I was cleaning out one of my desk drawers and discovered a ZEV trigger for a G19, so I installed it into my carry Glock

I had a pretty good trigger as the weapon came. It had a pretty long take up, but once you found the wall, a bit more and it broke crisply.

Now with this ZEV unit, the take-up is shorter and you quickly find the wall. With just a little more squeeze the firing pin is released. It now comes as a surprise as to when the thing fires. I like it a bunch more.

For me this article is yet another example of a loving God. He is returning his child to their eternal home, and he provides comfort at times for those who are still living a physical existence. You know, thinking out loud here, our actual existence is well documented and explained through study and results of experimentation and science. But it is completely explained when one folds in the spiritual...


From Epoch News:


Terminal Lucidity: Many Patients Experience an Unexplained Return of Mental Acuity in Their Final Days
The phenomenon is not new, and instances have been recorded in the medial literature going back to the 19th century.
Friends Read Free

Terminal Lucidity: Many Patients Experience an Unexplained Return of Mental Acuity in Their Final Days

The case study of Anna Katherina Ehmer is one of the most famous studies of terminal lucidity, a phenomenon that continues to baffle researchers.
Ms. Ehmer, known as Käthe, was a German woman born severely disabled in 1895. At six years of age, she was sent to a mental institution where she would live until she died at the age of 26.

“Käthe was among the patients with the most severe mental disabilities who have ever lived in our institution. From birth on, she was seriously retarded. She had never learned to speak a single word. She stared for hours on a particular spot, then she fidgeted for hours without a break. She gorged her food, fouled herself day and night, uttered an animal-like sound, and slept. In all the time she lived with us, we have never seen that she had taken notice of her environment even for a second,” recounted Dr. Friedrich Happich, who ran the institution.

Käthe suffered from several episodes of meningitis, which were thought to have “destroyed much of the brain tissue required for intelligent reasoning.” She also had tuberculosis, which led to the amputation of her leg and was the eventual cause of her death. She had never spoken a single word.

But, as she lay dying, something unexpected happened. She began singing to herself.

She sang—clearly and in perfect German—a funeral hymn. She sang to herself for a full half hour until she passed away.

Dr. Happich recounted the following scene at Kathe’s deathbed:
“One day I was called by one of our physicians, who is respected both as a scientist and a psychiatrist. He said: ‘Come immediately to Käthe, she is dying!’

“When we entered the room together, we did not believe our eyes and ears. Käthe, who had never spoken a single word, being entirely mentally disabled from birth on, sang dying songs to herself. Specifically, she sang over and over again ‘Where does the soul find its home, its peace? Peace, peace, heavenly peace!’ For half an hour she sang. Her face, up to then so stultified, was transfigured and spiritualized. Then, she quietly passed away. Like myself and the nurse who had cared for her, the physician had tears in his eyes.”

Terminal lucidity is most often seen in dementia patients right before they die. They have a brief period of lucidity where they come “back to life” and regain the qualities that make them who they are—or were before the onset of the disease.
This lucidity can include the ability to recall memories that were thought lost to a disease that slowly destroys the brain, as well as the ability to communicate—something that may long ago have disappeared as a consequence of their illness.

The phenomenon is not unique to those with dementia and happens in patients with other conditions such as severe psychiatric conditions, brain disorders, tumors, meningitis, brain abscesses, strokes, and brain injuries, as well as patients in comas who may wake up shortly before dying.
In 2009, German biologist Michael Nahm defined the term terminal lucidity in an article in the Journal of Near-Death Studies as: “The (re-) emergence of normal or unusually enhanced mental abilities in dull, unconscious, or mentally ill patients shortly before death, including considerable elevation of mood and spiritual affectation, or the ability to speak in a previously unusual spiritualized and elated manner.”

Paradoxical lucidity is a broader term that refers to the same phenomenon—a patient’s sudden return to mental clarity and the ability to speak and remember—and can happen anytime, not just before death. Some experts suggest paradoxical lucidity should only refer to those with severe neurodegenerative conditions that often render them non-communicative.

