"There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit." - President Ronald Reagan.

Buy The Amazon Kindle Store Ebook Edition

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Tuesday, March 18, 2025

10 Ships That Changed Cruising Forever

Above, the Norwegian Sky, that the Cruise Critic article gives a mention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Taking cruises are gaining in popularity these past several years. It was a growing industry before the pandemic hit in 2020. Now that the pandemic is (more or less) over, people are increasingly taking cruises again.

Cruise Critic has posted an article on 10 cruise ships that forever changed cruising. Interestingly, it mentions the Norwegian Sky, the ship Mitch Geriminsky and I took a cruise to the Bahamas on last summer. 

They begin the article with:

When looking back at the fascinating history of the cruise industry, there have been several seminal ships to set sail over the decades. Subjective top 10 lists are sure to vary, but in our book, these are 10 vessels that changed cruising forever.

Do they also float your boat? Have you sailed on any of them? Join the conversation in Cruise Critic’s Community boards.

To read the article, go here

Step-By-Step Guide On How To Buy Silver

Above, a 2025 American Silver Eagle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is talk of a possible recession later this year. It is resulting in (some) people upping their gold and silver investing. 

For me, gold is priced too high, whereas silver is much more affordable at its current spot price of $34.865/toz.

If one isn't experienced in precious metals investing, MSN posted an article on the step-by-step basis of buying silver.

It begins with:

Silver isn’t just a shiny metal you admire in jewelry or old coins. It’s been a trusted investment choice for centuries. Especially in today’s economic climate, investing in precious metals like silver is a solid choice.

If you’re thinking about adding silver to your portfolio but don’t know where to start, this guide will walk you through how to buy silver, step by step. Let’s jump right into breaking down how to buy silver.

To read more, go here

Stranded Astronauts Finally Heading Home

 

Monday, March 17, 2025

NM Democrats Want To Ban Common Firearms

The radical leftist Democrats in the New Mexico legislature want to ban semi-automatic firearms that are gas-powered.

A New Mexico gun shop owner explains:

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today is St. Patrick's Day!

What is St. Patrick's Day? Well, here's the answer:

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a religious and cultural holiday held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Along with wearing green (or orange, depending upon one's persuasion) and having corned beef and cabbage, there's one other way to celebrate.

That is to pop a DVD (or VHS tape) of John Ford's beloved movie, The Quiet Man (1952), starring John Wayne, Barry Fitzgerald, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen and Ward Bond. That's what I'll be doing this evening.

Above, the wagon from The Quiet Man at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's trailer number one from 1952:

Why Everyone Will Be Going To Osaka In 2025

Above, yours truly at Osaka Castle in 2015.

Besides Tokyo, Osaka, Japan is a big draw to foreign visitors. One also has to include nearby Kyoto. Usually, one doesn't visit Osaka or Kyoto without going to the other. 

The last time I visited Osaka was in 2015. Of course, we also had to visit Kyoto, but we stayed in Osaka during that portion of the trip. 

The highlights of the visit to Osaka were Osaka Castle and the Dotonbori district.

Above, Japan's food capital is Osaka's Dotonbori district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Condé Nast Traveler has posted an article on why everyone will be traveling to Osaka in 2025.

They begin it with:

With a long history as Japan's mercantile heart and major port of call, Osaka is dense and delightfully in your face. Now, as it gears up to host World Expo 2025 this month and welcome more travelers than ever before, the neon-lit metropolis has been reinventing itself. It has launched several ambitious urban renewal projects—like the Grand Green Osaka, a 22-acre mixed-use development that is transforming a freight terminal into verdant public spaces—to draw leisure seekers beyond the usual tourist haunts. The city has also lured some of hospitality's most luxurious names: The Four Seasons arrived last August, and the Waldorf Astoria opens its first hotel in Japan this month. Star chefs from Japan and abroad are shaking up the dining scene with inventive gastronomy, though delicious casual eats from rough-and-ready street stalls and mom-and-pop shops are still Osaka's calling card. Among Japan's major cities, Osaka remains unique: unpretentious, energetic, and ready to show you a good time—as long as you know where to go.

