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Want to try a piston conversion.

The piston shoving rearward on the lug that replaces the gas key can cause buffer tube wear by slightly tilting the bolt carrier. Make sure you get a bolt carrier that is modified for use in piston guns to minimize that problem.

Or, get a BRN-180 upper from Brownell's. That'll do away with the buffer tube entirely. You can even choose to use a side-folding buttstock.

This incident has really brought the “weather modification” cult out of the woodwork.

"Sing, Conrad!"

The person mostly responsible for getting the absinthe ban lifted is from New Orleans, his name is T.A. (Ted) Breaux. The company he founded, Jade Liqueurs, has a number of variations of absinthe that are based on actual analysis of pre-ban spirits.

A surprising amount of pre-ban absinthe rode out the first half of the 20th century in Spanish or Swiss wine cellars (untouched by two world wars); the stuff still pops up for sale in the collector forums.

Jade 1901 is hailed as one of the most authentic modern expressions (by people who have pre-ban stuff to serve as a comparison). Old Absinthe House should have a bottle of that behind the bar.

The Peterkins Celebrate the Fourth of July

Short story set in 1876. I remember reading it many years ago, it was included in one of those Readers' Digest short story collections for young readers.

I’m sure that Joe hears from Mitterand and Kohl regularly.

I think it was the Chevy Spark - but yes, the automotive press said the Chery vehicles “shared remarkable similarities in body structure, exterior and interior design, and components” with the GM car.

School kitchen Salisbury steak was way better than school kitchen meatloaf.

The info on Maxwell Yearick has similarly vanished. You’d think that guy who was briefly identified as the shooter... and then reported missing by his family... would merit an occasional update article. But... no. Crickets.

According to a statement from organizers, festivalgoers were evacuated for safety, but not before the storm reportedly waterlogged artist instruments and damaged key production equipment

Not to worry, Willie's guitar has a big hole in it where the rainwater can drain out.

Former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama publicly condemned the Trump administration's dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), joining legendary singer Bono in an emotional farewell via videoconference to the shuttered aid service.

This is what I voted for. Thank you, Donald.

I do not see them around Home Depots in our neck of the woods in Phoenix.

Phoenix may be doing something similar to what the Dallas area does - providing "day labor centers" so the congregation of illegals remains out of public view. In Dallas, empty retail spaces such as former grocery stores (even some of the older Walmart locations) remain unmarked, with only the "For Lease" sign out front - but the day laborers are given that address to go to.

Inside, some advocacy group has a paperwork system that logs the contractor info, dates of work, type of work, etc. The idea is primarily to "protect" the worker from non-paying contractors. I'll bet they have some arrangement where the A/C is on in the summer, too - and probably some TVs tuned to Univision.

Billy was off a bit on the year...

But the dystopian vibe is on-point.

I’m sure the protest broke up as soon as the deer flies arrived.

Actually, bison chili is on the menu @ Old Faithful Inn Dining Room. It is absolutely delicious!

Locally sourced, apparently!

The Boys of Summer

- Don Henley

You Got Lucky

- Blackberry Smoke (cover of Tom Petty classic, in more of a slow, country style).

...the last Parthian shot from a terrified regime...

Sometimes I scan the excerpt and a particular turn of phrase sort of jumps out at me - and I know it's VDH before checking the by-line.

Where’s that blood-sucking lawyer, what’s his name, Crump?

I commented on how curious Ben's absence was some time ago. Maybe he was tipped off about video evidence that would make the case troublesome for him.

Well, there goes the Jewish vote................

The Orthodox, sure. However, don't be surprised to see polls that show the Reform crowd clamoring for this nightmare.