PSA: Balloon Ban Still in Place In MD

The Baynet, Before You Let Go: Balloon Releases Are Against The Law In Maryland

Balloon releases are often meant to honor someone or mark a milestone. But when the balloons drift away from a graveside, vigil or backyard celebration, they also break Maryland law.

The state has banned intentional balloon releases since Oct. 1, 2021. The law applies to birthdays, graduations, memorials and celebrations of life. Under the law, a person may not knowingly and intentionally release or cause a balloon to be released into the atmosphere. It also prohibits organizing or participating in a mass balloon release.

State environmental officials continue to remind residents of the ban, which has been in effect for nearly five years.

What the Law Says - The ban applies to a person who is at least 13 years old, or an organization, which means children who accidentally let go of a balloon at a party are not the target. The term “mass balloon release” means an event where a person or persons knowingly and intentionally releases or causes 10 or more balloons to be released into the atmosphere.

 

The measure was passed as Senate Bill 716/House Bill 391 (2021 Md. Laws Ch. 610), creating § 9-2301 of the Environment Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. Residents can read the full text of the law through the Maryland General Assembly. Governor Hogan did not sign the bill, so it went into law on May 30, 2021.

According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, a person who releases a balloon into the atmosphere is in violation of state law and may be required to perform six (6) hours of community service or watch an educational video on environmental damage caused by human pollution, or both. For larger gatherings the stakes are higher — persons convicted of participating in a mass balloon release can be punished by a fine of up to $100. Each act of releasing or organizing the release of a balloon or group of balloons constitutes a separate violation.

MDE enforces the statute, though MDE may delegate its authority to another enforcement unit, officer, or official of a county, a municipality or local government.
Why It Matters for the Chesapeake Bay

For a region surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent and Potomac rivers, the reasoning behind the law hits close to home. When balloons cease to float in the atmosphere, they come down on land, creating litter that can be harmful to wildlife through entanglement with the balloon strings.

 

The risk extends into the water as well. MDE notes that balloons that land in water can cause serious threats to marine life such as Diamondback Terrapins (Maryland’s state reptile) and other sea turtles, who mistake the half-deflated balloons for jellyfish, which are their primary food source. Shorebirds face similar dangers, and over time the balloons and strings can break down into tiny pieces, contributing to “microplastic” pollution that can end up in fish and other organisms.Maryland Dept. Of The Environment

Balloons marketed as eco-friendly aren’t a workaround either. Some balloons are labeled “biodegradable,” but they still take several months to decay and can be harmful to animals, and the environment. The National Aquarium also points out that foil balloons on power lines have caused widespread power outages — a concern for any community that has sat through a summer storm outage.

 

When the ban took effect, then-Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio encouraged residents to rethink the tradition. “The key is to find other ways to celebrate or honor a loved one,” she said, adding that anyone with balloons should pop them and throw them in the trash instead.

Not every balloon launch is prohibited. The state law does not apply to a balloon that is released for meteorological or scientific purposes: (1) on behalf an agency of the State or the United States; (2) in accordance with a contract with the State, the United States, or any other State; or (3) by an institution of higher education conducting research. Also exempt are a balloon that is: (4) attached to a radio tracking device and released by a person who holds an amateur operator license issued by the United States Federal Communications Commission; (5) a hot air balloon that is recovered after launch; or (6) the negligent or unintentional release of a balloon.

When I find balloons on the beach, I pick them up and take them to the trash. However, I have to admit, I haven't found many lately, maybe none this year. Is the ban working? 

Flotsam and Jetsam - A Hump Day Heap

A lot of material. Monday are slow because of the weekend, but it sure seems like pundits much churn out words on Tuesday.

At News Wax, Rubio Says UK Airbase Incident Involved Foreign State. Sundance at CTH, Rubio on U.S. RAF Fairford Base Terror Threat, “Clearly Involves the Hands of a Foreign Actor” But if you follow the logic from Beege Welborn at Hat Hair in The RAF Fairford Follies, Day Three UPDATE, it may just be a case of "British subjects" trying to steal diesel, either from large farms nearby or even the base. 

Also at News Wax, Belgian Official: Iran Inspired Attacks on Jewish Sites. Hugh Hewitt @hughhewitt, "Imagine millions of Americans believing the U.S. was not winning the battle with Germany in March of 1945. That’s where we are today vis-a-vis Iran. Incredible. And it’s not for lack of actual facts reported widely. It is the consequence of the mental prison of TDS." Hat Hair's Duane Patterson sees A Billion Reasons Why Iran Is Losing. Shaun Maguire @shaunmmaguire, "It was always obvious this would happen Basically from the first 48 hours of the War after the US + Israel dominated Iran’s air space America has Iran on the ropes And as a byproduct this is the most leverage America has had with China in a decade (they need Iran’s oil)." Quote The Wall Street Journal @WSJ, "Iran’s ability to choke off oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz—and use that as leverage in talks with the U.S.—is breaking down." Joel Pollak @joelpollak, "Trump deserves credit for doing what even FDR would not: stopping a potential existential threat when the public did not favor a war, and when any difficulty would be blamed on "the Jews." Trump really did learn the lessons of history. Unlike many of his critics, right and left."

From Defense News, Russia raises 2027 military spending by 27%, budget documents show. News Wax hears Russia Offering US Recruits $26,000 Bonus to Fight Ukraine. "Ukrainian officials say at least 18 Americans have joined the Russian military." John Sexton at Hat Hair VIP warns Europe Expects More Russian Hybrid Attacks. 

Sundance hears Mark Carney Blames USA for Layoffs of Canadian Steel Workers "In reality it is (1) Canadian energy, climate and manufacturing policy; in combination with (2) the specific decision to allow the import of cheap steel from China; in combination with the decision to (3) rebuke U.S requests to stop purchasing that Chinese steel; that has driven out Canadian steel manufacturing."

