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Earlier today, I wrote about a Newsweek story blasting Spike’s Tactical and Pipe Hitters Union regarding an ad featuring a handful of armed Americans facing a horde of Antifa rioters. It featured text saying, “Not today, Antifa.”

You’d have thought the two companies were offering a bounty on leftists or something.

Well, it seems that both companies have responded. A copy of the press release issued by the two:

APOPKA, Fla. – Spike’s Tactical, a national AR-15 parts and weapons manufacturer based near Orlando, Florida, and Pipe Hitters Union, an international apparel manufacturer based in Austin, Texas, were attacked by Newsweek on Monday for an advertisement the companies recently ran in SKILLSET Magazine and posted on Facebook earlier this week.

“Our advertisement, NOT TODAY ANTIFA, is meant to be pro-American and against those who would suppress freedom of speech and the rest of our constitutionally protected rights, including the right to bear arms,” said Kit Cope, spokesman for Spike’s Tactical. “We offer zero apologies to anyone that is offended by this advertisement that depicts armed, but peaceful, patriotic Americans standing up against socialist, anarchist and communist rioters.”

The dual-page ad, which was designed for and is scheduled to run in RECOIL Magazine for the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, was commissioned as a joint advertisement between Spike’s Tactical and Pipe Hitters Union.

“We had no idea this ad would become so controversial, but let me be very clear about one point – We are not and do not support Nazis or any white supremacist movement in any shape or form,” said Lincoln A. Osiris, president of Pipe Hitters Union. “Every year we do a centerfold ad together with Spike’s Tactical for SHOT Show, and this year, after the rioting in several cities throughout the U.S., we decided to address those who are anti-American, anti-government and anti-democracy in our advertisement. We believe that anyone who supports this great nation, the Constitution and our democratic republic supports our stance.”

According to Osiris, that stance is that the people who are behind the Antifa movement are anti-American.

“They often incite violence, cause property damage and commit crimes, while hiding behind a veil of anti-fascism, but in reality they are no more than an unorganized group of domestic terrorists.” Osiris said.

According to representatives from both companies, the Newsweek article contains several errors, one of which is the claim that the group of masked protestors in the advertisement are unarmed. The image clearly depicts the protestors holding weapons. Additionally, the article insinuates that Spike’s Tactical and Pipe Hitters Union support neo-Nazis and white supremacists, which is categorically false.

“Neither of our brands support anything other than America, our military and members of law enforcement,” said Osiris. “Many of us at both companies wore the uniform and swore an oath to defend this country against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and that oath doesn’t have an expiration date.”

Additionally, Newsweek accuses Spike’s Tactical of using anger over Antifa to sell, “dangerous assault rifles to only one side,” and says anti-fascists are worried that it fuels a desire to kill leftists.

“We would never advocate violence, unless it is in the form of self-defense,” said Cope. “And for the record, our rifles are available for sale to any responsible person who is legally allowed to own a firearm, regardless of how they register to vote,” said Cope.

Furthermore, the writer for Newsweek says that neither company responded for requests to comment, however, he attempted to contact the companies after business hours and published his article that evening.

About Spike’s Tactical
Spike’s Tactical was founded the day before 9/11 by Mike and Angela Register and is headquartered in Apopka, Florida. The family-owned business employs around 40 people and all products are made exclusively in the USA and assembled in Florida. Spike’s Tactical is regarded as one of the premier AR-15 manufacturers in the world. Their mission is to build the highest quality products and offer them at the best possible price to the consumer. Spike’s Tactical weapons are designed to military specifications for civilian, law enforcement and military use. All products manufactured by Spike’s Tactical feature a manufacturer’s lifetime warranty.

About Pipe Hitters Union
Pipe Hitters Union is a disabled combat veteran-owned and operated small business, founded in 2004 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. PHU was founded by a small group of special operations combat veterans that shared a common belief in the unity of cause, the willingness to face extreme obstacles head on and the absolute refusal to backdown in the face of adversity. Since then, the message has spread to like-minded individuals from all professions and walks of life. Whether military, law enforcement or civilian, Pipe Hitters throughout the world are pushing their limits daily and making their mark. The PHU brand is a mark of distinction and a call for others to join us.

