Just In Time for Octoberfest

At WUWT, Climate Bombshell: No Ice-Cold Beer to Cool Us Down as Planet Earth Boils Over

When all else fails on the climate fearmongering front, try warning that beer shortages are likely in the near future. The Financial Times reports that the Chief Executive of the Japanese brewer Asahi, Atsushi Katsuki, says climate change could lead to beer shortages as warmer temperatures hit barley and hop supplies around the world. Fortune goes into full climate tragedy mode, noting: “Beer could face an existential crisis.” Needless to say, missing from all this doomsday drivel is a note that barley is the most adaptable cereal and can grow in many areas from the sub-tropics to the Arctic. Meanwhile, world hop production has never been in better health with global acreage rising in 2021 for the eighth year in succession.

This is not the first time the booze gets it in the climate crisis, with the need to constantly supply political messaging to promote Net Zero. Earlier this year, America celebrated National Margarita Day with CNN warning that climate change could be coming for the seemingly luckless libation. Behind the scare was some made-up nonsense about the weather affecting the ingredients going into tequila, despite the fact that since 1995 tequila production has increased six-fold, and from 2018 it has doubled.

Pushing the beer scare, the Asahi boss spoke of significant falls in the barley harvest and the quality of hops under the “UN’s four degrees scenario”. This assumption from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is used to posit a rise of nearly 3°C in less than 30 years, a ‘pathway’ that is an insult to scientific realism given that global temperatures have barely risen by 0.2°C over the last 25 years. Perhaps Mr. Katsuki was imbibing a little too freely of his excellent product when he told the FT that volatile weather has already interfered with barley yields in recent years. Curiously he added that climate change “had a bigger impact on the price of barley than even Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”.

A great deal of barley ends up with brewers, and with important sectors like beer considered a mature business, with steady rather than spectacular growth, the demand for the grain is fairly constant. Like all harvests it can be affected by local weather conditions but the Statistica graph above shows a steady trend with 2020-21 posting a record total of 160.91 million metric tons. If there are to be dramatic shortages in barley going forward due to climate change, they have yet to show up in the production record. Meanwhile, the situation in Ukraine is of particular concern since it is one of the world’s top producers of the crop.

 

Barley is a versatile global grain and ranks fourth in both quantity produced and area of cultivation. It is much prized because it is so versatile and can thrive in regions where cereals such as maize and rice do not grow well. According to the agricultural scientist Meixue Zhou, it grows in areas up to the Arctic, along with near desert areas such as North Africa. Other areas where it can thrive include those with a Mediterranean climate, as well as those with oceanic and continental features. In the United States, barley can be grown from the northern tip of Maine down to southern Florida, Texas and much of California. Throughout human history it has played an important part in both food production – humans and animal – and brewing, due to its tolerance of aridity and salinity along with adaptability to weather.

Over on the hop front, two countries – Germany and the United States – account for 77% of world hop acreage, according to Craft Brewing Business, quoting from the BarthHass Report 2021-2022. Alpha acid content is an important factor in beer flavouring, and volumes of this prized ingredient in recent years are said to be at their “highest levels yet”. In the FT, Mr. Katasuki, noted the role hops played in flavouring beer, but claimed that analysis conducted by his company found global warming meant the quality of hops would reduce “significantly” over the next three decades.

In the meantime, the recent problems for the hop growing business are somewhat different to those forecast by Katasuki. “Production cost increases and over-production are a dangerous combination presenting the hop industry with huge challenges. The global hop industry can only counter excess production by adjusting acreage,” observes Peter Hintermeier, of BarthHaas.

Perhaps the Asahi boss gets extra ESG points for pumping out climate fear stories. Back in the real world, with shareholders to keep sweet, he seems to be somewhat more bullish about the future, telling the FT that he hopes to have the brands Asahi Super Dry and Peroni Nastro Azzurro established in the global top 10 by 2030. The company intends to reduce debt by not making further acquisitions until next year, but from 2025, “we’ll be able to become more aggressive in investment again”. Big plans are being made in the U.S., although he suggests that acquiring smaller craft brewers will not achieve the goal of having “wide reach throughout the region”.

If it weren't for lies, they'd have no arguments at all. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.

Forget It Jake, It's Baltimore

The Baltimore Banner, How safe is your water? Questions about cryptosporidium in Baltimore answered 

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works late last week announced low levels of the parasite cryptosporidium had been detected in Druid Lake Reservoir, an open-air reservoir that feeds into the water supply for parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore County, as well as Howard County.