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, "WOW! President Trump was just asked what his midterm message is for millions of Americans to vote red, and he dropped RAPID FIRE truth nukes to the Fake News in the Oval Office: - 17 months in a row of ZERO illegal crossings - The best crime numbers in history, even after Democrats let in 25 million people - The most jobs in the history of the United States - M*rders are lower than at any time since 1900 - New plants are being built every day, like today's $18B investment - $21 TRILLION being invested in America, the most in history - China has only $3 trillion, and Biden had just half a trillion - The war will be won very soon - Gas prices will come tumbling down - "Nobody else could have done that. Nobody else." - Democrats want to open the border back up." And Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh, " UPDATE: Donald Trump posted overnight CNN's admission that he has 98% PERCENT SUPPORT among the MAGA GOP "There's been no real decline in MAGA support...these folks say they're gonna vote for Congressional Republicans! That support is really holding up strong!" IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. If EVERY 2024 MAGA voter comes out, it's over, Republicans would trounce in the Senate and likely retain the House The communists don't want us to vote, that's exactly why we need to!" Midterms are all about turnout. Tricia McLaughlin @TriciaOhio, "Fentanyl deaths are down 55% and Heroin deaths down 89% from their peaks. That’s a direct result of closing the border and enforcing the laws on the books." George Brooks at Am Think thinks about The math at the pump: Before you blame Trump, follow the damn barrel "Iran matters, refiners matter, supply matters—and the price on that sign has more than one father." AMAC says Voting Democrat – or Staying Home – Won’t Lower Gas Prices, "Democrats are obsessing over high fuel costs, but the historical record and their policy platform strongly suggests that things would be even worse if they were in charge." From RCP, Welcome to Gas Town "America’s diesel market looks like a Mad Max film. The America First fix is hiding in plain sight." At Da Caller, ‘The Perfect Storm’: GOP Strategists Cry Havoc As Poll Delivers Tough News For Lindsey Graham’s Sister. Roger Simon at Am Ref, discourses on Elon Musk & Why the Midterms Don’t Matter "Or don’t matter much." Rand Simberg @Simberg_Space, "There will be cloud cities on Venus, millions living on terraformed Mars, a vast increase in terrestrial wealth from mining the asteroids and moons of the gas giants, and morons will be saying "Elon Musk is an idiot. They haven't even gotten to Alpha Centauri."" DogeDesigner @cb_doge, "You don’t hate the legacy media enough.." 

At Da Caller, Vance Says He And Trump War-Gamed A Senate Floor Takeover To Pass SAVE America Act. From Reason, Once Recession-Proof, D.C. Feels the Pain From Federal Workforce Reductions, "Formerly tax-supported workers are discovering the uncertainties the private sector faces every day." Sundance, President Trump Launches “America.GOV” a Website for Everything Connected to Citizens and Government. Twitchy cites Sen. Mark Warner who Says 100,000 Virginians Have Been Kicked Off of SNAP Because of the Big Ugly Bill.  Althouse finds Do you mean "May President Trump Demolish the Kennedy Center?"? "I wonder, reading "Can President Trump Demolish the Kennedy Center?" in the NYT. Subheadline: "The president has entertained the idea of tearing down the performing arts venue. Analysts say any plan would face multiple daunting challenges."" And "That humans have long been aware of the corrosive danger from kowtowing, toadying, sucking up, piling it on thick, apple-polishing and otherwise bootlicking..." "...Write Matthew Gwyther — producer of the BBC documentary, "Sucking Up: A Guide to Sycophancy Through the Ages" — in "From the Garden of Eden to the president's Cabinet meetings, apple-polishing has a sorry history" (WaPo).

Cathy Salgado is happy Hegseth Ends Civilian Tenured Jobs at Military Academies. 

At Pirate's Cove,  Anthropic IPO Warns Of “Existential Risk To Humanity.” "This doesn’t sound like a good idea to sell stock." Martin Hackworth at Howlin' at the Moon in ii-V-I sees For whom the AI bell tolls, "Ask not for whom the bell tolls, educators and journalists, it tolls for thee." At Ars Technica, AI was supposed to hit new grads hard. So far, unemployment data says otherwise. “There is no evidence of any significant, widespread displacement or reduction in hiring.” Hat Hair's John Sexton says The Left's Fear-Mongering Over AI Was Inevitable. At Da Signal, the Great  Victor Davis Hanson on AI and the Same Old Politicized Hysteria. From Sundance, President Trump Hosts Meeting with Top U.S. Leaders in AI and Super Intelligence – Remarks and Video, President Trump Notes Super Intelligence Team Four Points for SI Frontier Research Safety. Da Caller says As Trump Meets Xi, Experts Say China Targets Weak Spots In Western Tech. I expect nothing less. 

Ron DeSantis @RonDeSantis, "Today we officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR and Antifa as terrorist organizations per the anti-sharia law signed earlier this year."

The Manhattan Inst. explains How States Can Cut Rules and Regulations—and Make It Stick. "Idaho’s Two-Step Process That Other States Can Copy."

PJM's Matt Margolis hears Frank Luntz Just Gave Democrats Devastating News About the Midterms "I'm looking at a turnout differential that advantages the Democrats by a couple of points, which means that there are more people who oppose Donald Trump, who are planning to vote, than those who support him," Luntz told CNN This Morning on Monday. "There's always been a historical advantage to the party out of power in the midterms, particularly in the first midterms." A couple of points? That's it?" At DataRepublican’s Substack, What Early Voting Shows: Week of September 29 "NC, Florida, and OH aren’t showing signs of a blue wave yet. But don’t get comfortable." Capt. Ed at Hat Hair cites the NYT: Senate Dems Start Spending in Texas and Politico: How Dare GOP Candidates Rebut Dems' Sermons! Restoration News reports Changes to Military Ballot Requests Will Disarm Democrat’s Overseas Voter Registration Racket.

The Manhattan Contrarian observes For Some Reason, New York's Rent Regulations Don't Seem To Be Keeping Rents Low. Beege Welborn hears Newly Victorious Berlin Communists Already Doing the Economic Voodoo That They Do So Well. You'd think Berliners would know better, but it has been a while. Joe Weber at JTN reports Newsom signs law easing rules requiring students to learn English, change will impact 1 million "Nearly 1 million California students designated as English learners will no longer have to pass a set of tests and benchmarks to exit the program." From the Wash Stand, IRS Losing Up to $304 Billion Annually to Fraudsters, but Agency Has No Anti-Fraud Strategy, GAO Finds.

