It’s the summer of 2026 – and it’s not going to be a reprise of the “Now is the winter (summer) of our discontent” speech as delivered by Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Shakespeare). Now is the winter of our discontent, Made glorious summer by this sun of York; etc., But if I must rant, it would simply be to say that there are moments when people can’t make a frigging decision to save their ever-loving lives, and I find that aggravating. There, said and gone. On to blogging.
Bullet Points:
** Jules is playing around with her cloche again. Read about it here. I warned her that it might make her go blind, but she doesn’t pay attention to my strident concerns.
** Flags are flying at half staff in the state of Pennsylvania in honor of Michael Pahira Jr., a state trooper killed after a tractor-trailer struck him on the morning of July 1. Pahira, a 20-year veteran of the force, was conducting a safety check of another commercial truck on the shoulder of 1-80 when Michael Bon, an illegal immigrant from Haiti, crashed into Pahira’s vehicle and then hit the truck Pahira was inspecting at the time. Both trucks burst into flames; Pahira suffered fatal injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Bon entered the U.S. in 2024 under the Biden Administration on parole. His parole ended in June 2025, but Bon remained in the country; that same month, he received a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license (CDL) from the state of Massachusetts. “This tragedy NEVER should have happened. Our prayers are with Trooper Pahira’s family, friends, and loved ones during this time,” DHS’s social media account posted on July 6. IMHO, the illegal Haitian Michael Bon should be executed by firing squad next week. Hold the court on a drumhead. Then find the asshole from Mass who issued the license and give them life imprisonment at hard labor – no need for a quick death.
** Carbon – (h/t Claudio) “Macromolecular carbon implies we don’t know whether its origin is biotic or abiotic.”
** Gary Hart came up in a discussion on blog comments the other day, and I reflected on an old John Denver political parody and wondered if the song was still online. It’s here. Gary Hart, on the campaign trail, was accused of chasing tail. Obama is one of the few presidents not accused by women… Anyway, Gary Hart is still alive at 89, doing whatever these days, maybe sitting in the park feeding pigeons?
** The night sky is my time machine. More on that here. Ok, now it’s time to get stranger. Should we get to the Three-Body Problem’s issue? Bring it forward 100 years, and where are we then?
** AI asks which is your favorite Trump.
** Once a bad theory is adopted because it makes sense to one cohort (GOFOs who went to a two-week MBA camp) and is encouraged by others (influential civilian companies looking for another income stream), at the expense of what the first cohort should have been focused on but is an unpopular topic (winning wars), it spreads and develops its inertia. (CDRSAL)
** Peterson asks about the new species of human being.
** Carolla on ending racism.
** Peterson on the greatest predictor of male success.
** The Biggest Buffoons in the Biden Regime are identified and discussed. Should we also discuss some of the biggest scams?
** Racism shouldn’t be tolerated.
** Inner-city criminal Marcus Williams was electrocuted while attempting to pry open an ATM with a metal bar. Surveillance footage captured 18-year-old Marcus Williams approaching an ATM late at night with a metal pry bar. When he attempted to force the machine open, the metal bar made direct contact with internal electrical components, sending a fatal surge of electricity through his body. Following his death, his family sued the bank for $500,000. The court ruled that his death was the direct result of his own criminal actions and that the bank carried no liability. The judge dismissed the lawsuit and ordered the family to pay the bank for the physical repair costs of the damaged ATM.
Lessons Unlearned?
(Gen. David [Betrayus] Petraeus and Clara Kaluderovic – Foreign Affairs – July 8) The extraordinary lessons about the future of war. The enormous impact of cheap, remotely piloted unmanned systems—on the ground, in the air, and at sea—cannot be overstated. But there is a danger that military strategists will look at the battlefield in Ukraine and see little more than a catalog of weapons to buy.
