Et Tu, Spot?

 Coastal Review, Declining, fluctuating spot numbers spur action, research

Spot, a favorite catch for many recreational anglers, gets its name from the dark marking behind both gills. It’s a fish with a relatively short lifespan that spawns in the ocean but spends much of its life in estuarine waters, and spot can be found as far north as the Gulf of Maine to as far south as Florida.

In general, commercial harvests of spot have been on the decline since 2001, with recreational catch totals fluctuating throughout the years.

The UNCW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Alliance for the Blue Economy establishes southeastern North Carolina as a national leader in the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, while preserving the health of the ecosystem. UNCW is an EEO/AA Institution.

Spot is managed as a coastwide species because it is found far beyond the boundaries of any one state. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, or the ASMFC, oversees multistate management of spot from Delaware to Florida. The ASMFC makes the ultimate management decisions, and then it is up to the individual states to meet the prescribed requirements.

The ASMFC’s first spot management plan was implemented in 1987. Since then, the plan has been amended a few times, and in 2014, the plan was altered to include a management technique called the Traffic Light Approach. This technique was updated again in 2020.

The Traffic Light Approach uses harvest and abundance metrics to identify thresholds that trigger certain management actions.

The 2020 Traffic Light Analysis Review of spot triggered at the 30% threshold. This is categorized as “moderate concern.” The harvest and abundance indices that the Traffic Light Analysis uses were above 30% for two of the previous three years. This triggered two specific management actions.

At a minimum, states have to reduce commercial harvest by 1% of the average state commercial harvest for the previous 10 years, and institute a 50-fish bag limit in the recreational sector. North Carolina’s bag limit is in place, and there’s a commercial season closure in effect from Dec. 10, 2021, through April 4. Management actions are required to be in place for a minimum of two years. According to the ASMFC, work on the next coastwide stock assessment will likely begin next year and be completed in 2024.

“States can still choose to have more strenuous measures in place, but at the bare minimum, you have to follow what ASMFC guidance is putting out,” Paris said.

Fortunately for commercial fishermen, the winter months are not the typical time for harvesting spot anyway. This was an intentional decision, said Paris. They wanted the imposed restriction to help the species without negatively impacting fishermen.

Spot are nearly ubiquitous in the shallow waters of the Bay in warm months and the perfect quarry for beginning anglers. Small, but good eating, and easy to catch, they are targeted both as a food and a bait fish, where they are nearly the perfect size and flavor for live lining for Striped Bass and Sea Trout (Bluefish like them too, but nearly always clip them off the hook without getting caught themselves.

I never imagined we would be worrying about Spot abundances on the the Atlantic seaboard. That suggests something is seriously wrong somewhere.

The Monday Morning Stimulus

Wombat-socho has Rule 5 Sunday: SUNshine Girl up at The Other McCain.

Beach Report 1/30/22

We passed on our beach walk yesterday because it was cold,  the snow was messy, and there was a stiff wind bearing down from the north. Although, today was colder, the sky was sunny, and the wind was way down, so we gave it a try. 

There's a bit of ice floating around it the water; we've seen it much worse, of course.

The beach was frozen where it wasn't covered with snow; fossil hunting was awful, one tooth apiece.

Georgia slipped on some frozen clay on the way back and hit her head on the cliff hard enough to raise a lump, and got her feet and butt wet. All in all, not our best trip.

Rando Celebrity News

Fox, 'Real Housewives' star Erika Jayne dismissed from embezzlement, fraud lawsuit. I've been told that links from Fox don't work, but I've experienced that if you simply hit Enter on the address bar with the Fox link it will come up. I don't know how they do that.   

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Jayne has been dismissed from her estranged husband Tom Girardi's embezzlement and fraud lawsuit, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

"Pursuant to stipulation, plaintiff's claims against defendants EJ Global LLC and Erika Girardi are dismissed without prejudice and without costs," the court documents, filed Saturday, read.

Jayne's attorney Evan Borges said he wants everyone to stop making accusations against Jayne "without evidence" in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Dismissed without prejudice means the charges can be refiled if new information were to suggest 

"After more than a year to find evidence, Edelson dismissed the Illinois action without prejudice as to Erika and EJ Global LLC," he said in the statement. "While Edelson retains the right to re-fie in California, the dismissal of Erika from the federal lawsuit that triggered bankruptcies of Girardi Keese and Tom Girardi is extremely important . For example, the recent three-day evidentiary hearing in the Boeing case showed that Erika had ZERO role in what GK and Edelson discussed, did, and didn’t do, whether as between each other or as to their clients. In fact, I’m informed Erika’s name didn’t even come up at the hearing."

Girardi was accused of embezzling $2 million from plane crash victims back in December and the couple's assets were subsequently frozen. One month prior, Jayne had filed for divorce.

Girardi, 82, and Jayne have been accused of divorcing to protect their money and assets.

Jayne recently fired back at a motion from a bankruptcy trustee who is demanding the reality TV star return $750,000 pair of earrings that were gifted to her by Girardi.

Embezzling from plane crash victims would be pretty low, but perfectly consistent with Hollywood. And $750,000 earrings? What are they made out of, unobtainium?

EJ Global LLC was also dismissed, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

Jayne's attorney told Fox News Digital in a statement that the singer and actress "innocently" received the earrings from her ex and is being roped into the investigation for his alleged crimes.

"I am disturbed by everyone jumping to conclusions about Erika, who is innocent, and trying to blame her for the actions of others," the statement from Jayne’s lawyer, Evan Borges, says.

I'm proud to say I've lived my life up until this point without becoming aware of Erika Jayne. Oh well, I suppose it had to happen.

Wombat-socho has Rule 5 Sunday: SUNshine Girl up at The Other McCain.

Well, That Was Fast

As Eric Hoffer once said “Every great cause begins as a movement, becomes a business, and eventually degenerates into a racket.”. Stacy McCain points at Black Live Matter, Yes, Black Lives Matters Was a Scam

Intelligent people knew from the start that Black Lives Matter was simply a Democratic Party propaganda operation. “Systemic racism” did not suddenly become a problem in the spring of 2020, and obviously it was not a coincidence that the “mostly peaceful” protests erupted in an election year. Further proof of the BLM movement’s essential bogusness was the fact that, once Joe Biden was installed as president, the protests ended. Black suspects are still getting shot by cops, but the national news media has ceased covering these incidents, because that was never really what it was about. It was about electing Democrats, period, and having succeeded at that goal, the media has moved on from BLM.

