Forget It Jake, It's Not Baltimore

For a change, U.S. NEWS Study Reveals America’s Top ‘Dirtiest’ Cities Are Run By Democrats (Summitt News)

A new study revealed Democrat mayors run America’s top filthiest cities. None of this should come as a surprise to readers.

Outdoor company LawnStarter commissioned a survey that analyzed 152 of the largest cities across the US for pollution, living conditions, infrastructure, and consumer satisfaction. They found Houston, Texas, secured the number 1 spot for the dirtiest city, followed by Newark, New Jersey; San Bernardino, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Jersey City, New Jersey.

We then dug deeper and found Democratic mayors run the top five dirtiest.

Houston: Democratic Mayor Sylvester Turner
Newark: Democratic Mayor Ras Baraka
San Bernadino: Democratic Party-endorsed Mayor Helen Tran
Detroit: Democratic Mayor Mike Duggan
Jersey City: Democratic Mayor Steven Fulop

Here are the top ten dirtiest cities:

On the flip side, LawnStarter found Republican Mayor Bobby Dyer of Virginia Beach ran the cleanest city in the US.

I have a hard time believing Baltimore doesn't belong on this list. Baltimore literally smells as you approach it. On the other hand, it's just possible  Lawnstarter didn't visit Baltimore because it's too dangerous. I note that St. Louis and Mobile, which vie with Baltimore for the most violent cities in the US, didn't make the list either, although Birmingham did manage to make both lists.

Come on, Baltimore, you need to step up your game!

Oregon, My Oregon

Mahonia Hall, the Oregon Governor's mansion

Another great moment in liberal hypocrisy from  Cathy Salgado at PJ Media, After Bashing Natural Gas, Oregon Gov. Installs $300K Natural Gas Generator at Mansion

Just as Bill Gates isn’t going to switch to a diet of grasshoppers and climate alarmists travel the world in polluting private jets, Oregon’s Democrat governor evidently believes natural gas restrictions are only for peon ordinary citizens, not for special politicians like her (though she’s happy for citizens to pay for her mansion improvements). The Post Millennial reported Feb. 27 that Kotek is having a dual natural gas and propane backup generator installed at the official governor’s mansion, Mahonia Hall. Yet, while campaigning for governor, Kotek “stressed the importance of making it easier for Oregonians to buy and charge electric vehicles” and claimed that reducing natural gas use would be a focus for her, The Post Millennial said.

The Tina for Oregon campaign website still lists this priority: “Transition away from the use of fossil fuels like methane gas in homes and commercial buildings.” The site also boasts, “Tina put Oregon on a path to 100% clean electricity by 2040.” But 100% would appear to be an exaggeration if a pricey natural gas generator is running at the gubernatorial mansion.

The Post Millennial cited the City of Salem permit and the official bid. The former says the project is “Adding piping from existing NG (natural gas) Utilities to new generator.” Meanwhile, the official bid says, “The project includes updating the utility service with backup emergency dual natural gas and propane. Adds a full building services generator to the facility for power, should normal utility power fail.”

This project of Kotek’s will cost a whopping $308,934, which talk radio host Lars Larson told The Post Millennial is four times what it “should reasonably cost” at the very least, based on what the contractors he consulted said. The Post Millennial said the project will further include the addition of a “500-gallon propane tank” and a new outdoor concrete pad, “covered with a new pergola structure.” It is to be presumed Oregon’s taxpayers are footing the bill, since the official bid’s listed purchaser is the state Department of Administrative Services’ Kelly Mann.

Oregon, at least the western third, is literally covered with trees. Surely for 400k the Oregon government ought to be able to buy a wood burning stove, or a pellet stove to keep the mansion warm during those dreary Salem winters. Or better yet, freeze in the dark like a good liberal should.

Flotsam and Jetsam - WaPoo Reluctantly Admits Trump Didn't Crash Train

Shoulda been there yesterday!

Well, back from fishing. I went out with Pete and a friend of his on a scouting trip. It was one of those "you should have been here yesterday" days. After tripping over a big school of large fish yesterday (including one 50+ inch fish yesterday, he was hot to see if he could repeat. We each caught a couple fish at CCNPP early while playing bumper cars with 8 other boats in the the outflow reduced by half due to a refueling outage going on now. After that we cruised the channel edge looking for birds or schools of fish, without any success. 

Stacy McCain,  WOW: Left-Wing Narrative on Train Wreck Debunked by … Washington Post? "If even the Washington Post is compelled to side with Trump against Buttigieg, that’s really bad news for the Buttigieg 2024 campaign." John Sexton at Hat Hair, Fact-check: No evidence regulatory rollback had any impact on Ohio derailment. Mary Chastain at LI, Sorry, Buttigieg. Even WaPo Admits Trump’s Regulation Rollback Didn’t Cause Ohio Train Derailment. Althouse, The Washington Post Fact Checker says: "So far, Trump’s rollback of regulations can’t be blamed for Ohio train wreck." "Glenn Kessler investigated Trump's statement "I had nothing to do with it." So far, we have no evidence that WaPoo crashed the train either, but if we keep looking, maybe we can find it. At Am Great 'Adam Mill' finds Five Ways the Trainwreck Revealed the Trainwreck "1) Democrats caught not caring. . . 2) Caught lying to blame Trump. . . 3) Exposing the fakeness of modern environmentalism. . . 4) Another black eye for Democratic stewardship of public safety. . . 5) An inconvenient lack of “white privilege.”" Rick Moran at PJ Media reports No One in East Palestine Believes Anything the Biden Administration Is Telling Them. And why would they? At Zero Hedge, “We’re Dying Slowly”: East Palestine Residents Report Bizarre Health Issues After Toxic Train Derailment. I'm sympathetic, but an event like this generates a lot of psychosomatic illness, as well as having perfectly normal illnesses blamed on the event. And it's impolite to say that out loud. From City Journal, James B. Meigs discusses Toxic Clouds and Spy Balloons, "How the Biden administration bungled two recent crises." Mary Chastain again, Transportation IG Investigating Buttigieg Using Govt Planes for Personal Use. "The Fox News report in December 2022 found that Buttigieg took “at least 18 flights using taxpayer-funded private jets since taking office.”"

