In The Land of the Blind, the One-eyed Man is King

According to Erasmus. Unfortunately for me this is not the land of the blind. Just quick update on the 2 week anniversary of my second surgery to fix detaching retina in my left eye.

No particular new issues to report, thankfully. The PFAS (perfluoropropane) bubble they installed in the eye is slowly shrinking, just as it did last time, and as it is expected to do. The bottom of the bubble is visible just above the midline of vision in that eye, and based on my experience last time, it's only a matter of a few days more until I begin to get a glimpse of the world without the bubble, beginning as a narrow band above the center of vision.

The major difference between this surgery and the last is the installation of the rubber band, excuse me silicone scleral buckle, around the eye, in an attempt to hold it tighter against the retina. I ain't gonna lie. The rubber band isn't pleasant, at least initially. After the steroids they put in the eye in surgery wore off, it was darn sore, and I discovered that alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen largely suppressed it. Still, looking at close items, or glancing hard sideways would set it to hurting more. Yesterday was the first day I tried stopping the ibuprofen (I don't want to use NSAIDs, based on the risk of bleeding, even though the surgeon approved of its use). It's working, but I definitely become aware of when the acetaminophen wears off.

The swelling and redness externally is dissipating, but not yet gone. This time I've been much more diligent about using the erythromycin ointment that they prescribe for eye discomfort, and it seems to be helping. I can't figure out why grease with antibiotic in it would help the eye feel better, but it seems to. I'm down to two different eye drops, twice a day, a steroid, and an anti-pressure drop to counter the pressure increasing side effect of the steroid. Only two more weeks to go for eye drops.  

Flotsam and Jetsam - A Light Flow Day

The news is a little light after Trump's return from China. Don Surber asserts The Donroe Doctrine reaps rewards. "Arresting Maduro and killing an ayatollah or two spoke louder than words." From the Chronic, Russia Diminished? Russia is not, and never was, as powerful as they like to portray themselves, as they are finding out in Ukraine. If they didn't have nukes, they would be a regional irritation like Iran.

From Not a Lot of People Know That, Ed Miliband vows permanent shutdown of the North Sea. "I have long believed Miliband is determined to do as much irreversible damage to the country as he can before he gets chucked out." Decline is a choice, one that both British and American leftists assent to readily out of misplaced guilt for their previous successes.

At NottheBee, Listen to this trucker explain how “foreign” drivers are being sidelined just days after SCOTUS said companies are liable for them. GRANDPA’s FREE ADVICE @GOP_is_Gutless, "It took less than 24 hours for brokers to tighten the belt after the Supreme Court ruled that brokers could be held liable for carrier accidents WOW!"

Amy Curtis at TownHall says Bang Up Job, Gavin! Newsom's Press Office Launches Lame Attack on Reflecting Pool Project

Newsom has started doing this weird thing where he points to construction projects that are in progress and implies that the point at which the photo was taken is the project’s final form. He did it with the ballroom, too. It may explain a lot about his record on high-speed rail. https://t.co/fKqlwB6Wmb

— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) May 14, 2026

At Twitchy, Mr. Science Says the Blue Reflecting Pool Will Just Support Even Greater Algae Growth. Not particularly. Algae will grow wherever sunlight meets water. But taking it off Tidal Basin water, and installing a filter system will help a lot. Althouse finds Fear of blue and desperate clinging to "character-defining grey." ""The resurfacing will dramatically and permanently transform the character-defining grey, achromatic appearance of the reflecting pool basin. The new colouration will cause the pool to resemble a large swimming pool rather than the reflective civic landscape it was designed to be, distorting the experience of the site for the millions of visitors who come to it each year." So said the Cultural Landscape Foundation, a Washington society, quoted in The London Times, which looks like this, going all in on AI imagery."

Dave Strom at Hat Hair, Drone Hits UAE Nuclear Power Plant; UPDATE: Trump: The Clock Is Ticking. There should have been an immediate reprisal attack against a powerplant supplying power to Tehran. Jason Greenblatt at Tablet speculates about Iran After the Ayatollah "With Iran militarily decimated and economically squeezed, Trump holds all the cards. But is a deal possible or worthwhile with a fragmented regime?" 

