The Five for 11/19/20

Antifa in 2021, Retirement Bitcoin, Mac Laptops, Not Freezing to Death

Sooo…last night’s live broadcast was fouled up by technical difficulties.

We’re gonna do better tonight. Join me tonight on Facebook, YouTube or Twitter at 8:30 pm (for real this time) to learn about the new platform I’m helping to build.

This has the potential to be a major part of the legacy I hope to leave, so I hope you can tune in.

I mainly wanted to tell you that, but since I’m sending you an email…here’s The Five.

[ONE]

If you haven’t heard the name Gabriel Nadales, let me make a vital introduction. Nadales was radicalized into a violent Antifa group, and later found his way out through reading and critical thinking.

His story of being a Mexican immigrant who was ridiculed for being religious, to channeling his anger and rage via Antifa, to finding reason and independent thought is a fascinating journey. A good starting point is Gabriel’s interview on the Valuetainment Podcast. If you like that, you might consider picking up his new book.

I wanted to highlight a bot of Gabriel’s writing from 2019, back when most people had not heard of Antifa.

Antifa’s goals and tactics are unquestionably antithetical to American values and a direct threat to our system of government built on free speech, individual liberty and a representative government that reflects the will of the people while protecting minorities. Antifa wants to destroy our democratic republic and establish an authoritarian regime where dissent is crushed and beaten into submission.

According to Gabriel, if you think Antifa will go away under a Biden administration, you’re sorely mistaken. This fringe group hates Republicans and Democrats alike and will continue to escalate their violent tactics into 2021.

I’ve highlighted this before, but you might consider buying body armor for your family during this uncertain time. Even if you don’t feel comfortable owning a gun, keeping vital equipment on hand to protect your vital organs is a good idea during uncertain times. AR500 is having a great sale right now.

[TWO]

Bitcoin is once again on fire, and I’m considering moving a portion of my 401K into this cryptocurrency.

I don’t have time to explain that any more today, but I highly encourage you to check out the book Bitcoin Billioinaires about the Winklevoss Twins, early investors in Facebook who caught the wave of this magical, inflation-proof internet money.

[THREE]

Winter is coming.

It’s not just an internet meme, it’s a dangerous reality for those living in the upper midwest and colder parts of the U.S.

Six years ago, I slide off the road during an ice storm as temps dropped to 15 degrees below zero. I called 911 and was informed that first responders were swamped, and I would need to wait in my vehicle for at least two hours, and at that temperature frostbite starts setting in within 15 minutes.

Fortunately, I was prepared. I donned my cold weather gear and walked two miles to a hotel.

Before the storms of winter hit, here’s my personal list of gear you should be carrying in your vehicle during cold weather:

• Boots, gloves, hat, face covering (scarf for ski mask) that you can move comfortably in below zero. I also carry my hunting coveralls.

• 2 methods of fire starting (matches and lighter, for example), emergency candles.

• Road flares.

• A tow strap, in case a good Samaritan can pull you out.

• Some sort of calorie dense snack.

• A flashlight AND a headlamp

[FOUR]

Just a quick observation that Apple is now offering 0% interest on their new Mac laptops and Microsoft is offering the new XBOX+Game Pass (netflix of video games, basically) for $34/month.

Plus, more and more online retailers are allowing consumers to split the cost into multiple, interest free payments.

It’s interesting that one way goods are moving during the uncertainty of the Pandemic is that retailers are essentially extending store credit to consumers.

The craziest one I’ve seen is that Cannae Gear (their Sachina Explorer backpack is the best bag I’ve ever owned) will let you buy a wallet for 4 interest-free payments of $2.50.

[FIVE]

Wonder Woman 1984 will release on Christmas Day both on HBO Max and in theaters!

I absolutely love the movie theater experience, but it’s cool to see movie studios pivoting to release major projects at home rather than delaying them indefinitely for a major theater release.

This is a big win for HBO Max in the streaming wars. HBO Max will release a four hour cut of Justice League in 2021 (split into four one-hour episodes, miniseries style). I’ve been a huge Zach Snyder fan since his visionary directorial deubt 300, and I’m pretty obsessed with this new version of the 2017 film, which flopped due to studio meddling and extensive (botched) reshoots.

I dare you to watch the trailer and not get chills from Ben Affleck’s closing line.

I don’t care how many demons he’s fought in how many hells. He’s never fought us. Not us united.

Until the next one,

-sth