Experiences During Terminal Lucidity

A wide range of things can happen during these episodes of clarity, but there are some characteristics that those who experience terminal lucidity share. According to All American Hospice, the following are common among patients:
Requesting their favorite food or object
Recognizing or looking for a friend or family member
Being in a good mood and becoming more verbal
Reminiscing about good times when they were young
Looking for or talking to deceased people, pets, or religious figures
Having unexplained sensory experiences like seeing lights or hearing sounds
Talking about traveling or preparing to travel alone
Predicting the exact time of death
Other common experiences are improvement of physical symptoms, like pain, speaking clearly and coherently, answering questions from others, remembering things previously thought forgotten, getting up and walking around, and engaging in activities like singing.

Terminal Lucidity Case Studies

A review authored by Mr. Nahm and Dr. Bruce Greyson, et al., collected case reports of terminal lucidity and its occurrence in patients with a variety of conditions.
In a case from 1990, a five-year-old boy dying of a malignant brain tumor had been in a coma for three weeks. During this period, his family members had remained at his bedside. Eventually, upon advice from their minister, the family told their comatose son that although they would miss him, he had their permission to die.

“Suddenly and unexpectedly, the boy regained consciousness, thanked the family for letting him go, and told them he would be dying soon.” He died the next day. (Morse and Perry, 1990)

In another case, a young man was dying of cancer that had spread from his lungs to his brain. At the end of his life, brain scans found that the tumors had destroyed and replaced almost all of his brain tissue, and in the days before he died, he lost the ability to move or speak. However, his wife and a nurse observed that an hour before he died, he “woke up,” said goodbye to his family, and spoke with them for about five minutes before he lost consciousness and died. (Haig, 2007)

A third case involves an 81-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s who had been living in a retirement home in Iceland. Members of her family took turns visiting her even though she hadn’t recognized any of them or spoken for a year. One day, her son Lydur was sitting at her bedside when she suddenly sat up, looked at him directly in the face, and said:
“My Lydur, I am going to recite a verse to you.”

According to her son, she then very clearly recited the following verse, which he thought particularly appropriate to her situation (translated):
“Oh, father of light, be adored.
Life and health you gave to me,
My father and my mother.
Now I sit up, for the sun is shining.
You send your light in to me.
Oh, God, how good you are.”

After reciting the verse, the woman laid back down and was unresponsive—remaining this way until she died a month later.
Her son wrote down the verse thinking it was his mother’s original words, but later discovered it was the first stanza from an Icelandic poem.

Terminal lucidity is not a new phenomenon, and instances have been recorded in the medical literature since the 19th century.
A study examining cases of terminal lucidity going as far back as 1826 found that 84 percent of those who experienced this brief period of lucidity died within a week, and 43 percent of those died within 24 hours. But, some episodes can emerge up to six months before death.
One study researching paradoxical lucidity was published in Alzheimer’s and Dementia using a sample of 49 patients—many of whom had dementia. The study found that 43 percent of patients experienced paradoxical lucidity a few hours before death. Forty-one percent had the experience two to seven days before, and ten percent of the cases happened eight to 30 days before dying.

The same study cites that other researchers found that paradoxical lucidity in dementia patients typically happens within one to two days before the patients die.

There is also a wide range of variation in how long the episodes last. Another referenced study of 38 cases who experienced lucid episodes found that 5 percent lasted several days, 11 percent lasted one day, 29 percent lasted several hours, 24 percent lasted between 30 and 60 minutes, 16 percent lasted 10-30 minutes, and 3 percent of the episodes lasted less than ten minutes.

Some scientists have wondered if certain situations or stimuli may trigger these lucid episodes. Although the conditions in which these lucid episodes occur vary, having family members present and playing music that is familiar or meaningful to the patient are both relatively common.
These episodes are also witnessed by caregivers, nurses, doctors, and hospice and palliative care workers who care for terminally ill patients.

A study of end-of-life experiences found that seven out of ten caregivers in a nursing home said that in the last five years, they had observed patients with dementia and confusion become lucid a few days before they died.