From Ace, Fauci Infected African Monkeys with Aerosolized Ebola. His Primary Fear? Not an Ebola Outbreak. Just That the Public Would Find Out About His Faucistein Experimentations. "Deb Heine at American Greatness:" What was he trying to do, start a pandemic?

John Sexton satisfied as the Supreme Court Allows Third-Country Deportations. Mary Chastain at LI,  Supreme Court Clears Trump Admin to Resume Third-Country Deportations for Now. "However, SCOTUS will hear the merits of the case during the December 2026 argument session." News Wax, Justices Weighing Policy, OK Deportations to 3rd Countries.  Sundance, Supreme Court Allows Rapid Third-Country Deportations to Continue. Dave Catron at Am Spec hears Ketanji Brown Jackson Throws a Fit As Supreme Court Backs SAVE Voter Verification."The justice’s dissent over the SAVE voter-verification system continues her increasingly public dispute with the  Court’s majority." Da Caller reports Trump Admin Asks SCOTUS To Uphold Trans Surgery Ban In Federal Prisoners.

Lara Logan @laralogan, "Absolutely brilliant move from Patrick Byrne. Well done. Imagine that a party to a lawsuit can just email the judge and get what they want almost instantly? If you are Dominion you don’t have to imagine - that is your reality. Why are these judges so corrupt? Many are compromised." Quote Patrick Byrne @PatrickByrne, "Dominion wrote to our Judge ex parte and got relief in 2 hours; the next day I tried the same thing: Dear Judge Nichols, I was impressed by the email from Dominion’s lawyer directly to you and impressed by the alacrity with which you acted upon it. Untutored in the august ways of the law as I am, I..." Read the whole letter, it's a masterpiece. At ET, Federal Judge Strikes Down New York’s $75 Billion Climate Superfund. In the Pirate's Cove, Bummer: NY’s Climate Scam Act Shot Down In Second Federal Court.

From Da Caller, Newly Released Records Undercut Jack Smith’s Account Of How Trump Classified Documents Probe Began. Turns out there was no criminal referral from the National Archives. He made that up when he told Congress. At RedState, Teri Christoph sees Mollie Hemingway Tears Into Jack Smith Over Stunning Arctic Frost Revelation: 'I'm Sickened by This'" and Kyle Becker thinks Sen. Kennedy Nails Jack Smith to the Wall in Stunning Exchange: 'Do You Believe in The Tooth Fairy?' Matt Vespa says Jack Smith Was Visibly Uncomfortable When He Got Asked This Question by Sen. Kennedy. From Hat Hair, a Larry video, Jack Smith Under Fire As Bombshell New Trump Probe Records Surface and Beege Welborn thinks Jack Smith Was Even Scummier Than We Thought Which Seems Impossible. At Twitchy, STUNNED: Jack Smith Has True Deer in Headlights Moment As Eric Schmitt Breaks Out DAMNING Receipts. But if you only watch one video on this, let it be this one from Sundance, Senator Josh Hawley Confronts former Special Prosecutor Jack Smith During Explosive Senate Committee Hearing.

Charlie Martin at Insty LOVES THE SMELL OF NAPALM IN THE MORNING: Lindsay Clancy’s Lawyer Has Gone Completely Nuts With This Move. From Ace, Lindsay Clancy's Scumbag Lawyer Kevin Reddington Contradicts His Earlier Defense, Now Insists That There's No Evidence Lindsay Clancy Murdered Her Children at All. "He doesn't say it, but the Conspiracy Cultists claim that Patrick Clancy killed his children, then "hypnotized" Lindsay into believing she did it and confessing to it." John Sexton asks, and answers What's Happening With the Cornell 7 Case? Nicholas Fondacaro @NickFondacaro, "Sunny Hostin, a former sex crimes prosecutor, actually defends the Cornell 7. She argues that under New York State law, the girl consented and that the media is "reporting this story inaccurately. I think they're reporting it unfairly." "The pictures of these young men who have not been charged, not been adjudicated are being plastered all over the internet," she decried." I guess if it's not about Trump she's capable of rational thought. 

At Da Blaze, 'Come on': Democrat DC councilman makes BIZARRE comment after beating bribery charge in mistrial. No DC jury will convict a criminal accused by the Trump admin. ZitoSalena @ZitoSalena, "The problem isn’t that a judge cut him loose early. It’s what happened after the door opened. Nothing in the public record I could find shows anyone kept watching a man a Florida judge had called a likely danger without treatment, or that anyone passed that warning to Pennsylvania..."

At Da Caller, Vance Sets The Record Straight On Mass Deportations "And my understanding of what happened is … if you, let’s say, have a DHS agent and that guy can deport one person that day, he can go and deport a violent criminal or a person who hasn’t committed a violent crime; of course, we’re going to prioritize the violent criminals.” “But that is not a reflection of overall deportation policy,” Vance added. “That’s about prioritizing fundamentally limited resources.”" Noah Pollak @NoahPollak, "This is the single most consequential policy to combat antisemitism in the US in the last decade and it's not even close. And the Trump admin -- and especially those like @StephenM who implemented it -- will get no thanks or credit from legacy Jewish organizations, which is shameful." Quote Rapid Response 47 @RapidResponse47, "Legal Immigration from Majority-Muslim Nations Was Cut 96% Since 2024." Da Caller again, Trump Invokes Rare Authority To Cancel Nearly $1,000,000,000 In Congressionally Approved Spending "President Donald Trump has moved to cancel more than $800 million that Congress approved for refugee aid, migrant education and diversity programs...Officials argued the money is no longer needed because illegal crossings have fallen sharply under Trump’s border policies. They labeled the spending wasteful and harmful to taxpayers." NYPo, Feds urged to crack down on fake passports, green cards along NYC’s Roosevelt Avenue. News Wax hears IRS Drafts Citizenship Question for 2027 Tax Returns. At CJ, Robert VerBruggen explains The Troubles With the H-1B Program, "Concrete Evidence." Amy Curtis at TownHall reports a Watchdog Found Tons of Vetting Errors for Migrants Who Entered US After Biden's Afghanistan Failure. Ace, The Venezuelan Shot by ICE Has Been Charged With Assaulting an Officer "The violent illegal alien attacked ICE agents as they were serving him a final deportation order. The media are demonic liars, and keep repeating "he had a valid work permit" as if this is the same as permission to be in the country. It's not." Dave Strom is not a fan of UK Justice: Immigrant Who Set Asylum Hotel on Fire Gets Same Sentence As Lucy Connolly. Alice Smith @TheAliceSmith, "It’s never been clearer in the UK. They don’t penalise us because we’re “far-right”. They classify us as “far-right” so they can penalise us." From ¡No Pasaran! Importing the Middle East's Clan Culture to Europe: How Assmilated Are the Danish Green Party's Muslim Leaders? All Are in Favor of Arranged Marriages and Resent "Mr. and Mrs. Denmark" for Thinking of Those with Negative Connotations. Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog finds an NGO That Literally Wants To Replace You.