To read more, go here

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off the week, we have Eric Burdon & The Animals, a big part of the British Invasion of rockers back in the 1960s and their hit from 1967, "When I Was Young".

From Wikipedia

The Animals, currently billed as Eric Burdon & The Animals (featuring original frontman Eric Burdon) and also as Animals & Friends (featuring original drummer John Steel), are an English rock band formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1963.

The Animals' original lineup consisted of frontman Eric Burdon, guitarist Hilton Valentine, bass guitarist Chas Chandler, keyboardist Alan Price and drummer John Steel. Known for their gritty, bluesy sound, they balanced tough, rock-edged pop singles against rhythm-and-blues-oriented album material and were part of the British Invasion of the US.

The Animals rose to prominence with their signature song and transatlantic number-one hit single "The House of the Rising Sun", and continued this success with hits such as "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", "It's My Life", "Don't Bring Me Down", "I'm Crying", "See See Rider" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood". They underwent numerous personnel changes in the mid-1960s, and suffered from poor business management, leading the original incarnation to split up in 1966. Burdon then assembled a mostly new lineup of musicians under the name Eric Burdon and the Animals; the much-changed act moved to California and achieved commercial success as a psychedelic and progressive rock band with hits such as "San Franciscan Nights", "When I Was Young" and "Sky Pilot" before disbanding at the end of the decade.

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Internet Movie Firearms Database


Suppose you are watching a movie, a western, perhaps, and you notice that a Winchester 1892 lever-action is being used by an actor but the story takes place in 1875. But you aren't totally sure.

Well, there's a website that is the Internet Movie Firearms Database that can tell you what guns are being used in the movie and whether or not a blooper took place like in the first paragraph. 

I have made use of the IMFDB a few times for references in blog posts. 

According to their "About", the website states:

The Internet Movie Firearms Database (IMFDB) is a community-built Wiki that documents the guns found in movies, television series, video games, and anime. Founded in 2007, IMFDB has a large community of active readers and editors, including professional armorers with first-hand knowledge of Hollywood armories.

With 31,190 articles on shows, guns, and actors, IMFDB is the internet's #1 resource for firearms in popular media.

The IMFDB definitely comes in handy!

To access it, go here.

Saturday, March 15, 2025

UFO Documentary: "The Age of Disclosure"

 

A new documentary on UFOs (or UAPs) and alien life is coming soon.

From Yahoo! Entertainment:

AUSTIN, Texas — The documentary The Age of Disclosure sets out to do what countless films have done before: present proof that humans on Earth are not alone in the universe. What’s different this time is that 34 senior members of the government, military and intelligence community went on camera to talk about it.

“This is the biggest story there is,” director Dan Farah told Yahoo Entertainment. “What’s a bigger story than an 80-year-old cover-up of the existence of nonhuman intelligent life and revealing there’s a secret Cold War race among nations to reverse-engineer technology of nonhuman origin?”

There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s back up.

The movie, which premiered on March 9 at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & TV Festival, reveals information alleging that the U.S. government has been working to hide evidence of the existence of extraterrestrials and that it’s competing with other countries to reverse-engineer the complex technology they’ve uncovered.

To read more, go here

Best .30-30 Rifles

Above, my 1962 Winchester 94 .30-30. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It may not be as powerful or sexy as some modern rounds, but the .30-30 Winchester cartridge is still popular with hunters and ordinary target shooters. It was introduced in 1895 as the first smokeless cartridge.

Many rifles from different manufacturers are still being produced. 

Pew Pew Tactical (love that name) had posted an article (updated in July 2024) with what they consider to be the best .30-30 rifles. 

They begin with:

The old .30-30 Winchester (or .30 WCF, for .30 Winchester Center Fire) has been around for a long time — since 1895, to be exact.

In this day of carbon fiber barrels, folding stocks, Christmas tree reticles, and cartridges that can take out a critter in another zip code, is this old creature still relevant?

As my Swedish friend Lars is in the habit of saying, “Ja sure – you betcha!” Even though it’s been around for well over a century, it still outsells some modern cartridges intended for the deer woods.