The OC Register reports a Poll: Democrats rally around Becerra, Steyer as Republicans consolidate behind Hilton. "The top two vote-getters will advance to the November election." Pretty much as I expected. I guess they don't hate billionaires that much. Twitchy, *SNORT* Spencer Pratt's Reaction to Nithya Raman PREENING About Possible Trump Endorsement Is PERFECTION. Althouse approves The women-empowering-women genre of political ad. "This new Spencer Pratt ad may be somewhat innovative in its forthright use of AI:"

“You are not alone.” Yoga moms, silent majority, and a preference cascade all in one. Whether or not Angelenos elect @spencerpratt as LA mayor, he and his team are revolutionizing politics. pic.twitter.com/l4pwOSmNUH

— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) May 17, 2026

I can't say I really expect Pratt to win, but he's scaring the bejeezus out the the Dems. At the minimum, they will cheat as hard as they can to prevent it. Kurt Schlichter smokes the hopium at TownHall, The GOP’s Midterm Reversal of Fortune. Hat Hair's Larry Elder thinks Gavin Newsom Has a Kamala Harris Problem, can't beat Kamala without pissing off the black ladies who are a reliable element of the base. Dave Manney at PJM sees a 'Feeding Our Future' Convict Points at Ilhan Omar. "Founder and former executive director of Feeding Our Future, Aimee Bock, finds herself sitting in custody as one of the central figures in one of the ugliest COVID-era fraud scandals in America. A federal jury convicted Bock in March 2025 on seven counts tied to wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and federal program fraud ... Now Bock has pointed at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), claiming Omar knew about the fraud and helped create the conditions that made the scheme easier to run." At Fox, Jonathan Turley opines AOC's war on billionaires twists America's birth into a socialist myth, "Many Founders were themselves wealthy, and their revolution was rooted in property rights and free-market ideals, Turley says." As Stacy McCain notes, a tenet of the left is ‘There Is No Truth … Only Power.’

Cam at Bearing Arms is all over Minnesota Dems Melting Down After Gun Ban Vote Fails. Drew Roach @DrewRoachMN, "Democrats in the Minnesota House have gone completely UNHINGED When house dems didnt get the vote they wanted on the most extreme gun-grabbing bill in the country HF5140 one of their own, Rep. Gomez, actually told Republican @elliottengenMN to “go fucking kill himself.” This isn’t debate. This isn’t passion. This is deranged, toxic, and downright dangerous behavior from the same people who want to strip law-abiding Minnesotans of their constitutional rights. No class. No decency. Just pure meltdown when they’re challenged on disarming citizens while criminals roam free." From NYPo, New York crime ‘revolves’ around recidivists — as state’s laws release danger onto our streets.

Ward Clark at RedState thinks Russia Hoax Figures May Want Lawyers Handy After Blanche’s Latest Reveal. Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "JUST IN: AG Todd Blanche confirms it’s ABOUT TO COME OUT as the DOJ probes the deep state coup against President Trump based on the Russia hoax “We're finding out some incredibly troubling things, and at some point at the right time, that will be made public, and the American people will see exactly what happened to this administration and President Trump over the past decade!” “The Southern district of Florida has an open criminal investigation. That involves hundreds of subpoenas, it involves hundreds of witnesses, and so, as far as time and one we can expect it, we are working hard and we are working efficiently, but we are going to do it right.” From the State of the Day, State of Thursday: MARK KELLY WOULD LOVE TO GO TO JAI, for releasing classified information, so he could play the martyr. Don't let him. Nickel and dime him with the legal process, but never come near him with handcuffs.

PJM's Stephen Kruiser thinks It's Awesome to Have the Feds Focusing on Real Criminals Again. FBI Director Kash Patel @FBIDirectorKash, "Today the FBI and our partners extradited the highest ranking member of Tren de Aragua (TdA) ever brought to justice - Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, aka "Chuqui. Flores just arrived in Houston from Colombia this evening. This is the first time ever that a TdA member has been charged with terrorism-related crimes and been extradited to the U.S. - history made pursuant to President Trump’s executive order last summer designating Tren de Aragua as an FTO ..."

