October 1, 2025:

With the quantity of the funny, unbelievable, or won’t make the MSM because it doesn’t fit their template, I’m back to daily missives

I believe we are in an irreversible free fall – by Miguel Gonzalez, 30Sep2025
https://miguelgg.substack.com/p/i-believe-we-are-in-an-irreversible
One segment of the population has gone from wishing you gone to actually saying “Why not?” and have decided to do what feels good to them which is to do harm to those they do not like and that is bad on itself, but that is not the worst.

Trump Admin Set to Inflict ‘Maximum Pain’ on Democrats if Shutdown Goes Forward: ‘They Will Pay a Huge Price’ – By Jack Davis, 25Sep2025
https://www.westernjournal.com/trump-admin-set-inflict-maximum-pain-democrats-shutdown-goes-forward-will-pay-huge-price/
The White House is gearing up for major layoffs if the government shuts down, using the funding gap to cut federal jobs. A memo directs agencies to fire employees from unfunded programs misaligned with Trump’s priorities, per WaPo. Even if funding resumes, only essential staff will stay.

Over 100,000 Federal Workers Are Set To Formally Resign Tomorrow – By Pamela Geller, 29Sep2025
https://gellerreport.com/2025/09/massive-over-100000-federal-workers-are-set-to-formally-resign-tomorrow.html/?lctg=92233992
Schumer and the Democrats for attempting to force a government shutdown by demanding $1.5 TRILLION for trans surgeries and illegals’ healthcare…“Giving taxpayer money to illegal aliens for healthcare—that’s a crazy idea. Funding transgender surgeries in Peru—that’s a crazy idea.”…More than 100,000 U.S. federal civilian employees will formally resign on September 30, 2025, through the Deferred Resignation Program launched by the Trump administration in January 2025. The program provides paid administrative leave with full benefits until that date in exchange for voluntary departures aimed at reducing bureaucracy, potentially totaling 275,000 exits including retirements and firings.

Governor for Hire – by Tierney’s Real News, 29Sep2025
https://tierneyrealnewsnetwork.substack.com/p/governor-for-hire
I believe the swamp wants to run TWO Governors against each other for President that they BOTH control. That way, no matter WHO wins, they STILL control the White House.

The FAFO Consequences of Trump Derangement Syndrome: Lawfare, Cancel Culture, and Murder – by Scott Pinsker, 25Sep2025
https://pjmedia.com/scott-pinsker/2025/09/25/the-fafo-consequences-of-trump-derangement-syndrome-lawfare-cancel-culture-and-murder-n4944106

Sheriff gave dire public warning after being forced to release ‘very dangerous’ inmate. Turns out his warning was warranted. –
by Dave Urbanski, 27Sep2025
https://www.theblaze.com/news/sheriff-gave-dire-public-warning-after-being-forced-to-release-very-dangerous-inmate-turns-out-his-warning-was-warranted
‘Someone is going to get hurt, and someone is gonna get hurt bad.’

Your ‘Right to Feel Safe’ Doesn’t Trump My Rights, Including Feeling Safe – By Tom Knighton, 26sep2025
https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2025/09/26/your-right-to-feel-safe-doesnt-trump-my-rights-including-feeling-safe-n1230047
The idea of concealed and open carry being scary for a lot of people is that the very idea that someone might have a gun is terrifying. I’d like to say I get it, but I really don’t. I can’t understand being so scared of a man-made object, any object, that its mere proximity to it strikes you with fear. People are scared of their proximity, and now with Florida getting open carry, whether the legislature likes it or not, some are…expressing their pathetic, fear-based concerns, such as this college student. (Guns DON”T kill people. People kill people. With bare hands, rocks, hammers, knives, cars, and all kinds of objects. – jlr)(“My anxiety goes through the roof when I walk on FIUs open campuses. It’s no wonder my fear is spiking, given the potential hiding spaces and easy accessibility onto campus grounds.” Tjhis student needs to immediately drop all her classes, withdraw from college and as fast as possible move to a safer state, like NJ or Mass. for her mental health – jlr)

Good morning, Blue Chekists! – What are we offended by this week? – by Ian, 27Sep2025
https://thelawdogfiles.substack.com/p/good-morning-blue-chekists
Well let’s take a look at what’s making everyone take to their fainting couches this week.

good for geese, good for ganders – breaking the frame of “why are they doing this to me?” – by el gato malo, 26Sep2025
https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/good-for-geese-good-for-ganders
let’s take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we?