“Demand Justice for [Fill-in-the-Blank]” memes are now gathering dust back in the Instagram archives of liberals too stupid to wonder what the 2020 season of “activism” was really about. Never once has a liberal asked the cynical question, “Cui bono?” Who benefited from all that “activism”? Whose interests were served? Who got rich from those months of media-fueled outrage? For anyone naïve enough to buy into the BLM narrative, perhaps this information will come as a surprise:

No one appears to have been in charge at Black Lives Matter for months. The address it lists on tax forms is wrong, and the charity’s two board members won’t say who controls its $60 million bankroll, a Washington Examiner investigation has found.
BLM’s shocking lack of transparency surrounding its finances and operations raises major legal and ethical red flags, multiple charity experts told the Washington Examiner.
“Like a giant ghost ship full of treasure drifting in the night with no captain, no discernible crew, and no clear direction,” CharityWatch Executive Director Laurie Styron said of BLM.
BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors appointed two activists to serve as the group’s senior directors following her resignation in May amid scrutiny over her personal finances. But both quietly announced in September that they never took the jobs due to disagreements with BLM. They told the Washington Examiner they don’t know who now leads the nation’s most influential social justice organization.
Paul Kamenar, counsel for conservative watchdog group the National Legal and Policy Center, said a full audit and investigation into Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the legal entity that represents the national BLM movement, is warranted.
“This is grossly irregular and improper for a nonprofit with $60 million in its coffers,” Kamenar said . . .

You can read the whole thing, but the fascinating thing about this is the fact that liberals don’t care that BLM was always a scam.

It’s almost as if they knew it all along.

Maryland, My Maryland

Paul Bedard at WaEx, Maryland gun ban challenged by 25 states

Twenty-five states attorneys on Thursday called on the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down Maryland’s ban on semi-automatic weapons, including AR-15-style rifles.

In urging action, the states said that it is time for the high court to set straight how it views the Second Amendment at a time when lower courts are handing out conflicting opinions.

“This case presents the court with a unique chance to provide additional guidance to the lower courts about the scope of the individual right protected under the Second Amendment,” said the brief urging the court to take up Bianchi v. Frosh.

 

At issue is a 2013 Maryland ban on many popular sporting weapons and large-capacity magazines. The United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit upheld the law in September, prompting an appeal.

The 25 states argue that the law has the potential to spill over into their states, where guns are popular and protected by mostly conservative lawmakers.

“Americans do not require approval from a local jurisdiction to exercise their constitutional rights,” said Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “We must vigorously oppose this type of misguided overreach at all levels of government,” he added.

Brnovich and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey are leading the effort.

  

In their brief, Morrisey, Brnovich, and the top attorneys from 23 other states said that the weapons banned in Maryland are not only popular, but having them makes their states safer.

Their key argument was that in having a federal appeals court support the Maryland law, it is possible that other courts will follow suit.

“Maryland’s law goes too far. States may enact reasonable firearm regulations that do not categorically ban common arms core to the Second Amendment. But the challenged law fails because it is broadly prohibitive rather than regulatory. The Court should not allow Maryland to invade its own citizens’ constitutional rights. And it should not permit the Fourth Circuit to imperil the rights of citizens in other states with its analysis, either,” they said.

 

“If left untouched, Maryland’s unconstitutional ban on firearms commonly possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes, and others like it, threatens the constitutional rights of all Americans. If a sufficient number of states are allowed to impose such bans, it could pave the way for future courts to find that such weapons now owned by millions are no longer in common lawful use,” warned the attorneys general.

Yep, that's my state. If you can't be right, you can always be a bad example.

Wombat-socho has Rule 5 Sunday: SUNshine Girl up at The Other McCain.

Electoral Politics on a Snowy Morning

Kind of a slow, snowy Sunday morning. We got about 3 inches in the "Blizzard" of 2022 as it seems to be getting billed in the press. Then it got really cold. A good day to curl up and warm yourself by the internet. So what's keeping us hot today? Nice Deb at Am Great on how the Pennsylvania Court Finds State’s Mail-in Voting Law Unconstitutional. Jazz Shaw at Haut Hair, Pennsylvania's mail-in voting law runs into problems from lawsuit. At Insty, Sarah Hoyt has a message TO ALL THE COURTS WHO REFUSED TO HEAR LAWSUITS UNTIL THE FRAUSIDENT WAS SWORN IN: Pennsylvania Court Finds State’s Mail-in Voting Law Unconstitutional.

We will not forget. That’s all. When you go to bed at night, or get up in the morning, remember: Americans remember. Your deeds won’t be forgotten. They also betray who refuse to stop a soft coup.

Michael Barone,  Voters Oppose 'Transformative' Policies, Want Reform of Dysfunctional Bureaucracies. And courts. Mark Tapscott at Insty, A THIRD AS MANY ‘VERY HAPPY’ AMERICANS AFTER YEAR OF BIDEN: "No, it’s not a push poll, it’s the latest data from the General Social Survey that finds only 19 percent of Americans describe themselves as “very happy” in 2021, compared to 31 percent back when that Trump guy was in the White House." At Town Hall, Ken Blackwell says Biden and His Clown Car Have Failed America!. Invoking the bridge collapse in Pisttsbught, Roger Kimball at Am Great, says there are Bad Portents for Biden, "Joe Biden came to town bearing a double-decker ice-cream smile. He likely will leave like Xerxes—confused, battered, alone." Nick Arama at Red State asserts How Manchin Is Greeted Back in West Virginia Shows What Americans Truly Think. I think that's going a little to far; Americans are varied lot, but it certainly reflects what Joe Manchin's state thinks on average.

More from Sarah Hoyt NAH. THEY KNOW THAT WON’T WORK:  James Carville To Democrats: Ditch The Radical Left If You Want To Win Any More Elections. . . . The soft left is also done. In Europe, here, everywhere. The masks are off, and we’ve seen what they are." AllahPundit at Haut Hair upbeat  when Bill Maher says The left has gone mental and it's turned me into a hero to Fox News. at Da Blaze, 'Liberals have their head up their a**': Bill Maher trashes leftists by saying they have 'gone mental,' blasts members of the 'Squad' "Now, some people think this means I've changed. I assure you, I have not," Maher declared. "I am still the same unmarried, childless, pot-smoking libertine I always was." At Based Politics, Ira Glasser On Bill Maher: Ex-ACLU Head Blasts Org's 'Partisan' Decline ‘They’ve Become Partisan’  Former ACLU Head Blasts Org’s Decline Away From Championing Free Speech. Another fine example of O'Sullivan's Law.