Mysterious Causes

Scientists are still determining what causes terminal lucidity, and the phenomenon is difficult to study because of its unpredictable and transient nature. Studying these lucid episodes during their brief occurrence would also be considered unethical—taking away precious time patients could use to reconnect with their loved ones.

A 2009 report by Mr. Nahm and Dr. Greyson states that historically, physicians studying the phenomenon thought the cause was changes in brain physiology as the patient was dying. However, the authors say these conclusions are “rather general and seem inadequate from a modern medical perspective.”

Many questions remain about terminal lucidity and its causes.

All American Hospice states that many “question whether it’s real, spiritual, or just a supernatural experience,” writing that some believe it may be spiritual because the patient “wakes up” to complete their unfinished work, like saying goodbye, making their last wishes known, or seeing someone for the last time.

One study theorized that terminal lucidity may be physical due to brain changes right before death.
An article by Yen Ying Lim, an associate professor at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, and Diny Thomson, a doctoral candidate in clinical neuropsychology and a provisional psychologist—both from Monash University—said that the explanations extend beyond science: “These moments of mental clarity may be a way for the dying person to say final goodbyes, gain closure before death, and reconnect with family and friends. Some believe episodes of terminal lucidity are representative of the person connecting with an afterlife.”
Helping Loved Ones Cope

For those who witness these lucid episodes, they can be either a positive or stressful experience—and sometimes both. One study published in 2022 asked caregivers to appraise their experiences of these episodes in patients with late-stage Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Seventy-two percent reported them to be “quite a bit or very positive,” 17 percent said they were stressful, and 10 percent said they were a combination of the two.
Terminal lucidity can be stressful and confusing for some family members who may think it is a sign that their loved one is recovering and demand a change in care to accommodate this new situation—causing considerable emotional turmoil for family members, friends, and staff who care for the patient.

The article by Yen Ying Lim and Diny Thomson from Monash University referenced above, discusses terminal lucidity in those with dementia, and the importance of people knowing about the condition.

“Being aware of terminal lucidity can help loved ones understand it is part of the dying process, acknowledge the person with dementia will not recover, and allow them to make the most of the time they have with the lucid person,” they said.

For scientists, terminal lucidity represents an opportunity to reevaluate our understanding of the brain and the perception that the cognitive losses that characterize Alzheimer’s and other dementias are inevitable and irreversible.

For families, these brief episodes of lucidity can be a wonderful gift, allowing the sick person to say goodbye, reconnect with their family and friends, communicate their last wishes, and be an opportunity to ask for or give forgiveness. For loved ones of patients with severe dementia who may not have had any communication with them for many years, this can be a very healing experience for everyone involved and a beautiful way to say goodbye.

Both can be tough on you. I think the humidity is by far the worst of the two.

I remember a day or ten in Kandahar when static temps were in the high 1-teens. Someone once took a pic of a thermometer sitting at 128 (me). I operated in that and sucked it up. Around here it is near 90 with 85% humidity and I/we are miserable.

I hate humidity, who's with me?

My sentiment and I'll bet the same for a lot of Americans.

As a professional military man, my commanders in the flag pay grades (Generals) ran all over the spectrum. Some were analytical and thinkers, some were bar fighters. The latter were the most effective.

You see, both could get the job done, but the latter scared the pants off the opposition. They did so the same way the bully on the beach made the young man feel in the famous example (Kicking sand in the weaker man's face).

When we are talking about running a nation, a nation that is much hated all over the world, we need a street fighter. We need one who is smart and savvy. Trump has shown himself to be that man. China is nipping at our heels. Putin is laughing at Biden. Iran is shooting missiles into Israel and Kim (little boy) wants to start a war. So, we need a strong man to handle these short-term challenges. I believe they are short term, because with a no-nonsense Trump at the helm, those players will back up into their corners, all except for Iran, and we will kill that administration with a limited invasion.

