Sunday, October 18, 2026

Flotsam and Jetsam - France on Fire

But first, Hat Hair's John Sexton hears Iran Denies Pursuing a Bomb, Makes Fresh Threats Against US, so just another day ending in Y. Roger Simon has a source On Location in Kermanshah: Behind the Iranian Curtain, "Out of research comes friendship and concern." From JihadWatch, Saudi Arabia: A nightmare for pilgrims traveling to holy sites amid Houthi strikes. A second world problem.

Sundance sees Riots, Looting and Arson Erupt in France with Chaos across Urban Regions in Western Europe. Dr. Eli David @DrEliDavid, "As France is burning, I keep thinking of what the UAE Foreign Minister said a few years ago He accurately predicted this." Lara Logan @laralogan, "Wow. What will the French do? Fight for France or take a knee?" Quote Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD @houmanhemmati, "In case you were wondering what @ZohranKMamdani & others means when they say “Globalize the Intifada,” it’s this. Coming soon to a DSA-run city and state near you." Quote Shai Goldman @shaig, "Marseille city hall has fallen & they have put up Palestinian flags inside." Rod Dreher @roddreher, "If this isn’t civil war, what is it?" Quote Inevitable West @Inevitablewest, "BREAKING: The historic Limoges town hall has just completely collapsed after far-left rioters set it on fire It was built in 1876. It survived World Wars. It did not survive modern France." Driscoll at Insty, IS PARIS SCUFFLING? "Or to paraphrase CNN in 2020, mostly peaceful but surprisingly fiery scuffles." Kurt Schlichter @KurtSchlichter, "You have to have a heart of stone not to laugh." Quote The Beringer Project @BradBeringer, "A liberal French women explains to these African Islamic invaders robbing her family’s store that she’s on their side & voted for them to come here & voted to defund the police They laughed and mocked her and stole all her merchandise & probably r_ped." Jonah Goldberg, occasionally sensible when not talking about Trump, calls Greta Thunberg Addicted to Protest. 

John Sexton heard a Report Musk Suggested Cutting Ukraine's Starshield Access, as a way of getting Ukraine's attention. Sundance at CTH sees New York Times Leads Leftist Media Movement to Target Trump for Exempting Russia from New U.S. Sanctions Regime. Despite the Ukraine war, Europe is dependent on Russian oil.

Sundance also hosts USMCA Update – U.S. Trade Representative Discusses Canada with Glenn Beck. E.J. Antoni, Ph.D. @RealEJAntoni, "The manufacturing recovery cont'd in Sep w/ industrial production up 0.7% M/M and 2.2% Y/Y, fastest annual increase in 4 yrs and closing in on record high; capacity utilization also cont'd marching higher, up 1.2 percentage points Y/Y".

Matt Margolis at PJM, Here’s How White House Insiders Engineered Zacharia’s Exit. "Two people told the outlet that Wiles helped arrange the Sean Hannity interview that sealed Zacharia's fate, and that Zacharia was never Wiles' preferred choice for the job. Meanwhile, Trump officials texted CNN hosts about her weak first briefing, and some may have been acting on orders. One person familiar with the internal dynamics, speaking anonymously to Politico, called the Hannity appearance a "sanctioned hit" on Zacharia." Eric W. @EWess92, "In the wake of "lawyer v. attorney" kerfuffle, I learned folks feel very strongly about people claiming to be an attorney/lawyer if not able to practice law. I also learned that commentator Elie Mystal (who self-describes as an attorney) never got admitted in NY. It's the same" The Babylon Bee @TheBabylonBee, "Trump Criticized For Choosing New Press Secretary Jessica Rabbit." At RedState Nick Arama sees CBS Tries to Trap Vance With Guilfoyle Question, but They Go Down in Flames From His Great Reply. "First of all, if somebody's selling access to the White House, that's disgusting and despicable and they should suffer consequences," Vance responded. He went on to say, "I want to make those judgments based on the facts and not based on a random news media report that I read."

National Interest think Even by Recent Standards, This Year’s Continuing Resolution Is a Disaster. The ability of Congress to govern spending is reaching a breaking point.

Matt Margolis sees Jessica Tarlov Defend El-Sayed in Front of Gutfeld and Watters. Big Mistake! From Hat Hair's Dave Strom, You Can't Hate the Media Enough: Reason # ∞. Drs Abdul El-Sayed and Jill Biden vs "Mr" Ben Carson. "Byron York brought the receipts, and his point is dead on. People in the cultural elite love to focus on credentials as a class signifier, but it's easy to miss that class comes first, and the signifier is just the endorsement that a person belongs. If somebody has the credential — even a far better one by normal standards — but isn't seen as a member of the class, the credential gets memory-holed." From Shooting Newsweek, Is Anyone Surprised the Gun Control Industry Has Gotten Behind Michigan Islamist Abdul El-Sayed? At the Chronic, Mamdani’s Sanctuary House of Cards Will Collapse.

