A warning has been issued throughout the state of Florida over scammers targeting veterans, active-duty military members, and their families. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs, through its Operation Senior Shield initiative, has issued a scam alert to tell citizens to verify before they donate to any charity claiming to be raising money for military causes. “Floridians are incredibly generous, especially when it comes to supporting our veterans, active-duty military members, and their families,” the DOEA said in a statement to Military.com. “Unfortunately, scammers understand that generosity and often exploit it by creating fake charities and emotional fundraising appeals that…
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Sitting on the tailgate of my truck, I fire up the new Optimus Gemini II dual-burner camp stove in order to make some coffee and oatmeal to start the day. With a scenic backdrop of snowcapped mountains piercing a pale blue sky, I twist the knobs on the slim silver stove to get the heat settings just right. Moments later, I’ve got oatmeal simmering in one pot while my coffee water boils in a mug next to it. The new Optimus stove, which fits perfectly into my truck-camping regimen, is considered compact. The stove has two burners, making it a…
Toronto sure looks like a rough place these days. Not even by Canadian standards, but ours. Even the U.S. Consulate isn’t safe, as we found out last month.Yeah, that gun control is going just swimmingly, isn’t it? However, I apparently need to give the Toronto cops their due. They made two arrests in the incident, which is good. It’s everything else they announced about the arrests that has me scratching my head.Toronto police announced the arrests Thursday of a 19-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy in the second shooting at the U.S. Consulate in five…
After a long day in the sun paddling the Missouri River, I hopped off the canoe, walked along the sandbar, and began to set up my tent. As I unfolded the poles, I began to hear the clinking and clanking of knives chopping vegetables and metal spoons hitting the side of a mixing bowl. Soon, the crackle and smoke of fire began to spread over the campsite, and I got my first inkling that something tasty for dinner was on the way. I walked over to the fire with my camp chair in hand, and took a seat to watch…
Enlisted Air Force ranks are categorized into three levels: airmen (pay grades E-1 through E-4), noncommissioned officers (E-5 and E-6), and senior noncommissioned officers (E-7 through E-9). Some personnel can enlist at an advanced rank if they have college credits or have participated in Junior ROTC. The highest advanced rank one can enlist with under these programs is airman first class (E-3). The Air Force offers accelerated promotion for service members who agree to enlist for six years. Under this program, enlistees who enter service as an airman basic (E-1) are promoted to airman (E-2) after basic training is finished,…
Within the Air Force, officer ranks follow a clear-cut structure, divided into three categories: company grade, field grade, and general officers. Company grade officers range from O-1 to O-3. Climbing the ranks, next are field grade officers, in the O-4 to O-6 range, taking the helm of mid-level command. Finally, at the top of the hierarchy are general officers, O-7 and above, who oversee strategy. Air Force Company Grade Officer Ranks Second Lieutenant (O-1) The rank of second lieutenant is shown through a single gold bar. Proper forms of address include “second lieutenant” or “lieutenant.” Commissioned airmen sometimes may skip…
I got my first Swiss Army knife at a flea market when I was about 11 years old. I have no clue which model it was, but it had the basic tools we typically see nestled between those familiar red handle scales, such as a knife blade, can opener, bottle opener, and corkscrew. I beat the hell out of that knife for a few years. It whittled hundreds of sticks into sharp points. I used it to open cans of Dinty Moore or Chef Boyardee I’d brought to the campfire. It trimmed rope we used in countless forts in the…
For years, we’ve wanted the Supreme Court to agree to hear a case on bans of so-called assault weapons. They’ve continually kicked the can down the road, and that’s been a significant problem for the gun rights community. However, everything is about to change.In the Court’s list of cases, two in particular came up that deal with assault weapon bans.Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, the latter of which is tied with National Association for Gun Rights v. Lamont, both (all?) revolve around the concept of an assault weapon ban. And, as of…
Your Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan benefit is one of the most valuable of all benefits issued to you as an active-duty service member, veteran, or eligible spouse. What makes it so valuable? It is a lifelong benefit that never expires. This means you can either sell your current home purchased with a VA-backed loan, or keep it, and use your full entitlement or use your remaining “bonus” entitlement to buy another primary residence using your VA loan benefits. This article will explore how you can use your VA loan entitlement for the second time. What is My…
As a kid, I have horrifying memories of backpacking food. On a trip in California, my dad insisted we eat old bags of chili mac. My mom once tried to rehydrate freeze-dried chicken breast, resulting in the driest dinner known to man. Thankfully, in the last decade or so, backpacking brands have made huge improvements. These days, small, boutique brands serve up dishes with premium ingredients like wild boar, Thai basil, duck confit, and more. If you’re a foodie who isn’t willing to make sacrifices in the backcountry, you’ve got plenty of choices. On a recent week-long backpacking trip in…