Tylenol’s concerns about possible autism risk date back more than a decade, documents reportedly show – by Joseph MacKinnon, 27Sep2025
https://www.theblaze.com/news/tylenols-concerns-about-possible-autism-risk-date-back-more-than-a-decade-documents-reportedly-show

A-List Nepo Baby Demands Global Mask Mandates at UN – by Benjamin Bartee, 28sep2025
https://pjmedia.com/benbartee/2025/09/28/watch-a-list-nepo-baby-demands-global-mask-mandates-at-un-n4944211
Violet Affleck, currently attending Yale University as children of the cultural elite tend to do, appeared for some reason at the United Nations last week to offer her deeply informed opinion that we, as a global community, ought to be enforcing mask mandates in 2025 on account of something called “human rights.”
video – 00:02:18 – https://twitter.com/i/status/1970850665590350274

Video Captured Bloody Attack on Pro-Lifer, Yet Alvin Bragg Let Attacker Go Free Anyway – Imagine if the Roles Were Reversed –
By Joe Saunders, 27Sep2025
https://www.westernjournal.com/video-captured-bloody-attack-pro-lifer-yet-alvin-bragg-let-attacker-go-free-anyway-imagine-roles-reversed/
video – 00:08:13 – https://youtu.be/UwrVECzW-KA

let them eat cake moments – immigration as the hill the globalist left will expire upon – by el gato malo, 27Sep2025
https://boriquagato.substack.com/p/let-them-eat-cake-moments
the dems in the US have become so desperate and so out of touch that they are having one “let them eat cake” moment after another…imagine threatening to shut down the government unless the american people fund free healthcare, housing, and food for illegals. imagine thinking the public was with you on what’s probably damn near an 80/20 issue. what kind of rabid weasels would need to be running around in your head to not only think this was a good idea but to think you could sell it to the American people as the economy falters for most outside of the upper classes?

Liberals More Likely to Cut Ties with Friends and Family Over Politics – by W. J. Lee, 29Sep2025
https://amac.us/newsline/politics/poll-liberals-more-likely-to-cut-ties-with-friends-and-family-over-politics/
(However, since Sept 10th, I don’t think so. I think conservatives are now fed up with, and no longer wish to put up with, the whining, the crying, the feeling-driven rather than fact-based political lectures, the political diatribes and rants, the sulking, the hurt feelings, and the generally divisive drama from their leftist relatives, especially at holiday family gatherings. So they just won’t invite them this year, or maybe ever again, depending on how divisive and abusive they have been to the family – jlr)

Des Moines: Leftists Protest ICE Arrest of Gun-Toting Illegal “School Superintendent” With Fake Degree and Criminal Record –
By Pamela Geller29Sep2025
https://gellerreport.com/2025/09/protest-illegal-armed-superintendent.html/?lctg=92233992

Illegal Alien Arrested by ICE After Targeting DHS Chopper Pilot with Laser Pointer in Portland – By Johnathan Jones, 29Sep2025
https://www.westernjournal.com/illegal-alien-arrested-ice-targeting-dhs-chopper-pilot-laser-pointer-portland/

Pelosi uncorks profanity drenched tirade as ‘Schumer shutdown’ looms – by Sierra Marlee, 30Sep2025
https://www.bizpacreview.com/2025/09/30/pelosi-uncorks-profanity-drenched-tirade-as-schumer-shutdown-looms-1588950/
video – 00:02:33 – https://youtu.be/Yv79tyrv_qk