Why, you ask? Well, let’s explore! We’ll recommend some of our favorite models and give you some background on the history of this storied cartridge.

To read more, go here

Ultimate Guide To Monument Valley

Above, Monument Valley's West Mitten. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Being a resident of the northwestern sector of New Mexico, it affords me easy access to places in and around the Four Corners of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado. 

Above, John Ford Point. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One place that's an easy three-hour (or so) drive from home is Monument Valley Tribal Park. I have been there four times, two of which has been within the past three years.

For those who may be wondering about where to go for a spring or summer vacation, Monument Valley should be placed high on the list. There are hotels and campgrounds for extended stays. I have stayed at two area campgrounds: Goulding's Lodge Campground and Monument Valley KOA.

Above, my RV at Goulding's Lodge Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Mygrandcanyonpark.com has posted an "ultimate guide" to visiting Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. 

It begins with:

Monument Valley Tribal Park, an iconic landscape of breathtaking beauty, has for centuries stood as a testament to the Navajo Nation’s culture, traditions and connection to the earth.

It is a place where nature’s wonders take center stage. The sandstone buttes, in hues ranging from warm oranges to deep reds, create a surreal and otherworldly landscape. Whether you plan to embark on a guided tour, traverse the scenic drives, or venture on foot to embrace the solitude of this ethereal landscape, Monument Valley Tribal Park promises an unforgettable experience.

Find this park in the very rural southeastern portion of Utah. It’s located just north of the Utah-Arizona border, off Hwy. 163, between Kayenta, Arizona and Mexican Hat, Utah. You’ll definitely want to add this park to your agenda if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon, or Utah’s eastern parks like Arches and Canyonlands. Just past the border, turn east onto Monument Valley Road, which takes you towards the visitors center and into the park.

Above, Ear of the Wind arch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more about Monument Valley, go here

Just A Little Bit

Above, the deck a few minutes ago with a sheriff on
 patrol in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, we got some snow overnight.

It wasn't much, maybe a half an inch at best. But considering how dry this winter has been, something is better than nothing. 

We may get some snow showers today. At least, that's according to the National Weather Service. It will be a little bit warmer today than yesterday.

Here's the forecast:

Overnight
A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind around 15 mph. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday
Scattered snow showers before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. West wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

Friday, March 14, 2025

Cardiac Tests

Above, a jackalope on display at the Bluewater Outpost. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I had to drive to Grants to have an echocardiogram done.

What's an echocardiogram? 

Basically:

 An echocardiogram, commonly referred to as an echo, is a non-invasive imaging test that uses ultrasound technology to create detailed pictures of the heart. It provides valuable information about the heart's structure, function, and blood flow. 

It didn't take long and since I got there early and another patient cancelled, I was out by my appointment time. 

It was just as well, with a storm approaching, I figured I would head back home before it hit. I intended to have dinner at Rosie's Cafe, but it was closed (they close at 2:00 PM). So I got on the road and stopped at Bowlin's Bluewater Outpost to get a burger at the Dairy Queen there. 

That didn't take too long and I was back on the road and home by 3:30. 

Two weeks from now, I have to go into Albuquerque and have a lexiscan done. 

What's a lexiscan?

This is it in a nutshell:

Lexiscan is a medication used in cardiac nuclear stress tests to simulate the effects of exercise on the heart. It is administered intravenously to dilate the coronary arteries and increase blood flow to the heart. This allows doctors to assess the heart's function and detect any potential blockages or abnormalities. 

Since it is a morning appointment, I will go into Albuquerque the day before and stay at an RV park and stay there for a night after the procedure.. I can't have anything with caffeine 12 hours before and can't eat during that time. Lovely.

Storm Has Arrived

Above, the front yard a few minutes ago. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a good thing that I went to bed at 8:00 as I woke up an hour or so due to allergy congestion. 

I took a look outside and the snow storm has arrived.

At present, we have about a half inch of snow on the ground. At least it isn't as bad (yet!) as Flagstaff, Arizona where they are getting pummeled. It is a light dusting, more or less. We can still use more.