Earlier this year an Oregon lawmaker was accused of bullying and intimidation of his colleague. Through correspondence concerning a records request a state official admitted that there was no investigation. During a work session that the Oregon House Judiciary Committee held, it was alleged that the chairman acted improperly. Chairman Jason Kropf, D-54, was accused of intimidating and bullying another member of the committee, Rep. Thủy Trần, D-45. In the days that followed, several complaints were made against Kropf. Earlier this month an official with the Oregon Office of Legislative Counsel admitted that there was…
A new report has revealed that a live-action adaptation of Persona is in development at Netflix. Franchise creator ATLUS has recently confirmed its next entry in the mainline Persona games and is also preparing for the launch of Persona 4 Revival. Developed by P-Studios, an ATLUS division, the Persona series started out as a spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei brand. The first title, Revelations: Persona, was launched in 1996. Since then, the Persona franchise has released four more mainline games and several of its own spin-offs. The long-rumored Persona 6 was also confirmed earlier in June 2026, almost ten…
Israel has continued its military intervention in Lebanon, despite a memorandum of understanding and an interim peace deal that could be the first step to ending the war with Iran. What is making matters worse is that Israel is also preparing for a permanent occupation of Lebanon. This continued military presence in Lebanon is problematic, said Tehran-based Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi. He told RT that Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon reflects its broader territorial ambitions and shows that the US is failing to uphold its commitments under the interim peace deal with Iran. Israel has rejected all calls to stop the…
Israel and Lebanon’s latest peace deal faces an uncertain future after Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful proxy militant group, this week vowed to derail its implementation. The framework agreement — signed in Washington — lays out a plan for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, pending “the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups,” referring to Hezbollah. The Lebanese army is meant to move into areas vacated by Israel to assert control. The U.S.-brokered accord is the first such deal between Israel and Lebanon since 1983, though that pact collapsed due to opposition from various groups in Lebanon, a…
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and a spate of progressive prosecutors have sent a letter to the heads of 3D printer makers, including one operating inside the People’s Republic of China, urging the companies to “expeditiously work on a printer-based solution to identifying and blocking the manufacture of all 3D printed firearm parts.” A “printer-based” solution means coming up with an algorithm that would block 3D printers from making any object that could be used to craft a firearm. A new bill that became part of New York’s budget establishes a task force that’s supposed…
Financial hardship and Department of Veterans Affairs-backed mortgages intersect more often than the housing benefit’s reputation suggests. Veterans miss payments for the same reasons anyone does: job loss, medical debt, divorce, a period of reduced income following separation from service. And the consequences of falling behind on a VA mortgage can be serious. As of June 15, 2026, a new option exists for veterans that did not exist before. The VA Partial Claim Program, authorized by the VA Home Loan Reform Act signed by President Trump on July 30, 2025, and formally launched in June, allows mortgage servicers to bring…
The United States and Iran have exchanged several strikes since Friday. These renewed attacks are threatening to upend an already precarious peace deal between the two warring nations. Both sides have accused the other of violating the terms of the agreement signed on June 17th. This is the first time the two warring countries have exchanged strikes since the signing of the interim peace deal. Iran Declares Memorandum of Understanding A “Record of US Failure” Iran has already blasted the US as liars. The “very nature” of the US is to break its promises and treaties, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps…
I do not celebrate mass shootings anywhere in the world. I still remember the feeling of finding out a dear friend had been murdered in one, so even at my worst, that’s something I could never do. When I point out a massacre elsewhere in the world, it’s not to celebrate that it happened there, but to point out that the claim of these being “uniquely American” is bogus. And the latest example was in Stade, Germany, on Monday.A 45-year-old man killed six adults and wounded several others in a shooting attack at a child…
A San Diego-based Marine lost at sea during training exercises last week was identified by Marine officials Monday as a 21-year-old from Minnesota. Lance Cpl. Armando Ortiz Canseco went missing early Thursday from the USS Anchorage and was declared dead Friday following an extensive search spanning 2,400 miles off the Southern California coast, Navy officials said. On Monday, Col. Richard Alvarez, commanding officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, issued a statement offering condolences to Ortiz Canseco’s family and friends. “He earned the title of United States Marine and served his country with honor and commitment,” Alvarez said. “We mourn…