Da Caller notices that Journalists Banned From White House Receive Vomit-Inducing Hero’s Welcome Upon Return. Mark Judge at Hat Hair sees Secrets: Will Bob Woodward’s New Memoir Be a Coverup? Absolutely. From the College Fix, UPenn requires disclosure of ‘controversial speakers’ and you know who they mean, don't you. 

Every one of these people are directly responsible for the violent and vitriolic political rhetoric of the day. If you wonder why a quarter of Americans now think assassinating a sitting president is ok, look no further. pic.twitter.com/KVZ7oGTxbQ

— InfantryDort (@infantrydort) September 29, 2026

Preston Byrne @prestonjbyrne, "BREAKING: @SenMikeLee HAS INTRODUCED THE GRANITE ACT FOREIGN CENSORSHIP SHIELD BILL IN THE U.S. SENATE! https://congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5478/titles"

Ace hears that In 2027, Trump's Department of Education Will Begin Limiting Government Loans for "Students" In No-Hope Majors, "I voted for this. Sounds good, but it's a very limited first step." Matt
Vespa, Trump's College Loan Tweaks Are Being Felt...and Campus Libs Are Going to Blow a Gasket. Geiger Capital @Geiger_Capital, "This is long overdue. He’s not banning the degrees. If you want to study african-american history or music theory, you still can. You simply need to pay for it or apply for private student loans. The student debt crisis in this country is insane and so many degrees today are absolutely useless. The reason college is so expensive now is because the US government started backing the loans. Obviously the universities were going to start charging $200k, because their customer is now the US government instead of the music theory kid. Taxpayers should only be subsidizing, and therefore incentivizing, degrees our nation actually needs: doctor, engineers, etc." Q uote The New Republic @newrepublic, "Trump is banning students majoring in degrees that don’t make enough money from taking out college loans. Degrees for social work, art, religious stud...." Carlo Carrasco, Trump Administration Trashes Biden-era Title IX Rules, Sex Officially Defined by Biology. At PM, University of Minnesota declares to new students Declaration of Independence has 'embodied sexist policies': report. Campus Reform reports University of Minnesota removes Flock camera in Somali-heavy neighborhood while others remain. Some pigs are more equal than others. 

John Sexton hears Nikole Hannah-Jones' Daughter Still Doesn't Get Her Mom's Decision. She was a sacrifice to the gods of DEI. Dave Strom, Everything Is Racist, "The BBC actually ran a story about how women who don't paint their nails are making a racial statement, because nail painting is somehow tied to social injustice or something. Being a man, it all goes over my head."

We Asked AI To Recreate The Lesbian Bar Drama From Actual Reports pic.twitter.com/Agu2tAv2HB

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 28, 2026

From  The Pirate's Cove, Jew Haters Threaten To Boycott Kimmel Over Gal Gadot.

Da Caller observes a Classic American Town Hosts Soft Core Smut Drag And Burlesque Show With Kids Present. Ace hears about a NYT Tech Editor Gunned Down by In-Laws -- Because His Trans Lifestyle Wound Up Influencing His Son to Wear His Sister's Dresses "Modern problems." The Redneck Intellectual discusses Marriage Nihilism, "The Sixth in a Series." "On a deeper and more fundamental level, same-sex marriage will unquestionably affect my liberties and opportunities in innumerable ways; it will affect my marriage indirectly and in meaningful ways; and it will certainly affect the way future generations experience marriage." 

InfantryDort @infantrydort, "You don’t know how radical they’ve become. That’s the mistake. A civilization ending mistake. Young white men are the most vilified cohort in the modern age. What shocks me is how people don’t understand what history says about vilified cohorts. Many people over the age of 40 simply forget, young white men don’t remember the super egalitarian post war order. The world we grew up in no longer exists. We were taught judge people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. MLK etc etc. And by God, I still live by that. I see the divine spark in others. It’s what makes being a Soldier in this nation possible. We don’t care what you look like. Everyone is equally worthless. But sometime after the 90s, tribalism was injected back into this place. The super rare conditions that allowed for so many in this nation to live under one flag withered away. And it became politically useful to demonize one group above all others; white men..."

Calvert County Cuts Critical Area Tree Rule

At the Southern Maryland Chronicle, Calvert Eases Tree Rules in Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, "A little-noticed zoning change cuts the replanting penalty for clearing 30-50% of a critical-area lot from 3-to-1 to 2-to-1 — and skips the usual Board of Appeals variance."

Buried among six routine zoning amendments the Calvert County Planning Commission advanced Tuesday night is a change that cuts one of the county’s environmental protections for land along the Chesapeake Bay: how much replanting property owners must do after clearing trees in the Critical Area.

Under Calvert’s current zoning ordinance, clearing more than 30% of natural vegetation on a lot in a Critical Area Limited Development Area (LDA) requires a variance from the county’s Board of Appeals — and, if granted, replanting three times the area cleared. Text Amendment 2627, approved unanimously by the Planning Commission and now headed to the Board of County Commissioners, creates a new middle tier: clearing between 30% and 50% of a lot’s vegetation in an LDA or LDA3 zone would require only double, not triple, replanting — and would no longer need Board of Appeals approval at all, as long as the clearing is limited to “the minimum amount necessary” for a house, deck, patio, driveway, septic system and a small yard.

 

“Staff believes the current replacement planting requirement is too burdensome for property owners, and the costs of meeting this requirement can get quite excessive,” a Calvert Planning & Zoning staffer told commissioners, adding that the department “was able to get buy-in from the critical area commission to relax these requirements in these specific circumstances in order to lower the financial burden on property owners.”