Interstate 40, east and west bound lanes are closed from Winslow to Ash Fork due to snow and a bad accident near Williams involving semi trucks with some fatalities. 

Here is a photo of Gallup a few hours ago from the New Mexico Dept. of Transportation camera:


The rule of thumb out here is, if you don't need to drive anywhere, don't. Just stay home.

News From New Mexico Shooting Sports Association

 

While SB279, the gas-operated firearm and magazine ban, has been idling in the Senate Finance committee for a week, SB318 has been fast-tracked in Santa Fe. The bill could put every gun store in New Mexico out of business by amending New Mexico's Unfair Trade Practices Act to make it easier to sue a gun store than any other type of business and imposing harsher penalties on gun stores than any other type of business.

Further, the bill states: "proof of monetary damage, loss of profits or intent to deceive or take unfair advantage of any person is not required" to sue a gun store. Activist groups who hate the Second-Amendment would be given free rein to sue New Mexico gun stores until they were forced to close.

No other state in the country targets gun stores in this extreme manner, but trial attorneys who have a grip on the New Mexico Legislature have put gun stores in their sights looking for a payday.

What can you do right now? First, find and contact your state legislators, and tell them to oppose SB318 as it is on the Floor of the Senate with a vote by all State Senators scheduled for tomorrow. Second, forward this message to anyone, especially FFLs who need to be aware of what is happening in Santa Fe right now.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Winter Weather Advisory

 Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albuquerque NM
1139 AM MDT Thu Mar 13 2025

NMZ202-205>208-140300-
/O.CON.KABQ.WW.Y.0010.250314T0300Z-250314T1200Z/
Chuska Mountains-West Central Plateau-West Central Mountains-West
Central Highlands-Southwest Mountains-
1139 AM MDT Thu Mar 13 2025

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING
TO 6 AM MDT FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations up to 3 inches.
  Locally heavier amounts of 3 to 8 inches in the southwest
  mountains and the Chuska Mountains. West and southwest winds
  gusting as high as 55 mph.

* WHERE...Western Mountains, West Central Plateau, and West Central
  Highlands.

* WHEN...From 9 PM this evening to 6 AM MDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on snow packed or icy road conditions. This
  includes portions of I-40. Areas of blowing snow could
  significantly reduce visibility, and strong crosswinds will also
  make driving hazardous. Strong winds could cause extensive damage
  to trees and power lines.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Strong crosswinds and periods of very poor
  visibility in heavy snow will make driving hazardous.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Slow down and use caution while traveling. For the latest road
conditions, dial 511 or 1.800.432.4269, or visit http://nmroads.com.

&&

Storm Is Coming

Above, the aftermath following a 2018 storm. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like a late winter storm is on its way to New Mexico. It is starting to cloud up now. 

Even thought it is cloudy and very windy, some yo-yo is plinking at the shooting area as I am writing this.

The snows will hit tonight, according the National Weather Service forecast for Jamestown/Gallup areas.

Here's the weekend forecast:

Tonight
Snow showers, mainly between 9pm and midnight. Areas of blowing snow after 9pm. Low around 25. Windy, with a southwest wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Friday
Isolated snow showers before 9am. Areas of blowing snow before 9am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Windy, with a west wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night
Snow showers likely, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday

Snow showers likely before 3pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. West wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. 

2025 American Silver Eagle

The first coin collectible I bought this year arrived in today's mail.

It is a 2025 American Silver Eagle. 

The current COMEX spot price for silver is at 34.490/toz. The price of the Silver Eagle was just four dollars above spot price. 

There are some experts who think silver's spot price will hit 40-50 dollars by the end of the year. We shall see.

Here's the front and back of the 2025 American Silver Eagle:


 

NRA-ILA: Take Action On New Mexico Gun Bills


The radical left is trying to infringe on New Mexicans' gun rights.

The NRA-ILA posted the following: 

Yesterday, Senate Finance posted that their staff is reviewing SB 279 as a part of their Wednesday meeting. While this is not a formal hearing, this could be a decision point on whether Senate Finance will take up the bill with 10 days left in session. It's critical that NRA members and Second Amendment supporters, get involved today! 

