Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Flotsam and Jetsam - Sen. Graham Dead, Long Live Sen. Graham

Darlene Graham (Nordone), that is. Don Surber lauds Lindsey Graham, a profile in courage. At PJM Dave Manney notices A Power Vacuum Has Opened in the GOP. Trump's Next Move Could Define It and Matt Margolis thinks Trump Drops a Bombshell Pick for Lindsey Graham’s Seat, his sister Darline Graham Nordone. I don't think that's a bombshell, I think it's a placeholder. At Althouse "I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina." ""This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!" Signed President DONALD J. TRUMP, at Truth Social." At Ace, Trump Endorses Lindsey Graham's Sister to Replace Him, "Uhhh... I don't like politics becoming so dynastic. But I guess the idea is that his sister taking over for the rest of the term would be non-controversial right now. All of the people who want to run for the seat also want to be appointed to fill out the term, because that gives them a huge incumbency advantage. Appointing Graham's sister to the seat avoids that... assuming she really only serves for the remaining months." From Sundance at CTH, President Trump Endorses Interim Senate Replacement, Darline Graham Nordone and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster Holds Press Conference Announcing Vacancy Appointment of Darlene. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, CBS: McMaster to Appoint Graham's Sister to Fill Out His Term After Trump Nomination. I guess we just have to hope she's not a flaming liberal. Scott Pinsker at PJM notices The (Pink) Elephant in the Room: Why the Whisper Campaign About Lindsey Graham’s Sex Life Matters. He reminds me a bit of an old friend from work, who, when a new woman asked if he was gay because he showed no interest in dating at all, I replied, "I don't have the vaguest idea." For all I know he was completely asexual, an unusual position for an evolutionary biologist.

Buck Throckmorton as Ace's has in the MORNING RANT: Great Economic News You Won’t Get from the Legacy Media. At Da Signal some Georgia Polling: Jackson and Collins Can Win as Trump’s Approval Rises. Hat Hair's John Sexton sees Trump vs. California NIMBYs.

Hat Hair's John Sexton tells us What's Burning in Russia Today? Lots of Things. VodkaPundit at PJM says Ukraine’s New Naval Strategy Is Brilliantly Simple. Ukrainska Pravda claims Russian hackers breached cameras on NATO logistics routes to track weapons shipments, and Pravda is known for the truth... Sundance at CTH smirks at Moodys: Without U.S Military Leading Europe, Credit Rating for EU Sovereign Countries Will be Lowered "Now, tell me again how Europe is not living on the back of America." VodkaPundit at Insty, THIS IS FROM THE SUN, SO TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT — BUT IT’S TOO CUTE NOT TO SHARE: Desperate Castro family offer Trump private ISLAND for ‘super resort’ as president threatens to decapitate Cuba regime. “The idyllic Cayo Santa MarĂ­a super resort would be renamed ‘Trump Island’ – but only if US sanctions are lifted and plans for a luxury hotel casino project go ahead.”

PJM's Sarah Anderson hears Rubio to ICC: Hands Off the United States — Oh, And We're Shutting You Down. At Hat Hair Beege Welborn sees Sec State Lays a Flaming Marco Down on That Rogue ICC.