The Democrats thought a courtroom win would kill Trump's chances of reelection. That belief shows just how foolish and disconnected they are at leadership levels. We, the conservative Americans are darned angry. We can see this trial was politically motivated, and what will be our response? We will vote for the man by the tens of millions.

Elon Musk may well be a gift to mankind. He has the intelligence, he has the vision, and he has the money to single-handedly propel mankind to our destiny. He embodies the future...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wotmu1KL0E

There seem to be more and more Christian-themed movies showing up, and the newest offering, "Sight" is a good one.

A couple weeks ago we watched another one, Unsung Hero, which was very inspiring and uplifting. The movie "Sight" shows God at work teaching one of the best eye doctors in life how love conquers adversity and is just a great story. Best of all it is all true.

At the end of the movie, you have an opportunity to "pay it forward" to buy a ticket for someone else to come and be blessed by the film as well.

I highly recommend this wonderful film.

What did Jesus actually mean just before he gave up his mortal live to return to heaven (after he had visited other places too)?

Much is lost in the translation to English, "It is finished."

During my aviation career, we pilots were students of precise communication. Running a cockpit, be it as an Airline Pilot or as a mission lead during a combat assault, we keep what we need to say very short and concise. We do not chat idly nor use generalizations. Take the simple act of transferring the controls to the other pilot. We do it in steps. First the pilot flying states, "You have the controls." The pilot taking the controls first takes the controls in his hands and feet, then announces, "I have the controls." The pilot who transferred the controls looks to verify the other pilot does indeed have the controls, then releases them and announces, "You have the controls." Same thing every single time. No way to screw it up. But a new pilot just may. The veteran pilot may say, "You have the controls," and the junior pilot could answer something like, "Got it." Well got what exactly...The aircraft controls, or that rapidly rising terrain in front of the aircraft or the number two engine oil pressure that is a tad bit low? Precise communication eliminates all the doubts and questions.

Jesus did that with his use of ancient Greek, but when translating the meaning of the actual word he used, much has been lost.

It is finished... What exactly is finished? Was he referring to his mortal life? Perhaps to his work to deliver God's message? Was he finished creating a church or a following? He was certainly finished with a bunch of things, but the exact word he chose really tells a much bigger story with a deeper meaning. God makes no mistakes, he is perfect. He chose the word, the Greek word to show us how much that Jesus had done in the most important work, of reconnecting the human race to the God who created us.

Just amazing!


https://www.facebook.com/reel/450976760618174

The US Army's new round: The .277 Fury (6.8mm)

The Army will be converting to this new rifle, The M7 and a much, much more powerful round in the coming years. The Marine Corps will catch up as well in time, and hopefully as one of our premier fighting forces, not all that long!

This thing is violent. More than doubles (triples??) the effectiveness of our current 5.56mm. Shooting a 100+ Grain slug at over 3,000 feet per second it has all sorts of new technology. First, the standard round is a solid copper bullet, Other versions will penetrate armor or have tracer elements.

The weapon's effectiveness easily extends to 600-700 meters dwarfing the short range of the tiny 5.56mm round. It more or less destroys a human body that is not protected by armor. I see very little chance of surviving being shot with such a round. This thing looks more like a magnum than something like the .308 which I believe it outperforms.

This is nothing short of deadly. As a veteran and soldier, I have mixed emotions about such a weapon, but in the end, should the enemies of America threaten our way of life, then they have brought it's use upon themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTAfS1addXU

Picture says it all...

Very damming evidence from President Trump's attorney.

Our republic is ours to lose!

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/05/2-6-13/

Well, this happened today:

A new Kioti 6010 Cab tractor with a loader and a grapple.

Good vid on a farmer who purchased one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rBiZQQnnDA

I believe I mentioned this might arrive, and as of today it is on its way.

Because of the situation surrounding my farm, that being we are not building our forever home there in the near future, and maybe not at all, but possibly...
Because of that, the farm is now in a maintenance mode from my perspective. I will harvest round bales of hay off of it twice a year, totalling around 100 bales, I still need to bushhog the areas not harvested, and repair the roads, and do chores here and there. Therefore I feel another 60HP tractor is good enough.