Click the “Take Action” button below to urge the committee members to oppose SB 279

 

SB 279 seeks to regulate and prohibit the possession of a wide range of semiautomatic firearms commonly used by law-abiding citizens for recreation, hunting, self-defense, and competitive shooting.

Law-abiding New Mexicans who currently possess firearms covered by the bill would be required to register the firearms with the state no later than January 1, 2026. Gun owners would be required to keep on their person a notarized certification of that registration anytime they travel outside their own property. Licensed firearm dealers will have to mark firearms, maintain records of certifications, and make these available for law enforcement inspection.

To read more, go here.

A Visit To The Longhorns

The other day, after working on the oil and water on the Jeep, I took a drive in Mesa Ridge Ranch to see the longhorn steers.

The steers were out and about in their area up in the Mesa Ridge Ranch community. 

Naturally, I took a few photos of them.






And, of course, one of the Jeep:



Wednesday, March 12, 2025

News From New Mexico Shooting Sports Association

 

Dear 2nd Amendment Supporter,

Two dangerous bills, SB279 and SB318, are advancing in the New Mexico Legislature, posing a direct threat to both law-abiding gun owners and the firearms industry in our state. We must take immediate action to stop them.

SB279 – The Gun & Magazine Ban

Late Friday night, SB279, the so-called "gas-operated firearm and magazine ban," was pushed through the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 5-4 vote after numerous revisions—many of which were only made public the day before the vote. The bill now moves to the Senate Finance Committee, a committee where similar bills have never been heard before. Today 3/12/2025

🚨 Why This Matters:

  • This bill is an extreme gun ban that would criminalize the possession of commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines.
  • The process has lacked transparency, with lawmakers rushing through major revisions without public scrutiny.
  • There is concern that this bill may be pushed directly to the Senate floor, bypassing Senate Finance altogether.

SB318 – A Direct Attack on Firearm Retailers

On Saturday, SB318, a bill designed to cripple the firearms industry, was rushed through the Senate Tax, Business & Transportation Committee. It is now scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Today, March 12, 2025.

🚨 Why This Matters:

  • This bill unfairly targets firearm retailers and manufacturers, making them more vulnerable to lawsuits than any other industry.
  • Gun shop owners have testified that if SB318 passes, they will be unable to obtain insurance and will be forced out of business.
  • The real intent of this bill is to bankrupt firearm businesses and strip New Mexicans of their Second Amendment rights.

What You Can Do:

1️⃣ Contact Your Senators – Tell them to VOTE NO on SB279 and SB318. Demand they protect your rights and oppose these extreme bills. Find your senator here: [Insert link to legislator contact information]
2️⃣ Attend the Hearings – If possible, attend the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on SB318 on 3/12. SB279 is scheduled for a hearing today!
3️⃣ Spread the Word – Share this email with fellow gun owners, firearm retailers, and Second Amendment supporters.

We cannot allow radical anti-gun legislators to erode our freedoms. Stand with us and make your voice heard!

Thank you for your support,

Anthony Segura
Executive Director, New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
NMSSA
nmssa.org

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Jeep Maintenance

Above, during my maintenance work. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since it was 60° outside and sunny, it was a good time as any to do some maintenance on the Jeep.

I checked the oil and water and filled both as needed. I had to get some more anti-freeze from the Flying J to complete that task.

Above, after the drive around Birch Road loop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once I was done, I did some driving around the Birch Road loop and back home for a brewski and a stogie. 

It looks like spring is not too far off with its warmer weather. 

Above, having a brewski and stogie after the drive.

Cody, Wyoming This Summer

One of things I want to do when I take a vacation trip up to Wyoming this summer is to go to the Winchester Arms Collectors Association show in Cody

This year's show will be held on July 11-15. 

Here's the 2023 WACA show video:

I have to time it so that I can get from Cody over to Little Bighorn Battlefield by Sunday, July 15. The Battlefield will only be open on Fridays through Sundays this summer due to construction. 

I hope to be in Cody by around July 8 so that I can see other things while in town like the Cody Firearms Museum and the Cody Nite Rodeo. 