The parasite is known to cause gastrointestinal issues, especially in older people, children and those with weakened immune systems. The department on Saturday said the detection advisory “remains in effect until further notice.” For most people, though, the water is safe. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions.
. . .
The cryptosporidium was detected in the Druid Lake reservoir in a routine testing sample that was collected on Sept. 19, according to city officials, and laboratory results were reported on Sept. 26.

Druid Lake Reservoir, like the Lake Ashburton Reservoir, holds water that has already been treated for consumption. City officials said that because such a low level was detected, it is not possible to determine a source of the parasite. This past weekend, DPW said that recent monitoring indicates that source water — obtained from the Liberty, Loch Raven and Prettyboy reservoirs — is not affected by crypto. As part of its regular filtration process, DPW treats source water for crypto before the water is delivered to its finished reservoirs.

The water was tested again on Sept. 27, but officials said it could be another week before those results came back.

On Sept. 28, DPW publicly reported the presence of the parasite in the drinking water based on the Sept. 26 test result. In the update shared this past weekend, DPW did not explicitly say why it did not share the test results when the agency received them on Sept. 26.
. . .
Update: No traces of the parasite cryptosporidium were found in a water sample taken from the Druid Lake Reservoir, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works said Tuesday Oct. 3. The clean bill of health came five days after the department said it had discovered low levels of cryptosporidium, or crypto, in the open-air reservoir that supplies drinking water for parts of Baltimore City and Baltimore County, as well as Howard County.

Cryptosporidium is one of relatively few waterborne diseases that are resistant to chlorination, the standard form of water treatment. It is also difficult to filter out making it one of the more problematic.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Gaetz Gets McCarthy

Because I took yesterday off, my bins are full, and a little dated, so I'm doing something different, just hitting the lowlights and declaring it good enough.

First, with the help of 7 fellow Republicans, Matt Gaetz called for a vote on vacating the Speaker of the House (ousting Kevin McCarthy from the position), and with the help of the united Democrats, succeeded. Stacy McCain,  A Self-Inflicted Disaster as Republicans Vote to Boot Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. "Perhaps some of my readers are not sad to see Kevin McCarthy voted out as Speaker of the House. And I’m here to tell you, you’re wrong." Breitbart, Matt Gaetz’s Vote Succeeds in Ousting Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. 

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Tuesday succeeded in his effort to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The vote was held by roll call in alphabetical order. The motion to remove McCarthy succeeded, 216-210. Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Ken Buck (R-CO), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Bob Good (R-VA), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), and Gaetz voted to remove McCarthy. The House voted on Rep. Tom Cole’s (R-OK) motion to table Gaetz’s move, which was rejected with the support of ten House Republicans.

PJM's Paula Bolyard,  I Don't Think the House Fight Worked Out the Way Matt Gaetz Thought It Would. I'm not sure he gave that much thought to what happens next. John Hinderacker at Power Line, calls it the Suicide of the House. Ace reports Kevin McCarthy Will Not Run for Re-Election as Speaker. I wouldn't either. 'Bonchie' at Red State hears Nancy Pelosi Ordered to Vacate Her Office by New Acting Speaker, and the Tears Start Immediately. No, she's not being kicked out of Congress, but:

Following McCarthy's ouster, acting Speaker Patrick McHenry ordered Nancy Pelosi to leave the special hideaway office she didn't relinquish following her party's defeat in the 2022 mid-terms. The email notifying Pelosi's office of the order to get out got right to the point, noting that the office will be re-keyed if she doesn't leave.

As one of his first acts as the acting speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry ordered former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to vacate her Capitol hideaway office by Wednesday, according to an email sent to her office viewed by POLITICO.

“Please vacate the space tomorrow, the room will be re-keyed,” wrote a top aide on the Republican-controlled House Administration Committee. The room was being reassigned by the acting speaker “for speaker office use,” the email said.

McHenry is a close ally of McCarthy, and this is almost certainly well-deserved retaliation. According to McCarthy, as part of the passage of the recent 45-day clean continuing resolution, Pelosi had promised to not support Gaetz if a motion to vacate was filed. Instead, the former Democrat Speaker stabbed now former Republican Speaker in the back and actually encouraged her caucus not to save McCarthy. In the end, Democrats joined with a small group of Republicans to end McCarthy's tenure.