No commissioners raised concerns about the environmental trade-off during Tuesday’s hearing, and no members of the public signed up to speak on the amendment — a pattern that held across all six items on the night’s agenda. The commission voted to close the record and recommend adoption without discussion. 

 

The Chesapeake Bay Critical Area — the band of land within 1,000 feet of tidal waters and wetlands — is regulated jointly by local governments and the state’s Critical Area Commission for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays, which reviews local zoning changes affecting the Critical Area as part of each county’s state-approved program. It is not yet clear from Tuesday’s hearing whether the state commission has formally signed off on this specific change or has only been briefed on it informally; a local text amendment altering Critical Area standards still requires that state review before it can take effect, separate from the county commissioners’ vote.

Seems reasonable to me. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Oktoberfest up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Come Monday

It'll be alright. From the Strait Times, Hormuz oil shipments hit 6-month high, US commander says. unseen1 @unseen1_unseen, "Doomers once again hardest hit...." Quote Kalshi @Kalshi, "JUST IN: Oil shipments through Strait of Hormuz hit six-month high." But oil prices are still high from the Houthis of Yemen attacking the Saudi oil infrastructure. At Caliber, Iran’s currency slide pushes costs as household purchasing power falls. The solution is both easy and difficult. Overthrow the Mullahs and the IRGC and Trump will fall all over himself trying to set Iran up as a successful petrostate again. At Am Great Fred Fleitz warns Don’t Be Fooled by Iran’s September Surprise. "The new attacks will not change the war's trajectory against Iran." Hit each one back with 5 times the force.

At Am Con Ted Snider and Nic Petro believe Given the Chance, Ukrainians Would Give Zelensky the Boot. Da Caller reports Ukraine Launches 1,000 Drones At Russia, Hits Oil Refinery, Residential Building. Sundance is disgusted that Zelenskyy Brags About NATO Missile Systems Being Used to Attack Moscow and Russian Refineries. I see we're still debate whether to use one or two "y"s. Is Zelenskyy trying to drag NATO into a hot war with Russia? I wouldn't be shocked. It's the only way he'd ever get all of the Donbas and Crimea back. It might be working. Eric S. Raymond @esrtweet, "I will spell this out, since OSINTTechnical did not This action should be considered a war warning. There is no reason for Russia to do it unless they are are planning secret military movements." Quote OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical, "Russia's internal security service has announced a curfew and restrictions along part of its border with NATO member Estonia. Civilians have been banned from leaving villages after dark, boating on the Narva River, and hunting within 5km of the border." CEPA, Ukraine Advances: The Tank Isn’t Finished Yet, "The death of the tank and its armored companions has been overstated. Ukraine is demonstrating they still have a part to play." That'll make Andy happy. Insty notes “WHEN THEY GET IN TROUBLE, THEY SEND FOR THE SONS OF BITCHES.” But at NYPo, How Elon Musk can unlock a Russia-Ukraine energy truce — and help save lives.

Don Surber sees the media Greenlanding the news, "How the media tried to turn victory into defeat." Sundance at CTH is happy that the German People Deliver Another Election Rejection of Chancellor Merz. The Huns are getting restless. Henrik Dahl @SociologenHD, "In a brilliant essay in The Sunday Times, Matthew Syed writes the following: “If extremism is defined as acting out of proportion with context, history or consent, I suggest Merkel’s tenure represented the high point of postwar European extremism.” I agree with Syed’s analysis. But there is one aspect of Merkel’s legacy to which we need to pay particular attention..."

unseen1 @unseen1_unseen, "China is caught in a deflationary spiral Russia is bogged down in an unwinnable war. Panama has kicked china out. Greenland just came under US control. Iran has been defeated Europe is broken and being invaded by illegals The war in Gaza is over South and Latin America has moved right to align with the US. The drug cartels power is being destroyed. Where is this global economic and geopolitical catastrophe? The USA is at the apex of its power. It is the only superpower left standing. Its economy is doing very good. It is winning the AI and space races. More people working in US today than anytime in its history. Its military is the most lethal its ever been.Unless Russia, China, NK, India, Pakistan, the US or Europe decides to start a nuke exchange there is no catastrophe on the horizon. So what is this catastrophe you speak of?"  Quote Mercury @RealestMercury, "Most people don't understand the scope of global economic and geopolitical catastrophe shaping up. x.com/GordoCDA/statu…."

At Hat Hair Josh Hammer thinks AI Moral Panic Demands Leadership, Not Pandering and John Stossel says Free AI. Nicole Silvero at Da Caller observes Congress Has Introduced Dozens Of AI Bills. Here’s What They Would Do. Their first instincts are almost always wrong and usually venal. Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt, "Anthropic’s CEO wants America’s AI labs to embed “independent” groups like METR inside them to enforce “alignment.” The money trail runs through a shadowy leftist NGO same small network. This is another battle in our war against leftist censorship NGOs." Sundance hosts Sunday Talks – Nvidia CEO Discusses Current Status of AI. At Althouse, "On Saturday, Mr. Trump proposed a follow-on to Space Force: a new 'A.I. Force.'" ""But he left to earthbound speculation what, exactly, it was supposed to do. ... From "A.I. Gone Rogue? Trump Proposes Not New Rules but an ‘A.I. Force.’/The president proposed a follow-up to his Space Force but continued to dismiss worries about A.I.’s pace or potential for harm" (NYT gift link)." Timur Kuran @timurkuran, "The United States has been leaping from one moral panic to the next: Black Lives Matter, MeToo, George Floyd, and now data centers plus the specter of AI-driven human extinction. In every case a genuine problem exists, but the threat is inflated out of all proportion and the costs of overreaction are overlooked. The resulting hysteria blocks clear thinking and closes off rational discussion. Consequently, individuals never notice that self-appointed experts are distorting the facts for their own gain ..." The Tax Prof is amused Lane Kiffin’s Use of ChatGPT for Legal Advice Nearly Got LSU Kicked Out of the SEC.

Ben Weingarten at Da Fed explains Why Trump’s Plan To Stop Noncitizens From Rigging The Census Might Work This Time. From Da Caller, ‘Let This Be A Warning’: DOJ Announces Charges For Election-Related Crimes Across Several States.