At NYPo, Trans HS track athlete sparks shocking podium decision after sweeping California finals "A transgender high school athlete dominated multiple girls track and field events at a California regional final Saturday, igniting backlash from parents, competitors and activists, and prompting officials to award duplicate gold medals to female runners-up. Jurupa Valley High School senior, AB Hernandez, 17, captured first place in the girls’ long jump, high jump and triple jump events during the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section championship final." Even California is getting tired of the trans bullshit.

The College Fix finds a U. Miami law professor who says We should consider making ‘cultural appropriation’ illegal J. Janewa Osei-Tutu. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas @andrealucasEEOC, "Should be obvious after 250 years but: “American” is a national origin. And English is our country’s official language. No American should be mocked—in the United States of all places—for speaking English or for being American. @USEEOC is taking action to protect Americans from anti-American bias, which is unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This week’s lawsuit is the latest step."

The Monday Morning Stimulus

Barron's, Coffee prices aren’t the only problem. How retirees can fight inflation.

Make your coffee at home, they said. You’ll retire sooner without a daily Starbucks run cutting into your 401(k) contributions. But small indulgences aren’t the thing standing between many Americans and a comfortable retirement. That would be structural problems like the high cost of housing, wages that haven’t kept pace with inflation, and a fraying social safety net.

Also, have you seen how much coffee beans cost? Coffee prices are up 18.5% year over year, according to the latest government data. Inflation has come for our caffeine fix, whether we brew at home or take it to go.

My household has started buying whatever coffee brand is on sale. Mind you, this is just to shave a few dollars off our grocery bill, not because it’s going to help us retire any sooner. For a fighting chance at that, you need the right kind of investments. Some pros like sectors of the stock market, such as real estate, that can raise their prices with inflation. Bonds and cash alone aren’t going to cut it.

Coffee prices are the least of our problems. We buy whatever is on sale at the Dollar General up the road in St. Leonard. If the cost of coffee is messing up your retirement, you didn't plan right.

How Good are Hurricane Season Forecasts?

 WUWT has the Scorecard: How Well Does NOAA’s Hurricane Outlook Actually Perform? 26 Years of Forecasts vs. Reality

Let's check the data:

NOAA’s May outlooks land within their stated range for named storms roughly 17 of 25 years; about 68%, just shy of their own 70% confidence target. The hurricane count accuracy is similar. That said, NOAA aims for a range (not a point forecast), so some “hits” are easier than others in wide-range years.

So, a little better than a coin toss...

 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Sen. Cassidy Loses Primary Battle, Starmer Slinks Away?

One of President Trump's bête noire in the Senate, Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict in Trump's impeachment trial in 2021, lost his primary battle, gaining only 25% of the vote in a three-way contest, that saw Trump-endorsed Julia Letlow and John Flemming advance to a run-off election for the party’s nomination. He never disavowed the impeachment vote despite subsequent evidence showing the shady origins of the charges, although he tried to ingratiate himself with Trump later. Joe Chalfant at TownHall, RINO Sen. Bill Cassidy Loses Historic Senate Primary Race. Sundance at CTH is pleased that Incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy Loses His Senate Seat in Primary – Places Third, Will Not Be in Runoff. At Althouse, "His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER." "Said Trump, in social media, quoted in "Trump Gets Revenge Against Republican Who Voted to Convict Him" (Bloomburg)...Conceding, Cassidy said "I find that people of character and integrity don’t spend their time attacking people on the internet."" When one strikes at the king... At TownHall, Salena Zito thinks Experts Miss Trump's Enduring Presence in American Politics in Indiana Races. Sundance notes President Trump Blasts Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert for Campaigning with DeceptiCON Thomas Massie in Kentucky.

