Dec. 19 & 20, 2025:

FBI agent, John Guandolo perfectly explained Islam in 3 minutes.
video – 00:02:49 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BDn0ueW6xc

(worth the 11 minuteas it takes to watch – jlr)
America’s Future – If Gavin Newsom becomes President of the United States
https://libsarenuts.substack.com/p/americas-future
The auto industry just quit California!
video – 00:10:54 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr55hPXyGt4

(This is worth reading – jlr)
Ten Dollar Gasoline: Coming Soon to California
https://pjmedia.com/eric-florack/2025/12/19/ten-dollar-gasoline-its-in-our-future-n4947283
Let’s be more specific: $10 gas in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California? Yeah, that does sound a bit more likely, doesn’t it?… Chevron’s CEO Mike Wirth decided to shut down operations in California. He texted the governor, saying, “I’d like to tell you about it before you read about it.” Common courtesy, right?
After 140 some-odd years, a $300 billion company, with thousands of jobs on the line, is throwing in the towel, deciding to leave the state. The consequences of this are enormous. Newsom’s response? “I don’t need to talk about it. I’m good.”…If you add in the Phillips 66 operation in LA County and Valero up in the Bay area, a total of three refineries are gone. That’s about 20% of the total gasoline supply in the state.

GOP Congressmen Starting ‘Sharia Free America Caucus’ to Counter Islamic Law and Protect the Constitution
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/gop-congressmen-starting-sharia-free-america-caucus-to-counter-islamic-law-and-protect-the-constitution.html/

Somali “Staggering, Industrial-Scale” FRAUD in ONE STATE Far Exceeds Somalia’s ENTIRE GDP
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/somali-staggering-industrial-scale-fraud-in-one-state-far-exceeds-somalias-entire-gdp.html/

Milwaukee judge found guilty of obstruction for allegedly helping illegal migrant evade arrest
https://justthenews.com/government/courts-law/milwaukee-judge-found-guilty-obstruction-allegedly-helping-illegal-migrant
Dugan was convicted of one felony count of obstruction and acquitted of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.

Guilty!!!
https://oldnfo.substack.com/p/guilty
Now if they would do the same to these protesters that think they are above the law…

redux
You say that like it is a bad thing.
https://miguelgg.substack.com/p/you-say-that-like-it-is-a-bad
(Look at the number of federal employees – appx. 1% of the total US population currently works for the government – jlr)

Over the Summer Violent Brown University Antisemites Demanded Cameras Be Disabled To Protect “Protesters”
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/over-the-summer-violent-brown-univ-antisemites-demanded-cameras-be-disabled-to-protect-protesters.html/

FIVE TERRORISTS ARRESTED En Route to Bondi Beach to Slaughter Jewish Mourners at Vigil For Victims of Islamic Massacre
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/jewish-vigil-targeted-five-terrorists-arrested.html/

rcd via e-mail
You Won’t Believe What the Australian PM’s Solution to the Bondi Beach Terror Attack Is
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/dmitri-bolt/2025/12/19/aussie-government-to-collecct-and-destroy-hundreds-of-thousands-of-firearms-n2668186
The Australian Prime Minister has announced their solution to the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney, Australia. They will repeat what the country did in ***1996, and collect and destroy “hundreds of thousands of firearms.” Never mind the threat of radical Islam, jihad, or antisemitism.
If American conservatives need a reminder on why our Second Amendment should be protected, this is it.
UPDATE
A reporter asked Prime Minister Albanese whether radical Islam posed Australia’s greatest domestic security threat, and he replied that neo-Nazis, not Islamist extremism, were the primary concern.
video – 00:01:22 – https://twitter.com/i/status/2001942914717597942

San Francisco Hillel Set Aflame, Building Destroyed, Shabbat and Chanukah Events Canceled
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/san-francisco-hillel-set-aflame-building-destroyed-shabbat-and-chanukah-events-canceled.html/
Hillel is the world’s largest Jewish campus organization, Last night, the San Francisco chapter was set on fire.

201 Democrats Vote AGAINST Bill Keeping Gangbanger Illegals Off U.S. Streets
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/201-democrats-vote-against-bill-keeping-gangbanger-illegals-off-u-s-streets.html/

IMPEACHMENT MADNESS: Democrats Prove They Have No Real Interest in Governing
https://amac.us/newsline/politics/impeachment-madness-democrats-prove-they-have-no-real-interest-in-governing/

Grinch Christmas card pulled from supermarket chain after transgender activist complains
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/19/grinch-christmas-card-pulled-from-supermarket-chain-after-transgender-activist-complains-1611320/
“The phrase ‘identifying as’ is an anti-trans dogwhistle and has long been used as a derogatory way of describing trans people and invalidating their gender, whereby it suggests a person’s gender being anything other than what fits neatly into the cis male/female binary is something people can ‘choose’.”…he believes that the card “belittles the identity of trans and non-binary people”.