Nick Arama thinks Tafoya Trounces Flanagan in Minnesota Senate Debate, Ends Her With a Memorable Line. "My goodness, she was second in charge in this state, and she's just going to point her finger at Gov. Tim Walz...when she demanded to be in the room where everything happened. But, suddenly, she has nothing to do with this. Again, my goodness! Sell it to someone else." Capt. Ed, 'Sell It to Someone Else': Tafoya Blows Up Flanagan Over Massive Fraud. The polls are within the margin of error, thus not beyond the margin of fraud. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn is upset Chicago Hands Out 'Lifetime Achievement Award' to Convicted Terrorists, Grooms New Ones. Well, they have a reputation to uphold. 

From Twitchy, Sen. Alex Padilla Schooled After Complaining Trump Admin Is Bullying CA Election Officials. Mike Lee @BasedMikeLee, "Senator Padilla claims the DOJ offered “no evidence” and no details. That’s false. Completely false. Federal agencies (USCIS + HSI) conducted a multi-stage data match of California’s voter rolls against immigration records, naturalization data, State Department records, and SSA data. The federal agencies involved used confidence-level matching, secondary review, and further investigation before identifying roughly 20,000 likely noncitizens who were mailed (or set to receive) ballots. The DOJ then provided California officials a specific list of those names on a password-protected drive and asked them to segregate the ballots pending verification—not cancel them. California refused to even *review* the list. “No evidence” is just the talking point they use when they don’t like the evidence. But that talking point is demonstrably false. Noncitizen voting in federal elections is a federal crime. Demanding basic verification isn’t baseless—it’s the law." Quote Senator Alex Padilla @SenAlexPadilla, "First, they offer no evidence to try to block 20,000 ballots from being counted. Now, the Trump Administration is threatening California election officials with criminal investigations without any legal basis. The Constitution gives states the authority to administer elections" Beege Welborn, The Over/Under on That Thing That 'Never Happens' Is Suddenly Tightening Up.

TownHall's Matt Vespa hears Federal Agents Are Searching Ilhan Omar's Trash. Something Else Might Be Going On. Defiant L’s @DefiantLs, "The CNN panel did not like when being hit with the facts about Ilhan Omar What's funny to me is they would fight tooth and nail and do anything to defend a Democrat." Nick Adams @NickAdamsinUSA, "Rashida Tlaib after Mar-a-Lago was raided: "No one is above the law, no matter how rich or powerful they are. Let justice be served." Rashida Tlaib after Ilhan Omar's house was raided: "DHS raiding a Member of Congress's home is exactly what a fascist police state does.""

John Sexton reports Los Angeles DA Considers Bringing Charges Against Eric Swalwell. Just another Democrat rapist (allegedly), ho hum.

At the Spec, Roger Kimball looks at Jack Smith’s plot against the republic. Evita Duffy-Alfonso @evitaduffy_1, "Sen. Slotkin just openly threatened to persecute anyone who worked for Trump, with the explicit goal of intimidating young conservatives." Quote The Chicago Thinker @ThinkerChicago, "ON UCHICAGO CAMPUS: U.S. Senator from Michigan Elissa Slotkin hopes planned political prosecutions of republican leaders will scare young conservatives from getting involved in politics." Miranda Devine @mirandadevine, "What a piece of work. And this is what the Democrats present as a "moderate." A moderate CIA operative. C3 @C_3C_3, "Like it never happened. Insane." Quote Gain of Fauci @DschlopesIsBack, "“Governor Tim Walz ordered me to assassinate Amy Klobuchar.” - Vance Boelter" Gina Milan @ginamilan_, "Never forget: Democrats were throwing Molotov cocktails at Teslas because Elon Musk wanted to DOGE government fraud."

From RCE, Courts Need to Remove Climate Activist Thumb From the Scales of Justice. "At the request of 27 states’ attorneys general, the Federal Judicial Center recently removed the manual’s chapter on climate science because it did more to influence judicial outcomes than to help federal judges evaluate scientific evidence. And the reference guide’s chapter called “How Science Works” is guilty of a similar offense." John Lucas at Bravo Blue looks at The Constitution’s Red-Headed Stepchild -- The Second Amendment "Rights? Rights? Constitutional rights? You ain’t ‘got no stinkin’rights!" CIS explains Why New York Won’t Honor ICE Detainers for Criminal Aliens "Most ICE arrests traditionally have been ‘custodial’ ones — except under Biden — so sanctuary politicos who want to end agency enforcement prevent immigration officers from taking their alien criminals." They want to make it as hard as possible so they have more "victims" to showcase.