Although lessons about particular weapons systems are relevant, the more important lesson is about the ecosystem necessary for these new tools to be effective. Ukraine, for instance, has developed Sky Fortress, a network of 14,000 acoustic sensors that locate Russian drones by sound, even at altitudes radar cannot see, to provide a high-fidelity picture of incoming threats. It also has its own battle-management software systems that direct unmanned surveillance, as well as the Unmanned Services Force, an entirely new military service—alongside the army, navy, and air force—that is dedicated to drone warfare, with its own doctrine, leader development, procurement processes, and even recruiting and basic training. Perhaps most critically, the ecosystem in Ukraine includes manufacturers capable of producing enormous quantities of unmanned systems and continually refining their software and hardware in response to battlefield developments.
The risk of missing this wider lesson is especially acute for Taiwan, which also faces the threat of invasion by a larger aggressor. Taiwan’s leaders and partners frequently say that the island is intently focused on understanding the nature of modern warfare, especially developments in Ukraine, to prepare for and deter Chinese aggression. But while Ukraine’s achievements are admired in Taiwan, that admiration has not yet produced the enormous, fundamental changes that enabled Ukraine’s success.
Indeed, it is not yet clear that Taiwan’s leaders fully understand the lesson from Ukraine. Despite the current administration’s stated ambition to eventually field tens of thousands of aerial drones and well over a thousand uncrewed surface vessels, Taiwan’s legislature struck domestic drone production from the government’s special defense budget earlier this year. The opposition parties that control the legislature cited fiscal discipline and concerns about potential corruption in domestic procurement, but the move’s overall effect was to dramatically reduce new domestic procurement of unmanned systems and to cut funds set aside for joint development of such systems with the United States.
VM Comment – There are two ways to develop things. One is within a strict bureaucratic structure (slow, incredibly expensive, and unadaptable to changing situations) and in a dynamic environment where innovation is key (quick, nimble, and generally cost-effective). Taiwan, being Chinese, favors the bureaucracy.
Europe didn’t ask me, but…
The big EU question is when (not necessarily if) Russia will come west to gobble them up. Given their proven success in Ukraine (a small neighbor armed very much the same as they are), it’s doubtful that they could do much before the end of the Century unless, like the UK, Europe completely disarms and surrenders to the Caliphates. The population of Great Russians (white Russians) is declining, just as the European nations are, along the same trajectory. Throwing away a million white military-age males on the front in Ukraine can’t do much for their ambitions to regenerate.
Identify the Aircraft
1
2
20 built
3 & 4
End
Identify the Aircraft:
1. Beriev Be-12 “Mail”
2. Beriev Be-200
3. AVIC AG600
4. Xi’an Y-20
Outstanding.
“The judge dismissed the lawsuit and ordered the family to pay the bank for the physical repair costs of the damaged ATM.”
The dichotomy is that if the bank was responsible for his death they would want paid. But if he is responsible for the damage to the bank’s goods, they should not be held a responsible for his actions. Although they would have reaped the rewards of his death had it gone their way.
The family would be responsible for the bank’s legal fees.
Fat chance the bank will ever see any money from the family, IMO.
I see no reason for Russia to invade the EU. The EU has little in the way of natural resources. Russia has plenty of land and its own resources. As it is, there are too many ethnic groups that need to be managed by the Russian government, why would they want more? Acquiring all or part of the EU is a net negative.
Wrong. Massive amounts of cash, technology, trade links and valuable real estate to lay their hands on. Plus access to the Atlantic ocean, and the Mediterranean. Also, huge potential tax revenue. Oh, no, they’re coming as soon as they can manage to pass muster.
Warm water ports has always been a concern of theirs.
I agree with you. It’s also ‘low hanging fruit’ as far as Russia is concerned.
Less so today than in 2022, thanks be to DJT. LL has spoken often about Poland and the Nordics prepping to give Russia a warm welcome when it decides to rebuild it’s Empire. But do not forget Romania: it has rebuilt and expanded it’s military, with the latest US or Israeli gear. No way they’ll accept to fold back into mother Russia.