From Reason, Thomas Massie Just Filed 8 Articles of Impeachment Against Pete Hegseth. "The Kentucky congressman says he will force a vote on removing Hegseth, who is accused of "abusing the power of his office to ignore congressional war powers resolutions, to kidnap foreign leaders, and to intimidate critics of the Trump administration.""  Da Caller notes South Dakota Secretary Of State Bucks Party, Endorses Democrat To Be Successor. At TownHall, Kurt Schlichter sees The Last Stand of Rove, Cornyn, and the Establishment Frauds. 

At Am Spec, Deane Waldeman explains to Make Health Insurance Affordable. "Healthcare needs price controls. Just not Washington’s."

From Da Wire, Democrat’s Buddy Drops Another Bomb About America, "We have caused tremendous terror all around the world." Kyle Becker at RedState likes how Brandon Gill Torches Hasan Piker for Attacking His Wife — This Is An All-Time Takedown. Brandon Gill @realBrandonGill, "My wife is an American, born in America to American citizens. She deeply loves our nation and its culture. You, on the other hand, were born to foreign invaders and want to turn America into the third world culture you were raised in, while advocating for communism at your $3 million mansion in between electrocuting your dog." Quote hasanabi @hasanthehun, "your wife is indian. x.com/realBrandonGil…" Amber Duke at Da Caller, claims an EXCLUSIVE: Talarico’s Spiritual Mentor Caught On Camera Touting ‘Inclusive’ Bible, "a modern translation designed to remove what its creators describe as “sexist” language — according to undercover footage obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller."

Insurrection Barbie @DefiyantlyFree, "Regulatory costs by Presidency: Bush 172 billion Obama 890 billion Trump 40 billion Biden 1.8 trillion Biden’s $1.8 trillion in projected regulatory costs equals approximately $5,300 per American, based on a population of roughly 340 million. Trump 2.0 has reduced regulatory costs by approximately $1.29 trillion or 3,750 dollars per American. Funny how no one talks about that."

At Da Caller, GOP Rep Maria Salazar Reveals ‘Very Good Conversation’ With Trump After Her Ad Claimed His Immigration Enforcement Went ‘Too Far’. There's been another shooting by an ICE agent in Austin. Not much is known yet, but the Venezuelan illegal alien was working as a Doordash driver. Of course, the usual people are arranging the usual demonstrations. 

New Underground Railroad Established To Help Lone Black Juror Escape From Angry White Liberals In The North https://t.co/hvTn8XFzgQ

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 18, 2026

Saggezza Eterna @FinalTelegraph, Memory Hole Politics: 10 Times Leftist Presidents Locked Out the Press (THREAD) The left wants you to believe that revoking White House press credentials is an unprecedented assault on democracy. Their manufactured outrage is pure theater. Progressive administrations have spent decades weaponizing executive power to silence dissent, punish critical coverage, and banish conservative reporters from public view. Here are ten documented times Democrat leadership locked out or purged dissenting journalists" Northern Barbarian @xnoesbueno, "Good list. Then there was the blackballing of President Trump across the social mediasphere, and the total blackout on the NY Post’s Hunter Biden laptop story. Plus collusion on Russiagate and covid “misinformation.” By the First Amendment champions." Matt Margolis at PJM, Obama Accidentally Proves He Got Away With Attacking the Free Press. Catturd ™ @catturd2, "When Biden was installed in the White House, he would almost never talk to the press, and when he attempted to - the fake news press would ask him pre-written questions, then he'd read a pre-written answer (that he didn't even write) So spare me pretending these are real journalists." Greg Lukianoff at the Eternally Radical Idea finds Leadership matters at Dartmouth! Victory against ICE! I’m on Jake Tapper! & more! "Bringing you the latest free speech news? Jonathon Leaf at Jonathan's Substack, Some Graphical Explanations of Largely Unreported News

A look at what the data shows on key stories the media is not reporting. "As the chart above shows, net U.S. job growth during the past seventeen months has only been through hiring of women. Net male job growth is non-existent. Of course, one reason that the media is not investigating the reasons for this is that they haven’t reported the story in the first place."

Stacy McCain looks at The Zero-Sum Logic of Racial Hatred

“Colorblindness” is a trap, Nikole Hannah-Jones asserts and I agree with her — but not the sense she means it. Hannah-Jones was criticizing the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that ruled racial quotas (in the name of “diversity” or “affirmative action”) to be unconstitutional:

[Conservatives] are using civil rights law to claim that the Constitution requires “colorblindness” and that efforts targeted at ameliorating the suffering of descendants of slavery illegally discriminate against white people. They have co-opted both the rhetoric of colorblindness and the legal legacy of Black activism not to advance racial progress, but to stall it. Or worse, reverse it.

The tendentious wording — the implicit assumption that “descendants of slavery” are suffering, and that “ameliorating” the aforesaid suffering is a political imperative — functions as intended, portraying opponents of racial quotas as heartless opponents of “racial progress.”

There are so many things wrong with that single paragraph that I could write an entire essay exploding her errors, but that’s irrelevant to the larger point, namely that racial obsession is at least as dangerous for black people as it is for white people.

Driscoll at Insty has another of his DISPATCHES FROM THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE: Nikole Hannah-Jones Just Wrote the Best Case for School Choice She’ll Ever Publish. Steve McGuire @sfmcguire79, ""Did you know my school was bad like this when you decided to put me here?” Brutal. Nikole Hannah-Jones sacrificed her daughter’s education for political reasons, and her daughter called her on it — correctly." Steve McGuire @sfmcguire79, "NHJ and her husband intentionally sent their daughter to a low-income black school. When her daughter said something about it, NHJ first tried to say her school wasn’t that bad:" Steve McGuire @sfmcguire79, "NHJ is now “overcome with regret.” Her daughter says, “Sometimes I wish instead of always thinking about other kids, you would have thought about me.” Brutal." At Twitchy, WATCH: Student BIZARRELY Flips Out After Black Pro-Lifer Hits Back on Her ‘Kirk Deserved It’ Comment. 

Last week I visited Westchester Community College to ask students to share their hottest political take. This was the first interview I did…

The derangement, lack of humanity, and mental illness on college campuses in 2026 is beyond comprehension. If this video doesn’t convince… pic.twitter.com/QSj76m0hEw

— ✨🌸Savannah🌸✨ (@SavannahCraven5) September 18, 2026

The Victory Girls see College Republicans Cleared After Erika Kirk Sends Legal Help. 

