitorous strategies fare even worse than selfish ones because traitors are exploited by ethnocentrics across group boundaries in the same manner as humanitarians are, via unreciprocated cooperation. By tracking evolution across time, we find individual differences between evolving worlds in terms of early humanitarian competition with ethnocentrism, including early stages of humanitarian dominance. Our evidence indicates that such variation, in terms of differences between humanitarian and ethnocentric agents, is normally distributed and due to early, rather than later, stochastic differences in immigrant strategies. 
                                                  • "FBI Tells Police To Hide Phone Tracking"--Vocativ. Police are instructed to conceal use of stingray devices, and use other evidence to build a parallel case against a suspect, i.e., "parallel construction."
                                                  • "The Phrase of the Day"--The Silicon Graybeard. The word is "Hypertrophy"--as in uncontrolled growth. The author writes: "When you can show that since 2007 trade in physical goods and services increased 36 % while currency trading increased 160 %, it's easy to see which sector is making money.  The Too Big to Fail Banks are at the heart of this, making their 'arbitrage and leverage' fees on every one of these trades." Read the whole thing--this is important to understand.