Fred Fleitz at Am Great thinks Trump’s Patience With the Iranian Regime Runs Out "President Trump’s decisive action this week reaffirms that the United States will not subsidize aggression through endless patience." Rapid Response 47 @RapidResponse47, "@POTUS on Iran: "It was a done deal, and then they broke it. They always break it. We've had 10 deals with these people — and so we're just going to hit them very hard... They're a bad group of people. They've been this way for a long time." No way out, but through. AP whines US attacks Iran and Tehran retaliates across the Middle East as both vie for control of strait. At Hat Hair, John Sexton sees Airstrikes on Iran Continue, Capt. Ed, Trump: Blockade on Iran Is Back, Baby, Bigger Than Ever and threatening US tolls for passage, Dave Strom, Trump: US Will Take the Strait and Run It; UPDATE: Trump Reimposes Iran Blockade, Duane Patterson, The Only Toll In the Strait of Hormuz Is Being Paid By the Iranian Regime and Dave Strom again, NYT: Former Iran President Ahmadinejad Was Israeli Spy. From News Wax, NY Times: Mossad Recruited Iran's Ahmadinejad. Ace, Hmm: Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Was Recruited as a Spy by Israel; Israel Hoped He Could Take Control of Iran After Assassinations of Iran's President and His Advisors, "So that was the plan. But plans tend to not survive first contact with the enemy." Even if it isn't true, I could see why Mossad would spread the rumor. Keep them worried about their "friends." i24 News, ‘Revenge is certain’: Iranian newspaper publishes ‘hit list’ naming Trump, Netanyahu. "Hamshahri depicted 13 US, Israeli and European officials in prison uniforms as Mojtaba Khamenei renewed Iran’s pledge to avenge his father’s killing." Is this supposed to be a surprise? Struan Stevenson at TownHall alliterates Bread, Bombs, and Bankruptcy: Iran's Theocracy Faces Its Final Reckoning and Cameron Arcad, Iranian Drones in Cuba? Here's What Trump Knows. All the more reason to take care of the Cuba problem.

LOL. LMAO even.
TownHall's Kurt Schlichter observes No Democrat Has the Brains or Courage to Not Be Crazy but Matt Vespa thinks Dems Are Getting Really Tired of Bernie Sanders' Political Schtick. EducatĂ«dHillbilly™ @RobProvince, "Is every communist a failed millionaire nepo baby?" Quote Stu Smith @thestustustudio, "Fergie Chambers, heir to the Cox media fortune and a major funder of militant pro-Palestine groups, was detained in Spain as the Trump administration seeks his extradition on federal charges carrying up to 30 years in prison." Robby Starbuck @robbystarbuck, "People can laugh but don’t underestimate these people. In only a few years, these weirdos seized control of the city where this photo was taken (Denver). They mostly don’t have kids. Socialism and communism are their child and they’ll die for it like we’d die for our actual kids. If you want to beat them longterm, the silent majority must see them as threats to our kids lives, because they are. Only then will we have the fortitude to dismantle them. And you’re going to have to drop the silent part of "silent majority"…. Because to beat communists, you must overrun them, you must be louder, you must be stronger, you must be more vicious like a lion protecting their young and you must be just as willing to sacrifice." Quote End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "Look at the crowd at today's DSA event. They tried to delete this. Too late." Dave Strom finds 'This Is Socialism' Propaganda Is Ridiculous. Sarah at Insty, THEY’RE NOT ANTI-ICE, THAT’S JUST THEIR COVER: INSURRECTION: Anti-ICE Mob Tries to Break Into Susan Collins’ Maine Office. Emma Camp opines Capitalism Gets a Bum Rap. "For many young people it’s simply a stand-in for the status quo. But the status quo is a huge improvement over the alternative." True capitalism has never been tried. 

A Larry vid at Hat Hair, Newsom Embraces Communists, Will Soon Regret It. VodkaPundit at PJM, Paramount Plays Hardball Against Newsom's Regulatory Goons. Brad Slager at RedState calls it Insanity: Steve Hilton Uncovers Why Police Can't Clear LA's Homeless Camps, NGOs sue them. Dave Strom hears Keith Ellison: Even You Need 'Gender Affirming Care' by using a very broad definition of gender affirming care. Speaking of changing definitions, at Twitchy, HIDE THE WOMEN! Zohran Mamdani's Explanation of Why R*pe Is Rising In New York Is Abominable. End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "Mamdani on why rape is up in NY: "A lot of it is from expanding what counts as rape." PM, MAMDANI’S NYC: Homeless encampment with drug trafficking, prostitution reaches 12 blocks. From Ace, Muskily Heterosexual James Talarico Woos the Most Important Voting Bloc in Texas, Perverts Who Attend Drag Queen Shows, "He's such a moderate centrist," and Humiliated by His Fawning Over a Nazi Rapist, Ro Khanna Tries to Change the Subject By Trying to Force His Way Past an Israeli Checkpoint and Then Crying "Jews Are Abusing a Brown Man!" When They Stop Him (for Ninety Minutes, to Check IDs), "Ro Khanna's absurd idea that he can be president took a big hit when his Rapist Wingman Graham Platner was forced to withdraw." From Althouse, The Republican never wins the governorship in Colorado, so what do Republican primary voters think they are doing?, "I'm reading "He Says He Killed a Man. Republicans Nominated Him Anyway" by Michelle Goldberg in the NYT. ... Goldberg leaves out the details about that killing. Grok relays the story as told by Marx: "severe childhood abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional) by multiple figures, including being beaten, electrocuted, tortured, and nearly killed (e.g., left in a cooler).... stepfather placing a gun in his hands, guiding his finger to pull the trigger, and shooting a man in the back of the head....""