Much of Europe is weak militarily. I mock the UK in its transformation into a caliphate. Germany/Belgium is in a different place but they face a similar tipping point. As weak as Russia is they’d still create a lot of havoc if they invaded anybody else at this point. Fast forward a generation and we’ll see where everyone is. France is in an even different position – militarily stronger but politically messed up beyond all recognition. Poland, Romania, Finland and countries that have experienced the kind hands of the Great Russians know better and have a memory of what it’s like.
Russia would benefit geographically (see Claudio’s missive), but I’m not sure they’ll ever be up to the task. The numbers don’t look good for them. The Chinese would love to take the Tuymen Region (Siberian oil and resources) and it’s not much of a drive from the Chinese border. Then there is resurgent Japan (nukes on their way) that would like to do a little land grabbing of their own – maybe take Manchuria back.
>take Manchuria back
BACK? You could accurately say “take Manchuria AGAIN” but not back.
If some criminal (or dwarf fish-eating rapist [1] as the case may be) breaks into my house and rapes my family members before bayonetting them, then gets kicked out, and then returns some years later, he’s not “taking the house BACK” he’s repeating a criminal action.
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[1] our host knows this, but for those thinking “well, that’s a bit harsh” — you should hear what the Koreans say about the Japanese. Not that Koreans don’t hate the Chinese too.
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As to Russians, were I Western European I wouldn’t want to live under their control. Then again, it’s not as if living under the thumb of transnational globalists who will jail you for noticing that your civilization is being destroyed (at the retail level by invaders brought in by those globalists, but at the strategic level by the globalists, duh) is what we were meant for either.
Good point – Take Manchuria again. The Koreans recall the Japanese rape of the ENTIRE penninsula. Years ago when I was there in ROK, the best seller was “The Coming War with Japan”. The Chinese were as bad as the Japanese – and ‘bad’ is not a relative term. The ROKs are completely justified in their opinion.
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When the Russians invaded Germany (and anywhere) during WW2, every woman, alive or dead was raped repeatedly. The record is clear.
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The Europeans are in trouble at so many levels. If they want who they are to survive, they must think differently.
It is hilarious to see the RoK lining up with Japan to fight the PRC!
And also good, and worthwhile.
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China is just *such* a swell country.
– Kle.
It all comes down to Russia is paranoid. “Oh, let’s secure our borders by conquering the Ukraine.”
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(wait 10 seconds after Ukraine is conquered…)
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“Oh, let’s secure our western borders by conquering Poland again.”
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(wait 10 seconds after Poland falls…)
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“Oh, let’s secure our western borders by conquering Germany, again…”
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continue until western Russia fights eastern Russia to secure western Russia’s western borders…
It’s been that way since Russia was Russia. They’re paranoid and decided that having buffer states is a lot like having oceans. Ukraine was different because of its location, natural resources and population of Slavs who could be incorporated as Great Russians.
There’s also the schism between the Russian Orthodox and Ukrainian Orthodox factions for supremacy that has been underway for many centuries.
Marcus – clearly not Aurelius – Williams, Darwin Award winner of the month. At least the judge had the clear sense to explain the rule of proper law to the family who believed they should cash in on their criminal son’s death by stupidity. Next they’ll set up a GoFundMe because of ‘the racist court’ and the fact the manufacturer failed to install a ‘High Voltage – Do Not Pry Open’ warning sticker on the front of the ATM otherwise their ‘good teenager’ would not have been killed.
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The Biden Admin 10, proving once again you do not need to be smart – or have much brain activity for that matter – to be an elite. Oy vey, the stuff We The People get to endure at the hands of a bunch of grifter morons. By the way, ‘Weekend at Mitchee’s’ is playing out in real time for another ‘elite’ 20 years past his ‘sell by’ date. No one steps in ‘to make a decision’ to find out what the hay is going on with him while WTP are subjected to more maneuvering with a (likely) brain dead…or dead for all we know…political elitist who’s Chynah Wife fled back to her real loyalty.