Matt Margolis, Jessica Tarlov Accidentally Dropped a HUGE Truth Bomb About the Left. Conservatives treat her better than the far left does. Alice Smith @TheAliceSmith, "Things that are now rightwing: Investigative journalism, Academic rigour, Scientific dissent, Nature Facts,  Biology, Politeness, Punctuality, Normality, Free speech, Individual rights, Rationality, Objectivity, Self-reliance, Emotional restraint, Delayed gratification." Old Salty Marine on X: "I can't go to a Muslim country and drink beer or wine, or eat bacon or pork BBQ; and my wife isn't allowed to walk around in shorts and a t-shirt in a Muslim-controlled country. So why in the hell do Muslims think that they should be allowed to tell us that we should change our"

At Da Caller, Blue State Governor Rolls Back Predecessor’s Proposed Regulations Protecting Girls’ Sports, Spanberger, of course. 

At da New Yorker,  The Culture Wars Have Come for Lingerie. Is this my last chance to put up Sydney Sweeney cheesecake for a while?  Challenge accepted!

A better recording, without the funny story here.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Oktoberfest and FMJRA 2.0: An Awful Road Trip up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Saturday Morning Fever

Another day without a big new story to tell. I&I examines Who’s Orchestrating The AI-Hysteria Campaign? "We’re not conspiracy mongers here, but it sure looks as though big AI companies have teamed up with Democrats and the mainstream media, probably with an assist from Chinese interests, to embark on a textbook anti-competitive regulatory push. And they didn’t need AI to dream up this plan." Emir M | Type-F Capital @em013L, "$PLTR Karp says that Anthropic is desperate to move liability to the government through regulation of AI, since customers are about to start knocking on the door with countless lawsuits for intellectual property theft. On CNBC." Miranda Devine @mirandadevine, "Well what a surprise. Ro Khanna, Mr Google. And the top 10 are Democrats." Quote Kevin Bass @kevinnbass, "Many of the most vocal politicians now calling for government regulation of AI companies are also among those receiving the most money from the AI companies themselves. What an intriguing coincidence." Rusty Weiss at RedState thinks you should Watch: AI World Takeover Hits Snag As Fake Actress Glitches and Starts Speaking Chinese on Live TV. Not quite ready for prime time.

Ace's Buck Throckmorton rants By the Logic of Free Traders, Shouldn't Trump's Tariffs Be Good for Canada and its Consumers? Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius, ""Ursula von der Leyen" descends directly from European nobility, and she married into European nobility. Her great-great grandfather was the German noble and industrialist Baron Johann Ludwig von Knoop. Her husband, Heiko von der Leyen, descends from the Prussian baronial line of "von der Leyen zu Bloemersheim." (Source: Grok) The EU is just another way for the ancient nobility of Europe to continue to exercise their illegitimate, unelected, hereditary power and avoid the voice and vote of the masses. European immigrants came to America to escape the despicable vise grip of bloodlines controlling destiny. The EU should come nowhere near America." Quote Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen, "Dear @MarkJCarney we want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible. I would like to work with you on opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the EU." Mark Noonan @Mark_E_Noonan, "Chesterton pointed out more than a century ago that the Duke of Norfolk would happily become the Administrator of Norfolk. Emir of Norfolk is also acceptable. It’s all about keeping the pig snout in the trough."

Navarro to Newsmax: Warsh Rate Hike a 'Rookie Mistake' "Do not raise rates into the teeth of an oil price shock," Navarro said. "That's the Greenspan-Bernanke rule." According to Google AI, The Federal Reserve raises interest rates to make borrowing more expensive, which slows down spending and cools off rising prices." But I don't see how that applies when the cause of inflation is largely to cost of oil rising due to external events. Mike Bales @MikeBales, "Y’all were quiet at $5.02 a gallon and 9.1% inflation. Now gas is $4.06 and inflation is 3.4% and suddenly it’s a crisis. The numbers didn’t change sides. You did." Jack @jackunheard, "Gas can come back down. A communist government does not. I’m voting Republican."

At NYPo, Houthi attacks expose Iran’s desperation — here’s how Trump must respond, declare war on them. Semafor says Somaliland’s president puts everything on the table for Trump. Note, Somiland is not Somalia, and it wants good relations with Trump. News Wax claims Trump Weighs Russia Deals Before Ukraine Peace. "A U.S. official told the Times the administration believes early economic agreements could demonstrate to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials that Washington is committed to improving relations, potentially creating incentives for Moscow to end the war."

From Ace, British Medical Journal: The FDA and CDC Used a Faulty Algorithm to Understate Vaccine Injuries. When One Researcher Pointed Out the Flaw, She Was Told to Mind Her Own Business. "I'm not willing to assume "just an accidental oversight." In fact, I'm very much assuming enemy action." Never underestimate the power of stupidity. Also, MAHA: Get Your Kids Off Their Screens and Make Them Live Actual Life, Says RFKJr. "I mean, it's obvious, but it's good that someone in authority is saying it."

Hat Hair's Mark Judge claims Jazz Fans Stunned by Cassandra Wilson’s MAGA Views. It's not uncommon for musicians and actors to get more conservative when they see the money they make being expropriated for the undeserving. Dead at 70.

From Shipwreckedcrew, the lawsplainer, The Standing Problem With Regard To The White House Ballroom -- Blame the Tree Huggers. "A series of idiot cases in the 1990s-2000s are responsible for the idea that individuals have rights enforceable in federal court to sniff flowers and watch worms crawl in the dirt." Done.

At Twitchy, Napoleonic Syndrome: Stepstool Abdul Challenges Vance to a Beard Inspection and Weightlifting Duel and You KNOW It's Getting Bad for El-Sayed When Even Morning Joe Is Calling Him Out Right to His Face. Hat Hair's Beege Welborn hears MI Voters are 'Just Gross' for Not Wanting the Anti-American, Anti-Breast Cancer Research Anti-Semite. Mitchy Berg at Hat Hair VIP calls Minnesota Polling: Too Good To Factcheck. OR Get Cocky About. Tafoya almost even. Ace woke up and found out James Talarico Super PAC Caught Paying $25 Per Vote -- and Admitting Doing It on Hidden Camera Video, "Texas Democrats have come up with a scheme to pay voters to cast ballots for their candidates, a video obtained exclusively by Townhall Media shows." At Da Fed, Brianna Lyman argues There Is No Such Thing As A Moderate Democrat Anymore.