Bryan Beal @bryanrbeal, "The fact this one dude - by himself - can walk into any state and find blatant fraud everywhere he goes proves two things: 1) the fraud is rampant at an unprecedented scale and 2) the government agencies who are supposed to protect our tax dollars are either completely incompetent or complicit in the fraud." Quote jay plemons @jayplemons, "Nick Shirley uncovers an adult day care in Flushing, Queens with 7,000 phantom members. Nick: “This public document says you have 7,899 members.”" I assume complicity. Lauren Chen @TheLaurenChen, "The shocking part of this is how most growth in the healthcare industry has come from bureaucracy, not actual healthcare." Quote Mary Talley Bowden MD @MaryBowdenMD, "Over the past 34 years, healthcare has replaced manufacturing as the top employer in the vast majority of states." The more people involved, the less each person feels any obligation for the outcomes. 

From NYPo, Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz bankrolled $480 million activist crusade that’s made your bacon and eggs pricier.

TheBlaze @theblaze, "Democrat Senator Elissa Slotkin: “The SAVE America Act would make it hard for any Democrat in any state to win any election.”" From Ace, More Illegal Aliens Discovered Voting Illegally in US Elections, "John Solomon at JusttheNews:"

Swann Marcus @SwannMarcus89, "Cambridge disabled Shot Spotter because they said it was racist. Then a black Public Works employee got shot, lay undiscovered for over an hour while bleeding out in a public park, and died because first responders didn't know a shooting happened."

The Hollywood Reporter reports Hunter Biden, Nick Fuentes Interview Nearly Turns Physical, Report Says, "The sit-down, brokered by Channel 5's Andrew Callaghan, reportedly grew heated before cooler heads prevailed." When you want both sides to lose.



Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok, "“Shocking”? There is literally nothing shocking about big tech suppressing stories that are inconvenient and harmful to Democrats." Quote New York Post @nypost, "Negative news about alleged rapist Graham Platner was suppressed by Big Tech, shocking study finds." And at the substack, Fort Worth Police EXPOSED for Violating 1st Amendment.

From CJ, Tal Fortgang says Stop WOKE Is Stopped—But Reform of Higher Education Will Go On. "A court struck down Florida’s ban on classroom indoctrination, but states have other means of wresting control of public education from dubious faculty." From the College Fix, Texas public university won’t fund professor’s travel to DEI-forward event and New Hampshire trans-female athletes drop lawsuit following recent SCOTUS decision. At Compact, Title IX Is Holding Back US Men’s Soccer.

Amy Curti sees CNBC Lists the Ten 'Worst' States to Live In. See If You Can Spot What They Have In Common, "To score the states for quality of life, we use hard data on factors like crime rates, air quality and healthcare. We also consider the cost and availability of childcare, inclusiveness of state laws, and reproductive rights."

End Wokeness @EndWokeness, "This is not a right-wing parody video Toronto Police actually posted this." From Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog, “A Culture of Courage”: A German Celebrates American Freedom. Beege Welborn is suspicious of The Murder of Ann Widdecombe in England. Jarvis @jarvis_best, "Things are getting serious in the UK. If it turns out a terrorist murdered her, he'll almost certainly be looking at a VERY steep fine." Quote GB Politics @GBPolitcs, "BREAKING: Counter-Terrorism Police have now taken charge of the investigation into the suspected murder of Ann Widdecombe, following the emergence of significant new information and evidence."