NewsMax claims McCarthy Reportedly Turns to Gingrich for 2022 Midterm Strategy. He could do worse, and still may. John Sexton at Haut Hair points out After years of complaining about 'dark money' in politics, Democratic groups outspent the GOP in 2020. Where are the news articles? It's only bad when Republicans do it. Also from Nick Arama, NYT Goes Full-Bore Delusional Explaining How Biden Attacking Doocy Was 'Feel-Good Moment.' He could have put the period after "Delusional."

On J6 matters, the WaPoo whines that Trump suggests that if he is reelected, he will pardon Jan. 6 Capitol rioters, on Da Hill, Trump says he'll treat Jan. 6 rioters 'fairly' if reelected: 'If it requires pardons, we will give them pardons'. Don't make me remind you of all the leftist domestic terrorists Democrats have pardoned. Althouse sees 2 almost-promises candidate Trump made at his rally yesterday in Conroe, Texas.

The one that's getting press is pardons for at least some of "those people from January 6th":
. . .
The one I'm not seeing, but I heard and would quote if I had a transcript, is that he will rehire all the military people who were let go because they were not vaccinated. And he supports backpay.

Also atop Da Hill, Youngkin sparks Democratic backlash in Virginia. WaPoo, More than half of Virginia school districts are defying Youngkin’s mask-optional order. Nice of Democrats to stake their fortunes on keeping kids in face diapers forever. I suspect is play well in Fairfax, but not Peoria. At DNYUZ, Virginia Republicans push for changes in marijuana law "Those changes could include moving up the start date for retail sales and getting rid of a provision that would give licensing preference to people who have been convicted of marijuana crimes." Yeah, OK I guess. At PJ Media Megan Fox, Loudoun County Rapist Who 'Scares' Judge Will Not Have to Register as a Sex Offender. Again, I favor letting young people get past their early mistakes, but would he be treated the same if he'd raped her in a MAGA hat, and not a skirt?

The furor over Justice Breyers conditional "resignation" has calmed down a bit. WaPoo, White House pushes back after Republican senator says Supreme Court pick will be ‘beneficiary’ of affirmative action. At Am Think Clarice thinks (no not yet), The Democrats Make Their Own Racism Explicit. Althouse reads that the NYT says that "Black women in the legal community are bracing for the possibility that the yet-to-be-named nominee will be judged unfairly as an affirmative action appointment."

Second: Ms. Profit's statement doesn't make sense. The nominee will almost certainly be "qualified, prepared and ready" and "ab[le] to serve," but that won't negate the fact that that she "only got this because she was a Black woman." We know from Biden's express commitment that only black women will be considered. If this person who becomes the nominee were not a black woman, then it is plainly the case that she would not have received the nomination. Is the problem that "people are going to say" what is obviously true? Why can't we say it? Is it a secret? Is it shameful? But Biden is openly saying it, and as I've spelled out in the previous paragraph, you need to decide whether you are pro-affirmative action or not.
. . .
The Justices on the Supreme Court — now, and after one is replaced by a new one who will be a black woman — are good enough but presumably not the best. Surely, the best never even make the short list. How could they? They can't — and shouldn't — fit the needs of the President.

Agreed; besides, "best" is different for different people, presumably "besr" for Biden requires the next justice being a black female (with no pronouns). 

Jack Shafer at Politico opines Let’s Be Real: The Supreme Court Is Political and Always Has Been. At Town Hall, Landon Mion watches the View so you don't have to, 'The View' Host Says a Black Woman Who Graduated from Harvard and Harvard Law Is 'Overqualified' for SCOTUS. Fine, don't let Biden appoint one. Besides, Harvard and Yale are overrepresented on the court. Sarah Hoyt again, I’VE ALSO BEEN ACCUSED OF THIS TREASON: ‘The View’ Smears Justices Clarence Thomas and ACB, Accuses Them of Being Race, Gender Traitors.

How can you betray something you’re born with? Does anyone sane swear allegiance to their sexual organs or their skin color? What kind of derangement even causes people to utter such bizarre nonsense. You what what The View needs? Thorazine. Lots of Thorazine.

Rick Moran at PJ Media on why The Cancel Mob Comes for Prominent Conservative Legal Analyst (Ilya Shapiro) over his comments on the new pick. 

Shapiro gave them all the ammo they needed in a series of tweets on the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer and Biden’s pledge to name a black woman to the high court. Shapiro is a fierce foe of affirmative action and let Biden have it with both barrels.

WaPoo admits the obvious as it looks Inside the campaign to pressure Justice Stephen Breyer to retire,  "The Supreme Court justice’s decision to step down followed an extraordinary campaign designed to pressure him to retire and make way for a new nominee to be named by a Democratic president."

David von Drehle at WaPoo opines If the Supreme Court ever abolishes the death penalty, we must thank Justice Breyer. Or blame. I'm generally not a strong death penalty proponent, but I think it should be preserved for the worst cases. 

Palm Sunday

 Another lazy post, with this week's Rule 5 lovely Elizabeth Smith:

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links.  Wombat-socho has Rule 5 Sunday: SUNshine Girl and up at The Other McCain.

Hef's Widow Destroys His Precious Legacy

Crystal Harris

Wow, it's been a while since we had a piece about the deathless love of Crystal Hefner, née Harris, and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. HuffPo, Hugh Hefner’s Widow Says She Destroyed His Stash Of Nonconsensual Photos Of Playmates

Hugh Hefner’s widow, Crystal Hefner, has confirmed an unsettling claim made by Holly Madison in the new A&E documentary series “Secrets of Playboy.”

In the series, Madison — who dated Hugh Hefner from 2001 to 2008 and co-starred in his 2005 reality show, “The Girls Next Door” — expressed fear about breaking up with the magazine mogul and moving out of his mansion because he had nude photos of her he had taken on disposable cameras without her consent. Madison has also said in the past that Hefner had a large collection of these photos that he had taken of other Playboy Playmates as well.