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses senior military officials

video – 00:47:57 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdiVem1chrE

Full speech: Trump tells military leaders in Quantico ‘We will be a fighting and winning machine’

video – 01:11:24 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0jx4hiLF0

Hegseth Tells Generals and Admirals: ‘If the Words I’m Speaking Today Are Making Your Heart Sink … Resign’
https://www.westernjournal.com/hegseth-tells-generals-admirals-words-speaking-today-making-heart-sink-resign/

Secretary Hegseth Summons Global Military Leaders to End Woke Policies and Restore Combat Standards
https://istandforfreedom.com/hegseth-military-leaders-message
The message wasn’t just about rebranding—though the symbolic shift from “Department of Defense” to “Department of War” carries serious weight. Hegseth systematically dismantled years of politically correct military policies, announcing that combat standards would return to the “highest male standard only.” No more lowered requirements. No more diversity quotas compromising readiness.“No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses,” Hegseth declared bluntly. “We are done with that shit.” The assembled generals and admirals sat in silence as their new marching orders became unmistakably clear: embrace the warrior ethos or find the door

‘Target Practice USA’: Disgusting Charlie Kirk Assassination Sign Posted at ASU – By Katie Jerkovich , 29Sep2025
https://redstate.com/katie-jerkovich/2025/09/29/target-practice-usa-charlie-kirk-assassination-sign-posted-at-asu-n2194550

Government Headed for Shutdown as Democrats Refuse to Negotiate – by AMAC Newsline, 30Sep2025

https://amac.us/newsline/politics/government-headed-for-shutdown-as-democrats-refuse-to-negotiate/

No, Dems, *We* Don’t Need to Tone Things Down – by Matt Vespa, 29Sep2025

https://townhall.com/columnists/mattvespa/2025/09/30/no-dems-we-dont-need-to-tone-things-down-n2664176

Federal Judge Declares Trump Admin’s Deportation of Pro-Palestinian Protesters Unconstitutional
https://redstate.com/smoosieq/2025/09/30/new-federal-judge-declares-trump-admins-deportation-of-pro-palestinian-protesors-unconstitutional-n2194572

Massachusetts District Court Judge William G. Young has concluded that the administration’s actions are/were unconstitutional. In doing so, Young makes no secret of his animus toward President Trump (and, by extension, his administration)

rcd via e-mail

Oklahoma Governor Announces 130 Illegal Alien Truck Drivers Arrested in Sting, One CDL Read “No Name Given

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/09/oklahoma-governor-announces-130-illegal-alien-truck-drivers/
Check the license out. In the state of New York, the name on license is ‘No name given

Hakeem Jeffries Freaks Out Over Meme Video Posted by Trump: ‘Say It to My Face!’
https://www.westernjournal.com/hakeem-jeffries-freaks-meme-video-posted-trump-say-face/
video – 00:00:34 – https://x.com/i/status/1972822596397003159

WordPress Issues

For years the go-to source for consistent container images has been Bitnami. Bitnami is owned by Broadcom via its acquisition of VMware in 2023.

With over 200 different containers covering every part of the container infrastructure, developers and system administrators have gone to Bitnami images for consistent interfaces and methods.

Until last month, these container images were offered free of charge to the world.

Starting on the 1st of this month, only development containers are offered free of charge. This means that if you want tagged versions of WordPress, you need to buy a subscription for the Secure Containers from Bitnami.

I looked into this. Does anybody think paying $62,000/year is a good deal? I don’t.

This is not a long-term issue; it is a pain because I have to reconfigure all my WordPress clients to use a new source for images with different mounting points.

Wire Runs

There are times when it is so simple that you can’t find instructions.

When running redundant cable or fiber, you want to make sure that there are no single points of failure. I remember the great Internet outage of the early 90s. Some good old boys in a swamp down in the south took some potshots at something hanging on telephone poles.

They managed to sever a fiber optic bundle. This cut the US Internet in half because all the redundant fibers were in that same optic bundle.

The contracts for those fiber circuits had been let to different long-haul fiber networks. Those long-haul networks were picked because they had north, south, and mid-Atlantic routes heading west. When a new dark fiber vendor came on the market, offering better service with better prices, these long-haul networks purchased their dark fiber from the same vendor.