Sauron's Eye reports U.K. health secretary will run for prime minister after challenging Starmer's leadership in scathing resignation letter. Meanwhile, it is unreliably reported by the Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "Sir Keir reportedly standing down. Sounds like a win for Team Britain. Nothing on Starmer's X feed. I have to assume he'll have some self serving excuses. But the fact is, after he smeared these people repeatedly, they were the ones who showed and behaved like Englishmen today. And it was clearly a cross section of native Britons, to include those of non-native descent who have chosen to adopt the ways of Britain. And clearly it finally got through to him. May he come to understand how he has defamed them and injured them." Quote Tommy Robinson @TRobinsonNewEra, "Everyone who turned up today and behaved impeccably ended this tyrant . Thank you x.com/basilthegreat/…" Quote Basil the Great @BasilTheGreat, "KEIR STARMER HAS ANNOUNCED HE IS STANDING DOWN AS PRIME MINISTER. It's finally happened." At Da Mail, DAN HODGES says My sources tell me Keir has decided to stand down, but he'll do it on his terms. wretchardthecat @wretchardthecat, "The dueling rallies in the UK the media narrative pro-Palestine "nakba" rally vs the Tommy Robinson Unite the Kingdom that were held largely peacefully were driven by rival strategies. Keir Starmer took a very hard line against Robinson, going so far as to deploy facial recognition vans in the Unite rally route to signal to his base that he was truly a man of the Left, something his Labour leadership rivals have accused him of abandoning. Robinson by contrast wanted to legitimize his issues and deliberately turned the Unite the Kingdom event into a conservative Woodstock. This was probably as much to mollify class suspicions as ideological ones. Robinson is the wrong kind of guy, after all. Not a Sir, not Oxbridge. He had to show he wasn't going to lose it on stage and he didn't. On the whole the event was Tommy's to lose and he didn't." wretchardthecat @wretchardthecat, "In fact I am struck by the embarassing degree to which which snobbery plays a role in Left/Right politics. Progressives have by imperceptibly slow degrees become the party of respectability, toffs, dignity and propriety. The real emotional fuel for Trump hatred is only partly fueled by logical disagreement. Most of it comes from his choice of furniture, design of ballroom, the ghastly red caterpillar cap, vulgar speech and most of all 'bigly'. They might forgive all else, but never 'bigly'. Over in the UK Starmer's accent proclaims him as estimable and educated. And Lord Ali, Lord Hermer and Lord Mandelson and those in league with him have even been ennobled. By contrast Robinson is described as dressed in "football casual". So while the division between Western liberals and conservatives is probably determined by disagreements over public policy it is in part driven by social self-identification." It was "big-league", but never mind. 

Thomas A. Whitaker @WhitakerTA_, "The UK just deployed a political weapon it's only used once before in modern history. And nobody is talking about what it just backfired into..." KEIR STARMER BANNED FOREIGN JOURNALISTS FROM ENGLAND TO STOP A RALLY → IT PRODUCED THE LARGEST ANTI-GOVERNMENT MARCH IN YEARS..." Crown Prosecution Service @CPSUK, "Prosecutors have been issued new legal guidance on the use of offensive banners, slogans, chants or symbols to recognise the changing context and increase in increase in hate crime attacks ahead of significant planned protests in London this weekend." Bonchie @bonchieredstate, "Here you go, guys. Found some people for you to prosecute. They aren't "right-wing," though. Hopefully, that's not an issue."

Lee Smith at Tablet on Trump's Strange Trip to China. "The U.S. war against Iran hasn’t ushered in American decline. It’s exposed China’s weakness." From the Free Bacon, Trump Keeps His Friends Close, But China Closer. Sundance hosts as Susan Kokinda Gives Promethean PAC Analysis on Trump’s China Visit and Xi’s Remarks about “Thucydides Trap” and notes President Sheinbaum and President Trump Have Cordial Trade Call as First Sinaloa Official is Nabbed by U.S. Federal Agents.

At Mil.com, Pentagon Rushes to Buy 10,000 Missiles as Iran Has Depleted Stockpiles, "Agreements with multiple contractors will lead to buying cheaper cruise missiles in bulk." Cheaper by the gross. 

Bob Graboyes at Bastiat's Window has the Virginia Supreme Court Ruling Made E-Z, "The logic was simple: "Before an election" means "before the first votes are cast."" AG @AGHamilton29, "You get the game here, right? They file an absurd motion asking the Supreme Court to rule on a case where it clearly has no jurisdiction. Then when it obviously refuses (w 0 dissents), they accuse it of corruption to justify trying to stack the court. Shameful." Quote Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta @malcolmkenyatta "The Supreme Court is corrupt." RedState's Nick Arama thinks Kamala Harris 'No Bad Ideas' Video for Dems Is So Awful It Goes Viral - Then She Makes It Worse. Pat Adams @PatAdams96, "Kamala Harris is now calling for Democrats to hold a “No Bad Idea Brainstorm” where they discuss: - Abolishing the Electoral College - Packing the Supreme Court - Making Puerto Rico and D.C. states “We’ve got to neutralize these red states from cheating!”"