“I found thousands of those disposable camera photos you are talking about,” Crystal Hefner tweeted Monday at Madison. “I immediately ripped them up and destroyed every single one of them for you and the countless other women in them. They’re gone.” 

Holly Madison

Madison expressed appreciation for Crystal Hefner’s decision.

Madison has been speaking about her experiences as Hugh Hefner’s “main girlfriend” for years (Hefner famously dated multiple women at once). In her 2015 memoir, ”Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny,” Madison said that living with Hefner at his infamous Playboy Mansion was full of “misery” that resulted in depression and thoughts of suicide.

“Everyone thinks that the infamous metal gate was meant to keep people out,” she wrote in her book. “But I grew to feel it was meant to lock me in.”

In “Secrets of Playboy,” which premiered its first two episodes Monday, Madison said one of the reasons why she stayed so long is because she was scared Hefner would use the nonconsensual photos as blackmail.

I'm kind of impressed that Crystal didn't use them for blackmail. 

Previous posts on Hef and Crystal:

Hefner first gets engaged to Crystal
They didn't need a pre-nup
An epidemic of Legionnaires Disease at the Playboy Mansion
Crystal pawned Hef's ring for a cool $90k
Their respective rebound partners
Initial reconciliation in June
And finally, their re-engagement
Their wedding

Her Widowing

Crystal Left Out in the Cold?

Wombat-socho has Rule 5 Sunday: SUNshine Girl up at The Other McCain.

Of Mice and Men

'Prebles' Jumping Mouse

 At WUWT, The Problem with Preble’s

Once upon a time there was a taxonomy war waged between two armed camps: the Lumpers and the Splitters. That war is history now, long over. The Splitters won and the Lumpers lost, big time.

For the uninitiated, Lumpers were the taxonomists who believed most animals and plants should be classified as members of a few well-defined species. They lost. The victorious Splitters are those who believe every individual organism is a species unto itself.

At first glance, it’s difficult to see how mild mannered, obsequious and bespectacled academics puttering around labs and peering into dissection scopes could be accused of warfare. The assertion seems a trifle hyperbolic for mixed company. But it was a war, with territorial conquest, mass destruction, casualties of combatants and non-combatants alike, and plenty of collateral damage.

One of the bloodiest battles was over a common rodent. The Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) is a cute little furball distinguished by a long tapering tail, large hind feet, small front feet, and a propensity to hop erratically through the grass when disturbed. Sometimes called a kangaroo mouse, Z. hudsonius is native and common to Asia and North America, found from the Atlantic coast to the Great Plains, in the Southwest, in the Pacific Northwest, and northward to the arctic tree-line of Alaska and Canada, frequenting hayfields and wheat farms as well as native grasslands. Billions of the little critters live in perfect harmony with graziers and agriculturalists across two continents. They have the widest known distribution of mice in the subfamily Zapodinae.

That was before the Splitters weaponized the cowering wee beasties. Today there are dozens, possibly hundreds, of “recognized” species, sub-species, sub-subs, and Distinct Population Segments (DPS’s), including but not limited to: Z. trinotatus orarius, Z. burti, Z. hudsonicus, Z. hudsonicus acadicus,· Z. hudsonius (Jumping Mouse), Z. hudsonius acadicus, Z. hudsonius alascensis (Alaska Jumping Mouse), Z. hudsonius alscensis, Z. hudsonius americanus, Z. hudsonius campestris, Z. hudsonius canadensis, Z. hudsonius hardyi, Z. hudsonius hodsonius, Z. hudsonius intermedius, Z. hudsonius ladas, Z. hudsonius luteus (Meadow Jumping Mouse), Z. hudsonius pallidus, Z. hudsonius preblei (Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse), Z. hudsonius tenellus, Z. insignis, Z. orarius, Z. princeps (Pacific Jumping Mouse), Z. princeps chrysogenys, Z. princeps cinereus, Z. princeps curtatus, Z. princeps idahoensis, Z. princeps kootenayensis, Z. princeps kootenayonsis, Z. princeps kootnayensis, Z. princeps luteus, Z. princeps major, Z. princeps minor, Z. princeps oreganus, Z. princeps oregonus (Big Jumping Mouse), Z. princeps pacificus, Z. princeps palatinus, and Z. princeps princeps (Western Jumping Mouse).

Is there any significant difference between these subspecies? Short answer: no. Dr. Matthew Cronin, PhD., Professor of Animal Genetics, Univ. Alaska Fairbanks, wrote in Cronin, M. A. 2007. The Preble’s meadow jumping mouse: subjective subspecies, advocacy and management. Correspondence, Animal Conservation 10 (2007) 159–161:

“… Briefly, the Preble’s mouse was designated a subspecies with limited descriptive morphological data. There are no diagnostic characters that unequivocally distinguish it from con-specifics. It does not have monophyletic mitochondrial DNA. It may be geographically isolated from, and have different allele frequencies than, con-specific populations. Sample sizes and locations studied are probably small relative to population numbers. The allele frequency differences are for DNA loci that are usually considered selectively neutral. There are no data documenting local adaptation…”

Limited descriptive morphology is akin to hog judging — not quite rigorous science. But no matter. Almost overnight, or so it seemed, one species became a plethora, and some of the obscure tribes were suggested to be, dum tata dum, in danger of going extinct! The Splitters got on the bandwagon and played mournful tunes across the land. Sue-happy enviros with monkeywrencher attorneys heard the dirge and danced a jig into court.

And so it came to pass that the Preble’s MJM (Zapus hudsonius preblei) was listed as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act by bureaucratic functionaries of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

When that happened, the proverbial stuff hit the fan because real people were really affected. Farmers, ranchers, and suburban home owners in the new Preble’s Zones stood to lose their homes, land, and livelihoods. The Preble’s MJM went off the ESA list and then back on, but only in certain states. The USFWS “experts” declared that the sub-species existed only up to a state line, which the mice never cross (for tax reasons, apparently). Congress got involved and fulminated. When the smoke finally cleared the battlefield, the deed was done and the war was lost. The Lumpers, what few of them were left, were defeated and cancelled. The spoils of war, mainly government grants and kickbacks, accrued to the victors.

That was 1995. Unsuccessful delisting litigations lasted until 2018. In the meantime, vast tracts of grassland were acquired and designated by various governments for Preble’s MJM habitat. Of course, ranching, farming, and dwellings were expressly forbidden on the preserves, because mice cannot co-exist with humans (or so it was claimed despite a zillion instances where they do). No Management was selected as the wisest course of action.