And all the circuits ended up in a single bundle, down south.

I currently have a star configuration for my network. I’m going to be adding a ring around the outside of the star. This allows better throughput between adjacent data closets. Instead of going to the hub then out to the data closet, we will be routing closet to closet.

While the “cost” of that extra hop isn’t really measurable, it does put some limits on the total cluster bandwidth.

Say you have to move 10 Gigabytes from Node 101 to Node 102 in the same closet. We move that at 10 gigabits, so around 15 seconds to move the data.

But say you want to move the same 10 Gigabytes from Node 101 to Node 103 in a different closet. It still takes around 15 seconds to move the data.

But what if you need to move 10 gigabytes from Node 101 in closet 3 to Node 103 in closet 2, plus 10 Gigabytes from Node 101 to Node 105 in closet 1, and 10 Gigabytes from Node 101 to Node 129 in closet 0? Each movement would only take 15 seconds, but the total time to move would be 3*15, or 45 seconds.

With the extra links in place, we can go directly from Closet 3 to Closets 1 and 2. This will reduce our total time to 30 seconds.

I have the hardware to do this ring. What I don’t have is the conduit. If I use the existing conduit, it is easy. But that means if that conduit is compromised, I lose access to that closet.

I figured out that I can run some conduit along the outside of the building with much shorter runs, much easier access, and with the level of redundancy I’m looking for.

When I finish pulling fiber, I will have three paths to every node.

OSPF/Multicast

In networking, we use broadcast packets when we want to reach every node on a network segment. In the old days there was a single IPv4 address for that, which was the host portion of the IPv4 address was all ones.

It turns out that there are other reasons to want to use a broadcast packet. Often for discovery purposes. OSPF uses this method to find other routers on the network segment.

Which leads to the issue of L3 managed switches. These things are not advertised as full routers, though they can act like them. In particular, each of these switches can run an OSPF process.

This means that the network topology is quickly updated when things change.

And these low cost managed switches don’t understand how to forward OSPF packets when they are running an OSPF process.

Another thing to figure out and fix.

Government Shutdown!!!

The world is wonderful. With the government shutdown, they are less likely to FA with me.

The reality is that the government barely notices when it is “shut down.”

It looks like the Democrats played into Trump’s agenda. J.D. Vance has stated that they will start firing people very shortly if the government isn’t started back up.

The government is shut down because the Democrats and the Republicans could not reach an agreement on a continuing funding resolution.

The Republicans have put forth a CR that funds the government at current levels but for VA housing, security for federal law enforcement, and security for the Supreme Court.

There is nothing in the CR that the Democrats object to.

The Democrats have put forth a proposal that adds more than 1 trillion dollars to the budget. They want to restore funding for healthcare for people that are unwilling to meet Medicaid work requirements. They also want to provide funding to states that are showing healthcare budget shortages because the state spent state money on providing healthcare to criminal illegal aliens.

The big word is “fungible.” Let’s say you want to buy a fancy dinner for your wife. You have $1,000 in the bank. You owe $700 for the mortgage, you owe $100 for Internet, and you owe $100 for water. This leaves you only $100 for food and other things. This means you can’t afford to take your wife out for a $100 dinner. There is no money in the budget.

You reach out to your parents and ask for help with the Mortgage. They agree to pay $500 for the mortgage but tell you that it can’t be used for “fun” things.

To make sure they send the $500 directly to the mortgage holder. You send your $200, the mortgage is paid for the month. None of your parents money went to fun things like dinner out with your wife.

You now have $600 for food and other things. You allocate $250 for food, spend $100 on other things. You have $150 of your money to take your wife to dinner.

Where did the money come from for that dinner? From you or your parents.

Fungible means that you can’t send any money to states that are spending money on criminal illegal aliens. You can’t send any money to organizations that spend money on abortions.

Question of the Week

What is your opinion of this government shutdown?

Costs

Like almost everything I learn, the startup costs are quickly outweighed by the cost of the “tooling.”

My lathe and milling machine cost less than $1500. The cost of my micrometers exceeds $1000 without counting toolposts, toolholders, inserts, and a wealth of other things.