Trans Sec Sean Duffy’s daughter unloads on ‘unconstitutional’ TSA after ridiculous experience
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/12/19/trans-sec-sean-duffys-daughter-unloads-on-unconstitutional-tsa-after-ridiculous-experience-1611301/
“I nearly missed my flight this morning after the TSA made me wait 15 minutes for a pat-down because I’m pregnant and didn’t feel like getting radiation exposure from their body scanner,”…“The agents were passive-aggressive, rude, and tried to pressure me and another pregnant woman into just walking through the scanner because it’s ‘safe.’”…“After finally getting the absurdly invasive pat-down, I barely made my flight. All this for an unconstitutional agency that isn’t even good at its job,”…“Perhaps things would have gone more smoothly if I’d handed over my biometric data to a random private company (CLEAR). Then I could enjoy the special privilege of waiting in a shorter line to be treated like a terrorist in my own country.”…“Is this freedom? Travel, brought to you by George Orwell—and the privilege of convenience based solely on your willingness to surrender biometric data and submit to radiation exposure? The ‘golden age of transportation’ cannot begin until the TSA is gone,”

Trump DOJ slams door on welfare for illegal aliens, ends Clinton-era loophole draining taxpayer dollars
https://www.theblaze.com/news/trump-doj-slams-door-on-welfare-for-illegal-aliens-ends-clinton-era-loophole-draining-taxpayer-dollars

Trump Signs Historic $901B Defense Bill, Delivering Troop Pay Raise and Eliminating Woke Programs
https://istandforfreedom.com/trump-defense-bill-troop-raise/

West Coast, Messed Coast™ — 58 Reasons Why Blue Cities Are Circling the Drain
https://pjmedia.com/victoria-taft/2025/12/19/west-coast-messed-coast-58-reasons-why-blue-cities-are-circling-the-drain-n4947280

House Republican Considering Plan to Expel Ilhan Omar from Congress
https://www.westernjournal.com/house-republican-considering-plan-expel-ilhan-omar-congress/
“actively considering” forcing a vote to expel Omar,

Pete Hegseth Announces Plan to Restore George Washington’s Military Chaplain Corps to Its Former Glory
https://www.westernjournal.com/pete-hegseth-announces-plan-restore-george-washingtons-military-chaplain-corps-former-glory/

‘We Don’t Dispute’ It: Georgia 315k Vote Bombshell Blows a Big Hole in 2020’s ‘Most Secure Election’ Lie
https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2025/12/19/we-dont-dispute-it-georgia-315k-vote-bombshell-blows-a-big-hole-in-2020s-most-secure-election-lie-n2197283
A Georgia State Election Board investigation substantiated that Fulton County violated election rules in 2020 by failing to have poll workers sign required tabulation tapes for early votes in 36 out of 37 advanced voting precincts, affecting approximately 315,000 ballots.
AND
rcd vis e-mail
Fulton County Admits It ILLEGALLY CERTIFIED 315,000+ Ballots In 2020 Election!
https://wltreport.com/2025/12/19/breaking-fulton-county-admits-it-illegally-certified-315000/
315,000 and Trump lost Georga by 12,000 – Bet it will not make news at 11

Wife thinking outside the ice box
https://miguelgg.substack.com/p/wife-thinking-outside-the-ice-box
Damn, she knows her economics. She can squeeze a penny better than any locomotive.

Department of War: Done playing games.
https://miguelgg.substack.com/p/department-of-war-done-playing-games
Today, we hunted and we killed our enemies. Lots of them. And we will continue.
‘Murica and Fuck You.

AYSM???
DeKalb County Ends COVID-19 State of Emergency After Five Years, Sets Jan. 5, 2026 Office Return
https://istandforfreedom.com/dekalb-state-emergency-over/

Unhinged female absolutely pummels male employee at Planet Fitness in Florida
https://www.theblaze.com/news/female-caught-on-video-beating-up-male-planet-fitness-employee-florida
it apparently all started when the male employee told the female gym member to lower her voice or he’d call the police, he female “became irate,” balled her fists, and got in the male employee’s face — but the male pushed her away with both hands twice “in self-defense,”
video – 00:01:11 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4mFmo31WEY

Woman arrested for allegedly punching two NYPD officers during ‘mostly peaceful’ Tyre Nichols protest — and she’s reportedly released without bail
https://www.theblaze.com/news/woman-arrested-for-allegedly-punching-two-nypd-officers-during-mostly-peaceful-tyre-nichols-protest-and-shes-reportedly-released-without-bail

Fed Up with Islam, James Woods Issues Savage Statement That Will Offend Every Muslim on Earth, But Could Give Hope to Everyone Else
https://www.westernjournal.com/fed-islam-james-woods-issues-savage-statement-will-offend-every-muslim-earth-give-hope-everyone-else/
“…terrorists are not fringe actors or radicals; these are people following the dogma found in the Quran, which is clear in its call for Muslims to use violence in furtherance of their cause.”

When Gun Control Fails…The Government doubles the dosage of Gun Control.
https://miguelgg.substack.com/p/when-gun-control-fails
In Bondi Beach, it was only the terrorists and the useless police who had weapons. civilians were unarmed. Clearly the fault resides with the civilians who shall be even more disarmed so they can be kept safe from the terrorists by cops trained in Uvalde and Broward county.
Embedded video – 00:00:25

The most recent articles from Active Response Training – Weekend Knowledge Dump- December 19, 2025
https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/weekend-knowledge-dump-december-19-2025
Knowledge to make your life better. If you have some free time, check out some of these links this weekend.

Joyous Noel, part 3 – The last part, I think.
https://thelawdogfiles.substack.com/p/joyous-noel-part-3
he first two stories I did about the Välkkykettu flew out of my fingers, as I tried to keep up with the images darting through my mind, not knowing where the stories were going — only that I needed to get them on the screen before they went away.
This one — this one I sat down and deliberately plotted. I had an idea of what I wanted to say, and what I needed to write about to say it … but I’m not as happy with this one. It doesn’t have as much of the Old World, Northern European Fairy Tales feel as the first two.
Ah well. I suspect that my brain-squirrels have ADHD’d, and I’m about to get intensely focused on something entirely different.
I am mildly astonished that the Välkkykettu have taken off like they have — “Neo-folklore” is untapped territory for me — but I’m grateful none the less.
I’d like to point out that Sam Robb came up with the Välkkykettu, but they so very well illustrated a point I have been making for years — the point that childhood has become too safe, too nerfed — so I grabbed the Flickerfoxes and ran with them.
And you have read the results on these pages. Part 1 is here; and Part 2 is here, if this is your first time reading about the Välkkykettu.
Raconteur Press will publish a children’s book about the Flickerfoxes for Christmas 2026 — in the meantime if you enjoy these little scribbles, feel free to share them.
When you do, please remember to attribute them to me, of your kindness.