Althouse, "71% of Democratic Voters Think Biden Should Be 2024 Nominee." "Says a new Emerson poll. I said it 2 weeks ago: "That's your candidate, Democrats. There's no getting around it. And it seems that America will spend the next 6 years in the arms of the gerontocracy. Snuggle up!" Matt Margolis at PJ Media is suspicious Was the Air Raid Siren During Biden’s Visit to Kyiv Was Staged? Here Are Some Clues. Ilya Shapiro at City Journal, cited at Hat Hair, Loan forgiveness on the rocks ... ain't no big surprise. Capt. Ed, "Tomorrow’s arguments should be interesting indeed. And that Neil Diamond reference in the headline is all mine." Grabien has a video, posted at Hat Hair, CNN: New study finds recession necessary to end inflation. Zero Hedge, "Stupid Slow" - Dallas Fed Manufacturing Production Plunges Into Contraction. Thanks, Brandon! At Da Wire, ‘Bad Faith’: Treasury Department Obstructing Investigation Into Biden Family Finances, House Republican Says.

KT at Hat Hair, sees Jeb Bush troll Trump with passive endorsement of presidential run by Ron DeSantis. Who? Also, Top Republican contenders head to Club for Growth's donor retreat ... except Trump. Nick Arama calls a Swalwell Tweet Attacking Trump a Hilarious Self-Own. I&I has a poll, Voters Want A Trump-DeSantis Primary Battle In 2024: I&I/TIPP. Ace, DeSantis "Blueprint For Florida" Video Looks a Lot Like a Presidential Campaign Video. "Obviously it's a teaser trailer for a presidential run. It's below the fold." At PJ  Media, VodkaPundit wonders Is Ron DeSantis Running for President Without Running for President? Yep. Also at PJ Media Paula Bolyard really thinks We Need to Talk About Mark Levin's Interview With Ron DeSantis. Eddie Scarry at Da Fed finds the New York Times Frustrated That Ron DeSantis Isn’t Dumb Enough To Be One Of Their Staff Writers "Why hasn’t he called Donald Trump a fathead on Twitter yet?! Where are all the women who want to accuse him of being a rapist?! Why won’t he back down from positions that are popular with voters?!" NewsMax reports, Two GOP Stalwarts to Newsmax: 'Drama' Over Loyalty Pledge 'Inevitable' Drama is always inevitable. 

Beege Wellborn at Hat Hair smells NY Dems sweating "extinction-level events" if Gov Hochul's budget proposals go through. "Talk about a twofer: doubling down on disaster and getting what entrenched liberals outvoted the saner citizens for." Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN reports Georgia election chief blasts county for taking $2M in Zuckerbucks, suggests legislative remedy "DeKalb County's acceptance of the private funds "is a violation" of the state's 2021 election reform law, said Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger."

At Am Spec, Deroy Murdock hears New Democrat Battle Cry: Tampons for Boys! From HE, Libs of TikTok's New Book Teaches Parents and Kids How to Fight Back Against Groomers. She's a national treasure.

FBI photo of 'sedition panda'

The BBC reports FBI arrests 'sedition panda' in Capitol riot case

According to court documents, Mr Rumson was identified by the FBI after receiving a tip and reviewing footage that showed him putting on and taking off the panda mask while on his way to the Capitol, with his face in full view.

There, he is believed to have been among the first rioters to enter the building through a large door that had been breached.

Images taken inside the building appear to show the panda-mask-clad Mr Rumson roaming the halls, before eventually abandoning the costume and leaving the building.

At Am Great, the redoubtable Julie Kelly describes A Partisan Judge’s Parting Rampage. "The queen of January 6 jurisprudence, Judge Berry Howell is a shameless partisan willing to twist the law, and the U.S. Constitution, to advance her own political agenda." Dave Catron at Am Spec explains Why J6 Transparency Frightens the Democrats. "Publicizing the Capital surveillance video will finally destroy their “insurrection” narrative."

Contrary to what Insty suggested yesterday, at the Originalism Blog, Michael Ramsey  thinks Mike Pence Does Not Have Legislative Immunity. Lawyers. 

Ace, ICYMI: DOE Determines Covid Leaked From China's Wuhan Bat Virus Lab, Which Was So Obvious That Everyone Except the Technocratic Non-Elite Have Known It For Years. Sundance at CTH, With The Lies Behind COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts Collapsing, U.S. Government Now Says Wuhan Lab Leak Likely. Victory Girls see orders to the Media: Do NOT Pounce Or Jump On The Covid Lab Leak News. At Fox, Dr. Fauci blasted over new revelations about COVID lab leak: 'We need to crack this egg open'. From NYPo, Critics rip Dr. Anthony Fauci after latest Wuhan lab leak findings. He's been in ass covering mode from day 1. Capt. Ed,  "As I mentioned in my Amiable Skeptics episode, Fauci and his efforts to fund gain-of-function research are the likely reason why debate over the lab-leak theory was actively suppressed by media and government. If COVID-19 leaked from the lab that used NIAID and NIH funding under Fauci’s direction, then Fauci and his pandemic leadership would have been undermined. If the new assessment by US intelligence turns out to be true, it *should* have been undermined. This whole set-up smells to high heaven, and Fauci isn’t the only one who should be held accountable for it. " Twitchy, Self-anointed ‘Vaccine Scientist-Author-Combat Antiscience’ still fighting lab-leak ‘misinformation’

At the Volokh Conspiracy, Stew Baker explains why he thinks  Big Tech will lose its Supreme Court case on section 230.