This is the only time constraint I have for the trip. After Little Bighorn, I plan to head east to Devil's Tower National Monument and then roam around the Black Hills of South Dakota at my leisure. I received a vacation package yesterday from the South Dakota tourism association. 

Concerns Raised Over Biden's 'Autopen' Presidency


Many documents requiring the signature of His Fraudulency Joe Biden just may not be legal. Many were found to have been signed by an autopen.

These include "signed" executive orders, legislation and pardons. An investigation by the Justice Department is being called for.

According to Newsmax:

The use of an autopen signature on many official White House documents and executive orders purportedly signed by former President Joe Biden has stoked concerns about his awareness of signing certain things and whether he actually signed them at all, according to an investigation by the Oversight Project, an arm of the Heritage Foundation.

According to the group, "every document we could find" that bore Biden's signature all "used the same autopen signature" except for his announcement about leaving the 2024 presidential race last July.

"Whoever controlled the autopen controlled the presidency," the Oversight Project said in a post to X on Thursday.

The concerns are such that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is demanding a Department of Justice investigation as to whether "Biden's cognitive decline allowed unelected staff to push through radical policy without his knowing approval."

In a letter to DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz dated March 4, Bailey wrote that "it appears staffers and officers in the Biden administration may have exploited Biden's incapacity so they could issue orders without an accountable President of sound mind approving them."

To read more, go here

9 Quick, Must-see Stops In Key West

Above, the Key West Lighthouse from the Hemingway House and Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.


Back in 2019, a friend and I took a cruise to Havana, Cuba. As part of the cruise's itinerary, the ship made a stop in Key West, Florida for the day.

While there, I managed to visit the Hemingway Home and Museum, the Shipwreck Museum, visited a cigar store and managed to have a Margarita at a restaurant's bar.

The Miami Herald posted a list of nine quick trips for those on a day trip or a cruise with a limited amount of time in Key West. 

They begin with:

So you’ve made it to Key West on your cruise or arrived for a day trip. You have a limited amount of time to explore this tiny tropical island before you pull out for your next stop. 

What are you going to do?

You’ve got options. 

See some history. Tour museums. Visit some landmarks. 

You can always just grab a cocktail and wander Duval Street, soaking up the sun, sights and shops. 

Here’s a Top 10 list of things to do in Key West:

To see what they are, go here


Monday, March 10, 2025

News From New Mexico Shooting Sports Association

 

We are down to the critical last two weeks of the 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session. Below is a list of the key bills that we are working on, there are still numerous other bills we are monitoring, but have been dormant for some time and are seen as a lower priority at this point.

HB12, the "red-flag" gun confiscation law expansion, was passed out of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee this afternoon. It now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill would allow for a police officer to initiate an order and require firearms to be surrendered immediately as opposed to within 48 hours. 

SB244, which would make it a crime for a minor to poses a firearm with very limited exceptions, has yet to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee despite being scheduled twice. No reason has been given by the committee as to why it was rolled over twice, but it could be brought up again quickly at any Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting.

SB279, the gas-operated firearm and magazine ban, was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee late Friday night on a 5-4 vote. The bill has gone through numerous revisions, and it wasn't until yesterday that the final version was even released to the public. The bill now heads to the Senate Finance Committee for its next hearing. Similar bills introduced in past legislative sessions have not been sent to Senate Finance before. As the budget has yet to be passed, the Senate Finance Committee has been prioritizing working on the budget over hearing non-budget bills. While this means the bill could be delayed in the committee, we are concerned that through a procedural move the bill could bypass the committee and be sent to the floor next. We will alert you as soon as we have any information on when the bill will be heard next.

SB318, which targets the firearms industry by making it easier to sue a gun retailer or manufacturer than any other type of business, was passed out of the Senate Tax, Business, & Transporation Committee quickly on Saturday afternoon. The bill was then scheduled for the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, 3/10, in the afternoon in Room 321 (Zoom Link). Numerous firearm retailers have testified they would not be able to operate in New Mexico if the bill passes as it would be impossible to obtain insurance for their business.