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WNBA leadership proving they too are not brightest bulb in the fixture; get a couple teammate star players to [finally] boost attendance and revenues and they do what government does, the exact opposite of a normal response that kills the golden goose. Guess they will blame patrons when revenues drop like a rock as people get tired of watching felonious activity on the court without consequence (h/t VDH) as if this were the BLM/Antifa playbook on any given Chicago weekend and not a woman basketball game.
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Peterson- Interesting point, how much of our evolution as a species do we control by generational effect by various technological advancement? We’re living longer for one.
We’re not living THAT MUCH longer than cultures that were not living in fetid cities, prone to plague and disease. It’s three score and ten and has been for a very long time. (plus/minus)
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Yes, Marcus and his inner-city friends showed once again that earning a Darwin Award isn’t that difficult and can benefit society. We don’t know if he spread his seed before his demise and how many baby mamas are on welfare. Clearly, he should have started on ATMs a few years before.
This is going to sound awful to sensitive modern ears* but there seems to be a ‘tribal’ DNA factor at work with that demographic, the 13% who commit 50% of crimes, like they can’t help themselves by fathering thru multiple baby mamas half a dozen illegitimate children that go on welfare as some sort of reward for bad behavior while committing criminal acts at will.
[* Example:
– 1978 weather gal in front of a typical map of America, mid 80’s across the nation, “It’s going be a beautiful day in America today, but might need to take a drink put of the backyard hose.”
– 2026 highly made-up and coiffed weather gal in slinky dress in from a the same temp map only all in red with little flames and skull & cross bones stamped here and there with ‘EXTEME WEATHER CRISIS” at the top, “With this high heat index (whatever that is, maybe a parking lot in Tucson) “We’re all going to die! Make sure to carry plenty of hydration fluid [in uour Lululemon BPA-free sippy cup], stay inside on the air conditioning, and go to the ER if you feel feint.”
The media is there to sell an agenda and nobody pays attention unless it’s a crisis. It’s like the fake hurricane reporting in Florida. Now, when it’s 120 in AZ you should behave responsibly and not leave your pets or chidren in the car while you go shopping at Costco for two hours.
>there seems to be a ‘tribal’ DNA factor at work
Well, yeah. Behavior is downstream from culture and culture is downstream from biology. Of course it isn’t as simple as pure genetics. (And genetics is FAR from the simple Mendelian genetics of “Xx crossed with XX” Punnett squares we were taught in school.) The means of behaviors differ between races [1]. This is seen in many areas apart from violent (or merely shitheaded) criminality. Some is cultural, but some MUST be genetic, as shown by (separated at birth) twin studies and so forth. Yes in modern times we aren’t allowed to Notice this (could lead to Noticing other things about certain smart people, for one thing) but it doesn’t make it not true. For example, I notice certain (annoying-to-me) East Asian behavioral traits in myself despite that I’m generally one (and maybe two) standard deviation(s) out from the average White American in a lot of things, and therefore 3 to 4 SD out from typical East Asians, but I still have those EA traits. Were they socially inculcated by my parents, or were they genetically transmitted? Not clear, but probably some of both.
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Isn’t it weird (for values of “weird”) that we can say “White men can’t jump” and everyone just laughs (or at least pretends to chuckle politely). We can still pretty much make jokes about bad Asian driving too. But if you Notice something like differences in impulsivity, even in a very focused setting such as an aviation emergency, then it’s practically a Hate Crime. Science has self-censored, self-muzzled in many areas because of this. For example, a neurologist friend of mine studies musical perfect pitch (PP). There are racial (or ethnic) differences in prevalence (“common-ness”) of PP. Early in his career he found structural evidence (using brain MRI scans) of differences between East Asian and European brains that likely relate to PP. He was excited but also aware of the political ramifications of this (“especially me being a great hulking big German,” as he put it). So at the yearly major neurology conference he quietly sounded out some big-name colleagues who also had a professional interest in music. Some blew him off, others were strangely reticent. Finally an old fellow laughed in his face. “Of course that’s true! We all know that. I’m not laughing AT you son. I remember how excited I was too, when I found out. But you could seriously damage your career publishing that finding, so we just leave it alone.”