Dec 21, 2025:

Dumber, Sicker, & Poorer
https://www.theburningplatform.com/2025/12/19/dumber-sicker-poorer/
The chart below is a fascinating snapshot of the last 75 years in the demise of the American empire.

When you understand the working age population is 275 million and your friendly number fudgers at the BLS declare 103 million of them NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE, and hysterically declaring only 7.8 million Americans are unemployed, you understand what a fraudulent economy we have.
The reported 4.6% unemployment rate is complete and utter bullshit. In reality, it is north of 20%.

Jasmine Crockett Spirals Into Word Salad Answer When Cornered on Reparations
https://www.westernjournal.com/jasmine-crockett-spirals-word-salad-answer-cornered-reparations/

New Protest at the Kennedy Center Tells You Everything You Need to Know About the Left
https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2025/12/20/protest-at-kennedy-center-n2197336
visdeo – 00:01:00 – https://youtu.be/M9PXWCAvhaU

Mystery Solved: This Is What It Takes for Local Cops to Arrest Somebody at Portland ICE HQ
https://pjmedia.com/victoria-taft/2025/12/21/what-does-it-take-to-get-arrested-around-here-portland-police-finally-arrest-trantifa-outside-of-ice-hq-n4947348
Protesters can assault, mob, and chase reporters on the streets of Portland without fear of arrest, but a full-grown man punching a cop in the face in front of a crowd will get arrested.
Protesters can assault, mob, and chase reporters on the streets of Portland without fear of arrest, but a full-grown man punching a cop in the face in front of a crowd will get arrested.
video – 00:01:18 – https://twitter.com/i/status/2002253329053933761

USER WARNING! – not judging, just saying
Notes from the edge of civilization: December 21, 2025
https://www.collapselife.com/p/notes-from-the-edge-of-civilization-bcc
The article basically boils down to this: as sex toys get “smart,” they also get chatty.

Florida man says he ‘teleported’ into stolen BMW, blames ‘X-Men,’ thanks cop for rescuing him from ‘aliens’
https://www.theblaze.com/news/florida-man-bodycam-video-car-crash-aliens-teleport

Nothing to do with Deer: Sunday Country Second Amendment
https://wilderwealthywise.com/nothing-to-do-with-deer-sunday-country-second-amendment/
I say again, Let me make somethin’ perfectly clear, The Second Amendment has nothin’ to do with deer.
MP3 audio – 00:03:49 – https://wilderwealthywise.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nothin-to-do-with-Deer-v3.mp3
https://wilderwealthywise.com/music-collection/

About the Välkkykettu – A brief look into my mind.
https://thelawdogfiles.substack.com/p/about-the-valkkykettu
Some folks have asked if I mind if they write stories about the Välkkykettu1, and I don’t mind(ish) — but I thought that a brief post about what went through my mind as I created my own version of the character might be helpful.

Dec 22 & 23, 2025:

Re-examining “I’m Coming To Your House When Things Get Bad!”
https://paultmartin.com/blog/f/re-examining-im-coming-to-your-house-when-things-get-bad
https://paultmartin.com/blog/f/project-dealing-with-the-im-coming-to-your-house-crowd
(See the quotes after my sig line – JLR)

Charlie Kirk was right: How Islam is destroying the West
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/relatable/charlie-kirk-was-right-how-islam-is-destroying-the-west
Western nations are collapsing under the weight of mass migration, failed assimilation, demographic upheaval, and the growing alliance between Marxist and Islamist ideologies — a threat Charlie Kirk warned about with clarity long before his death.

California Faces Fuel Disaster As Refineries And Gas Stations Shut Down
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/california-faces-fuel-disaster-refineries-and-gas-stations-shut-down
Gavin Newsom ‘s major refinery law, ABX2-1 (signed Oct 2024), gives the state power to mandate minimum fuel storage levels and control refinery maintenance to prevent price spikes, empowering the California Energy Commission (CEC) to stabilize supply. This builds on earlier efforts (like SB X1-2) creating an oil market watchdog (DPMO) to increase oversight, aiming to stop refiners from manipulating supply for profit, while also adding data reporting requirements for companies. In response, companies are shutting down refinery operations in the state.
video – 00:11:49 – https://youtu.be/Rdx2QbY9Dwo
California trying to KEEP oil and gas firms from LEAVING THE STATE
video – 00:08:29 – https://youtu.be/hXPhvM02KOY
You Thought You Could Leave California. Now They’re Following Your Money!!
video – 00:06:59 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKOU0hscYtg

Epstein Files Photos Hit Democrats Hard
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/reckoning-epstein-files-photos-hit-democrats-hard.html/
They SCREAMED for the files, now they’re running for the hills.

House Votes to Criminalize Chemical Castration and Mutilation of Children
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/house-votes-to-criminalize-chemical-castration-and-mutilation-of-children.html/
The bill passed with near-unanimous Republican support, with three Democrats—Reps. Henry Cuellar (TX), Don Davis (NC), and Vicente Gonzalez (TX)—voting in favor, while four Republicans opposed it.