Stacy McCain writes In Defense of Scott Adams

Because I’m not a mind-reader, I won’t pretend to know what Scott Adams had in mind when he said what he said, but I know him to be an intelligent person who probably doesn’t plan to start painting swastikas on synagogues or fire-bombing black churches to express his “racism.” Nor do I think he intends to incite anyone else to “hate crimes.” The risk of oppressed minorities being attacked by “Dilbert” fans is probably close to zero. The idea of Scott Adams as a 21st-century Hitler is ludicrous and yet, because the shrieking mob of lunatics is yelling “RAAAAACISM!” at the top of their lungs, every newspaper in the country has to cancel the only comic strip that is still funny. Perhaps the best thing you can do is to order some Dilbert books like Eagerly Awaiting Your Irrational Response, or maybe some Dilbert T-shirts, and then go spray-paint swastikas all over the place. No, wait — that was a joke!

You can never be too careful about this stuff nowadays.

Gone Fishin'

 But not like this:

Back later with fresh lies, and maybe pictures.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Amberleigh West awiting your digital pleasure at The Other McCain.

A Tuesday Tune - Sunny Day

Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus (born 3 June 2000), known professionally as beabadoobee  is a Filipino-British singer-songwriter. From 2018 to 2021, she released five extended plays under the independent label Dirty Hit: Lice (2018), Patched Up (2018), Loveworm (2019), Space Cadet (2019) and Our Extended Play (2021). Her debut studio album, Fake It Flowers, was released in October 2020 and received critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Beatopia, was released on July 15, 2022.

Beabadoobee served as a supporting act for labelmates The 1975 during several legs of their Music for Cars Tour, as well as American singer Clairo during her Immunity Tour. She was nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2020 Brit Awards, and was presented with the Radar Award at the 2020 NME Awards. Beabadoobee was also predicted as a breakthrough act for 2020 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2020.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Amberleigh West awiting your digital pleasure at The Other McCain.

Beach Report 2/27/23

It was trying to rain, but not doing much, when we arrived at the beach. It was in the mid 40s with a slight, but rising wind from the southeast. We caught the tide low, and were able to walk all the way up to the clay boulders

If you expand the picture, you can see Georgia and Skye way up the beach ahead of me.

We found 16 shark's teeth between us, including this 1 inch White Shark tooth, and the obligatory crab claw

Flotsam and Jetsam - DOE Endorses Lab Leak Theory

Yep, the DOE, with its collection of national laboratories did the research and concluded the available evidence suggests the lab leak origin hypothesis for the WuFlu, not conclusively, but more likely than Fauci's favored bat/pangolin natural origin theory.  Dave Strom at Hat Hair, Yet another government agency acknowledges COVID was from lab. 

Only willful blindness would prevent anybody from at least suspecting that the COVID virus originated in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

And by suspecting, I mean believing that the virus’ emergence into the human population likely resulted from a lab leak. Unless the Chinese admit that this is the case we may never have definitive proof, but other scenarios strain credulity.

So it is no surprise that yet another government agency has concluded that COVID likely originated in a lab. This time it is the Department of Energy, which has surprising resources directly related to making such a judgment.

Insty, 

from Sunday Smiles

I REMEMBER WHEN THIS WAS DISMISSED AS A RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY THEORY: WSJ: Lab Leak Most Likely Origin of Covid-19 Pandemic, U.S. Agency Now Says: Energy Department’s revised assessment is based on new intelligence. Vodka Pundit, YOU DON’T SAY: Lab Leak Most Likely Origin of Covid-19 Pandemic, Energy Department Now Says. “The Energy Department’s conclusion is the result of new intelligence and is significant because the agency has considerable scientific expertise and oversees a network of U.S. national laboratories, some of which conduct advanced biological research.” I’m so old, I remember when even suggesting the possibility was enough to get a blogger deplatformed and demonetized. At Twitchy, Your crow is served: The COVID lab leak theory was dismissed by many – Twitter reminded them today. Stephen Kruiser at PJ Media, Score Another One for the Tinfoil Hat COVID 'Disinformation' Crowd. At NYPo, Jonathan Turley makes the case the COVID lab leak is a scandal of media and government censorship. From Da Wire, Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Downplays Report Saying COVID Likely Came From Chinese Lab.  At The Pipeline, Dave Cavena says Let the Great Covid Reckoning Begin. No quarter for those who accused us of racisms, and anti-scientism, etc etc, for doubting the value of lockdowns,  masking, social distancing, and the Chinese origin story.

A Truth and Reconciliation Commission is urgently called for—minus the "reconciliation," of course. Fauci should be ignominiously stripped of his pensions, the hopelessly inept Rochelle Walensky of the CDC should be summarily fired. The state governors who willfully violated the First Amendment should be recalled (if not gone already) and disqualified from voting or ever holding public office again. But it will never happen.

Why? Because from the perspective of our cultural elites, nothing "went wrong" at all. You got what was coming to you. Now it's time to return the favor.

