brickhistory

If they, NATO, don't care enough to meet their agreed upon obligations, then why should we? We can still be a member nation without shouldering more than our fair share. If NATO kept to it's stated business, i.e, the collective defense of Western (and galloping eastward since the fall of the USSR ((which wasn't a good idea then or now)), then perhaps it wouldn't be in the state it's in. NATO in Afghanistan never made sense to me. Member nations want to play in our out of area war, then great. That's a bilateral thing between their government and ours. NATO itself? Not so much. Germany's military status is a joke. If they don't care about their own defense, why should we?

After a couple of mid-level Democrats float "no debates needed" this weekend on various cable shows, right on cue the NYT publishes a "we don't need debates" op-ed today. Almost like it's coordinated or something... Oh, and as an aside, former President Bill Clinton's name was among those revealed as being on Epstein's island by one of the accusers in the lady pimp's civil trial records that were unsealed last week. Yet hardly a peep in the media. Also almost like that's coordinated or something...

Trial balloon being floated about is that Biden shouldn't "dignify" Trump with a debate since Trump will simply be lying the entire time. Which to a sane person, seems like a great opportunity to club the baby orange seal and show the fast ball is still there (mixed metaphors acknowledged). Let's see how high this one floats...

Trump beat 24 GOP largely lookalikes in 2016 precisely because he wasn't like them and didn't seem to care if he's called names by the opposition (or the GOP for that matter). Biden won because he's the centrist-ish of the Democrat field and the party knew that some of the really wacko left-field ones would absolutely doom them again. The current push to get Biden across the line seems to "well, he's not all that, but he's our guy." There are dozens of articles/essays in this theme on-going. Doesn't seem to be enthusiasm for the selection, just a "not Trump" mantra. Not wanting to vote for someone has historically reduced turn-out since the ass pain of voting usually outweighs the resigned casting of a luke-warm vote. Not sure the "get rid of Trump" wave is strong enough to push Joe across the line. If he actually does debate and, as is expected, shows that his time mentally is well passed, then I simply don't see how he wins. If, on the other hand, he does manage to be energetic, focused, and coherent for 3 X 90 minutes, then mabye so. Will it be enough? I'm skeptical. But then I really thought Hillary was going to win in 2016. I was very pleasantly surprised to wake up the morning after and find out I was wrong. And I do take comfort knowing she is not president. Daily.

Smith & Wesson SD9VE (note: not my photo) With the current national shortage of both coins (why?) and guns (obvious as to why), one of these came my way due to a father-in-law deciding he needed a handgun for home protection in the midst of these crazy times. He bought it at the Barksdale BX because A) it was all they had in stock B) he doesn't know much about firearms and C) it was all they had in stock. I listed A) and C) above because I wouldn't choose to get this gun. It's perfectly adequate. But he wanted a pistol, this was all they had, so he took what he could get. But then couldn't rack the slide due to arthritis. So after ensuring both he and mother-in-law could work the double-action, I traded him a S&W .38 for this. And I think he got the better end of the deal, but if it gives them some peace of mind... So, on to this pistol: SPECS via S&W: Caliber: 9mm Capacity: 16+1 Safety: No Thumb Safety Barrel Length: 4" / 10.2 cm Overall Length: 7.2" Front Sight: White Dot Rear Sight: Fixed 2-Dot Action: Striker Fire Weight: 22.4 oz / 635.0g Barrel Material: Stainless Steel Slide Material: Stainless Steel Frame Material: Polymer Slide Finish: Satin Stainless Frame Finish: Black This model was introduced a fair few number of years ago. Even pre-M&P series, although the family resemblance is clear. This was/is designed to be a very price point friendly basic defensive pistol. It meets the intended purpose. The trigger is a loooooong pull and there are many reviews commenting on it, as well as trigger kits that can fix the problem. I most likely won't be doing so as this is not likely to be a regular addition to the range rotation. It's not a bad pistol. Adequate white 3-dot sights. Comfortable in the hand. Magazines are good. Too bad they aren't interchangeable with the aforementioned M&P9. I would've liked that. It's just...fine. It went bang every time through 200 rounds (which is pretty scarce or expensive to find nowadays...). It disassembles/reassembles fine. Their are too many plastic internals for my taste - guide rod, etc., but that's how S&W kept the price so low. With the exception of the current scarcity of any firearms, if you pay more than $300 for a new one, you need to look harder. But it's new to me so it at least got a good going over (sts) at the range. Not bad. Not great. Meh...