Stephen Moore at Hat Hair says Angry About High Prices? Blame Biden and Big Government! From Twitchy, Happy Biden Family? Try '10% for the Big Guy,' Crack Pipes, and the Ignored Granddaughter and Journos Are Noticing This 2-Year Old Video of Biden Challenging Trump Had a LOT of Edits.

At NYPo, Billionaire Ken Griffin ghosts Mamdani after NYC ‘Tax the Rich’ video flap. From Politico, Newsom appoints former CFPB head to lead California consumer agency. "Rohit Chopra was ousted as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by the Trump administration last year." Tim O'Brien at PJM sees Fetterman’s Backyard Is Going Full Socialist With Proposed Parental Leave Mandate. Derek Hunter at TownHall finds it odd Democrats Refuse To Even Talk To the American People Anymore. Driscoll at Insty sees BILL KRISTOL FINALLY MAKES IT OFFICIAL: Stephen L. Miller @redsteeze, "It would just be refreshing if every other person employed by the bulwark expressed this level of professional honesty. You took the money so just admit it." Quote, "Bill Kristol @BillKristol "I’m pro-freedom, pro-law and order, pro-limited government, and pro-the Declaration and the Constitution. And so today I’m a Democrat."

Leslie Eastman at LI, Spencer Pratt Vows to Bring Art Deco Architecture Back to Los Angeles "Meanwhile, what is Pratt’s opponent promising? Free teeth for meth-heads."

Jen O'Connell at RedState, Democrat SOS and Media Blast CO Gov. Polis for Tina Peters' Commutation; Hear How He Sets Them Straight

Driscoll cites Power Line CRY HAVOC AND LET SLIP THE RAPE DOGS OF WAR! Rape Dogs: The Laff Riot.

It's worse than you think. The IDF has trained dogs to pilot aircraft. Fully 25% of the sorties against Iran and Hezbollah have been carried out by Belgian Malinois. pic.twitter.com/WzuVTFXYFt

— Jerusalem of Iron 🇮🇱 עם ישראל חי (@jerusalemofiron) May 14, 2026

Captain Allen @CptAllenHistory, "Bill Maher just delivered the most clear-eyed, no-bullshit monologue on Israel & antisemitism you’ll hear from any mainstream voice in 2026. “Israel was founded on the idea that antisemitism made a Jewish state necessary ... Can you honestly listen to this rhetoric and not see why that turned out to be true?..."

From Campus Reform, Inside More Perfect University and its billionaire-backed progressive populism project: "A student movement for the ‘99%’ is being bankrolled by the same billionaire-backed networks it claims to oppose. More Perfect University sells campus populism as grassroots activism, but its funding, messaging, and political ties tell a different story."

Palm Sunday

With Taylor Carpenter

KERA, Caracas' iconic macaws threatened by vanishing palm trees

Blue and gold macaws are not native to Caracas. But over the past two decades their numbers in Venezuela's capital have skyrocketed, with hundreds of these birds now flying freely across the city, and dazzling locals with their colorful feathers and peculiar calls.

The birds have become a symbol of Caracas and formed a special bond with some people, who leave food for them in their balconies or gardens. But this unique relationship between humans and exotic birds is now under threat as city authorities cut down the palm trees that the macaws depend on to raise their offspring.

Maria Lourdes Gonzalez, a biologist who studies the macaws says that in the following years, the city's population of blue and gold macaws could plummet. "If they don't find a place where they can breed, there will be no new generation of macaws" she said at her office in Caracas' Simon Bolivar University.

Gonzalez explained that the macaws only nest in a palm tree known as the chaguaramo, or the royal palm. And they only use chaguaramos with no leaves whose trunks are decaying and have been partially hollowed out by insects.

Officials are taking these old palm trees down in several parks and public spaces as they try to beautify the city ,and prevent rotting tree trunks from falling on people. It's a policy that makes sense from the perspective of a city planner, Gonzalez explained, but one that threatens the macaws.

"These are not birds that make nests out of branches or twigs," Gonzalez said. "They occupy holes inside old tree trunks, and in Caracas, they only use the chaguaramo trees."