From the NY Sun, Harvard’s Faculty Lead Academia in Record Donations to Democrats in Key Senate Races, "With large donations coming in at unprecedented levels, employees at colleges and universities under investigation by the Trump administration are focused on trying to turn the Senate blue." From the College Fix, Baylor accused of ‘mission drift’ after high-profile Christian apologetics event canceled. Jonathan Turley, Religiously Woke: Dean of Students Warns that Saying “In Christ Alone” Constitutes “White Privilege.” Amy Curtis at TownHall sees Former Congressman and Retired Army Lt. Col. Allen West Was Barred From Speaking on College Campus. Leslie Eastman at LI reports Native American Warriors Shatter Academia’s Colonialism Narrative. "On this Columbus Day, I am celebrating patriotism that is more powerful than the politics of resentment."

David M. Sabatini @DMSabatini, "Today I smiled for real for the first time in more than 5 years. Thank you to the jury, judge, court officer and clerk. And of course to my rockstar legal team. I truly wish the best for everyone involved." Quote The Boston Globe @BostonGlobe, "A civil jury ruled in favor of ex-MIT scientist David Sabatini, who was accused by a younger colleague of inappropriate sexual conduct in his Cambridge research lab, and awarded him $6 million in damages." At Althouse, "It’s surreal. I’ve been dreaming about this moment for all this time, but often thinking I might not make it, financially, emotionally or physically." "Said David Sabatini, after the verdict, quoted in "M.I.T. Scientist Wins $6 Million in Sexual Harassment Defamation Suit/David Sabatini, once a prominent scientist at M.I.T., sued a former colleague who accused him of inappropriate behavior. A jury found in his favor" (NYT)." Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, "Michael S. Roth, the president of Wesleyan University, is calling for fraternities to be forced to admit women to change the culture. It is a call that is feeding a familiar mob forming over a case before any charges or evidence is established ..." Cadbury Cream James @James_PA10, ""Fraternities are raping us women repeatedly! Let us in!"" Quote, "Michael S Roth @mroth78, ""where all-male fraternities play an important role..there are just too many horror stories waiting to happen. Forcing these organizations to admit women, as well as trans &nonbinary students, can make campuses safer for all...whatever their gender"" Hollywood in Toto notes Shane Gillis Must Be Stopped! (But Not Hasan Piker?). "Woke 2.0 is as fraudulent and hypocritical as first, insidious wave."

Palm Sunday

Again, with Damla Durgun:

Yesterday, my five-year-old niece had to have surgery. She was bumped up the priority list at Nelson Hospital by an orthopaedics team who were a bit concerned about her condition. Her ankle hurt, and her mum reckoned it was looking swollen and feeling a bit hot, the telltale signs of infection.
...
And what was it, you’re wondering. Why did your sweet, cheeky, little 5-year-old niece have to go forego her breakfast and anything by mouth, and endure all the stress of being poked and prodded, the fear of being put to sleep, why did she have to be forcibly held down so the anaesthetist could get the mask on her face and the surgeons could cut open her little ankle and slice down into the flesh?

The reason is that as a result of an innocent accident when she was playing with her friends, she ended up with what the surgeon told her mum is the single most common foreign object their team gets called on to remove. No, it wasn’t Lego. It wasn’t a rusty nail or drawing pin gone bad. It was a spike from the frond of a Phoenix palm tree.

Now this is either yet another example of my ignorance, which I’ll concede is fairly likely, or maybe this comes as a surprise to you too. I had absolutely no idea that Phoenix palm trees posed such a serious risk.

They’re obviously an exotic. They’re originally from the Canary Islands of all places, but you see them all the time in coastal parts of New Zealand. They look tropical and quite attractive in the right setting, but their structure is downright sinister. At the end of their fronds are long, sharp spikes. The spikes are poisonous. They snap off under the skin. And that, as it turns out, is a very nasty combination.
As I've mentioned before, my parent's house in Los Angeles had several large palms, including two Canary Island Date Palms, and I can attest to the very pointy and annoying spike, which are actually at base, and not the tip of the fronds. Neither are they venomous (if you bite it and you die, it's poisonous; if it bites or sticks you and you die, it's venomous). We used to play with them as swords. I'm sure I was stuck more than 10 times (I can be a slow learner), and one never broke off, and I never got an infection. Actually, it's kind of a miracle I survived to adulthood, if that's what this is.