Hat Hair's Dave Strom interpretes Newsom: 'We Were Insane' but Elect Us to Be Insane Again. VodkaPundit at Insty, I THOUGHT IT WAS BASED ON GREED AND ENVY: California’s Proposed ‘Billionaire Tax’ Is Based on Bad Research. Embrace the healing power of "and." At PJM Vicky Taft has another instance of West Coast, Messed Coast™ — That's the Smell of Corruption at Karen Bass' L.A. Homeless Authority. Capt. Ed reports Letitia James Seized Aging Nuns' $19 Million. Why Won't She Release It? Render unto Letitia. 

PJM's Matt Margolis has even More Humiliating News for Kamala Harris. Nobody wants her, but they fear backlash if they don't pick her.

At CJ, Charles Lehman reminds us Progressive Prosecutors Have a Crime Problem All Their Own. "Philadelphia D.A. Larry Krasner’s scandal is just the latest in a long line." Ace sees York PA Police Repeatedly Refuse to Shut Down a Black "Teen Takeover" Near Campus Housing, Even After Four 911 Calls; Eventually the Thugs Drag White Female College Students by the Hair and Beat Them Senseless, ""Decarceration" plus "equity in justice." You can't send young thugs to jail because that's just the "school to jail" pipeline. And we must generally empty the prisons, because prisons are racist." From Da Caller, Dem Lawmakers Demand Federal Probe Into ‘Modern-Day Lynchings’ That Are Anything But, suicides or black on black crime. 

At Althouse, "I didn’t have any doubts. As I tried to explain different possible theories during deliberation, I kept getting cut off as if I had doubts based on the evidence present." ""Based on all the physical evidence, key witnesses, and what the prosecution presents, I thought it was enough proof that she [Clancy] knew exactly what she was doing and planned." Said Michael P. Desronvil, quoted in "Holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy mistrial, Michael P. Desronvil, speaks out for first time after intense backlash" (NY Post)."

Cam at Bearing Arms sees Gun Owners Win Another Second Amendment Victory in Fifth Circuit and cites CBS News: Trump Ordered DOJ Not to Appeal NFA Decision on Suppressors, Short-Barreled Firearms.

From NYPo, an Illegal migrant faked US citizenship to work at military contractor for 30 years. CIS reports Illegal Immigrant Population Was About 13.5 Million in July 2026, "No evidence for a dramatically higher number." Like 20 million. Cynical Publius @CynicalPublius explains Why the “Heritage American” Movement is Harming MAGA.

TownHall's Matt Vespa is happy to announce President Trump Just Banned Three Outlets From the White House, CNN, MSNBC, and Politico. Shouldn't that be MSNOW? Why yes, Beege Welborn, Trump Bans CNN, Politico and MS-Now From the White House. If you're just going to make shit up, you can do that from anywhere. Dave Strom laughs FINALLY! Totally Objective Journalism! "Just kidding." And notes Democrats Need Not Fear the Fact Checkers. Matt Vespa also notes 'The View' Suggests That Donald Trump Might Have Sexual Affinity for Animals. Are they so desperate for clicks they're trying to get sued? Ace sees Jimmy Kimmel, Steven Colbert Whine About How Hard Their Jobs of Not Being Funny Are, "The two anti-talent lottery winners whine about how hard it is failing at your job every single night."

Johnny Kampic at RCP thinks Satellites Have Made This Costly Broadband Subsidy Obsolete. "In a recent FCC filing, SpaceX calls for the Commission to “wind down outdated and redundant High Cost programs that now clearly provide diminished – or even negative – returns and redirect these resources to an enhanced affordability program that will deliver clear and impactful benefits to consumers.”"

Jonathan Turley fears Gandhi is Out, Mangione is In: Political Violence is in Vogue in America. Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley, "Princeton is the latest university to achieve academic nirvana: not a single faculty member contributes to a Republican candidate or campaign. Conversely, 98% of political donations went to Democrats or Democrat-affiliated groups..." Ace wakes up and hears Rabid Left-Wing Students Waved "Kirkaversary" Celebration Cakes Smeared with Fake Blood in Conservative Students' Faces. The Conservative Students Filmed This Display. The University Moved to Expel the Students -- For Filming the Death-Celebrants! Beege Welborn explains What to Do When Campus Stalking Is Being Directed by Students.

Dave Strom wonders Do the Women Excusing Murder Because of 'Hormones' Know What They Are Saying? Are women too hormonal to vote or serve on juries, too? Lisa Britton @LisaBritton, "A viral conversation started after a woman claimed she couldn’t get her heavy suitcase into an overhead bin on an airplane and the man boarding next to her refused to help. ““He flat out said, ‘No, I’m good. You can get it,’ and I was holding up the whole plane while he just stared,” says the woman. I believe everyone should help each other in any way they can out of love, but I really don’t blame the man for his reaction after everything society has put men through. How can we shame and blame them for even something like chivalry and then expect them to do it? El Jacobo @eljacoboaqui, "What, precisely, obligates men to perform physical tasks at the behest of woman in our vicinity?

Capt. Ed cites Psaki on Sweeney Bodd: It's Misogynistic to Get Naked While Not Progressive, or Something. Ingrid Jaque at USA Today knows The real reason people are mad at Sydney Sweeney's new ad. "Sydney Sweeney's new ad for sports betting app Novig has sparked backlash from athletes and critics alike. But the real issue isn't the ad – it's that she's a registered Republican."

At Da Caller, Officials Remove Republican Candidate From Forum After ‘Misgendering’ Transgender Rep Sarah McBride. Da Signal's Tyler O'Neil cries ‘FALSE’: New Study Challenges Claim That Laws Restricting Transgender Medicine Increase Teen Suicide. I think that was debunked ages ago. 

And still plenty more at the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 09.18.26. Linked at The Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Oktoberfest and FMJRA 2.0: An Awful Road Trip up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.