I actually built that farm with a 66HP John Deere then went into overdrive with the skid-steer and excavator. But a simple hydrostat tractor is all that I will need to keep the place in tip-top condition going forward.

I already own a 60HP Kubota MX-6000. But I have to say that after two years on that thing, I really do not like it. It has a terrible "Treadle" pedal thing that makes the tractor super difficult to just operate. Then there's the pathetic loader. The Kubota's loader is rated at 1,700 lbs, whereas the Kioti's is nearly 2,700. That is a country mile better. No excuse, Kubota, you built us a weak-in-the-knees tractor.

I traded in my Kubota today and picked up a brand new Kioti 60-horse tractor. It's so new that it is still all broken down sitting in a crate. I got to pick out my tires which will be the newest offering, the R14 which is half ag and half industrial tire tread. I added to it a third function routed to the loader so I could operate the grapple, and I purchased a Kioti 5' grapple.

The new tractor with a cab will allow for AC when cutting in September, and heat when doing winter chores. It has a ton of cool features, some of which I may actually use! It is set to be delivered on Thursday.

https://www.facebook.com/helptheveteranstadinginfrontofyou/videos/7840779969266427

Look at this deal:


https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/411561584/smith+%26+wesson+m%26p5.7+5.7x28mm+tac+pac+w+5+mags+tactical+light+%26+knife?trk_msg=4P5DFCADJSN4D6MFAOMKDENCUO&trk_contact=P5PV5640HG0K44U1UC0UID1EUC&trk_sid=LG95JO0UIEKG8ORRP8NTAVR0AC&trk_link=APA35DAUD764H6SR3E4EN06A80&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%24650.00+Free+Shipping&utm_campaign=bgssnw042524


I heard all sorts of good things about this round when I was in Afghanistan. It had drill like qualities and was ab le to defeat most of the carrier plates around at the time. Am I still interested in it? Could one sustain oneself in ammunition for something designed to fire a lot of rounds?
and
22 rounds per magazine!

This may be popping up on the radar

OK as is with everything I have ever owned, even a few things I didn't actually own, I tend to change up things rather early in the life of the "whatever."

I do not like these skinny little roller disc tires that came stock on my 3500 Ram.

Stock size is 235/80-R17 mounted on 6" wide factory aluminum and steel wheels.

After reading the forums some, I see that the biggest tire I can fit onto that wheel and not rub in the back is a 255/80 R17. The nice thing about that is the 255 is 33.1" in diameter and comes in the BFG KO2 which is the tire I want.

But that looks kinda of small and I am starting with a pretty deep 4.10 gear and the powerful HO engine making a stock 1050 ft/lbs.

The forums advise tires larger in diameter and require the use of a 1.5" or 2" spacer for the outboard rear wheels. Not so sure if I am a fan of that.

The limiting factor seems to be with the 6" wide factory wheels which will certainly not allow a much wider tire to properly spread out.

I am looking for some ideas about which direction to go. I will be adding the Carli to level it up and get the good shocks so I may even have more wheel well clearance although the 255/80 will not interfere with anything on a dually

Ideas?

I was just given a new Marlin model 1895 in 45-70 for my birthday which is coming up in a couple weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWJ7p7O0Z2M

We just took delivery of a new 2024 Palamino 3210 slide in truck camper!

Now that we have purchased our Palamino HS-2902 camper I am busy prepping the truck to carry it.

I think I have a good start already. First of all the camper is designed for a 6.5'-8.0' bed length. Its center of gravity is some 5" forward of the rear axle.

Secondly, the truck is a Ram 3500 with a GVWR of 11,800, about a thousand more than some other Ram 3500s.

I have already replaced the factory shocks with Fox HD units. The truck is leveled with 2.5" Carli suspension front springs and a 1" rear block. I also opted to relocate the lower control arms to keep a good caster number, and in fact, I am aligned to factory specs in the middle of the adjustment range. (Great job Carli Suspension!)