“Conspiracy Theorists” Right Again on 2020 Georgia Election Irregularities
https://amac.us/newsline/politics/conspiracy-theorists-right-again-on-2020-georgia-election-irregularities/
( My pronouns are: I/told/you/so – jlr)

The Terrorists Are Inside the Gates
https://patriotpost.us/articles/123695
Tens of thousands of suspected or confirmed international terrorists have been identified within the borders of the United States.

The Stockholm Syndrome of the West
https://patriotpost.us/articles/123694
The West’s response to rising anti-Western violence has become grimly predictable: capitulate to antagonists and silence those who resist. A recent incident at a vigil for victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack crystallized this dynamic…populations are told that lowering expectations is the path to peace.

All I Want for Christmas Is Some Blue State Sanity
https://amac.us/newsline/politics/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-some-blue-state-sanity/

South Carolina Committee Defies Mayor’s Order to Remove Nativity Scene, Citing Supreme Court Precedent
https://istandforfreedom.com/south-caroline-order-nativity/

CUBA: Is Trump About to Do What No Other President Could?
https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2025/12/22/cuba-is-trump-about-to-do-what-no-other-president-could-n4947376

The Democrats Need to Start Panicking About the Epstein Files
https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/12/22/the-democrats-need-to-start-panicking-about-the-epstein-files-n4947385

Once Again, Another Nation’s Crime Surge Is Somehow America’s Fault
https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2025/12/22/once-again-another-nations-crime-surge-is-somehow-americas-fault-n1230998
…the New York Times has a whole story about the issue of American guns fueling crime in another country. This time, it’s Canada…Homicides have spiked in Canada in the past decade, most of them from guns. That’s roughly the same timeframe that Canada’s been on an anti-gun jihad and trampling all over gun ownership in the Great White North.

Bondi Beach Jihad Attack: Islamic State-Linked Plotters Recorded Antisemitic Videos — 15 Dead, 40 Wounded”
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/bondi-beach-jihad-attack-islamic-state-linked-plotters-recorded-antisemitic-videos-15-dead-40-wounded.html/
AND
Australia’s Response to Islamic Terror: SUBMISSION – Sharia (Hate Speech Laws) and Gun Laws (Disarm Law Abiding Citizens)
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/australias-response-to-islamic-terror-submission-sharia-law-hate-speech-and-gun-laws-disarm-the-law-abiding.html/
( I predict that because of (Sharia (Hate Speech Laws)), the politicians will retreat at the cries of Islamaphobia, and the laws will be withdrawn – jlr)

YALE COMPLETES INTELLECTUAL PURGE: Zero Republicans Across 27 Departments As Viewpoint Apartheid Replaces Academic Freedom
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/yale-completes-intellectual-purge.html/
Yale has finally achieved liberal nirvana. According to a recent report from the Buckley Institute, there is now not a single Republican found across 27 of 43 departments at Yale University.

Insurance Giants Win, Everyday Americans Lose Under Obamacare’s Corrupt Regime
https://amac.us/newsline/politics/reminder-insurance-giants-win-everyday-americans-lose-under-obamacares-corrupt-regime/

It appears that even the Amish are seeing the handwriting on the wall with growing societal collapse!
video – 00:08:03 – https://youtu.be/6vmqjKA9Z4w

A little humor…To start the week! – An oldie but a goody!
https://oldnfo.substack.com/p/a-little-humor-421

…and to all, a good night!

From Ally:

It isn’t often you get to compare your writing with that of your father and grandfather. My grandfather was a PhD with published works. I should try to find his thesis and other publications. I have read his unpublished autobiography.

My father had a few articles published, and I’m sure he wrote more. I should attempt to get his master’s thesis from ODU.

Yesterday my daughter stumbled onto a couple of articles published by my father. I write like he did. I guess I speak like he did as well.

I’m positive that much of my very dry humor comes from him.

His layout was what was known as an “operational” layout. This meant that you could run it realistically. He had cards that represented loads and destinations. The yard operators would have to make up trains, which would then be moved over the main line to different yards by other operators.

Still other operators would run the locals. These were the little trains that went to the different businesses to pick up and drop off loads.

A standard operating session would be 7 or more operators working over 3 hours on a 6:1 fast clock. In other words, they would simulate 18 hours of operations in just 3 hours. Generally, was made up by the fact that the locations did not have real distances between them. So the dairy was only a 1/2 mile from the yard, while it was more like 6 miles in reality.

Regardless, I love and miss Dad. If you feel like it, go read his entire article. He has pictures and more.

Brown University is in Rhode Island, one of the anti-gun states. There are no guns allowed on campus.

It is a gun free zone within a gun free city within a gun free state. Yet all of those things failed.

To provide a sense of security, the college webpage has a section on security cameras. They list some 800 security cameras and where each is located and their field of view.

Which is precisely the sort of information a bad guy would want to know because it shows not only the areas that are under surveillance but also the blind spots. Which the shooter took advantage of.

Which brings up the experiment done by a news organization several years ago to “prove” that guns don’t save lives. They told the selected “protector” that they were the only person with a gun in the room. That there was going to be a mass shooting event, simulated, and they were to stop the shooter.

Everybody except for the protector was in on the experiment, unbeknownst to the protector. Many of the protectors bragged to their “student” neighbors about being the protector.

Of course, when the bad guy entered the room, the protector never successfully stopped them. The entire experiment was set up for failure.