In due course the touchy-feelies in Boulder CO joined the victory parade. The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan designated Environmental Conservation Areas, Critical Wildlife Habitat and Migration Corridors, and Habitat Conservation Areas for the Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse. These were selected areas “of unique habitat which has a crucial role in sustaining populations of native wildlife and in perpetuating and encouraging a diversity of native species.”

And in due course last December one of the selected areas and adjacent subdivisions had a predictable wildfire, which destroyed 1084 residential structures and damaged another 149. Thankfully there were only two fatalities. Total countywide value of residential damage from the Marshall Fire is estimated to be $513,212,589 [here]. Naturally, global warming was blamed [here] instead of bogus taxonomists, grasping political functionaries, dimwit planners, and deluded enviro zealots.

The mice probably did okay. After all, Jumping Mice have been surviving grass fires for millions of years. The humans not so much. As is customary in war, many non-combatants were collaterally damaged by scorched earth. Unscathed in any way are the Splitters and their pals, who are all fat, happy, and busy planning more disasters.

I've mostly been a proponent of the "lumping" camp. If Africans and  Europeans are the same species of humans, despite rather consistent and obvious population differences, certainly these mice deserve to be lumped a little more aggressively.

The story does illustrate how government money, and environmental regulation can fuel corruption in science.

Pennsylvania Court Declares 2020 Mail-In Ballot Rules Unconstitutional

Remember how a a whole bunch  of states including Pennsylvania, decided to allow essentially unrestricted mail-in ballots, with massive ballot harvesting as a result of the WuFlu, and voter participation (if they were indeed, actual voters) rose to unprecedented levels, and Joe Biden squeaked out at victory of 80,000 votes there for 20 electoral votes? Yeah. That was illegal, according to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth court. From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 01.28.22, The Geller Report: Court Rules Pa. Mail In Voting Law Unconstitutional. PM,  Pennsylvania court strikes down 'no-excuse mail-in voting' law. JTN, Court finds Pennsylvania mail-in voting law unconstitutional. Ace, in red italics, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Strikes Down Lawlessly-Imposed 2020 Mail-In Ballot Scheme as Unconstitutional. "Note that a Wisconsin judge had previously ruled that the drop-boxes deployed by Democrat governor Evan were also unconstitutional and illegal. So that's two." Even Newsweek admits Biden's Nearly 2M Mail-In Pennsylvania Votes in 2020 Would Now Be 'Unconstitutional'. NYT whines Pennsylvania Court Says State’s Mail Voting Law Is Unconstitutional. Regarding Ace's comment on Wisconsin, Dan Chaitin at WaEx, finds 'Illegal' Wisconsin bid to recall Biden electors fails spectacularly, but an Arizona bill would give state lawmakers power to reject election results. Prediction, it won't pass. The Center Square, Pennsylvania congressional map in court's hands after Wolf veto

At Da Caller, Hans von Spakowsky calls Democrats’ Voting ‘Rights’ Agenda  A Thinly Veiled Attempt To Nationalize Our Elections. It's not even veiled. Capt. Ed at Haut Hair, Collins warns Senate Dems: Electoral Count Act reform not a Trojan horse for your dead bill. With Democrats facing a looming defeat in the mid-term I&I notes Suddenly, It’s No Longer ‘Deeply Dangerous’ To Talk About Rigged Elections, and as a result AllahPundit at Haut Hair whines Backfire: 34% of black voters in Georgia now believe it'll be somewhat or very difficult to vote this year. Well, yes, they may have to get off their couch. "Thanks to her tireless efforts to demagogue the new law, Abrams may have ended up talking herself into a defeat in her upcoming election." Insty, FORMER STAFFER FOR ELECTION-DENIER GOES TO FEC: Biden picks ex-Stacey Abrams staffer for FEC. WJ, As Country Prepares for Midterm Elections, Fake American Licenses from Hong Kong Flood United States, mostly to buy booze, of course, but some will, no doubt, be used to fraudulently vote.

From Town Hall Spencer Brown hears Senior Obama Admin Official Calls Senator Sinema 'C***,' 'Trash' for Filibuster Vote. Fox, Ex-Obama aide unleashes R-rated rant against Kyrsten Sinema for breaking ranks on filibuster, "Mastromonaco's remarks came on the 'Pod Save America' podcast." Becky Noble at PI, Democrats Prove Once Again They Are The ‘Party Of Women’ In Profane Rant Against Sen. Sinema.  Capt. Ed, AOC: Sinema's no progressive and I'll back a primary challenge.  All positing Ty Strong at WSJ (cited at Haut Hair) to call it The progressive plot to turn Arizona red. Meanwhile AllahPundit groans as Manchin gets standing ovation from West Virginia legislators for defending the filibuster.

Ace chortles about a Monmouth Poll: Republicans and Republican-Leaning Independents Now Make Up the Majority of the Country, "Let's Go Brandon." Guy Benson at Town Hall sees that in Georgia: Biden Approval Tanks, Republicans Lead in Major Statewide Races. Capt. Ed, perceives a Meltdown in Georgia: Black voter disapproval of Biden quadruples. Atop Da Hill, DCCC expands list of vulnerable House Democrats, echoed by KT at Haut Hair, DCCC adds seven more Democrat incumbents to endangered list in 2022 midterms. Sophie Mann at JTN, Washington Democrats add Gottheimer to list of most vulnerable House incumbents in November. Helen Raleigh at Da Fed tries to convince us Why San Francisco’s School Board Recall May Be One Of 2022’s Most Important Elections. 

At Politico, some asshole asserts Trash Talk Can Save Biden’s Presidency "The president may lack eloquence. But his outburst at Peter Doocy shows how he could harness his natural voice." But Joseph Curl at WaT opines No, it’s Biden who’s a real SOB, "Americans have gotten glimpse of the real 'Wizard of Odd'"

Politico wishcasting on the Morgan Ortegas run, Trump faces MAGA revolt over endorsement. I don't see it myself. At WaEx, WATCH: Kellyanne Conway predicts a woman will be on 2024 GOP presidential ticket. Most likely. 

