The idiotic game of “ding dong ditch” has been around a lot longer than the last few years. Friends of mine were fond of the game when I was growing up, all too many years ago. You basically just knock on a door or ring a doorbell, then take off running.It annoys the homeowner, it gives kids a bit of a thrill, but ultimately, no harm is done. It’s like calling someone and asking if their refrigerator is running.These days, some have tried to liken the game to others kicking doors like they’re trying to…

United States ruler Donald Trump said that kidnapping Cuba’s ruler, Miguel Diaz-Canel, “wouldn’t be very tough.” But Trump added that an operation to take out the Cuban leader won’t be necessary anyway, due to the worsening US-induced energy shortage. Trump made the comments while speaking on Tuesday to reporters aboard Air Force One. He praised his strategy of economically isolating the island nation, which has been under a US trade embargo since 1960, as a means of forcing Havana to make concessions. “In the meantime, there’s an embargo. There’s no oil. There’s no money. There’s no anything,” he said, taking…

The White House announced a new director of the National Park Service (NPS) last week — and parks advocacy groups are not happy about the choice. Hospitality executive Scott Socha is President Trump’s pick to lead the NPS, according to a list of new federal appointments announced on Feb. 11. Unlike many past directors of the NPS, Socha has no apparent experience in public service or conservation. Moreover, Socha’s company, Delaware North, specializes in hotels and resorts, many of which are located within national parks. Delaware North has even successfully sued the NPS over the ownership of iconic names, including…

Before the Lewiston shooting, Maine had what was termed a “yellow flag” law. It worked like a red flag law, but it was more limited in who could seek an order. Basically, it left it up to mental health experts after an evaluation.  Unfortunately, the Lewiston killer had seen mental health professionals who didn’t do anything. It was reported that the law was too complex and that no one was really sure how to use it, so no one bothered.A terrible excuse, in my view, but whatever.Regardless of my take, though, Maine implemented a red…

Gun Owners of America is celebrating what it calls another shot across the bow of the ATF. Congress and President Trump just signed the latest federal funding bill into law, and tucked inside is a $40 million cut to the ATF’s budget. It’s not the sweeping rollback some in the House originally pushed for, but GOA says it’s part of a bigger trend: stopping the agency’s growth, and shrinking it where possible. According to GOA, the ATF’s budget steadily climbed from roughly $1.4 billion in 2019 to about $1.75 billion by 2022. The Biden administration later requested as much as…

As I make my way around a hairpin left, a 30-degree slope enters my vision. Undeterred, I turn on X-mode and start to ascend. The Dunlop Grandtrek all-terrain tires momentarily slip and strain as I climb. But the 2026 Toyota BZ Woodland dutifully marches up the grade, greeting me with a stunning vista of rolling hills and avocado farms beneath me as the cobalt Pacific Ocean wafts in the distance. With 8.4 inches of ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive, and nearly 400 pound-feet of torque to play with, the bZ Woodland makes ventures like this comfortable. And, thankfully, I only…