Russia may cut diplomatic ties with the United States if Washington confiscates Russian assets frozen over the Ukrainian war‚ the Interfax news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Friday. The United States "must not act under an illusion... that...

The holiday travel rush hit its peak Friday as mild weather and lower flight cancelation rates raised hopes for merrier drivers and airline passengers than last year.

The U.S. has seen a "sobering" increase in domestic terrorism-related threats since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war‚ according to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. Monaco told ABC News that the FBI has looked into more than 1‚800 reports "of threats or other types...

President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of people who were convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana on federal lands and in the District of Columbia‚ the White House said Friday‚ in his latest round of executive clemencies meant to rectify racial disparities...

The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation fell last month in another sign that price pressures easing in the face of the central bank's interest rate hikes.

The oldest ever black holes‚ a preview of our solar system's gory demise‚ and a measurement of distant starlight that threatens to bring the standard of cosmology crashing down — here are the JWST's wildest discoveries of 2023.

The Bee Gees ruled the ’60s and ’70s‚ but listening back to their biggest hits to this day proves quickly just how timeless they are. But its 1978’s “Too Much Heaven” that manages to stand out in a sea of greatness thanks to a sweet message that all the world ought to hear‚ backed by those signature Bee Gees harmonies and some truly smooth‚ soulful background music. Listening to “Too Much Heaven” is like hearing a love letter to the idea of love itself and the story behind that song is just as tender as the message they’re singing. The family business that is the Bee Gees has always come straight from the heart‚ unfiltered by corporate middlemen‚ since brothers Barry‚ Robin‚ and Maurice Gibb always wrote their own original material – and “Too Much Heaven” is the prime example of all their strengths‚ from songwriting to the hypnotic sound of Barry’s falsetto and Robin’s vibrato. The effect is a truly otherworldly listening experience with layer upon layer of sounds playing on each other that all send our hearts soaring higher and higher with the music. All the while‚ this honey-sweet track beseeches our very souls to make sure that in a hustle and bustle world‚ love never grows scarce. The Disco Kings still reign supreme with “Too Much Heaven” You can’t rush the creative process and “Too Much Heaven” was both the smoothest and longest track for the Bee Gees to work on. On the one hand‚ Barry‚ Robin‚ and Maurice managed to write this one up in just one afternoon while on break from the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band movie – oh‚ and along the way‚ they also jotted down “Tragedy” and later that night penned “Shadow Dancing.” The best things do usually come in threes. RELATED: This Carpenters Performance Of ‘Close To You’ Still Brings Tears To My Eyes As for actually recording “Too Much Heaven‚” that took a bit longer – the longest of all the tracks that ended up on their album Spirits Having Flown. Remember all those different layers happening at once? There’s a lot going on musically and that gave the Bee Gees a lot of work to do: specifically‚ there were nine layers of three-part harmonies‚ making the song pretty much 27 voices. “Too Much Heaven” sings about a difficult mountain climb and that’s pretty much what the song itself did when it was released in ’78‚ enjoying a slow but steady trek up to the top of the charts in the U.S. and U.K. But it served an even bigger purpose besides giving the Bee Gees yet another Platinum-certified hit. They really practiced what they preached so harmoniously. The song will always stand the test of time The Gibbs brothers played to all their strengths in Too Much Heaven / (c) Universal/courtesy Everett Collection The Bee Gees actually put all this together for the “Music for UNICEF” fund and performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert early in ’79. On top of that‚ every bit of publishing royalties went to UNICEF just in time for the International Year of the Child – that’s $7 million in funds raised to draw attention to the plight of kids around the world‚ from food instability to lack of education. A live performance of this magical track to help heal the whole world just a bit? That’s the stuff of dreams. SGT. PEPPER’S LONELYHEARTS CLUB BAND‚ Peter Frampton‚ the Bee Gees (Barry‚ Maurice &; Robin Gibb)‚ 1978 / Everett Collection For their huge gift to UNICEF‚ the Bee Gees were invited to the White House and got a personal thanks from President Jimmy Carter. It’s been over 40 years since the Bee Gees sang a love song addressed to the whole world but we still can’t get enough. Fans have heard it hundreds of millions of times but will never get too much of this bit of heaven. The Gibbs brothers / ©Disney Channel / courtesy Everett Collection Click for next Article The post This Version Of Bee Gees ‘Too Much Heaven’ Has Never Been Matched In The History Of Music appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author‚ Dana Daly

A Queens man who allegedly managed to get 32 absentee ballots through the New York City elections system for a Democratic primary election last year has been charged in a 140-count indictment. Abdul Rahman‚ 32‚ of Floral Park‚ allegedly filed 118 applications for absentee ballots for the August 2022 primary‚ according to a news release… The post DA Claims New York Man Filed Over 100 Fraudulent Absentee Ballot Applications in 2022 Democratic Primary appeared first on The Federalist Papers.

Two Michigan parents are suing a school district they say gets an A in deception and an F in honesty. Dan and Jennifer Mead claim the Rockford Public School District used male pronouns for their daughter for months without ever informing them‚ according to WOOD-TV. The school began using male pronouns and a male name… The post Christian Parents Fight Back After School Changes Child’s Pronouns Without Their Knowledge appeared first on The Federalist Papers.