I&I, Amtrak Joe Couldn’t Be Bothered To Visit A Train Wreck. As Sarah Arnold at Town Hall notes Biden Can't Remember If He's Talked to East Palestine Mayor Amid Toxic Train Derailment. Da Caller,  ‘We’re Still Here’: Three Years After COVID Lockdowns, Toxic Train Derailment Hits Ohio Businesses Again. Fox, Michigan, Texas officials unaware Ohio contaminated soil, water, taken to their areas: 'We were sandbagged' "A Michigan congresswoman said that officials weren't 'given a heads up'" There's a lot of toxic waste moved around the country, and really, the government mostly justs trust industry to do it right. Mostly they do, sometimes they don't. Salena Zito at the Freep, ‘We Don’t Know What We Are Breathing’: A Report from East Palestine. Virginia Kruta at Da Wire, Erin Brockovich Torches Biden Over East Palestine Debacle: ‘You’re Not Gonna Gaslight Me!’ Chris Roach at Am Great sees how Mayor Pete Keeps Failing Upward. "Cautious, ambitious, “well-rounded,” and soulless, Pete and his ilk are the dominant human type in charge of the world today—the managerial class." Don't forget gay, that's most of his appeal. Declan Leary at Am Con calls Trump A President for Palestine. "Donald Trump’s visit to East Palestine is a reminder of how the 45th president made politics human again."

Nick Arama at Red State highlights Biden's Clueless Response to Poll on How Bad Americans Think Things Are, "You make the ne — I mean you interview for the news. Can you think of anything turn on the television and go, 'God, that makes me feel good?'" Western Journal wants you to watch as Reporter Has to Finish Sentence for Biden as He Speaks Complete Nonsense. At Breitbart Obama’s Former WH Physician fears Biden’s Cognitive Decline ‘Brings Us Closer to an All-Out War’ with Russia, China. Senile hands on the button. Dan Chaitin at Da Wire sees Acorn Stairlifts making hay from Biden Falling On Air Force One Steps Becomes Fodder For Viral Ad. At Outkick, SNL Is Afraid To Pardoy Biden, Remains Focused On Trump. Breitbart has a Poll: Nearly 60% of Voters ‘Have Less Money in Their Pockets’ During Biden Presidency. Bob Spencer at Front Page, Biden, the Black Jewish Puerto Rican Child, Says He Really Wanted to Be Polish, "When there's no one left to lie to." Also, New Poll: 50% of Democrats Want Old Joe Biden for 2024. "What is wrong with these people?" At Da Wire, Biden: My Classified Doc Scandal Different Than Trump’s Due To Different ‘Degrees Of Irresponsibility.’ He's been irresponsible far longer. From the Free Bacon, Whistleblower Says He Gave DOJ Damning Information on Biden Family Foreign Business Deals, "Gal Luft is threatening to 'name names' after being detained on what he claims are 'politically motivated' charges."

At Front Page, a Video, Biden Nominee Won’t Answer If She Supports Sex Offender Registry "Are you suggesting that restricting sex offenders from living near children is making them homeless?" Another nominee, from the Free Bacon, ‘Utter Silence’: Biden Judicial Nominee Pushed To Unmask a Sexual Assault Victim’s Identity. Her Parents Want To Know Why Democrats Won’t Speak Out Against Him.

Sundance at CTH issues a challenge, Sunday Question – The Inversion and Awakening

In the Trump -vs- DeSantis storyline the following data points are generally agreed:

♦Approximately 75% of the Big Con “INFLUENCERS” (Big $) and punditry Support Ron DeSantis
♦Approximately 25% of the Small “Influencers” (Small $) and Indy punditry Support Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, amid the voting base the inverse is true:

♦Approximately 25% of the conservative, working-class, base voters support Ron DeSantis
♦Approximately 75% of the conservative, working-class, base voters support Donald Trump

Reconcile this inversion. What does it mean?

For me? Two factors. First the long-time Republican pols almost instinctively resented and hated Trump. That hasn't changed. Second, I think all the noise, unfairly or not, has damaged Trump to the point that winning might not be an option. Run of the mill Republican voters have not bought into either, either out of inertia, or sheer stubbornness. 

At Town Hall, Derek Hunter has Some Basic Questions Democrats Can’t (Or Won’t) Answer

If trans women are every bit as much women and real women, why do they need the prefix “trans”? If trans women are real women why is it that zero straight elected Democrats have ever dated one? Wouldn’t Bill Clinton have gotten what he got from Monica from one by now? Wouldn’t Hunter Biden, who filmed himself having sex with what sure came off as human trafficked, forced prostitutes have filmed himself having sex with a tucked partner, if only by accident? When the chips are down it sure seems like Democrats do, in fact, know what a woman is. Why is that?

At Da Blaze, 11-year-old confronts school board by reading aloud from 'smut' he found at his middle school library. Insty, WELL, SURE, IT’S POOR SALESMANSHIP FOR THEIR POSITIONS: Virginia teachers union, Democrats oppose teaching about victims of communism. At Liberty Unyielding, Teaching kids racial guilt turns them into progressive Democrats; unfortunately, indoctrination works. 

At WaEx, Two Democratic committees made payments to group that released GOP military records. Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN, Zuckerbucks redux: Social media mogul funds recruitment of progressives to administer elections. "Clerk Work has recruited hundreds of candidates to run for local elections offices. "You can influence quite literally who is administering elections," said founder of program's parent organization Amanda Litman, who was email director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign." As Stalin is sometimes credited with saying "Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." Shawn Fleetwood at Da Fed reports Alabama Secretary Of State Discovers Popular Leftist Voter-Roll Group’s Address Is Bogus. At Am Think, Jay Valentine claims to know The Solution to Ballot Fraud. Of course we can do it. The problem is that one of the two parties involved doesn't want to.