First, let’s address that last line.

Furthermore, the writer for Newsweek says that neither company responded for requests to comment, however, he attempted to contact the companies after business hours and published his article that evening.

This is not an all too uncommon tactic. By reaching out after normal work hours, the unscrupulous journalist knows that it’s unlikely the company or companies will respond. It’s very unlikely anyone will even get the request for comment until after the story is published, thus making sure only one side of the story is presented. But the reaching out takes place so it cannot be said they didn’t make even a token effort.

I’ve seen it done before.

Now, let’s take a look at this ad in question. In addition to the press release, I was given a copy of the ad to take a look at. Let’s take a look see and find out what the problem is.

Well, isn’t this something? Remember how Newsweek claimed the Antifa in the ad were unarmed? I see at least two weapons plain as day. On the left, there’s a rioter with some kind of stick in his hand (read: club) rared back to hit someone. On the right, someone has a Maglight-style flashlight. Both of those can be weapons.

Further, the numbers alone constitute a viable threat to human life.

Frankly, the ad looks to be the kind of thing that would only outrage Antifa, which it did.

Both companies made it clear that they do not support racism or Nazis, but would it have mattered? There’s nothing in this ad that should suggest a fondness for Nazis…unless you have bought into the narrative that Antifa only takes issue with fascists. The problem is, anyone to the right of Mao is a fascist in their minds.

The fact is, this ad speaks to the exact people Pipe Hitters Union and Spike’s Tactical tend to market to. You know, Americans who will stand in the face of tyranny. In this case, it’s the tyranny of a mob who will use violence to intimidate political opponents.

It’s enough to make me want to spend some money with both of these companies.

The post Spike’s Tactical And Pipe Hitters Union Responds To Newsweek appeared first on Bearing Arms.

via Bearing Arms
Spike’s Tactical And Pipe Hitters Union Responds To Newsweek

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The news can be pretty depressing these days. Sometimes it feels like you need to just wash your brain out with soap. And have I got the brain soap for you: There’s a guy in Regina, Saskatchewan who’s really good at making outdoor snow globes out of bubbles. I could watch him make these all day.

It was pretty damn cold in Canada over New Year’s, just like it was in most of the continental US. And Craig Boehm took the opportunity to make some amazing natural snow globes using nothing but soap, water, a straw, and the excruciatingly cold weather.

As the people of Canada rang in 2018, the temperature dropped to -40 degrees. And as one natural snow globe enthusiast points out, the cool thing about -40 degrees is that it’s the same in Celsius as it is in Fahrenheit. Or, I guess, that’s “cool” if you don’t have to be outside for more than 10 minutes at a time.

But Boehm didn’t invent the creation of natural snow globes, obviously. There are other snow globe videos on YouTube and I really can’t recommend them highly enough. Like this one from Slim Potatohead.

Let the soothing snow globes wash over your brain. That’s it. Doesn’t that feel better?

via Gizmodo
I Can’t Stop Watching These Soap Bubble Snow Globes Get Made

There is a freedom in driving a car for a long time after it’s been paid off. But not every vehicle can go the distance. If you’re the type to keep your car for a long time, have a look at this survey breaking down the most popular models that owners tend to keep for 15 years.

According to a study conducted by iSeeCars.com, Toyota tops the list of cars that people keep into their automotive teenage years, with Honda/Acura in second place. This is probably not surprising, as both brands have reputations for build quality and general survivability. The entire list is dominated by Japanese brands, with the VW Golf being the one German car that folks apparently don’t give up on easy. There are no U.S. brands here, though of course some of these models are made in America.

For those of you who don’t want to bother doing math, 15 years ago takes us back to 2003. That means there are a whole bunch of first-generation Highlanders, Siennas and Tundras still running around with the person who bought them new. Neat.