Tuesday Tanlines

A decades-old tanning practice mixing baby oil with iodine is trending again on TikTok, raising concerns about unprotected UV exposure and skin health.The baby oil and iodine tanning method is appearing under new hashtags as users film prolonged sunbathing. Dermatologists say the TikTok tanning trend leaves oil that can intensify UV absorption while iodine deepens color without protection.The practice traces to mid-20th-century sunbathing culture and is resurfacing among younger audiences. Yale pediatric dermatologist Richard Antaya told The Union Democrat that experts have long advised against it. Years of UV exposure increase skin cancer risk and accelerate aging. Dermatologists cite DHA-based self tanners as a non-UV alternative.

I vaguely remember hearing about the baby oil and iodine trick. Yes, elemental iodine imparts a nice brown color to skin, which dissipates fairly quickly. Having used iodine in chemistry a few times I noticed the staining. However, iodine is no fun, and it smells bad (although it doesn't leave much smell on the skin. However, iodine is better used in nitrogen triiodide. I independently discovered that a strong solution of potassium permanganate also gives skin a nice glow, without the smell, and lasts a bit longer. Ask me how I found out. It's also handy to have around in crystal form if you need to start a fire. Of course, neither of these chemical alternatives offer any real protection from sunburn the way a real suntan does.


Monday, July 13, 2026

Bubble Pop!

Although it didn't so much pop as be absorbed. It's my 10th weekly post updating the progress of my left eye's recovery from the second retinal detachment/reattachment surgery. Monday, last week, I predicted (softly) that the freon bubble in my eye would have dissipated by Wednesday or Thursday. I apparently overestimated the rate that the bubble was shrinking. It actually finally absorbed last night while I slept. I had Gabby cut off the green wristband that warned first responders not to carry me above 2,000 ft, or give me nitrous oxide for some reason.

Otherwise things are much the same. The vision in my left eye is still very nearsighted, which I expected, and slanted to the right, which I hoping would improve. I'm looking forward, with a bit of trepidation, to a visit to the regular eye doc, to see what they can do to make the two eyes agree better.

Anyway, this should be the end of regular updates.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Lindsey Graham Still Dead

At WaPoo, Lindsey Graham died of aortic dissection, preliminary medical report says. "Graham died hours after returning from a trip to Ukraine. Trump said he spoke with the senator Saturday evening and that “could’ve been his last call.”" That certainly explains the sudden part. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair says RIP to Lindsey Graham (1955-2026). From sundance at CTH, Senator Lindsey Graham Dead, President Trump Discusses 7pm Phone Call Last Night with Senator Lindsey Graham, President Trump Reminds Jake Tapper to Stay on Task – Focus on Lindsey Graham, In Memoriam – The Most Interesting Revelation Released by Senator Lindsey Graham and Nancy Mace Wants to Replace Lindsey Graham "Not many people think highly of Nancy Mace. However, Nancy Mace thinks very highly of herself." Noah Rothman at NRO remembers Lindsey Graham’s Finest Moment. Stacey Matthews at LI Remembering Lindsey Graham’s Pivotal Role in the Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings.“I would never do to them what you’ve done to this guy. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics. And if you really wanted to know the truth, you sure as hell wouldn’t have done what you’ve done to this guy.” Eric Florack at PJM, Graham, McConnell, and Platner Gone? How Does This Play Out? Bob Hoge at RedState wants to know What Happens Now? The Race to Fill Graham's Seat Has Already Begun.

However, he had plenty of detractors on both sides. Joe Chalfant at TownHall, These Ghouls Couldn't Help But Gloat Over Lindsey Graham's Death. Will Ricciardella @WillRicci, "When ISIS butcher Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi died, WaPo called him an “austere religious scholar.” When commie dictator Fidel Castro died, The NYT called him a “Cuban revolutionary who defied the U.S.” Lindsey Graham raised his younger sister after their parents died, served 33 years in uniform and more than 3 decades in Congress. He dies, and prominent media voices reach back 6 years for an essay titled “History Will Judge the Complicit.” This isn’t merely bad taste, it’s a moral hierarchy: America’s enemies get context, euphemism, romance — American conservatives get a bill of indictment before their body is even cold." Quote Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum, "Lindsey Graham was one of the main subjects of a @TheAtlantic cover story I wrote in 2020, on why people collaborate with regimes they know are immoral. Here's a gift link:" Ana Kasparian @AnaKasparian, "Are you offended? Let me clarify: I’m elated that he’s dead. Overjoyed…. Just like he was elated at seeing countless dead children throughout Middle East." Ace, Lindsey Graham Dies; Neo-Cons Across The Country Are In Mourning.