Sarah Arnold reports McCarthy and Jeffries Form Task Force to Boot Lawmakers from Committees. The tit for tat strategy seems to be paying off. At Am Think Ted Noel ponders The Puzzle That Is Kevin McCarthy. Did he trick the Freedom Caucus into "forcing" him to institute reforms he secretly favored? That would be cool. At Da Caller, Early Signs Show Adam Schiff Could Soon Be Headed To The Senate. Forget it Jake, it's California. 

At Am Think, Ian MacConnell thinks about Tucker Carlson and the January 6 Tapes "I think this shows some solid strategic thinking by Kevin McCarthy."

Sundance, Sunday Talks, Trump Lawyers Discuss Fiasco of Georgia Grand Jury and Foreperson Media Tour.  Insty cites NRO, MICHAEL BESCHLOSS, TRUTHER "While the Georgia foreman forewoman foreperson was thrilled to talk with CNN and MSNBC, there are curious limitations as to which cable news networks she’ll appear on: ‘Cat’s Got Her Tongue?’: Fox News Anchor Wonders Why Talkative Grand Juror Passed On Invite"  and at Substack, Mike Pence, Dick Cheney, and the Constitution "What is a Vice President's job, anyway?" Warm bucket of spit.  Ace explores The Weaponization Of The Law By The Left. Vicky Taft at PJ Media sees that  Washington State Dems Want 'Minority Report' Commission to Destroy Conservative Wrong-Think.

At Da Fed, Margot Cleveland explains How Trump Derangement Gave Birth To The Censorship-Industrial Complex. It existed before Trump, but he certainly sent it into hyperdrive. The Peacock is worried that  The ‘Henderson test’ could weaken Big Tech’s favorite law and change free speech on the internet. Twitchy, That’s gonna leave a mark: Matt Taibbi delivered a Twitter body slam on Aaron Rupar and LOL. Who? At Am Spec, Jeremy Lott explains the story  Of Elon Musk, Alex Jones, the Bible, and a Little Funeral. 

And so Sam Harris, of all people, put the question to Musk: What about InfoWars’ Alex Jones? I don’t think he, or anyone, was quite prepared for Musk’s answer.

“Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven,” he wrote, borrowing Jesus’s words in the Gospel of Matthew.

Then Musk explained what he’d meant, and the explanation really got me.

“My firstborn child died in my arms,” he wrote. “I felt his last heartbeat. I have no mercy for anyone who would use the deaths of children for gain, politics or fame.”

Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair is outraged,  Yikes. People are falling in love with chatbots. In a world with Bronies and Furries, nothing surprises me. Thad McCotter at Am Great perceives that In AI Tech, the Left Replicates Itself.  "Just when you thought cancel culture couldn’t get any worse,  the Left appears to seek to perfect humanity, or  supersede it altogether, with immortal AI machines."

Jon Haidt, Social Media is a Major Cause of the Mental Illness Epidemic in Teen Girls. Here’s the Evidence. "Journalists should stop saying that the evidence is just correlational" The only way out may be a "Carrington Event."

The Monday Morning Stimulus

Sauron's Eye, Is the new Starbucks olive oil coffee drink healthy?

Starbucks made headlines this week for its latest creation: coffee infused with a spoonful of olive oil.

The coffee giant unveiled the new "Oleato" beverage line in their Italy stores Wednesday, with the drink options set to debut at select U.S. locations this spring. In the announcement, Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz described the new drinks, which use cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil, as "the next revolution in coffee." He said they were inspired by "a family tradition that has existed in regions of Italy for generations — enjoying a spoonful of extra virgin olive oil each day as an uplifting ritual."

But is the oil just an unsual addition to entice consumers? Or are there actual benefits to having a spoonful of EVOO with your morning cup of joe?

I can imagine it changing the mouth feel of the coffee, but, to get your olive oil, you could just just use it to make fried chicken. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Amberleigh West awiting your digital pleasure at The Other McCain.

Maryland, My Maryland

Da Sun, Standardized exams keep Black social workers out, activists say. These Marylanders want to change that

When Emanuel Wilkerson sat for the exam to become a licensed master social worker, he had nine job offers lined up. All he had to do was pass.

Starting in May, Wilkerson, 24, took the exam three times in four months. He spent his summer studying. He sank at least $1,300 into test preparation and fees. He failed each time ― by 10 points, by six points, and then by a single point.

“This exam leaves you essentially, financially, like broke,” Wilkerson said. “It basically leaves you traumatized from even trying again, and it makes you want to basically leave the field altogether.”

Wilkerson, who is Black, was a standout during his undergraduate career and the first in his family to earn an undergraduate degree.

So, maybe he should be looking at how his college prepared him for the job? 

He’s not alone in his struggle. Data released last year by the Association of Social Work Boards, which administers the social work licensing exams that the state of Maryland requires, showed disparities along racial lines that some in the profession say demonstrate the tests’ bias against nonwhite graduates.

In response, Democratic state Sen. Mary Washington of Baltimore introduced legislation Feb. 6 to address the issue.

“We are in a crisis. We need social workers,” Washington said. “There is a national movement to address these disparities and Maryland has an opportunity to be the leader.”

One bill would authorize the State Board of Social Work Examiners to issue temporary licenses to practice social work to applicants who have met all licensure requirements except passing an exam. The second bill would establish a work group under the Maryland Department of Health to identify alternatives to the current tests and develop recommendations on replacing the exam requirement.

The Association of Social Work Boards warned in a statement against eliminating its exams, saying that could have “many real-world consequences that could negatively affect the profession.”