The Ruger 10/22 is an extremely popular platform in the survivalist community‚ especially in its bug-out-friendly Takedown form. It's easy to shoot‚ affordable to reload‚ compact and light enough to stash in a backpack‚ and supported by a massive variety of aftermarket parts and accessories. That last point brings us to the topic of today's article. Ruger's standard 10/22 Takedown stock is functional‚ but nothing to write home about. It's composed of hard black polymer with a few textured sections and a metal barrel band on the forend. Ruger also offers models with an upgraded Modular stock‚ which features replaceable high and low cheek rest combs‚ sling mounts‚ and more extensive texturing. However‚ this still leaves something to be desired for many owners. Aftermarket 10/22 stocks offer improved comfort and control‚ more color choices‚ modularity‚ and other helpful features such as hidden storage compartments. The Starting Point 10/22 Takedown Lite pictured with Harris bipod and Vortex Diamondback Rimfire scope. We began this review with a Ruger 10/22 Takedown Lite‚ one of the company's factory-upgraded Takedown models with an MSRP of $659. It includes the aforementioned Modular stock‚ as well as a cold hammer forged 16.1-inch barrel tensioned in a lightweight‚ .920-inch diameter aluminum sleeve. This barrel also features 1/2-28 threads to accept a suppressor (such as Ruger's own Silent-SR) and includes a knurled thread protector. Ruger provides a zippered nylon carry case with each rifle. The original Lite stock served us well for a few years‚ but we were ready for a change‚ so we began looking at replacement stocks. This search yielded three substantially different choices: the Adaptive Tactical TK-22‚ the Hogue Rubber OverMolded Stock‚ and the Magpul X-22 Backpacker. Before we get to these stocks‚ we'll discuss one other upgrade we added to the rifle at the same time. Vortex Diamondback 2-7×35 Rimfire Scope Prior to testing any of the new stocks‚ we picked up a Vortex Diamondback Rimfire scope for our 10/22. It features 2-7x magnification‚ a 35mm objective lens‚ and a simple V-Plex reticle with parallax set to 50 yards (as opposed to 100 yards for the non-rimfire models). At 11.6 inches long and 14.2 ounces‚ it doesn't sacrifice much of the Takedown's portability — if that's your top priority‚ you'll probably be using a micro red dot sight‚ but we prefer the versatility of a variable-magnification optic in this case. Vortex says the Diamondback is “virtually indestructible and highly resistant to magnum recoil‚” so we're certainly not worried about it putting up with .22LR. The variable magnification and clear multi-coated glass makes it great for short-range varmint hunting‚ even in low-light conditions. Overall‚ it's an excellent choice for this platform. We mounted the scope on a pair of Vortex Hunter 1-inch Low scope rings ($25 MSRP). This combo fits nicely on the standard Ruger scope rail and clears the Lite barrel without sitting excessively high. Factoring in the scope's $260 MSRP‚ this setup certainly won't break your bank account. Adaptive Tactical TK-22 Stock The first of the three stocks we evaluated is the biggest departure from the rifle's original form. The TK-22 has a pistol grip as well as what Adaptive Tactical calls an “adjustable M4 type butt-stock.” This stock is compatible with standard 10/22 barrels as well as .920 bull barrels‚ such as those on the Lite and Fluted 10/22 Takedown models. Since we fell into the latter category‚ we removed the included forend insert (pictured below at bottom right). Out of the box‚ we noticed some unappealing blemishes on this stock. The finish is visibly uneven in some areas‚ as seen above‚ and rough edges left behind by the mold weren't cleaned up‚ as seen below. These flaws didn't inspire confidence in the build quality. The TK-22 fit our 10/22 easily‚ but the gap between the forend and receiver housing was wider than the other stocks we tested (including the original Ruger stock). The so-called “M4 type butt-stock” is simply Adaptive Tactical's EX Performance AR-15 stock‚ so it's 4-way adjustable and will fit any mil-spec buffer tube. This explains the presence of the huge cushioned rubber recoil pad‚ which would be more at home on a 12-gauge than it is here. Thankfully for those of us who aren't concerned about getting pummeled by the immense recoil of .22LR rounds‚ it's removable via two Phillips screws. The stock also features an attachment point for a standard sling swivel‚ as well as a QD sling swivel socket. A rubber stopper in the base of the pistol grip fills a cavity that's designed to accept Adaptive Tactical's TacTred Monopod. It can also be used to stash various small items‚ although heavier objects may dislodge the friction-fit stopper and fall out. The grip itself is relatively comfortable. We appreciated the cutaways on each side of the magazine well‚ since these make reloads easier — prying some 10-round magazines out of the original Ruger stock can be tricky. The stock we received was bundled with a Takedown Firearm Backpack from Copper Basin. This pack looks reasonably unassuming and has pockets for each half of the 10/22 Takedown plus various accessories. It serves its purpose and protects the gun‚ but isn't as sleek as the original Ruger carrying case. The backpack is priced at $100 on its own or $190 bundled with the TK-22 stock. If you're hoping to take your 10/22 in a more modern and “tactical” direction‚ the TK-22 may appeal to