JTN, Liberal megadonor Soros pumps $125 million into super PAC to help Democrats in 2022 midterms "Soros says money will support causes, candidates "regardless of political party," but so far recipients all appear to be major Democrat PACs". What, not even Liz Cheney, or does he see her as a lost cause? Breitbart, Big Money Donor Peter Thiel Hosts Fundraiser for Liz Cheney’s Primary Opponent, Harriet Hageman.

Newsbusters, STUDY: PolitiFact Is Almost 6 Times More Likely to Defend Biden Than Check His Facts. Shocked, I'm shocked. 

From the Daley Gator, Virginia AG Jayson Miyares hands noted douchebag Jim Acosta his ass. Sister Toldja at Red State agrees; Virginia AG Jason Miyares Shuts Down CNN's Jim Acosta After 'Soviet-Style Police State' Claim. 

Also from the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 01.28.22, Herr Professor Jacobsen at LI,  State Legislators Are Mounting A Stand Against “Critical Theory’s Long March”  and Spencer Lindquist at Da Fed catches how Georgia School District Published Plans To Teach Critical Race Theory, Then Hid Them. Joanne Jacobs wonders, Do parents have a right to know what’s taught?

What parents really hate is the idea that children should feel guilty about their race or taught to see themselves as oppressors or victims. Educators say their anti-racist, equity, diversity and inclusion lessons don’t do that. Parents are saying: Show us.

In a sign that Democrats are worried, Althouse reads NYT and finds Michelle Goldberg thinks "mandatory school masking should end when coronavirus rates return to pre-Omicron levels."

Only a little on the Breyer front. Also from the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 01.28.22, Transterrestrial Musings links to a tricky way How The GOP Can Block Breyer’s Replacement, Don't bother. Althouse finds Eugene Robinson being almost coherent, "Republicans would be wise to lay low, knowing that whomever Biden puts on the court, the conservative majority remains intact." Vet hard, vet fair, vet politely, then vote your conscience. A reminder from Fox, 13 Senate Democrats voted against Black female judge nominated by Trump, "Democrats weren't so quick to line up behind Black woman nominated by Trump." NewsBusters, Of Course: MSNBC Leftist Legal Analyst on Biden’s SCOTUS Short List. Why would that surprise anyone? Matt Margolis at PJ Media, Did You Notice This About Biden's Tweet About His SCOTUS Pick?

The person I nominate to replace Justice Breyer will be someone with extraordinary qualifications. Character, experience, and integrity. And they will be the first Black woman nominated to the United States Supreme Court.”

Did catch that? Did you see what he did there? Did you notice he avoided using pronouns?

If it’s a black woman, why can he just use female pronouns? Is there something he isn’t telling us?

Fresh from solving the border crisis, Biden Announces New Role for Kamala Harris and the Supreme Court (Cutie Pavlich at Town Hall).

A super light day on J6, only Pence says he hasn't spoken to Trump since last summer from WaEx, and Felony murder in a good cause: Fox News edition from Scott Johnson at Power Line.

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. 

Rule 5 Saturday - Elizabeth Smith

This week's Rule 5 favorite is Elizabeth Smith, an American model from Orlando:  Sexy Model Elizabeth Smith Heats Up Instagram In A Scanty Teal & Gold String Bikini

Elizabeth Smith gave fans a peek at her bronzed body in a skimpy string bikini for her latest Instagram update. The brunette bombshell published the photo to her account on Thursday.

In the sexy snapshots, Elizabeth is seen sporting a black string bikini with neon orange trim. The tiny two-piece showcased all of the model's enviable curves, spotlighting her toned arms, abundant cleavage, flat tummy, tiny waist, curvy hips, and her lean legs.

The model rocked a glowing bronzed tan all over her oiled-slicked body as she posed with her feet behind her and her knees dug into the sand for the shots.

Miss Smith, Maxim Australia

Shooting this pictorial for MAXIM Australia in Santorini, Greece, was an amazing experience. I shot with one of my favourite photographers, Jenya, and my best friend Jaime. We took a 25-minute drive from Oia to get to this really secluded spot and had the entire beach to ourselves for sunset. The weather and location were just absolutely perfect and the black sand beach was so amazing.
. . . 
I never really started off thinking of being a full-time model. Some of the jobs I was working really hard at ended up just bringing more and more modelling opportunities which led me into loving this industry. Since I enjoyed it so much, and I make a great living off of my profession, I decided why not continue and just keep setting the bar higher for myself. It would be silly for me to waste such a dream job and not take advantage of it while I still can.

What’s been your favourite place to travel to for your work?

Over the couple of years that I’ve been modelling I’ve had some awesome jobs. One of my favourites was getting booked last summer to shoot 10 days in Bora Bora and Tahiti for a travel show. We did so much in those 10 days but the coolest,

Instagram, Facebook.

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Evangeline Lilly and FMJRA 2.0: There Ain’t Nothing Wrong With The Radio at The Other McCain. Linked at Proof Positive in the weekly Best of the Web* and at The Right Way in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama.

Oregon, My Oregon

 PM, Only 2 of 81 retired police officers express interest to return to Portland Police Bureau

The Portland Police Bureau's attempt to rehire police officers that recently retired to help with the departments disastrous staffing levels was an epic failure: only two out of the 81 officers that Chief Lovell reached out to expressed interest.

In October, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler had hoped to rehire 100 recently retired officers. Last month, Police Chief Chuck Lovell sent a letter to retired police officers asking them to return to the department following the city-approved retire/rehire program.

Retired police officers slammed the Chief's letter as "tone-deaf" and "offensive," taking issue with the disqualifications. Among the disqualifications include officers that violated policy by "cooperating with federal agents to attack Portland residents" when the federal courthouse was under siege by far-left extremists during the 2020 BLM riots.

According to The Oregonian, officers are fleeing the department faster than they can be hired.

Portland residents voted poorly. 

 

ASMFC Looking to New Striper Regs

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, To Rebuild Striped Bass Population, ASMFC Takes Next Step in New Fishery Plan

Facing a striped bass population decline, an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) panel today voted to begin public comment on the next update to the striped bass fishery management plan, known as Amendment 7, next month.

Adult female striped bass numbers, widely used to gauge the overall health of the population, have fallen approximately 40 percent from 2013 to 2017. As a result, the ASMFC sought to reduce the striped bass harvest along the Atlantic Coast by 18 percent beginning with the 2020 fishing season. Results released last fall from the Maryland striped bass young-of-the-year survey show Maryland numbers remain well below average for the third consecutive year.