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[1] differences in group means are true (like it or not) but the within-group distribution is greater than the differences in group means. In other words, “Danes are taller than Han Chinese” is a true statement. So is “Ashkenazi Jews are smarter than Somalis”. But you can find individual counter-examples up the wazoo. Mr Andersen is shorter than Mr Wong. Yuusuf from Mogadishu has a higher IQ than Benyamin from Haifa. But those don’t invalidate the general rules.
Well said.
re Marcus:
a warning sticker: were I on the jury, is unquestionably insufficient – reading level must be taken into consideration
therefore, any time an individual approaches within ten feet of an ATM, a warning statement (repeated several times) at a reasonable auditory level in several different languages (including “Black English)) would be the minimum required.
Since this was not provided/available, the judge’s decision to dismiss was incorrect and this should be taken under appeal.
**
Warning: I am not a lawyer
Excellent points…this came to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfv4ToxTYqc
Taking a crowbar to an ATM to pry it open and electrocuting yourself should be considered an occupational hazard. The same would be true if somebody (of any demographic) burst through my door to do me harm. Occupational hazard. Roll the dice. If it comes up snake eyes, there you go. If you take it on yourself to molest or injure one of my grandchildren, revenge is a dish best served cold.
I am forever amazed at anyone that thinks they could take you, or ANY member of your family, with impunity. One look at you or yours should be enough. Reading your fiction confirmed it (for me). Granted, many if not most today lack the will to read and the brains to infer a logical conclusion from 2+2.
Inner city. “Surveillance footage…”. Well…..?
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Yes I know, even if you had access, you likely couldn’t post it without some tin god of the internet getting the vapors.
Flick cams are now everywhere, one would have to be stupid or desperate or both to commit crimes with DNA, all manner of cams, cell data, etc.
*flock
If you search his name, you’ll come across the footage of Marcus at the ATM.
Decisions – on one site the owner commented on his consultant wife’s extra, extra long phone conference with an all women run business. She eventually put her phone on mute, looked up at the ceiling, and said something like “would somebody PLEASE make a decision already”.
Three-Body Problem – knowing something is possible is half the battle, and two entangled protons wouldn’t cover a multitude of research facilities. The Big State Planners think progress is only made in Big State run institutions.
A strict bureaucratic structure (slow, incredibly expensive, and unadaptable to changing situations) is also a ‘good’ definition for the current US acquisition bureaucracy! Grrrr…
We fixed it during WW2.
Provides employment. The employees then vote to keep their rice bowl filled. The road to hell is paved with good intentions?
Another thought about Three-Body – there are a number of AI slop scifi stories out there. One recurring theme involves a name the Galactics have for planets that have one or more of the following:
temperature extremes that can kill inhabitants; weather events that can kill inhabitants; animal/plant life that can kill inhabitants; naturally occurring poisons that can kill inhabitants — they are referred to as Death Worlds, and no sane sentient being would go to one. And then humans showed up…
“Alien” is set on one of those where terraforming is seen as a solution. On LV-426 (also known as Acheron). It is a hostile, rocky moon orbiting a gas giant in the Zeta 2 Reticuli system. Sometimes they’re planets with eccentric orbits (Lost in Space). Sometimes moons orbiting gas giants.
** Peterson asks about the new species of human being.
Lorreta Lynn, “Momma’s got the pill”. Empowering women.
I’ve learned something from this post: ATM electricity is racist. But will Russia invade Gay Fortress Europa and force that continent’s beloved Rainbow Rulers to stop transing children and being multi-hued, corporate sponsored cultural Marxists? Per you, surely not, those dam Russikies, even with Tump’s help (notorious Kremlin asset) haven’t been able to take all of Kerson or the Donbas.
But perhaps they will, despite Trump’s double agency. What then? We can imagine: A combined arms battlegroup stabs West, offering flat tax, no socialism, Christianity, no rainbow perversion and no Islamic invasion. Will there be air defense to stop it? Of course not, industry’s been off-shored to China.