Anyway, while I share some of the sympathies of the Gaetz insurrectionists, I disagree with this move. It's hard enough to find someone willing, and at least marginally able to herd these cats. Demands from the furthest right Republican representatives to essentially control the House by stopping work until they get their way reminds me of the old joke about why the asshole is boss of all organs.

Margot Cleveland at Da Fed, has an Email that Shows Weiss Violated DOJ Policy By Sending Letters To Cover For Garland. Breitbart remembers 2019 when Hunter Biden Claimed He Didn’t Receive ‘One Cent’ from Chinese Associate Despite Wire Transfers. Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair thinks Hunter Biden may walk free after all, but not necessarily. I'm betting he gets of with a wrist slap. Jonathan Turley proposes  Four Biden Impeachment Articles and What the House Will Need to Prove. We need proof? Since when?  At the Free Bacon, WATCH: 'I'm Crazy About My Grandkids,' Says President Who Denied Granddaughter's Existence. At this point in his life, lying is reflexive. John Alter at Washington Monthly Could Biden Decide Not to Run?

Jen Van Laar at Red State thinks Tucker's Right: Trump's Fraud Trial in NY Is a 'Grotesque Parody of the System Our Ancestors Created.' Insty cites Never-Trumper ANDREW MCCARTHY: With Trump Already Found Guilty, His New York Fraud Trial Begins. “This isn’t a judicial proceeding; it’s a partisan farce. . . . Most significantly, the good judge imposed the corporate death penalty: putting Trump, his adult sons, and the Trump Organization out of business, taking away their state-issued business licenses, calling for the appointment of receivers to oversee the dissolution of Trump’s business entities, and continuing to subject him to monitors. And now, after all that, the trial begins.” Herr Professor Jacobsen at LI, “the notion that Donald Trump puts a number on a piece of paper and some big bank just says, oh, okay, that’s what it’s worth. That’s not how it works.” "My appearance on Fox Live Now about the real estate trial that started today: “If they wanted to charge him with fraud and penalize him for these appraisals, fine, but to then try to put him out of business, I think shows how political and how vindictive this is.”" John Sexton at Hat Hair, Trump goes from anger to praise for judge in his NY fraud case as the judge indicated a lot of the charges may be past the statute of limitations, but, John Sexton At Hat Hair later hears the Judge clarify that he is not tossing 80% of Trump's case (plus a gag order).

Auguste Meyrat at Da Fed explains why he thinks It’s Looking Ever More Likely That Jan. 6 Was A Fedsurrection.  Am Think's Eileen Toplansky says Never Forget the Jan. 6 Defendants.  NBC, cited at Hat Hair crows  Clarence Thomas recuses in rejected J6 appeal but Capt. Ed points out "This is a pretty straightforward recusal, despite NBC’s attempt to tie it to Thomas’ politics. Eastman clerked for Thomas at one point and likely the two remained in friendly contact since. Eastman also publicly defended Thomas over ethics questions." a little over a month ago. Jazz Shaw dissects Garland's Wizard of Oz 60 Minutes interview. At TNP, Ex-SecDef Esper Worries Trump Will Retaliate Against Deep State If Elected. He's right to worry, on behalf of his friends, and I hope it happens. The only way to save the tree is to kill the rot. 

At Da Fed, Evita Duffy-Alfonso points out These House Republicans Voted To Fund CISA’s Criminal Censorship And Election Interference. Ars Technica reports DOJ finally posted that “embarrassing” court doc Google wanted to hide. "Google exec said users get hooked on search engine like “cigarettes or drugs.”

AP has the sads that Nebraska is imposing a 7-day wait for trans youth to start gender-affirming medications. mrc-TV reports a WIN! Court Upholds TN & KY Bans on ‘Transgender Care.’ From the Orlando Sentinel, Trans, nonbinary group sues Florida in federal court over new bathroom restrictions.  Gail Heriot at Insty, "Again, here is my simple step-by-step legal argument for why it is perfectly okay to require individuals to use the facilities set aside for their biological sex. The argument can be easily adapted to fit Title VII. More argument here."  Twitchy Oh, give us a break: LGBTQIA2S+*%#XYZ wants ANOTHER month to celebrate themselves. In addition to "Pride Month" they want "2SLGBTQI+ History Month." At Da Caller, Transgender Athletes Banned From International Fishing Competition After Entire Nation Threatens To Boycott. If you think upper body strength doesn't matter, try winching in a 800 lb tuna. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.

Wednesday Wetness

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.