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Flotsam and Jetsam - Hello, I Must Be Going DIY

Trump, Republicans and Foreign Affairs

It Looks Like President Trump Is Kicking Katie Zacharia to the Curb – PJ Media
Today's Deep Question: Is Zacharia 'Cooked' After Tough Hannity Interview? UPDATE: Out, Per Fox – HotAir
Is Katie Zacharia a Lawyer? - Power LineKatie Zacharia dropped as press secretary after one week on the job - Fox News
Althouse: I don't know, and I don't like that language. I just want her to withdraw back into obscurity. Please.
Rumor Has It Skittish EU Leaders Want Zelensky to Stuff a Sock in It – HotAir
How Dumb Is Canada? Carney Spent Nearly $1 Million for Gaza Elections That Were Never Happening. – PJ Media
Oilfield Rando on X: "Top tier geopolitical troll"
Breitbart Business Digest Prescription Drug Prices Just Saw the Biggest Decline Ever
Elon's Forgotten Success: DOGE – HotAir
In The Mailbox: 10.16.26 : The Other McCain

The Disloyal Opposition

The Morning Briefing: El-Sayed Goes Full Talarico. Never Go Full Talarico. – PJ Media
Ace of Spades HQ - MSNOW Of All Outlets Challenges Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed's Lie About Having No Familial Connections to the Muslim Brotherhood
The Left’s Choreographed ‘Lifelong Republican’ Demoralization Campaign Is Underway – PJ Media
Next News Network on X: "AOC gets roasted in a brutal new meme as Tesla's flying Roadster soars right past her. The internet showed no mercy on this one. Somewhere, the Green New Deal just got lapped. 
Compassionate Socialism? It’s Time to Have a Sit-Down With That Young Socialist You Know. – PJ Media
Two-thirds of Americans want government help with surging healthcare costs — but 'Medicare for All' isn't it
Dem Challenger Tells Collins to 'Shut Up.' Nevertheless, She Persisted. – HotAir
Alaska Senate Candidate Cues Viral Reaction With Embarrassing Thing She Brought to Live Debate – RedState
Sherrod Brown Wanted Our Vietnam POWs Kept Captive to Protect Hanoi From US Bombs – HotAir
RNC Research on X: "White House instructions to Biden: "YOU take YOUR seat."

Matters of Just Us

Ace of Spades HQ - Ilhan "Omar" Disappears; Husband Asked If She's Fled the Country
Ilhan Omar Sure Sounds Worried With What She Says and Does in Latest Remarks – RedState
The Drunk Republican on X: "Ilhan Omar’s staff deleting her “no one is above the law” posts
Instapundit  - I LOVE COMMUNITY NOTES: There are more Notes where that one came from, if you’d like to rate
Wall Street Apes on X: "White liberals gathered in a Minnesota park to demand “Hands off Ilham Omar” and “Hands off the Somali community” Look at this crowd, there is literally zero diversity, they’re all white liberals This event was organized by an NGO, its name is Freedom Road Socialist
The Babylon Bee on X: "Ilhan Omar To Be Deported To Dearborn, Michigan

Immigration Legal and Otherwise

How Many Foreign Workers at US AI Firms Are Spies? – HotAir
The 'Nonissue' Of Noncitizens Voting Is Becoming A Bigger Issue

Freedom of Speech and Media Bias

Brit Hume on X: "Sometimes bias gives itself away in the most subtle, but telling ways."
C3 on X: "513 days after Elon’s decline and fall… He’s the World’s first trillionaire, National Medal of Science Award winner and just unveiled his flying car. The Media truly does suck.

Culture, Education and Entertainment

Campus Reform - Columbia Journalism School hosts discussion of book arguing 'White America' was conditioned to lynch black children
Penn State may cut 47 programs over low interest, weak employment opportunity - The College Fix
Defiant L’s on X: "Resurfaced clip of Kathy Griffin in 2004 talking about muslims "It's such a wonderful culture for women, unless you have a clitoris and you're 13... the muslims are not your friend" I guess this is before TDS took over
The Babylon Bee on X: "'Ugh I Can't Believe Men Are Looking At Me At The Gym,' Says Woman Who Went To The Gym Specifically So Men Would Look At Her
The Problem With Cornell Is That Men Never Hear That Women Are Victims – HotAir
Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 on X: "Imagine being in a coma for the past 20 years and waking up to read this headline."

Actually, this was what I was looking for. It's funny what the internet turns up.

Rule 5 Saturday - Damla Durgun

Damla Durgin, a Turkish model

She works as a digital content creator and fashion/lifestyle model.

She frequently posts modeling portfolios, travel content, and fashion clips on platforms like her Official Facebook Page and her private Instagram account.

Her work often features aesthetic travel destinations (such as Bali), lifestyle updates, and professional portrait photography setups.