As for how iSeeCars determined which vehicles made the list, they used the following methodology:

iSeeCars.com analyzed over 650,000 used cars from model years 1981-2002, sold between January through November 2017. For each model, the number of cars sold by the original owner was expressed as a percentage of the total number of cars sold. “Original-owner” cars were bought as new by the owner. The models were then ranked by the original-owner percentage. Models with fewer than 100 cars sold or which were no longer in production as of the 2017 model year were excluded from the analysis.

So, I guess it’s somewhat relevant to note that iSeeCars was subtracting 15 from 2017, not ’18.

If you’re the type of car buyer who plans on keeping something for more than a decade, remember that the upfront price isn’t everything. You might not get as big of a discount on a new Honda or Toyota as you would from another automaker, but you may get a much longer life out of those models.

You can read the full details of the study here at iSeeCars.com

via Lifehacker
These Are The Cars People Keep For 15 Years

In the game of adulting, a herd accompanies you past the milestones. When you’re young, everyone you know is graduating college, landing a first job, getting married, having kids. As you approach middle age, the milestones become less celebratory. Everyone you know is loosening their belt, losing their hair, losing their T. And then comes the most disorienting loss of all: their parents.

For this milestone, I was a reluctant advance scout, far ahead of the herd. My mom died seven years ago, when I was 32. I’ve written about the peculiar feeling of becoming a newly orphaned adult. Here, I’ll share some thoughts about how to be a good parent as you’re losing yours.

Be Direct

This is no time for euphemism. If your father is in hospice care, he’s not “feeling a little sick.” When your mom flatlines, she is not “sleeping.” Your dad is dying. Your mom is dead. It’s brutal, but it’s the truth. Your kids need the opportunity to say goodbye, just as you do. If you hedge reality, the gravity of the situation will escape them.

Kids learn the reality you define, and you’ll only blur it if you speak in clumsy metaphors. A side effect of euphemism is anxiety. The kiddos may become scared of going to bed or getting a cold. After all, PawPaw was feeling a little sick, and now he lives underground in the big flower garden.

Show What You Feel

Cry. Moan. Mope. Stare into space. Your mother will never kiss your cheek again. Your father’s quest for the cheapest gasoline has ceased. He’ll never share another update on that subject.

Your feelings will be messy and contradictory. Don’t try to make sense of things right away. And don’t hide the mess from your kids. If they’re young, they won’t understand what happened to Grandma. Do not compound this confusion by wearing a brave face that creates the question: Why isn’t Mom sad that Grandma is dead? Mourning openly shows children another way to express love. It’s more than hugs and smiles—it’s also wailing and tears.

But. Your kids don’t need to see you drunk or punching the drywall. There’s a difference between being vulnerable and being scary. Go ahead and climb all the way into despair. Devour an entire Ben & Jerry’s store, puke whiskey and Taco Bell, sleep for 20 hours—whatever. Just make sure your kids are enjoying a sleepover with their cousins while you come unglued.

Tell Stories

There’s research that indicates your boring stories about the way things used to be actually do stick with your kids. Telling family stories provides a sense of connection to the past. More than that, it signals that the subject of your dead mother is not off limits—that you want to keep thinking about her.

I didn’t do so well with this, initially. I kept a lot of memories about my mom to myself, and my daughter’s empathy told her to shy away from asking. Eventually, it became easy for me to think of my mom without feeling sad, and the stories spilled out.

That encouraged my daughter to tell her own stories. Remember, you and your children are mourning two versions of the same person. They’ll want to talk about the times Grandma snuck extra cookies to them at the dinner table much as you’ll want to reminisce about the time Mom did the boot scootin boogie at your 12th birthday party.

Keep the Routine

You’ll want to sit very still in a dark house. But soccer practice will beckon and a Girl Scout meeting will loom. The pantry will empty and Target will stand ready and eager to welcome you. A life has stopped. Your life is on pause. But life in general goes on. As much as you can, do what you would have done anyway, if your dad’s ashes weren’t sitting in an urn on your dresser.

My mom died early in the morning on October 29th. I was with her in the hospital room. Two days later, I was with my wife and daughter as we walked around the neighborhood trick or treating. My daughter was only three, and she wanted to dress up and see her friends’ costumes. She was sad, but she was also as candy crazy as Garfield.