 

Amendment 7 is a larger overhaul of the striped bass fishery management plan that will guide decisions in the coming years. A draft version of Amendment 7 is expected to be released for public comment within several weeks.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist Chris Moore issued the following statement.

“This is another important step in the ASMFC’s work to turn around the decline of an iconic fish in our region. The continued low numbers of both adult and young-of-the-year striped bass underscore the need for decisive action to rebuild the population along the East Coast. During the forthcoming public comment period on the draft Amendment 7 we look forward to working with all stakeholders to advocate for actions that will rebuild the striped bass population to historic levels.”

Sadly, it's looking more and more like a coastwide moratorium on Striped Bass fishing will be necessary to allow the population to rebuild.  

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Evangeline Lilly at The Other McCain.

Analysis: Probably Correct

Indiana “Froskurinn” Black

Da Fed, G4 Host Complains Gamers Don’t Like Her Because She’s Not As ‘Bangable’ As Olivia Munn

The gaming world spiraled in a cycle of outrage earlier this month when Indiana “Froskurinn” Black, host of Comcast’s popular gaming network, G4, lectured viewers in a now-viral rant on their misogyny in finding her less “bangable” than previous hosts.

The lecture is so shrill and destructive, it must be seen to be believed.

“In joining G4, I was ecstatic to be part of something I grew up watching as a child. But every time G4 is brought up in various channels, without a doubt there will be backlash because I’m not as ‘bangable’ as the previous host,” Froskurinn complained.

Olivia Munn

“It has somehow been expected that you can talk about how much you jerked off to women as a compliment. It’s not a compliment, it’s dehumanizing, and it’s weird. Morgan Webb and Olivia Munn did not exist to be nice on the eyes for you. That’s just obvious sexism. You don’t need to declare that you hate women to be sexist,” she said.

The outburst racked up millions of views across social media and gaming outlets covering the story. Old fans of G4, unaware the network that catapulted aforementioned Munn to fame, had relaunched, were blasted with the decadent state of their old favorites. Where once there were friendly programs led by everyman hosts, they’ve been replaced with meaner, cruder social-justice versions that tweet how they want their Republican family members to drink urine and die.

I rest my case. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Evangeline Lilly at The Other McCain.

It's Official, Breyer Out, Sort Of

Naturally, the Breyer retirement, or resignation, or whatever it is, leaving a Supreme Court opening for Biden to potentially fill is still the dominant topic today. When I left things yesterday it was still an open question; Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 01.27.22,  Don Surber asks Is Breyer retiring?. Well, the timing suggests he might have been pushed, but he eventually came to the White House to give a public statement. Herr Professor Jacobsen at LI, Breyer: I’m Retiring, But Only When My Successor Is Confirmed, which is interesting. So, if the Senate were to suddenly change hands, with the death or other loss, he could back out. Now deny to me that this is not a political move. At Da Wire, President Biden Hands Face Mask To Justice Breyer, Internet Freaks Out. Well, the internet is mostly one giant freak out. Also, ‘I’m An Optimist’: Justice Breyer Pulls Out Pocket Constitution, Says He Believes American ‘Experiment’ Will Prevail. Rick Moran at PJ Media, Biden and the Left Looking for a 'Reset' With SCOTUS Pick. Of course they are; don't let them off the hook for the damage they've done so far.

So what are his prospects of getting his first pick? Pretty good, I think, but Insty (at NYPo) says Hang on to your hats: Breyer’s retirement sets up a bumpy confirmation battle.  Capt. Ed at Haut Hair, Manchin: I won't judge Biden SCOTUS nominee on ideology. At Da Wire, Manchin Says He Is Willing To Support A Liberal Justice. Matt Margolis at PJ Media says Don’t Expect Manchin or Sinema to Save Us From Biden’s SCOTUS Pick. Nick Arama at Red State,  McConnell Warns Biden on SCOTUS Pick, as Sinema Indicates She Won't Act as Rubber Stamp. Emily Brooks at WaEx, McConnell warns Biden not to ‘outsource’ Breyer replacement to ‘radical left’.

In an interesting twist, from the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 01.27.22, Herr Professor at LI Remembers When Liberal Law Profs Said VP Can’t Cast Tiebreaker On Supreme Court Nominations? I Bet Mitch Does, "Lawrence Tribe 2020 on Barrett nomination: “While the vice president has the power to cast a tiebreaking vote to pass a bill, the Constitution does not give him the power to break ties when it comes to the Senate’s “Advice and Consent” role in approving presidential appointments to the Supreme Court.”" AllahPundit at Haut Hair whines Laurence Tribe: I think I stand by my view that the VP can't break a Senate tie on confirming a judicial nominee. I don't think we have to worry about it; between Mitch Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski I think there will be enough Republican defectors to put her over the top. Also, Crazy Mazie Hirono: I want a justice who won't base her decisions solely on law, and she will likely get her wish.

There are, I think, principled objections to Biden restricting the pool to only black women, but lets face it, that canoe paddled away a lot time ago. Jonathon Turley, The Gipper Model? Biden’s Pledge to Appoint a Black Female Justice Has Liberals Citing Reagan. A YouGov Poll: Dems say it's important for black woman to replace Breyer on Court. Candace Owens@RealCandaceO

It would be my absolute honor to accept this nomination on behalf of the American people. I assure you I meet all the necessary qualifications as I am both black and female. I look forward to establishing further communication with the Biden administration.

At Am Spec, Jeffrey Lord The Big Lie of Biden’s ‘Black Woman’ Court Promise, "Remembering what was done to Clarence Thomas." I remember, but many voters are too young. At Breitbart, Ingraham remembers Biden Opposed and Filibustered Janice Rogers Brown’s Nomination, Race and Gender ‘Only Count’ if You Have Left-Wing Beliefs. And Rick Moran, In 2003, Joe Biden Filibustered and Voted Against Nomination of a Black Woman to the Federal Bench. According to Breitbart, Clyburn Confirms His Endorsement of Joe Biden Hinged on SCOTUS Pick. Across da Pond at Da Mail they've already started to vet the likely choices, Joe’s leading SCOTUS choices: Black judge who said her skin color made her more 'valuable,' one who struck down a 2020 election security measure, another whose husband donated $1,000 to Biden, and woke ex-NAACP official Sherrilyn Ifill. At PJ Media, Stephen Kruiser worries Biden's SCOTUS Pick Will Undoubtedly Be Tragic, "Biden will saddle us with a Supreme Court pick who makes Stephen Breyer look like William Rehnquist. It won’t tip the balance of the court just yet, but it will be another brick in the communist wall that the Democrats are building." 