The state of Maryland issues four types of licenses and each requires passing at least one exam. For instance, the requirements to reach the top license — licensed certified social worker-clinical — include a master’s degree, 3,000 hours of supervised social work and two exams. On this path, a “master’s exam” must be passed to get a master social worker license and begin the roughly two years of supervised work. A “clinical exam” is taken after that period to obtain a license to practice without supervision.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Sunday Morning on the Wrack Line

the real Erin Brockovich

At Da Wire Biden Will Not Visit East Palestine Following Train Catastrophe. Biden's latest excuse for not visiting East Palestine? Biden: I didn't go to East Palestine because I wasn't invited (Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair). Besides, like Peter Strzok said, you can smell those Trump supporters. 'Bonchie' at Red State hears Biden Give a Shockingly Bad Response When Confronted With East Palestine Mayor's Criticism. Guy Benson at Town Hall Fact Checks Team Biden's Bogus Attacks and Misleading Excuses in East Palestine Can't Survive Scrutiny. At Twitchy, Pete Buttigieg ‘alarmed’ by what GOPer wrote about NTSB (NTSB Chair’s fact-check, not so much). Naomi Lim at WaEx, hears 'Someone on the staff blew it': Biden and Buttigieg's bad week in East Palestine. When in doubt, blame the staff. Jazz Shaw again, EPA orders "pause" on Ohio derailment waste shipping, make the residents of East Palestine stew in it a little longer, while the EPA dots its Ts and crosses its Is. KT at Hat Hair, Biden orders door-to-door checks on Ohio residents in toxic train derailment vicinity, better late than never, just barely. At Da Caller Erin Brockovich (not Julia Roberts) tells East Palestinians ‘Superman’s Not Coming’: Ohioans Brace For Tough Road Ahead After Toxic Train Derailment. Matt Vespa at Hat Hair VIP says Democrats love the environment…unless it’s Ohio. No, they love the environment as long as they can use it to support their real goal of total control. 

From the Free Bacon, Turns Out They Are Coming for Your Gas Stoves, "New Biden ‘efficiency’ rule would ban half of gas stoves on the U.S. market." So we'll use gas to fire power plants to run electrics stoves. Sound efficient to me. Outkick reports Students Raise Over $270,000 For 80-Year-Old Custodian Who Had To Unretire Because Of  Biden Economy. New Neo, Biden is trying to enshrine “equity” more deeply as a national policy, except for the Bidens. "“Equity” is of course the tricky word the left has adopted, in part because it sounds so much like “equality.” It’s not; not at all – it’s the institutionalization of a policy that ignores merit and prioritizes some races over others." ET reports First Lady Gives Hint on President Biden’s 2024 Plans. When do you suppose she'll clue Joe in? At Da Wire, WATCH: Australian News Bursts Out Laughing At Biden.

At NYPo, Biden doesn’t sanction billionaire linked to Hunter — despite actions against prominent Russians "Baturina, the billionaire widow of Moscow’s longtime former Mayor Yury Luzhkov, allegedly paid $3.5 million to a firm associated with Hunter Biden in February 2014 while his father was vice president." John Solomon at JTN reports Emails show how cooperating Hunter Biden associate could dish on Joe. At Da Caller, ‘Biden Showered With His Daughter’: WH Comms In Hot Water After Sharing Tweet

Andrea Widburg at Am Think thinks about The Democrats' dilemma: even Californians don’t want Kamala Harris.

Anthony Gonzalez at Am Think notes Democrats introduce resolution to ban Trump from US Capitol. Mike LaChance at LI finds the Forewoman in Trump Grand Jury is so Strange Some Liberals Think She is a Plant “someone’s deliberate effort to damage a potential case against the ex-President?”

Nick Arama at Red State, thinks this is Hilarious: Paul Ryan's Attack on Donald Trump as 2024 Nominee Doesn't Have Effect He'd Hoped. From Hat Hair, Jack Posobiec's tweet, Too bad, so sad: Paul Ryan won't attend RNC if Trump is nominee. But, have no fear, NYPo reports Ron DeSantis beats Donald Trump by 24 points in GOP matchup, poll shows. Cam Edwards at Bearing Arms sees the White House try to pick a gun fight with DeSantis over permitless carry. Twitchy finds Fake News: CBS can’t believe that Flordia (sic) might ban a book for simply having a black character. The Tallahassee Democrat has more good news for DeSantis, After disastrous midterms, Florida Democratic Party picks Nikki Fried to be its new chair. 

Stacy McCain has the Obligatory CNN Mention "CNN is in a hole and they keep digging themselves deeper. This week, Don Lemon returned after a three-day absence."

Jazz Shaw reports Tennessee moves to ban drag performances. That won't last, assuming it even passes. At Da Wire, Kansas Senate Passes First Bill Defining ‘Woman’ As A Biological Female. NYPo finds a Teacher who says schools need to keep students’ info from ‘Christo-fascist’ parents. Don Surber fears The National Divorce has begun. 

Funny how this happened now, at MSN, News outlets demand access to Jan. 6 footage McCarthy gave to Tucker Carlson. Insty, #JOURNALISM: This is a stunning admission. The news organizations are saying that if more January 6 footage is released, it “risks…the legitimacy of…the various federal investigations and prosecutions of January 6 crimes.” Gosh, why might that be? Don't turn on the lights, 'cause they don't want to see. 

At Breitbart, DOJ: Google Destroyed Chats It Was Required to Save During Antitrust Investigation. Interesting, remember the FBI communicated with the social media companies via a self destructing message system. At PM, BREAKING: Slack permanently suspends Libs of TikTok over 'violations of acceptable use policy' "As highlighted in Slack's Acceptable Use Policy, Slack may exercise its right to suspend or terminate your access." Apparently, making liberals look bad with their own words and deeds is in violation of their acceptable use policy. 