This was compared to a similar experiment set up in Texas. In the Texas experiment, the protectors were chosen at random; the level of experience the different protectors had varied from none to significant. They used simunation (blue guns that shoot nasty little pellets).

What they found was that the total number of victims was reduced in all cases. That in some situations the attack was stopped shortly after it began. There were no false shootings.

One of the interesting sequences was when the bad guy came into the room with the good guy. The good guy put multiple rounds on target before being “killed”. During the debrief, they asked why he only took body shots after noticing the body armor.

His reply, “I’ve been shot with those things; I wasn’t going to shoot somebody in the face with them.”

The point of this rambling is that guns save lives. This was another example of a gun free zone creating a victim pending zone.

Keep your head on a swivel, things are not getting better.

It is difficult to comprehend what a piston powered steam engine is capable of doing. It is a different sort of beast than the internal combustion engine.

For those that are old, you might have grown up with a manual transmission. There is a considerable skill in learning how to balance the clutch and engine speed to get smooth motion.

This is hidden in a value we call “horse power”. Horse power is also expressed in Watts. There are 745 watts to a HP, depending on sources. Close counts in this calculation. HP and watts are a measure of work.

Consider picking up a barbell. By measuring the force required to lift it, the time it takes to lift it, and the distance moved, we can measure the power used.

Now consider that same barbell, but it is too heavy to lift even a fraction of an inch. You strain trying to lift it. You have expended energy but have no performed any work. Hence the HP and watts are zero.

Regardless, an internal combustion engine needs some type of clutch to allow the engine to run at a comfortable speed while slowly bringing a different part of the powertrain up to speed.

With a steam engine, you have full torque at every speed. They are spectacular engines at slow speeds.

This takes us to present times.

I’m using FreeCAD to create the 3D model of the engines. A side advantage of this is that I also get assemblies that allow me to check how all the parts fit together. All very nice. This has helped me identify errors in my reading of the drawings.

A simple little thing: The cylinder has a built in bracket system. This is a face used to mount the cylinder to the base and the face used to attach the steam chest. These faces are slightly offset from the bore.

Which leads to my error, times 3. The cylinder mounting holes are not on the center line of the cylinder. They are instead on the center line of the bore. The bore is offset away from the steam chest and away from the mounting holes.

My error? I’ve put those damn mounting holes in the wrong place multiple times.

In the end, I added a spreadsheet to the model. For every shared measurement between parts, I’ve put that value in the spreadsheet. This means that I can do things like change the stroke by changing one value. Sort of.

My understanding of this mechanical marvel is much improved from being able to see the parts work together.

Another thing I noticed was that all the engine plans have an assumption you will be working with castings. They expect you to hire a pattern maker to create the patterns and then have your local foundry cast them.

While I would love to make my castings from iron, I will start with making them from aluminum. And the new tools I have and new skills I have in woodworking allow me to make real patterns.

My final goal is to have master patterns and molding boards for patterns for a couple of different engines. If I can accomplish that and make a few of them, I’ll be very happy.

Next stop, learning how to be a safe boilermaker. And not the happy drink type.

Way too many years ago, I went to an interfaith seminary, and trained to be an interfaith minister. It’s one accomplishment I’m very proud of, though I also think I learned as much or more by interning with a UCC minister friend for a year. We studied many different faiths, and how they interact. While I, myself, am quite pagan, I do understand different faiths call to different people. I rather like the idea that various gods have “their” people. G-d (the Jewish deity) called the Jews to be his people, and gave them Commandments, instructions, and information… much of which they didn’t pay as much attention to as they should have. A lot of their rituals and celebrations honor the folks who got them out of messes that their religious indiscretions got them into.

Hanukkah is not a big religious festival for the Jews. It was a minor one, until Christmas became so commercialized and messed with the Jewish kids. So now Jewish kids get presents as well as gelt, and some of the more pagan aspects of Christmas have snuck into Hanukkah celebrations. It’s all good. Winter is a time of darkness, and whether you celebrate the Birth of the Sun, the Birth of the Son, or the Miracle of the Lights, it’s all about warding off the darkness (albeit in very different ways).

This Hanukkah is different, though. Way too many of my Jewish friends (and I have a surprising number of them) are afraid this year. They have watched too many of their fellow Jews be slaughtered, and very few criminals being brought to justice. They’ve heard too many people on the Left calling for their extermination, or celebrating those who harm Israel. They’re not celebrating Hanukkah this year. They’re lighting those eight lights over eight nights because it’s a mitzvah, a … “a helping.” They are putting the light back into the world, in whatever way they can. Lighting the Hanukkiah and singing Ma’oz Tzur are acts of peace, but also acts of rebellion against the violence they are seeing.

For those who may not know, the history of Hanukkah, in short:

Hanukkah’s history centers on the 2nd century BCE Maccabean Revolt, where Jewish fighters led by Judah Maccabee reclaimed Jerusalem’s Second Temple from Greek-Syrian oppressors who had desecrated it. After retaking the Temple, they cleansed it and rededicated it, but found only a tiny cruse of oil, which miraculously burned for eight days instead of one. This “miracle of the oil” established the eight-day “Festival of Lights,” celebrating Jewish perseverance, religious freedom, and divine presence. — Grok

My family and I have celebrated Hanukkah every year since I was in seminary. The act of lighting the candles, sitting quietly in the dark, being a family… these have become important to us, even though we’re not Jewish.