At Haut Hair, Jazz Shaw explains why he thinks Why the GOP should sit out the SCOTUS confirmation fight, but Dan Flynn at Am Spec want pay back and says Biden’s Judiciary Committee Career Shows GOP Obstructionism Pays, "The bills for Democrats’ Borkings have been accruing interest for decades." I would say vet hard, vet fair, and don't riot. 

Some miscellaneous things that have arisen in the context of Breyer resignation. Dan McLaughlin at NR reports on  The Dishonest Cancellation Campaign against Ilya Shapiro. Most cancellation campaigns are dishonest. Get your tinfoil hats ready; AllahPundit finds a Newsmax host worrying that Breyer's retirement the way Hillary ends up as president? "In fairness to Grant Stinchfield, this is only the second-craziest succession scheme I’ve seen in the past 24 hours." Almost as weird, at WaEx, Tina Lowe blames Trump, Thank Trump's 'Stop the Steal' lies for letting Democrats replace Justice Breyer.

On J6 matters, Tristan Justice at Da Fed reports Exclusive: House Democrats Won’t Release Required Staff Reports In J6 Probe. The whole affair is illicit. Also, J6 Staffer Drops Out Of Liz Cheney Fundraiser Following Conflict Of Interest Allegations. Hmmm.  At NYPo, Alex Jones pleaded the Fifth ‘almost 100 times’ when questioned by Jan. 6 panel, As well he should,following the Lois Lerner model he should say, "I didn't do nuffin'" and then refuse to answer any more questions. Also at NYPo, Cheney slams Gingrich for saying Jan. 6 panel members could be jailed. But she would look so good in orange! Paul Bedard at WaEx is keeping score as GOP who's who rallies for Liz Cheney, Romney leads. Jeff Reynolds at LI notes how Newly Elected Virginia AG Continues Cleaning House, Fires University Lawyer Serving As Lead J6 Investigator. It's a small thing, but it's a thing.

At Frontpage, a Video: Documented Proof Trump Ordered 10,000 National Guardsmen Ahead of Jan. 6, "Kash Patel explains how things REALLY went down." Stephen Kruiser says Nick Searcy Is on a Mission to Destroy Dems' Jan. 6 Lies, with his movie  Capitol Punishment. NYT, cited at Haut Hair thinks Cawthorn challenge raises question: Who is an "insurrectionist"? A stupid question, because there was no insurrection. 

The redoubtable Julie Kelly wants us to Meet the Capitol Police’s New Spy Chief. At WFAA, Stuey Rhodes ex-wife  shares fears as estranged husband, Oath Keeper founder awaits judge's decision on his release. Because ex-wives are such excellent judges of character. Vicky Taft at PJ Media is happy that 'Walk Away' Activist Brandon Straka Can Finally Speak About Being Under the FBI's Thumb After Jan 6

Straka says that although he has regrets from January 6, he had no idea there was a riot and violence on the west side of the Capitol Building. He says he was on the east side, the peaceful side, but nevertheless they threw the book at him.

Federal attorneys say Straka took video that shows he encouraged law-breaking that day. He wasn’t charged with that. But, like most if not all other Capitol targets, Straka says he was ordered to keep quiet or face being charged with more crimes.

The Department of Justice lawyers leaked word that Straka had provided information to them, which was turned into salacious “news” stories that he’d become an informant of some kind. Straka says that’s nonsense. He said in the three-and-a-half years he’s been involved in politics he’s never heard anything about “ANY INFORMATION of ANY KIND about any criminal wrongdoing of any person in the MAGA movement.” Nevertheless, some people have labeled him a snitch of some kind.

Dinesh D’Souza says Straka showed the feds it wasn’t he who grabbed a shield on the Capitol Police officer. He pointed out the video proving it wasn’t him. “He did not sell out the conservative movement,” says D’Souza.

Brandon Straka@BrandonStraka "I have not spoken to my twitter audience in an entire year. Please read my statement below. . . ." But the DOJ doesn't really mind political violence, if it's on the left side, Matt Margolis at PJ Media, Biden's DOJ Thinks BLM Criminals Deserve Lesser Sentences

Earlier this month, a BLM rioter was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for burning down a Minneapolis pawn shop during the George Floyd riots in May 2020.

Sentencing guidelines, however, recommended a sentence of nearly double that. It turns out that Joe Biden’s Justice Department recommended a lesser sentence because the rioter, Montez Terriel Lee Jr., of Rochester, New York, committed his crime in the name of Black Lives Matter.

According to a memo from the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Minnesota, even though Lee “committed a crime that cost a man his life,” his motives for committing the crime merited a lesser sentence.

“Mr. Lee’s motive for setting the fire is a foremost issue. Mr. Lee credibly states that he was in the streets to protest unlawful police violence against black men, and there is no basis to disbelieve this statement,” the memo reads. “Mr. Lee, appropriately, acknowledges that he ‘could have demonstrated in a different way,’ but that he was ‘caught up in the fury of the mob after living as a black man watching his peers suffer at the hands of police.'”

At the VA Star, Inside Virginia Gov. Youngkin’s Meeting with Democrat Delegate Who Questioned Governor’s Christian Faith and Attorney General Miyares Announces Rule to Cut His Office’s Student Debt Collection Fees to 15 Percent.

At WaEx, Judge rules teenager who committed Loudoun sexual assaults won’t have to register as sex offender and at Da Caller, Loudoun County Rapist Dropped From Sex Offender Registry, Father Of Victim ‘Heartbroken’ I'm generally in favor of leniency to juveniles, but would this have happened if he'd worn a MAGA hat instead of a skirt?

Also from the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 01.27.22, The Political Hat: Modern Education – Secret Indoctrination, BLM Guiding Principles, & Brainwashing In 21 Days and Da Fed, a  Dallas Private School Lies To Parents About Teaching Racism and Weasel Zippers, This Is A Utah Elementary School Teacher. At PM,  Social justice educator threatens 'legal remedies' after her own father claimed she lied about her background