At Da Mail, Are you a robot? Sci-fi magazine stops accepting submissions after it found more than 500 stories received from contributors were AI-generated, and it's going to get worse before it gets better, if it ever does.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Amberleigh West awiting your digital pleasure at The Other McCain.

Sunday Sunrise

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Amberleigh West awiting your digital pleasure at The Other McCain.

Beach Report 2/25/23

Winter is back, with sleet and snow showers this morning and temperatures around 35. We waited until the radar showed all clear and went. Georgia must not have reckoned the weather right, she was cold. I was OK. Skye didn't care, except that there was no one on the beach to pet her.

The tide was lowish, on the way up, and there was plenty of shell and gravel, so we got about 15 teeth, but nothing awesome. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Joe Still a No Go in Ohio

Yes, we're still talking about the train wreck in East Palestine. At Da Caller, a retired fire chief says the "controlled burn" wasn't controlled, and may not have been necessary, ‘They Did It To Open Up A Railroad’: Former Ohio Fire Chief Rips Controlled Burn Of Toxic Chemicals “The cooling off could have done it, the temperature gradients could have fell off, you don’t know,” he later said. “If you just let it boil off, you don’t know. But what they did was they took a potential and made it a for sure.” But at the Pipe Line, Rich Trzupek calls it Yet Another 'Disaster' That Actually Wasn't 

The East Palestine derailment was no disaster. Disasters require multiple bodies, or extensive/expensive property damage, or long-term environmental harm, preferably all three. East Palestine includes none of those elements. The one thing East Palestine had that allows people to label it a disaster is ugly visuals. I get it. Everyday, non-technical people who don’t understand dispersion, or exposure, or risk see that big black cloud and think “that’s what disasters look like!”

Looks controlled to me.

Leah Barkoukis at Town Hall,  'There's the Lie': Chemical Expert Identifies What Officials Are Wrong About in East Palestine

“It wasn’t a controlled burn. It was an uncontrolled burn,” independent environmental scientist and chemical spill expert Stephen Petty said. “In hazardous waste situations, they very carefully control the temperature and the amount of oxygen so they get complete combustion…so it’s not a controlled burn because a controlled burn would have to be like in a furnace or in your car or in some system where you control the fuel… the vinyl chloride and the amount of oxygen. So they didn’t do that.”

 At CTH, Sundance reports Big Crowds Including Erin Brockovich Attending East Palestine, Ohio, Town Hall Event Tonight – Video. At Da Wire, PA Governor Accuses Norfolk Southern Of Giving ‘The Middle Finger’ To Residents After Ohio Train Crash, Makes Criminal Referral, cashing in politically. Treacher says Mayor Pete Is Blowing This, "And not in a fun way." "I’m starting to suspect this guy isn’t the unparalleled megagenius the libs keep telling us he is." CNN, cited at Hat Hair, NTSB chair debunks Buttigieg: For the last time, the Trump rule change had nothing to do with derailent. (sic) "The wheel bearing failed on car number 23. So even with ECP brakes, the derailment would have occurred." Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23 Transterrestrial Musings has Thoughts On Mayor Pete. privilege means poisoned water and air."

Mark Tapscott at Insty, AMTRAK JOE NOWHERE TO BE SEEN IN OHIO: Ukraine pays better. At Da Caller, White House Won’t Confirm If Biden Will Visit East Palestine, Says He’s ‘Taking It Very Seriously.’ Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23   Weasel Zippers: WH Struggles To Say Exactly Why Biden Is Dodging A Visit To East Palestine, Nick Arama at Red State notices Biden Makes Bizarre Comment About East Palestine, Says Things He Shouldn't in Interview "Sometimes, I listen to Joe Biden–and all I can think is: he is one weird dude. He was asked on Friday if he would be visiting the site of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and his response was bizarre. He said he did a “whole video,” and he couldn’t remember that it was a “Zoom” video." Scott McKay at Am Spec worries that In a Country That Would Elect Fetterman, Biden Doesn’t Seem All That Implausible "America is awash in smarmy incompetents." We do love our snake-oil salesmen. Breitbart goes Behind the Scenes With Trump in East Palestine: ‘You are Not Forgotten.’  Dan Greenfield at Front Page accuses the administration of Systemic Racism in East Palestine, "WhiteAce, Joy Behar: East Palestine Deserved What They Got Because They Voted For Trump. "This ugly bilious wattle-necked demon. What kind of demon, you ask? A Yuchubus." No picture required. 

Matt Margolis at PJ Media has news about Bidenflation: Biden Just Got Some Really Bad News. Ed Driscoll at Insty, OLD AND BUSTED: Biden: Inflation Is Coming Down. The New Hotness? The Fed’s favorite inflation measure skyrockets as markets realize rate hikes are far from over. Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Oof: Key Fed inflation indicator hotter than expected -- and markets are noticing. At Breitbart, The U.S. Economy Grew at a Slower Pace Than Previously Thought in the Fourth Quarter. Ace, NPR To Lay Off 10% of Staff In Cuts Equal to Those That Followed the 2008 Great Recession, "This Biden Economy is the bomb!!!" 

From NewsMax, House Panel Probes Penn Biden Center Over Classified Docs. At the Free Bacon WFB's Alana Goodman: Biden Think Tanks a 'Sketchier Version of the Clinton Foundation'. Jonathan Turley has visions of The Dark Biden Rises: The Reinvention of Hunter in a New and Menacing Image."

Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23 Shark Tank: DeSantis Mobilizes Law Enforcement To Counter This Weekend’s “National Day Of Hate.”  ET, DeSantis to Boycott NBC and Its Affiliates Until Andrea Mitchell Corrects ‘Blatant Lie’ Good. 

Capt. Ed podcasts at Town Hall about Partisan Hacks at the Department of Defense.From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23  Elaine Donnelley at Da Fed notes how Biden Pentagon Orders Military Chaplains To Bless Putting Male Soldiers In Female Showers And Bedrooms and the Victory Girls see Transgender Psychosis In The Department Of Defense.

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23 The Fed's Shawn Fleetwood contributes  Alabama Secretary Of State Discovers Popular Leftist Voter-Roll Group’s Address Is Bogus and Calls Grow For Georgia Officials To Investigate DeKalb County’s Acceptance Of Shady Election Funding. Eric Lendrum at Am Great proud to report New Charges Revealed Against Disgraced FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried As reported by Politico, federal prosecutors in New York claim that Bankman-Fried, along with two other unnamed co-conspirators, donated to multiple super PACs and campaigns in 2022, after taking out loans from his hedge fund Alameda Research and siphoning customer funds from FTX. In addition to his direct contributions, Bankman-Fried also allegedly funneled donations through other individuals so that some of them couldn’t be easily traced back to him.

From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23 At Am Think, Bob Bishop thinks the Biden Administration's New Equity Atlas is An Unconstitutional Equity Redistribution Scheme and at Da Fed, Matt Beienburg claims New York Times Uses Groupthink, Not Evidence, To Claim ‘DEI’ Works, it's a matter of faith, not evidence. Also at Legal Insurrection: Minnesota HS Student – ‘Principal’s Attempt to Unify Us’ Ended Up ‘Pitting Us Against Each Other Based on Characteristics We Can’t Control’, Breitbart reports EPA Awards $550M in ‘Environmental Justice’ Grants as Biden Administration East Palestine Response Under Fire. At the College Fix, University of Texas System suspends new DEI policies, launches probe into current ones. At HE, Florida Teacher On Leave After Making White Students Bow Down to Black Students for TikTok Video. That dastardly Libs of TikTok claims another scalp.

At Da Wire, Detransitioner Chloe Cole Announces Official Lawsuit Against Kaiser Permanente For ‘Medical Negligence’. PJ Media's Kevin Downey reports on how Transgender Hormones Increase Heart Attacks and Strokes, but the Left Still Pushes Them on Kids. Legal Insurrection, L.A. DA Gascón Suspends Prosecutor for ‘Deadnaming’ Transgender Child Molester Accused of Murder.

From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23, the redoubtable Julie Kelly at Am Great notes the Media Demands Darkness, Not Sunlight, on January 6 Tapes. "What we are hearing from the media industrial complex is fear, not concern." Also, Twitchy, Media orgs demand ALL the J6 footage they didn’t care about until Tucker Carlson got access. "Oh, heaven forbid an ideologically-based narrative be allowed to develop! The January 6th Committee was the only entity allowed to do that, all the help of the media that suddenly wants all the footage now that Tucker Carlson has access." At Ace's Quick Hits, Mike Lindell says he will sue Kevin McCarthy for sharing the January 6th video only with Tucker Carlson. He wants a peek too. He's one weird dude. 

At Fox, CNN, MSNBC pan Trump grand jury foreperson’s media blitz after bolstering her profile with interviews. "Emily Kohrs has made national headlines for her giddy comments about the Trump criminal probe." Dan Chaitin at Da Wire, Judge Speaks Out After Trump Grand Jury Leader Hits Media Circuit. 

“They cannot discuss their deliberations,” McBurney said, alluding to the instructions he gave members of the grand jury about discussing their work with the media and others. “So the question becomes what deliberations are, and I explained that would be the discussions they had amongst themselves when it was just the grand jurors in the room … when they were discussing what do we do with what we’ve learned,” he continued. According to the report, McBurney said the grand jurors can talk about what transpired if a prosecutor or witness was in the grand jury room.

Matt Vespa at Town Hall believes A Georgia Grand Juror Dropped a Damaging Revelation About the 2020 Investigation "Even more alarming were some of the things Kohrs said about her own experience. She said she swore in one witness while holding a Ninja Turtle ice pop she had received at the district attorney’s office ice cream party. A what?! Why on Earth would grand jurors be socializing with the prosecutors? A grand jury is an independent body, and prosecutors are trained to maintain a professional distance and avoid engaging in interactions that could be perceived as influencing their decisions."

Insty, MIKE PENCE IS ARGUING THAT HE’S A LEGISLATIVE OFFICIAL, AND HENCE NOT SUBJECT TO THE J6 SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, and over at my Substack I argue that he’s not crazy to do so. "As longtime InstaPundit readers may remember, I’ve written before on the Vice President’s character as a legislative official. "

At Breitbart, DOJ Indicts 8 Pro-Life Activists for Blocking Access to Abortion Clinic. How are they doing on those pro-life pregnancy clinic fires and bombings? "since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, the DOJ has only indicted two pro-abortion extremists out of at least 81 estimated attacks against pro-life groups (not including churches)."

 Ace, Microsoft Bing's AI "Sidney" Argues With Reporter, Getting Belligerent and Insulting -- and Playing the "Hitler" Card. "Okay everyone -- I'm shutting down. This "Sydney" is now officially capable of doing my job better than I can." From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 02.24.23, Gab News: The AI Arms Race Is Here.

At Cafe Hayek, Twitter Admits That It Received “Legal Demands” from the US Government to Censor Covid Information.

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