I don’t remember much about that evening. I was still in shock. But it was nice to take a break from crying. It was nice to watch my kid squeal with delight at spooky decorations. It was nice to eat my feelings in the form of fun-sized Snickers.

Look Outside Yourself

It’s likely that you won’t be able to navigate this alone. You may be capable, ambitious, resilient and still entirely unmoored. Look for the helpers, as Mr. Rogers used to say.

There are dozens of kids’ books about death. I bought The Fall of Freddie the Leaf when my mom was dying, but it turned out to be beyond the understanding of my daughter. It remains on a bookshelf across the room, waiting for the next unlucky grandparent to die.

A support group or a good therapist can be miraculous, leading your family through the hurricane of emotions each one of you is feeling. Your child might have no words to express his grief. But maybe he can draw pictures or create videos on your phone. A professional will have the instincts to explore those alternative methods of communication.

Say What You Believe

No one knows what happens after the final heartbeat. Though current events make a strong case that humanity experienced a sudden mass extinction and Hell is real, the afterlife remains unconfirmed. If you’re not down with angels or ghosts don’t pretend otherwise. Older kids will see right through such hypocrisy, and they’ll judge you harshly for it. It’s okay to say you don’t know what happens after we die.

It’s also okay to create your own mythology. I think of it this way: a little fluttering of the air, just above my right shoulder, like the wings of a butterfly almost touching my ear. I turn my head and feel a warmth like the sun pulled through my body into my toes by the gravity of the Earth. That’s what it’s like when I feel my mom with me. Is it a trick of my creative nature? Is it a touch from an astral being? I don’t need an answer. Either way, I know there’s some part of her that’s still around.

via Lifehacker
How to Parent When Your Parent Is Dying

via Ars Technica
“Political pressure” reportedly kills Huawei/AT&T smartphone deal

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NHK Blends presents a wonderfully mellowed-out version of AC/DC’s 1980 rock classic Back in Black, performed on traditional Japanese instruments, including the shime-daiko, shakuhachi, and koto with a few owl calls thrown in for good measure.

via The Awesomer
Back in Black: Japanese Style

When the NCAA Women’s Final Four rolls into town at the end of March, it will be one of the largest sporting events in the city’s history by several metrics.
In terms of prestige, it’s right up there with the NHL All-Star game held at Nationwide Arena in 2015. And in a way, it’s bigger. After all, the basketball tournament features a championship game, not just an exhibition.
But it’s also a big deal because it represents the top-tier of sporting events that Columbus can lure. We don’t have a professional…

via Columbus Business News – Local Columbus News | Business First of Columbus
Women’s Final Four will be among most prestigious sporting events hosted by Columbus

After adding new features like live TV and DVR (with automated commercial removal), news and Android Auto support over the last year, Plex didn’t seem to bring anything new during tonight’s CES event. However, soon the streaming platform will add another new element as it tries to cover all media consumed across devices: podcasts. We spoke to co-founder Scott Olechowski, who explained that when it launches, users won’t need a server, and as you’d expect with Plex, it will sync access across devices like desktop and mobile. "Where it makes sense" you can expect downloads for offline listening as well.

What could come next, however, is the integration of podcasts with other media accessible on Plex, like TV shows and movies. For example, if you get deep into a new show, it could suggest the official podcast, a fan cast or even a related online video series. By working with content creators to add their shows directly to Plex, it could make its platform even more interesting. TechCrunch mentions that it’s in the "early stages" of talks about licensing its software to companies that sell combo TV tuner/antennas, which could also extend its reach.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2018.

via Engadget
Plex’s plan to serve all media will soon include podcasts

There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding Youtuber Logan Paul and his childish antics while visiting the beautiful country of Japan. Well, if you were unaware, there’s a way you should and shouldn’t act when you’re visiting unfamiliar places. The Japanese have known these rules for hundreds of years.