Read More

December 16th:

Chuck Schumer Accuses GOP Senator of ‘Despicable Islamophobia’ for Telling the Truth
https://www.westernjournal.com/chuck-schumer-accuses-gop-senator-despicable-islamophobia-telling-truth/
What makes Islam different in the world we live in is that a percentage of its adherents are not only open to practicing violence — they positively glory in it. “Islam is not a religion. It’s a cult. Islamists aren’t here to assimilate. They’re here to conquer,” Sen.Tuberville

Global Rightward Shift Continues as Chile Chooses “Trumpian” President
https://amac.us/newsline/politics/global-rightward-shift-continues-as-chile-chooses-trumpian-president/

Deport Illegal Aliens – Laws Require It
https://amac.us/newsline/national-security/deport-illegal-aliens-laws-require-it/

The illegal immigrant with more power than the president
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/sara-gonzales-unfiltered/kilmar-abrego-garcia

Pentagon ‘Escalating’ Review of ‘Serious Allegations’ Against Mark Kelly
https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2025/12/16/pentagon-reportedly-escalating-review-of-serious-allegations-against-mark-kelly-n2197170

Australian Prime Minister Has Finally Figured Out What ‘Inspired’ Bondi Beach Terrorists
https://redstate.com/jenvanlaar/2025/12/16/australian-prime-minister-has-finally-figured-out-what-motivated-bondi-beach-terrorists-n2197165
…the attack was “inspired by a terrorist organization, by ISIS,”
AND
After Failing to Engage Bondi Beach Terrorists, Guess Who the Australian Police Did Shoot
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2025/12/16/australian-cops-shot-bondi-beach-hero-n2667954

Islam in the West: From Sydney to California, Islamic Terror Strikes Jews in Coordinated Attacks
https://gellerreport.com/2025/12/islam-in-the-west-from-sydney-to-california-islamic-terror-strikes-jews-in-coordinated-attacks.html/

Walz to Issue Toothless Executive Orders on Guns While Pushing for Semi-Auto Ban
https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/12/16/walz-to-issue-toothless-executive-orders-on-guns-while-pushing-for-semi-auto-ban-n1230934
Walz is now issuing a couple of toothless executive orders aimed at firearms.
and
Walz signs executive orders on guns, establishes Statewide Safety Council
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/walz-to-sign-executive-orders-on-guns-establish-statewide-safety-council/
One order expands education on extreme risk protection orders — also known as “red flag” orders — and safe gun storage and directs the Department of Commerce to collect data from insurance companies on the “costs of gun violence.” The second creates a Statewide Safety Council with a stated goal of preventing “mass violence, targeted attacks, and domestic terrorism.”

More Tax on Tips: Blue States Undercutting New Federal Tax Cuts
https://amac.us/newsline/politics/more-tax-on-tips-blue-states-undercutting-new-federal-tax-cuts/
Trump and every Republican should make these sadistic Democrats famous and hammer them mercilessly until they let every American who is entitled to these tax cuts savor them in full.

US Oil and Gas Industry Sets Production Records in November, Led by Texas
https://amac.us/newsline/economy/us-oil-and-gas-industry-sets-production-records-in-november-led-by-texas/

Australia news and views – THIS IS WHAT FOREIGN NEWS IS

Australia Shows ‘Assault Weapon’ Bans Are the Start, Not the Endgame for Gun Controllers
https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/12/15/australia-shows-assault-weapon-bans-are-the-start-not-the-endgame-for-gun-controllers-n1230927
V
‘Speed, accuracy, precision’: How gun makers market the weapons used at Bondi
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/speed-accuracy-precision-how-gun-makers-market-the-weapons-used-at-bondi/ar-AA1SlPnI

Conservationists slam ‘pointless’ federal regulator’s long-awaited draft to crack down on rat bait poisoning of wildlife
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/conservationists-slam-pointless-federal-regulator-s-long-awaited-draft-to-crack-down-on-rat-bait-poisoning-of-wildlife/ar-AA1Sr4Si

Aussies warned as $63,000 in fines handed down for illegal camping acts: ‘Crackdown’
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/aussies-warned-as-63-000-in-fines-handed-down-for-illegal-camping-acts-crackdown/ar-AA1SpLCm

Popular Aussie restaurant chain fined $2,035 for handing banned items to customers
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/popular-aussie-restaurant-chain-fined-2-035-for-handing-banned-items-to-customers/ar-AA1SpM1J
aws also banned the sale or supply of a number of single-use plastic items, including plates, cutlery, drink stirrers and expanded polystyrene food service items.

Farmers can’t legally replant their own seeds – this is why
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/farmers-can-t-legally-replant-their-own-seeds-this-is-why/ar-AA1Sp5oJ
Farmers not being able to legally save and replant their seeds is the result of several factors that gradually reorganized power, profit, and policy to transform the global seed system as we know it…many of these same companies sell seeds genetically modified to be used with specific chemical inputs, their control over both markets is mutually reinforcing.
embedded video – 00:46:58

December 17 & 18th:

Tim Walz Hysterically Rants Against ‘Assault Weapons’ … But Cannot Define What One Is
https://twitchy.com/grateful-calvin/2025/12/17/tim-walz-hysterically-rants-against-assault-weapons-but-cannot-define-what-one-is-n2422938
Tim Walz, who went on an unhinged rant about ‘assault weapons’ in the wake of the Brown shooting. Walz assured us that he knows exactly what an assault weapon is, and then proceeded to NOT define one. “I don’t want to hear how do you define assault weapon. I damn sure can assign what it is and describe what it is and tell you what it does.” (Not that it would matter even if he could define one. The Second Amendment doesn’t say that we the people have the right to bear only the arms that don’t hurt leftists’ tender, fragile feelings.)
video – 00:00:42 – https://twitter.com/i/status/2001007674515935613

