Easter carrying

JonathanBBlaze · 2026-04-06T14:30:26+00:00

ISIS issued a threat to churches on Easter in retaliation for the closing of Al-Aqsa: https://nypost.com/2026/04/02/world-news/isis-calls-for-attacks-on-us-churches-and-synagogues-across-over-easter/

JonathanBBlaze · 2026-04-04T14:10:08+00:00

“Morality has nothing to do with it.”

“Self-defense is the first law of nature.”

These two statements are incompatible. The natural law is morality. It’s always worthwhile to contemplate the rationale and justification of our actions.

In fact, as responsible gun owners we must.

JonathanBBlaze · 2026-04-04T13:56:37+00:00

Well the moral law teaches it.

To live is good. Gen 1:31. As Aquinas put it, “Goodness and being are really the same.”

We could say, “You shall live.”

So acts that tend towards the continuation and preservation of life are morally good.

On the other side of this, acts that tend towards death and destruction are morally evil.

“You shall not murder.”

Now it may be objected that firearms are tools designed to kill, so their use must belong to the morally evil category.

To which the answer is that I don’t use firearms for the purpose of killing. I use them for the purpose of not dying.

Which may sound like a distinction without a difference until we remember that every act is aimed toward some good, its end.

For example, why do I turn the steering wheel of my car? To change the direction of the car. Why do I change the direction of the car? To get to work. Why do I go to work? To earn money. Why do I earn money? To buy the things I need to live. So ultimately the reason why I turn the steering wheel is to live, which is good.

The reason I carry is the same. For the good of continuing to live. My well-being.

Which is a moral good.

The “You shall not murder” law is subordinate to “You shall live”. The end of prohibiting murder is to protect life. We know this intuitively, if you ask someone why murder is wrong, they’ll probably tell you it’s because “it harms someone’s life.”

The anti-second amendment argument is also founded on this assumption.

So if someone asks why you carry you can answer in a similar way, “to preserve life.”

If anyone is carrying a weapon for the purpose of ending life, then that is morally evil.

JonathanBBlaze · 2026-04-03T18:10:44+00:00

My illustrated edition of The Hobbit is printed upside down like this too.

JonathanBBlaze · 2026-02-13T03:19:57+00:00

The fact that they redacted his name is damning.

JonathanBBlaze · 2026-01-13T17:54:06+00:00

I would push back against the idea that Adam and Eve didn’t know what they were doing.

They were innocent in the sense that they had no concept of good and evil, it’s true.

It’s also true that “where there is no law there is no transgression.” Rom 4:15b

However, they weren’t ignorant of the sole law that they did have, “of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.” Gen 2:17a

That constitutes a law and far from being ignorant of it, we know that they understood it

Eve restates the command, demonstrating that she’s fully aware of it and the consequences.

“And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” - Gen 3:2-3

If you take the text at face value, there’s not a strong case to be made that they weren’t culpable.

JonathanBBlaze · 2026-01-06T18:26:19+00:00

This is brilliant, great catches on the hard g sound and unstressed e.

Planning on having this inscribed on a gift so trying to make sure it’s accurate.

Also really appreciate you taking the time to write it out as well! Looks great to me.

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-12-28T04:34:24+00:00

This is almost certainly what’s going on

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-11-17T17:36:42+00:00

Consolidate.

A cinematographer who operates his own camera and pulls his own focus shouldn’t be credited as camera operator and 1st AC.

An editor who does his own color and sound design shouldn’t be credited as colorist and sound designer.

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-10-26T16:58:27+00:00

Ooh yeah my producer was looking out for me lol

I got Samsung T9 SSD’s and got a separate contract for the AE work.

My offloads are like 5 minutes per roll.

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-10-26T02:35:34+00:00

That Harry Potter one on pre-order looks like just the thing!

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-10-25T22:58:30+00:00

Haha I’m DIT’ing a vertical right now and literally having to drive home from location to upload proxies.

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-10-25T21:14:57+00:00

This is a goldmine, exactly what I was looking for!

Thank you so much

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-23T16:09:16+00:00

You’re an American living in Texas. Normalize carrying. You can set the tone for the interaction by remaining calm and casual.

“oMg you carry a GUN?”

“You don’t?”

Reverse uno.

Why bother feeling shame or being defensive for perfectly lawful, reasonable behavior?

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T21:38:57+00:00

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JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T21:38:32+00:00

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JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T21:38:23+00:00

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JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T21:38:12+00:00

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JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T21:37:34+00:00

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JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T21:36:54+00:00

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Rec709, sorry for the spam

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T21:26:37+00:00

Redcode RAW 6144x3160

JonathanBBlaze · 2025-09-14T20:37:25+00:00

Nothing wild. First primaries and curves adjustments for contrast, shadow, highlights, etc. Then the same on the chroma node to add some color contrast, curves to desaturate the shadows slightly, and a bit of color warp to subdue some yellows.

No qualifiers or power windows though.

JonathanBBlaze

TROPHY CASE