I don't have strong feelings about Graham. Certainly, as one of the early participants of the Reagan revolution, and long service, he's had ample impact on the country, for better or worse. I'm not really sure where the balance falls.

AP reports McConnell says a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking weeks of silence about health condition, followed by pneumonia. Yep, that'll do it. "McConnell explained the four-week silence about his condition by saying that “folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older.”" All the old people I know just love to talk about that shit. And I know plenty! Sundance, of course, is suspicious when Mitch McConnell Releases Image and Statement. I'm glad to hear he's improving, but it's still past time to quit.

Nicole Silvero at Da Caller reports the Senate is Holding Slew Of Confirmation Hearings For Trump Nominees As Time Runs Short Before August Recess. It doesn't help to have two missing.

Da Signal explains how Trump’s Ukraine Strategy at NATO Is ‘America First’ in Action. Trent Telenko @TrentTelenko, "I've been advocating that Ukraine strike Russian tugs as part of a larger campaign against Russian riverine and littoral maritime traffic since 2022. Ukraine has delivered on all my expectations of what that would accomplish in the last five days. Brown Water logistics.1/" Quote Jay in Kyiv @JayinKyiv, "Russians enter state of deep depression amid the 5th consecutive day of double digit destruction of Russian ships on the Azov Sea, a total of 76 over the course of 5 days. Russians now lament that Ukraine is mow even deatroying the tugboats sent to tow the wrecks to port. At NYPo, US unloads military might on Iran after Tehran closes Strait of Hormuz — striking 140 targets: ‘Now they pay.’ At WUWT, Claim: The Iran War is Worsening the Climate Crisis.

Sundance looks at the U.S-Canada Strike Deal on New Gordie Howe International Bridge – Opening Date July 27th and Promethean PAC Visits Trump Policy Contrast Against Energy Priorities. From the Auto Wire, The EPA’s New Truck Rule Turns a Federal Felony Into a Factory Setting.

From AMAC, Graham Platner Debacle Proves Bernie Sanders and Socialist Left Can’t Be Trusted. Oh hell, we knew that a long time ago. Matt Vespa at TownHall laughs that Liberal White Women Are in a State of Despair Over Maine's Graham Platner. The lamentation of their women! Bonchie @bonchieredstate, "Wasn’t it his advisor that helped give rise to Platner and ran his campaign? Now he gets to just bring the chapter to a close with no further questions?" Quote New York Post @nypost "Mamdani says it's time to 'bring this chapter to a close' after Graham Platner campaign collapse." Matt Vespa, So, Is This Why a Dem Rep Is Probably Glad He Got Detained in the West Bank? Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, ""A new video has emerged of James Talarico defending gun control laws by saying that people have not actually read the Second Amendment, stressing that the words "‘well regulated’ are right there in the text of the amendment itself." He needs to give that one another read..." "...He omitted the word following "Well regulated": "militia." It did not mean regulations, but rather a proficient, fully capable militia. Now if only Talarico could support a well-read amendment as well as a well-regulated militia..." From Twitchy, 'These People Are So F-ing Stupid!' James Carville Posts WILD Rant Against Frankenstein's Monster. At Hat Hair Betsy McCaughey warns Don't Let Marxists Rob Us of Our History. Dave Strom at Hat Hair believes 'Luxury Beliefs' Are Killing People and socialism is a luxury belief. 