‘Beachhead of criminality’: Trump admin urges Walz to resign in light of ‘ghost students’ fraud scheme
https://www.theblaze.com/news/beachhead-of-criminality-mcmahon-urges-walz-to-resign-in-light-of-ghost-students-fraud-scheme
Ghost students will reportedly engage remotely and do the bare minimum of classwork until financial aid funds are doled out around 10 days into the semester. Once their payday arrives, they usually vanish. “They collected checks from the federal government, shared a small portion of the money with the college, and pocketed the rest — without attending the college at all,”

Sen. Mark Kelly Posts Yet ANOTHER Video to Let Us Know He Won’t Be Intimidated
https://twitchy.com/brettt/2025/12/16/sen-mark-kelly-posts-yet-another-video-to-let-us-know-he-wont-be-intimidated-n2422923
It should send a shiver down the spine of every patriotic American that the president and secretary of defense would abuse their power to come after me or anyone this way.
It wasn’t enough for Donald Trump to say I should be hanged. It wasn’t enough for Pete Hegseth to threaten me with a court martial. Now they are threatening everything I fought and served for across twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy– all because I repeated something every service member is taught.
The United States has the most professional military in the world – I trust their integrity. What I don’t trust is Pete Hegseth, a recklessly unqualified secretary of defense who has already shown he will corrupt any process to make an example out of me and send a message to every veteran and every American that they shouldn’t speak out.
If Trump and Hegseth think this will stop me from doing what I’ve done every day of my adult life – fighting for this country – then they’ve got the wrong guy. Tomorrow, and the next day, I will keep doing my job representing Arizona.
video – 00:01:09 – https://twitter.com/i/status/200075235638474784V
AND
Pentagon Escalates Probe of Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly to an ‘Official Command Investigation’
https://www.westernjournal.com/pentagon-escalates-probe-democratic-sen-mark-kelly-official-command-investigation/

rcd via e-mail
Rob, kill and destroy
https://tierneyrealnewsnetwork.substack.com/p/rob-kill-and-destroy
In 2017, Rob Reiner founded the Committee to Investigate Russia (CIR) for the sole purpose of trying to tie President Trump to Russia so he could be indicted, arrested, imprisoned or executed for alleged collusion with Russia. IN OTHER WORDS, ROB REINER HELPED LAUNCH THE RUSSIAN COLLUSION HOAX TO STEAL THE WHITE HOUSE FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AND DESTROY OUR COUNTRY.

rcd via e-mail
Authorizing Deadly Force During the Illegal Raid on Mar-a-Lago Was Inexcusable
https://newsletter.amuseonx.com/p/authorizing-deadly-force-during-the
The FBI warned DOJ and White House it lacked probable cause to search the former president’s home and that the raid was unnecessary and dangerous.

Virginia Democrat Delegate’s Daughter Threatens To Poison ‘White MAGA Families’ Food
https://americanjournaldaily.com/democrat-maga-restaurants/
“If I owned a soul food place and a white MAGA family showed up to my restaurant, there’s a high chance that I’m going to put Windex in their food, some type of toilet cleaner, saliva, feces, you’re really trusting to walk your a* in somebody’s facility knowing that you’ve caused their entire life to change in a matter of a couple years, and it’s your fault. You trust those people to make you food?” She continued, “There would be Windex in all of your food, all of it, and I’m gonna sit there and smile the whole time you’re eating. I don’t give a fck.”…A young woman openly fantasizing about poisoning American families—including children—with cleaning chemicals and human waste. Smiling as they unknowingly consume it. That’s not political commentary. That’s derangement. And someone taught her to think this way.

Trump Media & Technology Group to Merge with TAE Technologies, a Premier Fusion Power Company, in All-Stock Transaction Valued at More Than $6 Billion
https://truthsocial.com/@truthsocial/posts/115740353552762086
Combined company expects to site and commence construction of the first utility-scale fusion power plant in 2026

Four Days Later: Brown University Shooter Still At Large As Bizarre Anomalies Mount In Investigation
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/four-days-later-brown-university-shooter-still-large-bizarre-anomalies-mount

Consumer prices increased in November at an annualized rate of 2.7%, lower than expected
https://justthenews.com/nation/economy/consumer-prices-increase-annualized-rate-27-november-lower-expected…lower than the projected 3.1%

The Woke Nurse Who Viciously Attacked ‘Granny Jeanie’ Over Charlie Kirk Shirt Is Cooked – Watch Her CEO Describe His Last 24 Hours
https://www.westernjournal.com/watch-woke-nurse-viciously-attacked-granny-jeanie-charlie-kirk-shirt-cooked-watch-ceo-describe-last-24-hours/
video – 00:01:51 – https://twitter.com/i/status/2001436246271242486

Chico Target employee responds to viral video backlash
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/chico-target-employee-responds-to-viral-video-backlash/article_f8b81e6b-67bd-40d3-a44a-e6333a84bd8b.html
video – 00:03:15 – https://redirect.field59.com/video/cd8d08414ee04ea6255c90765d39ccb20f9f9450.m3u8

SNAP Recipient Complains About New Rules Blocking Junk Food Purchases: ‘What Is the Point?’
https://www.westernjournal.com/snap-recipient-complains-new-rules-blocking-junk-food-purchases-point/
A Missouri woman on Thursday receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds complained about only being able to buy “real food” with the program…“That’s not even cool, like why they do that?”…“I don’t know what Trump is doing or what is going on.”” “What is the point of food stamps if it’s just for ‘real food?’”…worried about whether parents would be able to purchase snacks their kids liked to eat.