Remember all the gnashing of teeth about "diversity" and "change?" Yet, the final one standing (barely) is a really old white guy who has been in DC for 40 years doing...well, what exactly? And if one of his selling points is that he'll only do one term, I'm not thinking that's a strong one to make. And the DC leviathan will literally ignore him and kneel to his VP pick should he win.

Racing Pont's driver Perez has the 'rona so he's out for the race this weekend. And Racing Point doesn't have a dedicated reserve driver. RUMINT is that Hulkenberg will get the drive since he's the most recent driver that's available. But for him, or anyone who gets this drive, man, from 0 to 200 in a day in a strange car.

The only color F1 (and all professional sports ((it's in the name)) cares about is green.* And rightfully so. *assuming the team accepts dollars. If not, then it's whatever color the preferred currency is...

Somebody found their old debate book glossary... Curious to know if "left nationalists" are ok. Is it the political leaning or the "nationalist" part that so offends you?

As reported by the same outlets who brought you "Russia, Russia, Russia." Have you known ANY USG program that wasn't leaked especially if it makes Orange Man Bad point? If rioters are being arrested, I'm looking for proof that they have been unconstitutionally done so. Not the reporting on the "peaceful" protests thus far. But you were fine when Obama smoked an American citizen simply on his say-so.

A. Well done Mercedes and Hamilton. B. Boring!

So Mercedes is the Harlem Globetrotters and the rest of the field are the Washington Generals... Stunning to see the pink Racing Point/bought a used Mercedes team beating Ferrari/Red Bull, etc. But good to see some changes in the traditional pecking order.

Knock yourself out on enjoying the non-racing stuff. Me? I just wanna watch super-exotic cars go stupid fast. I don't care about protest paint jobs because....it's a paint job. And I think the "silver arrow" paint job is a more aethestically pleasing look. As the superfluous stuff becomes more egregious, the fast forward button becomes a friend. Advance to "lights out" then hit stop after the checkered flag. Win/win for all. As to how to watch the races, I use youtube tv on the interwebs.

The race was back to being boring. Hamilton really won the thing by his fantastic performance during qualifying in the torrential rain. Surprised cancel culture and/or Lewis aren't holding Mercedes to the same standard as, say, Thomas Jefferson or George Washington. I mean, this isn't really a good look, is it? I notice it's also painted black.

Man, this thing just won't die (and I'm not talking about Hillary's political career, for once...): https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/u-s-judge-hearing-flynn-case-asks-appeals-court-to-reconsider-dismissal/ar-BB16xVSM?ocid=spartan-ntp-feeds

I, again, reject your insinuation. And add to it a rejection of your moral equivalence of those who are rioting, looting, killing with those who object to such behavior. I didn't "step" forward so I have no need to "step back." Nor will I kneel. I get what you are saying, I think. I simply object to be placed in the same category as those ripping our country apart.

Yet you chose to admonish those most likely to not start trouble or violence, simple meet it without flinching if required.

If I am protecting my property or my family, it's no longer political. I also don't plan to be downtown anywhere that night. Might I suggest you give your advice to the rioters either now or, probably, then? I don't fantasize it nor do I want it to happen. Simply prepared and I reject completely your insinuation. Mr. Manbun Antifa guy doesn't want to get shot, don't come on my property or try to make an impromptu checkpoint on a city street where I am trapped and unable to escape.

Ah, unable to duplicate the fault. Fortunately, it's a LRU and the backshop can take a look at it. Whaaaat?! You mean it's about money?! I'm shocked, I tell you. Shocked.

If by "pepper spray," you mean jacketed hollow points, I agree.

If Trump wins the election, the violence on that night and for several nights after will make the recent riots look like a high school pep rally. The cities will light up. If Biden wins, the internets will light up. Quite a difference. I hope state and city leaders are looking ahead and drawing up plans to protect life and property. This is an easy one to see coming (no sts).

Nope, they've been the "Silver Arrows" since rejoining F1 in 2010-ish. Which is an homage to their original Silver Arrows of the 1930s. The cars were the familiar silver/black/turquoise in pre-season testing. They proudly announced they went full "woke" with the new paint job. Because virtue signaling...