From RCP, Nick Shirley And Medicaid Czar Dr. Oz Report Billions In Senior "Adult Daycare" Fraud in Queens: "Korean And Chinese Mafias." Trent Telenko @TrentTelenko, "I'm of the opinion the entire Federal annual deficit spending is made up entirely of welfare and entitlement fraud." Quote Arthur MacWaters @ArthurMacwaters, "I’ve seen enough man The welfare system in this country is literally the largest fraud farm in the entire history of the human race x.com/nickshirleyy/s…"

At Althouse, "We don’t need presidents who have weird obsessions.", "Said Kamala Harris, back in October 2020, blogged at the time, here. I know that at the time I thought I bet all the Presidents have had a weird obsession. I know because I said that in a podcast at the time. That post and podcast predated access to Grok, so I didn't have the chance to use this prompt: Accept the hypothesis that every U.S. President had a weird obsession and to list all the Presidents with their weird obsession. I did use it today, though. Some of my favorites:..."

PJM's Kevin Downey hears More Than 200 FBI Agents Swarm Fulton County, Georgia, to Investigate 2020 Election Fraud. This could be very interesting, or it could be a dud. We already know there were enough unaccounted for Biden votes to swing the state. But could the FBI actually turn up evidence of deliberate fraud, as opposed to deliberately built in incompetence? Stay tuned.

Cam at Bearing Arms sees  A Rare Dose of Common Sense From New York Courts In Gun Confiscation Case.

John Lott at Da Fed argues Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Really Is Slashing Violent Crime. Homeland Security @DHSgov, "EIGHT MISSING CHILDREN RESCUED. During the World Cup, @HSIKansasCity have been working every single day to combat human trafficking and arrest suspected traffickers. Thank you to these heroes for your work to save these children." Orange County Register, Truck driver wanted by ICE faces sentencing for big rig crash that killed 3 on 10 Freeway in Ontario, CA that is. NYPo ed board, Work-visa fraud costs America big: Hail the Trump team’s crackdown.

Sundance sees the Media Apoplectic at DOJ and FBI Investigating Four New York Times Reporters for Compromising President Trump Security During Turkey Visit. At the Eternally Radical Idea Greg Lukianoff celebrates VICTORY against Stop WOKE Act, Me in WaPo, ‘A Song of FIRE and ICE,’ ‘turn around, bright eyes,’ & more! "Bringing you the latest free speech news (7/12/26)."

Campus Reform reports University of California, Riverside grant funding policies favor immigrants over U.S. citizens "Campus Reform found the University of California, Riverside awards illegal immigrant graduate students up to $9,000 annually through one fellowship, while a comparable graduate research grant provides U.S. citizens up to $4,000." At Minding the Campus What Does It Mean to Be a Women’s College If Men Can Enroll? "Salem College says it ‘accepts applications from students who were assigned female at birth or who identify as women.’" Mark Judge at the Chronic, The Evil Complicity of Dahlia Lithwick’s Fake Trans Outrage. Hat Hair's Larry Elder explores What's the Real 'Defining Image of Race in America'? At Instapundit, AS ANDY WARHOL SAID, NOTHING IS MORE BOURGEOIS THAN TO BE AFRAID TO LOOK BOURGEOIS: Reddit Lies @reddit_lies, "Help! Someone on facebook is glorifying marriage and families!" and Driscoll has a very Driscolly post DISPATCHES FROM THE SECRET POLICEMAN’S BALLS (Or the Lack Thereof)..." Hillel Neuer @HillelNeuer, "BREAKING: John Cleese renounces “the mob who have taken over Amnesty.” The iconic British comedian initiated and produced Amnesty International's landmark comedy benefit series, and for decades supported Amnesty as a fundraiser and public advocate. Proof they've lost the plot:" Quote John Cleese @JohnCleese "As a former major fund-raiser for Amnesty - I produced the first five 'Secret Policeman's Balls' - I renounce the mob who have taken over Amnesty Amnesty used to be about trying to do something about TORTURE x.com/_RebeccaMcCurd…"

The Monday Morning Stimulus

 It's a miracle that an AI lady needs so much coffee:


When you start feeling jittery, or is that too easy? Anyway, I saw this:
Younger adults aged 18 to 24 are more likely to be affected by coffee jitters. The study found that 58% of respondents who fall into that demographic reported feeling the anxious symptoms that often follow drinking coffee. However, only 12% of respondents aged 65+ reported feeling jittery and anxious after drinking coffee.