Trump delivers pot reform dream — but stops short of full marijuana legalization
https://nypost.com/2025/12/18/us-news/trump-to-deliver-pot-reform-dream-but-rescheduling-stops-short-of-full-legalization/
…action will move pot from “Schedule I,” the most restrictive Controlled Substance Act designation for drugs with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical value, to Schedule III

House Republicans Pass Reform Bill to Cut Costs and End Obamacare Subsidies, Saving $35.6 Billio
https://istandforfreedom.com/republicans-reform-costs-obamacare
The Congressional Budget Office confirmed the bill would reduce federal deficits by $35.6 billion. Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett put it bluntly: the only people prospering off the current system are insurance companies, “and they’re getting fat.”

Chevrolet’s Beautiful 2025 Christmas Ad Celebrates Family, Avoids Politics – Wins Widespread Praise
https://istandforfreedom.com/christmas-ad-family-politics-praise
The video is a reminder of how holidays are meant to be spent: In the loving company of family.
The world has become a fast-paced, dog-eat-dog place where it’s easy to overlook the little things in life that mean the most. Spending time with family has fallen by the wayside in the interest of personal progress and career advancement.
2025 video – 00:03:21 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB-DXIGGoqc
2024 video – 00:05:26 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeaHlhDypFw
2023 video – 00:02:55 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_R4q70_rJg
2001 video – 00:04:00 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ1uqkBeTHY

The next Carrington Event would hit a very different world
https://www.collapselife.com/p/solar-storm-satellite-collapse
New calculations show a major solar storm could trigger cascading failures across GPS, communications, and navigation.

You say that like it is a bad thing.
https://miguelgg.substack.com/p/you-say-that-like-it-is-a-bad
Once there are more people working for a federal paycheck than citizens in the private economy, they are no longer working for you, but you are working for them.

The reason U.S. Navy is using drones against cartel boats.
https://miguelgg.substack.com/p/the-reason-us-navy-is-using-drones
(Sad, but true. The Navy, in large part, does NOT use small arms.  It is entirely different watching target practice in a unit that uses small arms daily, whether it be the master-at-arms, Marines, or special warfare operators. – jlr)

VIRAL video: Somali man taunts Americans — ‘Go to work for me, you fking white animals!’
https://www.theblaze.com/shows/steve-deace-show/viral-video-somali-man-taunts-americans-go-to-work-for-me-you-f-ing-white-animals
“Thank you for working so hard so I can be home all day — free. I can use my EBT. Go to work for me, white boy, white girl! Yeah! Go to work for me, you fking white animals! Fking work for me. Yeah, you f*king work for me. And the U.S. government — they work for me. All of you work for me. Now go to work.”
video – 00:00:44 – https://twitter.com/i/status/2000954226118172826

A new Christmas fable – Courtesy of Raconteur Press.
https://thelawdogfiles.substack.com/p/a-new-christmas-fable
While Santa Claus brings gifts to good little boys and girls, and Krampus punishes children who misbehave, the less well-known Välkkykettu (Flickerfox) traditionally rewards those children who are both good and bad: those hyperactive, impulsive, chaos-gremlins we all know and (sometimes) love. To these lucky children, he brings gifts that are equal parts delightful and disastrous.
AND
Joyous Noel! – Have a present.
https://thelawdogfiles.substack.com/p/joyous-noel
Sam Robb’s Välkkykettu thing got hold of me, and I’ve been batting it around a little obsessively. I crunched my whole concept into a children’s Christmas story.
As a present to our Gentle Readers, here’s a children’s Christmas tale:
AND
Joyous Noel, Part 2 – This Flickerfox thing won’t let go.
https://thelawdogfiles.substack.com/p/joyous-noel-part-2
My brain squirrels have decided that they like the Flickerfox thing we’ve been doing, so here’s another Christmas story for y’all.
Enjoy!

This is the second Christmas without my parents. Last year, about now, I was finding out just how nasty my brother actually is. Which gratefully caused me to connect with “The Cousins”.

This year I am doing a bit better. Not great, but better.

Growing up, Christmas had rules. You got three “major” presents. Mom made sure they matched you and, to her, more importantly, that the value of your set of presents exactly matched your siblings.

I swear that Mom would make that balance within a few nickels every year.

As the number of grandkids grew and Mom became more mentally fragile, she couldn’t keep up with matching presents to kids. She switched what she was doing.

Each kid, grandchild, spouse or significant other, and “adopted” child received the same thing: a beautiful Christmas ornament and a cash gift.

The first time this happened, it was difficult for me; I was broke, so that cash was extremely helpful. But the ornament matched me, and that was what I was truly thankful for, but I also needed to express my gratitude for the cash. I didn’t want my parents to think it was just the cash that was important to me.

Over the years Mom’s ability to choose personal ornaments declined, but it was still a staple.

Last year there were no ornaments from Mom. She and Dad were gone.

As Christmas started growing nearer this year, I felt the loss of my parents overwhelming me. Knowing that there would be no ornaments, no cash from Mom under the tree.

I fixed it. I got the addresses of all the cousins, the names of their spouses and significant others, any children they had, adopted or natural. Then I got ornaments for them all. The female adults got ornaments from one collection, and everybody else got them from a different collection.

Those ornaments with a $10 bill were packaged up and sent out.

Everybody that Mom would have sent a gift to received a gift. Even my brother.

It worked. All who have reported so far have been very pleased.

The Question

What is a Christmas tradition that your family has that you took over when your parents passed or that you want your offspring to take up when you pass?