SB507, the concealed carry act rewrite, passed the Senate by a vote of 27-10. The bill was amended several times. Below is a summary of the key changes to the Concealed Carry Weapon Act in the version that passed the Senate.
  • Removes the caliber and category qualification and requirements.
  • Allows lawful permanent residents to obtain a permit.
  • Reduces training time to 6 hours.
  • Increases penalties for concealed carrying a loaded firearm without a permit to a misdemeanor from a petty misdemeanor.
The reciprocity language was added back in during the bill's hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The importance of these last two weeks cannot be overstated as the landscape of firearm laws in New Mexico could drastically change as SB279 would be the most restrictive gun ban passed anywhere in country should it go through.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off the week, we have British singer Marianne Faithful with her hit, "As Tears Go By". She recently passed away (January 30, 2025) at the age of 78. 

From Wikipedia:

Marianne Evelyn Gabriel Faithfull (29 December 1946 – 30 January 2025) was an English singer and actress who achieved popularity in the 1960s with the release of her UK top 10 single "As Tears Go By". She became one of the leading female artists of the British Invasion in the United States.

Born in Hampstead, London, Faithfull began her career in 1964 after attending a party for the Rolling Stones, where she was discovered by the band's manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Her 1965 debut studio album Marianne Faithfull, released simultaneously with her studio album Come My Way, was a huge success and was followed by further albums on Decca Records. From 1966 to 1970 she had a highly publicised romantic relationship with Mick Jagger. Her popularity was enhanced by roles in films, including I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967), The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968) and Hamlet (1969). Her popularity was overshadowed by personal problems in the 1970s, when she became anorexic, homeless and addicted to heroin.

During her 1960s musical career, Faithfull was noted for her distinctive melodic, high-register vocals. In the subsequent decade her voice was altered by severe laryngitis and persistent drug abuse, which left her sounding permanently raspy, cracked and lower in pitch. The new sound was praised as "whisky soaked" by some critics and was seen as having helped to capture the raw emotions expressed in her music.

After a long absence, Faithfull made a musical comeback in 1979 with the release of a critically acclaimed seventh studio album, Broken English. The album was a commercial success and marked a resurgence of her musical career. Broken English earned Faithfull a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance and is regarded as her "definitive recording". She followed this with a series of studio albums including Dangerous Acquaintances (1981), A Child's Adventure (1983) and Strange Weather (1987). Faithfull wrote three books about her life: Faithfull: An Autobiography (1994), Memories, Dreams & Reflections (2007) and Marianne Faithfull: A Life on Record (2014).

Faithfull received the World Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 Women's World Awards, and in 2011 she was made a Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the government of France.

The following video has Faithful singing "As Tears Go By" from Hullabaloo in 1965. It was hosted by Paul Anka and features an appearance by Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

Sunday, March 9, 2025

50 American Tourist Traps

Above, oddly, Elvis Presley's Graceland mansion is on the tourist trap list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Traveling the U.S. is a popular pastime for many Americans. Visiting tourist attractions are part of allure.

However, some can be considered "tourist traps" that will make visitors feel like they've been ripped off. At least in the opinions travel bloggers and travel industry professionals.

AOL has posted a list of what are considered to be tourist traps.

They begin it with:

For better or worse, tourist traps are part of the American landscape. Countless overhyped, colorful, quirky, and sometimes downright mystifying spots draw sightseers nationwide — at least, when a pandemic isn't making travel too dangerous and complicated for such silliness.

Whether an attraction qualifies as a tourist trap is often in the eye of the beholder, and some are still beloved by locals. Travel blogger David James of The GypsyNesters has his own test: whether visitors leave feeling a little swindled. "But we love tourist traps," says his wife and fellow blogger, Veronica James. "David cannot pass them by. Boomers are really into this stuff because, when we were kids, that's where we went. We would pack up our station wagon and go to these places."

Some are iconic locales now overrun or overrated. Others lure road trippers out of the way of their intended destinations. They might be cheesy, inauthentic, overpriced, crowded, boring, ugly, or just plain not worth the time. We talked to travel bloggers and industry professionals and read online reviews to identify tourist traps in every state.

To see what they are, go here

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