I'm Back!

Another Hooper Island sunrise. This trip was originally arranged by Craig, a frequent fisherman with Pete, which turned into a walk-on.  Unbeknownst to Craig (but known to Pete) his son Rick contacted Pete and signed on. 

Craig and Rick with a pair of mid 20 inch Striped Bass caught on poppers in shallow water. Note sun rising near Craig's shoulder. We had to visit a couple more sites before we finished our boat limit of 6, and headed further south to find different prey.

We ended up way south, near Smith Island, when we found Pelicans and gulls working on big bluefish (5-6 lbs) spread out over a wide area,

I had just brought a bluefish from the front of the boat for Pete to take off, when a couple of monster redfish came up and tried to eat the Menhaden chunks the blue was throwing up. Pete tossed a jig at the commotion and one of the reds grabbed it. It headed way past the front of the boat, so Pete and I swapped rods and I fought the red while Pete took the blue.  It took about 10 minutes to bring the red to the boat.

A little later, Craig hooked this one with a jig on the bottom, and successfully brought it to the boat.

Gone Fishin'

 Maybe a little like this: 

and maybe a little like this:

Tattoo Tuesday

Buzzfeed, via MSN, Cara Delevingne Explained Why She Was Topless For A Photo Of Her Tattoo, Which Was Also Seemingly Misspelled

So, Cara Delevingne got a new tattoo recently.

Aphoto of the new ink — which features an abstract image of a face and the definition of the Italian word "dormiveglia" — was shared by the artist behind it, Matteo Angeroni of Italian tat spot the White Whale Tattoo Society.

The photoset featured snaps of Cara showing the tattoo off while topless — and IG commenters questioned why it was necessary, since you can see the tattoo just fine with a top on:

"Just to be clear to everyone!" she wrote. I chose to take my bra off, the picture didn’t look good with my bra on. I am a perfectionist especially when it comes to photography and I was trying to help make something beautiful. Everyone calm down please. Thank you x."

But the questions didn't stop there. People were also curious as to why the tattoo defined "dormiveglia" as "the place that stretches between sleeping and walking," and suggesting that the last word was supposed to actually be "waking" — which, yes, would make more sense than the actual tattoo.

A little whiteout will fix that right up. 

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.

'Forever Chemicals' Linked to Girls Growing Up

I've been critical in the past of the recent adoption of PFAs as the newest pollutant of concern, due to lack of evidence for actual impacts at environmentally relevant concentrations.  This study claims corelative evidence that PFAS may be delaying the onset of puberty in girls. Med Press, Research shows PFAS exposure may delay girls' puberty

Research from the University of Cincinnati shows that exposure to PFAS may delay the onset of puberty in girls. The research was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

This study is the first longitudinal research that included the component of the role hormones play in the delay, according to Susan Pinney, Ph.D., of the Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences in the UC College of Medicine and corresponding author of the study.

She says the delay of puberty in girls can lead to negative long-term health outcomes, including a higher incidence of breast cancer, renal disease and thyroid disease.

"Puberty is a window of susceptibility," Pinney says. "Environmental exposures during puberty, not just to PFAS, but anything, have more of a potential for a long-term health effect. What these have done is extended the window of susceptibility, and it makes them more vulnerable for a longer period of time."

The published research describes the findings from studying a total of 823 girls who were 6 to 8 years old when they were enrolled in the study—379 were in the Greater Cincinnati area, the other 444 were in the San Francisco Bay Area. Researchers wanted to start the girls in the study before they hit the beginning of breast development. Then they followed them with exams every six to 12 months to see when they experienced the first signs of breast development and pubic hair.

The results found that 85% of the girls in the two cohorts had measurable levels of PFAS. Pinney says this PFAS research is unique because the hormone component was included and they discovered evidence of decreased hormones. The hormones that were decreased with PFAS exposure were consistent with findings of the delay of the onset of puberty.

"The study found that in girls with PFAS exposure puberty is delayed five or six months on average but there will be some girls where it's delayed a lot more and others that it wasn't delayed at all," Pinney says. "We are especially concerned about the girls at the top end of the spectrum where it's delayed more."

The study also found that over 99% of the girls in the two cohorts had measurable levels of PFOA, one of the most important of the PFAS.