Reloading is something like that. You can get a starting kit for around $175 that has just about everything you need to start reloading. You need to add dies, reloading manual, and consumables.

Assuming you are reloading for 9mm, your dies will be between $40 and a couple of hundred. I’m currently using Redding, which prices out at $75. Manuals run $25 or so. This puts the total cost of tooling just under $300.

Your consumables will be primers at $80 per 1,000, powder at $156 for four pounds, 115gr RMR JHP at $115 per 1,000.

This puts your consumables at $351 for a total start cost of $650 or so.

Assuming you are reloading “free” brass, this gives you a startup cost of $0.60/round, which is more than range candy but less than personal defense ammo.

After your initial investment, your costs will decrease, but it will take a while before you are truly saving money.

Your next 1,000 rounds will cost you $80 for primers and $115 for bullets, giving you a cost per round of $0.195. This would bring your costs from $0.60 to $0.422 per round, including your original investment.

The place where costs really change is when you need to start reloading a different caliber. Using the same equipment, you can add a set of dies, $75, and begin reloading a different caliber.

Availability

During the great panic-demic it became nearly impossible to buy certain calibers of ammunition. Even now, it is sometimes difficult to buy certain calibers.

If you have reloading equipment, those limitations are reduced.

I, personally, reload .38 Special and .357 Magnum with cast bullets. I cast HP myself and find those rounds to be consistent in weight and go where I point them.

My LGS was only selling cowboy loads and very expensive self-defense loads. They had no brass, they had no bullets, they had no primers, and their selection of powders was limited. For the cost of a set of very nice bullet molds, I was able to create freedom seeds for my R95 and revolver.

8mm Mauser is difficult to find and expensive; I’ve got nearly 500 rounds of it for the cost of bullets and powder. The same with 30-30 and 45-70.

I believe the only firearms I cannot reload for are my shotguns. Since I only run 4 rounds a year out of them, it’s not a real issue.

This is the great power of reloading, in my opinion. You can reload for unusual calibers for the cost of a set of dies and bullets.

Quality

The big-time long-distance shooters swear by hand reloading their ammo. I believe them. When I’m reloading, I attempt to maintain that same level of quality as they do. I may or may not succeed, but it is nice to know that I’m close.

Safety

There are two big rules in reloading:

1. Don’t Shoot Other People’s Reload.
2. Your mistake can kill you.

I currently use a Franklin Armory hand primer. It works for me. I can feel each primer seat properly. Before I had the hand primer, I used two different on-press tools.

One day, I was at a private range shooting .45 Colt out of a Marlin lever action. I would pull the trigger, the hammer would fall, and there would be no bang. Not even a pop. This was a problem, but I found nothing horribly wrong. It just meant I had to fix something.

Then I switched to my 1911. Bang. Bang. Pop. STOP!

I had a squib.

This led to me pulling every bullet on that set of reloaded rounds. Luckily there were only 20 of each caliber.

Conclusion

The startup cost of reloading is not horrible. The cost grows like in every hobby. Your break-even point will be in the 4,000 round range at today’s prices.

My start was $50 for a press, four or five sets of dies, a bunch of brass, and some other stuff. I bought a pound of Hodgdon’s No. 5 powder, a Lee Reloading manual, Lee powder scoops, a box of .45 ACP bullets, and 100 primers. My total investment to start was less than $200 for my first 100 rounds, giving me breakeven on my first 100 rounds.

Your mileage may vary.

I’ve been working with Ally on how to communicate in Charlie’s Voice.

What I believe I’ve found is that he starts with people that are willing to have a conversation. Usually, the people he is speaking with have the start of their conversation with Charlie written out. They expect to have a one punch knockout.

It seldom goes that way.

The reason is that Charlie starts investigating how to connect with them or to get them to articulate what they mean by the words they are using.

This allows him to use his wealth of general knowledge to have a conversation where they are working from talking points, emotions, and opinions and Charlie is working from a fact based world view.

I’m still working on this, and we are still looking from articles by you.