you. We're not big fans of the look — one onlooker compared it to a Hi-Point Carbine — and were disappointed by the build quality issues we noticed‚ especially given the stock's $130 MSRP (the highest of the group). Hogue Rubber OverMolded Stock Hogue's 10/22 Takedown stocks are coated in the company's signature OverMold‚ a soft and grippy rubber material. These stocks are available in either standard or thumbhole configuration‚ and are offered in various colors ranging from plain black to bright purple or Red Lava swirl. Hogue sells versions for standard barrels‚ as well as .920-inch barrels. We chose a standard stock with Ghillie Green rubber OverMold and .920-inch barrel compatibility. The stock is slim‚ but feels sturdy and well-made. The design is relatively minimalistic‚ with subtle chevron cuts on either end of the receiver‚ stippled texture in key areas‚ and a Hogue logo stamped on the underside. The butt pad is held in place with two Torx/flat-head screws; removing these reveals a cavity that can be used to store emergency gear. Traditional sling swivel attachments are present on each end of the stock. Installing the Hogue stock for the first time was somewhat tricky — the screw hole in the stock was slightly off-center from the hole in the front of our 10/22's receiver‚ and the stock's tight tolerances didn't give it much wiggle room. After pushing firmly against the receiver and being careful not to strip the screw‚ we were able to install the stock. With this initial hiccup out of the way‚ we liked this stock a lot. The two halves fit well with no unsightly gap‚ and the rubberized coating made the gun easy to hold and carry. If you're looking for a 10/22 stock that maintains a traditional appearance‚ the Hogue OverMold series is a solid choice. MSRP is $120 for colorful finishes or $110 for plain black. Magpul X-22 Backpacker Magpul offers two stocks for the 10/22 Takedown‚ the X-22 Hunter and X-22 Backpacker. The Hunter stock is designed for customization‚ with interchangeable cheek risers‚ removable butt pad spacers‚ and M-LOK slots on the forend. The Backpacker is designed as a packable survival rifle platform‚ with multiple storage compartments and an ingenious mechanism that locks the barrel assembly onto the stock body for easy transport. We selected an X-22 Backpacker stock in desert-friendly FDE finish ($110 MSRP). We also picked up an X-22 Optic Mount ($60 MSRP) that attaches to the barrel‚ replacing the factory barrel block and adding a Picatinny rail. We test-fitted the optic mount and found that it works well for small red dot sights. It also has a channel to preserve the functionality of iron sights‚ if your 10/22 has them. But since we're currently using the Vortex scope and its objective bell doesn't clear the Magpul mount‚ we left it off the gun for now. Regardless‚ it's a good accessory to have on hand. The X-22 Optic Mount offers a way to mount a small sight directly to the barrel. The X-22 Backpacker has a wealth of storage compartments‚ allowing this rifle to serve as a full-fledged survival kit. Pressing the button at the back of the cheek piece reveals the largest of these compartments‚ which can house up to three 10-round magazines. Installing the optic-height cheek piece adds more room‚ and we were able to squeeze in a 10-round mag‚ a 50-round box of ammo‚ fire tinder‚ water purification tablets‚ a mini folding knife‚ and numerous other small items. Whatever you choose‚ pack it tightly‚ otherwise the contents will shift and rattle as you carry the gun. Check out Alexander Crown's video for some great ideas on how to use and modify this compartment. There's a second sealed compartment inside the grip. We filled this with a Bic lighter wrapped in duct tape‚ ensuring we'll have a quick (and dry) way to start a fire. Removing the butt pad reveals another small cavity where a strand of kevlar cordage or a fishing kit can be concealed. Installing the stock was easy‚ and we had no fitment issues. Build quality is exactly what you'd expect from Magpul‚ and all the mold seams are smooth. A pair of holes in the stock can accept Magpul sling mounts ($15) but after watching the video above we learned that paracord loops can serve as an improvised solution. Shooting our 10/22 with the X-22 Backpacker stock was comfortable‚ and the taller cheek piece worked well with our scope setup. We also liked the steeper grip angle on this design‚ although traditionalists may not be as fond of it. If you're planning to store your 10/22 in your bug-out bag and use it for hunting small game in a survival setting‚ the Backpacker is ideal for this role. And even if you're not living off the land after SHTF‚ it's extremely convenient to have storage for spare mags and ammo built into the rifle. Conclusion These three 10/22 Takedown stocks represent drastically different approaches to modifying your rifle‚ and show the versatility of the platform. Whether you want a modernized plinker‚ a traditional small-game hunter‚ or a bug-out gun for the apocalypse‚ the 10/22 can be taken in any of these directions. A stock upgrade is a simple way to make this iconic .22 even better. Sources: VortexOptics.com AdaptiveTactical.com HogueInc.com Magpul.com Read More Subscribe to Recoil Offgrid's free newsletter for updates‚ offers and more. Hogue EX-F02 New: Hogue Out the Front Automatic Knives Ruger 10/22 Takedown The post Buyer’s Guide: Three 10/22 Takedown Stocks appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.