I opted for 37" tires because I did want some limited off-road capability, but on the downside, it raised the truck nearly 2". To offset that, I purchased Icon wheels that space the tires 2+ inches further out into the wheel well. Whereas before the tires sat well inside the fenders, now the tires are nearly flush with the fender. That gave the vehicle a more planted and stable feel, which will help with carrying a lot of weight way up high.

Finally, I have already installed a set of 5,000lb capacity airbags for when I carry trailers which are weighing more than 6K-7K. I do not want any squat, and with the airbags, I don't get any.

Next up, I purchased a set of Torque-Lift, Stable-load units. These clever mechanical devices can be quickly turned to engage the primary spring pack with the overload spring. This alone would vastly reduce squat, but reading about the subject, I can see many others reporting great results. I have used these before on my 2500 Duramax truck and indeed they made my truck corner nearly flat on these windy Kentucky roads.

One of the other huge benefits of these devices is that they reduce body roll. Going around a corner with a ton and a half perched at windshield level can get spicy, but devices such as this will really tame the ride.

Coming right up, but not quite yet, I plan to install a 1 1/2" rear sway bar. I think with all that going on, I will have the camper/truck handling as good as it possibly could.

The set on the Chevy were made of mild steel and rusted and corrouded. This time they offer Stainless steel units and I ordered those.

"Everything is habit-forming, so make sure what you do is what you want to be doing."

- Wilt Chamberlain

I pulled the trigger and purchased one of the first 2024 Palomino slide-in truck Camper.

We purchased a Back Pack max series HS 2902 unit which features a slide for additional interior space.

Gentlemen.
Last year I discussed the cost of this site going forward.
We get charged annually for being hosted by A Small Orange.

This year the cost to Renew is $963 + $33 or $996

You all get to decide if the site continues. Anyone who feels led to donate to keep us alive may do so using the donation tab or Venmo or PayPal. I will collect funds like I have in the past. If we make it to the $996, then Real Man continues. If we fail to reach the minimum threshold, then I will simply return the money you donated and at some point, afterward, A small Orange will simply turn off the site.

So, there it is. And this is really sort of a test. You see I have been praying during these 100 days of prayer for the Lord to use this place for his work, and if this site was not about furthering the kingdom of heaven in some way, God would destroy it.

I am interested to see if we really are serving Heaven or just ourselves. I feel that we try to do a good thing here, but I could be wrong. We will soon find out.

Blessings,

Don

I owned one back in the 1980's and it was crude at best, but I restored it and used it some mounted on a Ford F250 of mine.

Now I think I want another one.

Looking at our more adventuresome travel as of late, and the prospect of having to sleep in a rooftop tent for more than 30 consecutive days, well...

Kat and I are now doing four or more trips a year. And oddly enough, I am ripening right along. Now, I can climb up and down ladders but I can't ever remember wanting to seek to be miserable. Sort of reminds me of my (many) Armee days when I lived with near-zero support. Yea, well, I didn't like it then and I still don't.

We are doing the Zion National Park trip in a bit more than a month in a Jeep, that's handled. But, for the Wyoming/Montana trip in the summer, well that is a long one. It would be so much nicer in some sort of backpack truck camper perched on my Ram 3500.

I started thinking about this because next year we are driving to the Arctic Ocean. Up the Alcan spending a lot of time in the Canada, then back down the coast of AK, onto a ferry to Seattle, then probably just ship the truck home from there. Anyway, I was going to buy a truck camper for that one. Either that or put a V8 into the Gladiator and install a more substantial backpack camper on it.

I think the smartest thing to do is to keep the Jeep in a roof tent configuration and buy a truck camper

Let the discussion begin:

https://www.prageru.com/video/mesha-mainor-i-switched-parties-because-of-my-stance-on-choice?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_9118956

This is going to hurt
The undoing or the American Empire...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/egypt-has-officially-permanently-ditched-the-us-dollar/ar-BB1in7m8?ocid=msedgntp&pc=ASTS&cvid=5219c8c249d74bdabd3a6ce8fe212c75&ei=18