Back in 1810, Yasumi Roan penned the ultimate guide book for Japanese travelers: Ryoko Yojinshu. It was filled with tips, tricks, and advice that had been gathered over the years from other travelers and various writings from the past. It was such a big hit, the book is still being published today, including an English version called Afoot In Japan, translated by William Scott Wilson. Roan knew the rules of the road, as well as how one should act when being a guest in places away from home.

“You should not idly reach out your hands for fruits like Japanese pears, persimmons, citrons and mandarin oranges being grown at houses or gardens by the side of the road, now matter how ripe and plentiful they are. And of course, you should not mistakenly step on grains inside a village or garden that are being laid out to dry. If people complain about your actions in an area not your own, you will not come out on the best side of the argument, be you right or wrong.”

It may seem obvious that you shouldn’t take or destroy other people’s food, but the lesson here isn’t really about fruit and grain. Note the last line. You have to be extra careful to avoid offending others when you travel. Whether you think you’re right or wrong, you will not look good if the locals dislike your actions. So maybe don’t run around and stick dead fish and octopus parts in people’s faces for kicks and views.

“When you encounter young ladies, female grass cutters, or women in a group that is crossing your path in the mountains or on a path across the fields, it is best to offer a simple greeting but not to follow up with any more useless talk. Also, you should not thoughtlessly laugh at the countrified expressions of someone you may meet [on the road]. Be aware that trouble may begin from trivialities.”

Again, the real lesson here isn’t about how you should treat women (very different times and culture), it’s about knowing where the line is. Be careful of what you say and what you laugh at, especially if it’s because something is different. Don’t overstay your welcome, ask rude questions, utter judgmental statements, or point and laugh at people who are different (or doing something differently) than you.

“When anyone goes to an area unfamiliar to him, [he will find that] various ways of speaking and customs will be different. As the words are different from the place where he lives, he will be accustomed to hearing them, and unaccustomed to seeing what is around him. Though he will think these things to be strange, it is certain that the people of [this unfamiliar area] will think the same of him. It is a mistake to be unaware of this and to laugh at the customs and language of another place. To laugh at and distain another’s words or phrasing can be the source of an altercation.”

You might think some unfamiliar food or custom is weird, or think the people of the country you’re visiting are weird, but they most certainly think the same of you. Laughing or looking down upon customs and people in a foreign land is a quick way to cause trouble for yourself. And when you do cause such trouble, you make everyone else like you look bad. Remember, when you travel, you’re an unofficial emissary of your homeland.

“Things that you should not stop to look at while on the road: fights, arguments, gambling, games of go or shogi, village dances, village sumo matches, a person accidentally killed, or the place where someone was killed. By and large, you should not stop and gaze at places where many people have gathered together.”

I can’t believe people need to be told this (looking at you Logan), but gawking at (or recording) accidents, fights, arguments, or dead bodies is rude and disrespectful wherever you are, but especially when you’re a guest. Whatever is going on that’s drawing a crowd doesn’t concern you. Not only were you not involved in the incident, you’re not even a citizen who has the right to be concerned. Inform authorities if need be, but otherwise move along. Now, Roan also lists games, dances, and sumo matches here as things you shouldn’t stare at, but since these types of things are largely considered tourist attractions anymore, you can go ahead and look at those. Just use your head. If you feel awkward or unsure watching something unfold, don’t linger, and for pity’s sake don’t film it.

via Lifehacker
Travel Wisely With These Tips from Nineteenth Century Japan

MacOS: Once Apple finally embraced the right-click, Mac apps loaded up the right-click menu with extra functions. MacOS even includes several by default. But most American users don’t need to “Convert Text to Simplified Chinese.” Here’s how to get rid of that, and any other right-click menu option, so you can easily find the ones you do want.

Open System Preferences, and click the Keyboard icon. On the top menu, select Shortcuts. On the left menu, select Services. Now go down the right menu and deselect whatever you don’t need. (Not every menu item is available here, but many are.)

While you’re in your Mac’s Keyboard settings, you can disable unused keyboard shortcuts by selecting all the other options in the left menu and digging through their menus.

via Lifehacker
Personalize Your Mac’s Right-Click Menu