My long unused statistical background makes me very suspicious that this may be one of those cases where some other factor that corelates with PFAS concentrations may well be responsible for the effect, for example, diet, or exposure to other chemicals. Meanwhile, in the real world, scientists and medical folk are worried about the opposite, an increasing trend toward earlier onset of puberty in girls, particularly during and after the COVID lock:

Psychology today: Why More Kids Are Starting Puberty Earlier Than Ever Before

New Yorker: Why More and More Girls Are Hitting Puberty Early

US News Health: Why Are Girls Starting Puberty Earlier?

NYT: Puberty Starts Earlier Than It Used To. No One Knows Why

So, which is the problem?

A Good Year for the Bay

Delmarva Now, Chesapeake Bay 'dead zones' show big decline: What it means for fish, crabs and economy

The ominously named "dead zones" in the Chesapeake Bay are more than hyperbole and represent potentially millions of dollars lost on industries tied to the Bay, so a report citing improvements is welcome news.

The annual Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Report for August, released by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, noted "dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia continued to be much better than average."

The department worked in collaboration with Old Dominion University and looked at results collections during regular, twice-monthly monitoring cruises conducted by research vessels. Throughout the summer, the cruises recorded hypoxic areas of the Bay – water with low enough dissolved oxygen to harm marine life – that have been smaller than those recorded in previous years.

"The better-than-average August dissolved oxygen conditions we are experiencing is not surprising considering the reduced river flows from January through May, as well as less nitrogen carried to the Bay because of nutrient management efforts. Continuing these efforts to reduce nutrient pollution throughout the entire watershed will improve water quality conditions, helping to support all of our aquatic resources," said Tom Parham, director of the Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The hypoxic water volume — waters with less than 2 mg/l oxygen — was 0.31 and 0.72 cubic miles respectively during the early and late August monitoring cruises, compared to early and late August averages of 1.37 and 1.076 cubic miles since 1985.

This year’s data from early August ranks as the smallest volume of hypoxic water volume on record and late August was the eighth smallest volume for their respective time periods.

"We're doing a great deal to reduce the nitrogen phosphates in the watershed. These are the pollutants that are fueling the algae blooms that reduce the oxygen. We got lucky this year in the fact that the rains that deliver those pollutants didn't come until the fall," Meyers said.

Not all nutrients delivered to the Bay are equal. Rain that falls now and later in this year, along with their associated nutrients will largely wash out of the Bay over the course of winter because colder water and less light due to shorter days and lower sun angle will reduce algae's ability to take them up, the second step in the chain of causality leading to the "dead zones." After all these years, it still seems as if the health of the Bay, at least in terms of hypoxia, is largely determined by the weather. We may have slightly reduced the amount of hypoxia at a particular weather scenario by reducing nutrients, but it's still very difficult to detect in the large year to year variation in rainfall.

Flotsam and Jetsam - And Just Like That Maryland Has 3 Senators

Politico, yesterday, Pressure is on Newsom to quickly appoint Feinstein’s temporary replacement. Michael Shellenburger et al, Dianne Feinstein And The Death Of Moderate Democrats. Then Politico again, Gavin Newsom picks Laphonza Butler as Dianne Feinstein replacement. Althouse, Gavin Newsom fulfills his promise and names a black woman — Laphonza Butler — to replace Dianne Feinstein. A Black lesbian, and former head of Emily's list, and, apparently, a resident of Maryland at Hat Hair, Duane Patterson says Meet California's new senator: Laphonza Butler of ... Maryland? Twitchy, Newsom chooses 'history-making' first Black lesbian to fill Feinstein's seat, there's just 1 BIG problem. 'Bonchie' at Red State, Newsom’s ‘First Black Lesbian’ Senate Appointee Immediately Hit With Scandal, Cover-Up Underway. It doesn't really matter, whoever Gov. Hairdo appoints will reliably tow the Democrat line. But, lucky us, as Hat Hair Jazz Shaw notes, We apparently missed out on California Senator Meghan Markle. 

We're still digesting a couple of issues from the threatened govt. shutdown, now stalled for another 44 days. First, Rep. Jamaal Bowman's apparently outrageous attempt to stop the consideration of the bill by pulling a fire alarm and causing an evacuation. I guess he got the idea from High School, where he was a principal. At NYPo, Jamaal Bowman's stunt is absurd, even for the Democrats. Nick Arama at Red State sees Bowman Issues Formal Statement About Pulling Fire Alarm, Thomas Massie Has the Perfect Response. At TownHall, One Photo That Shreds Jamaal Bowman's Narrative Over Fire Alarm Incident. At Twitchy, LOL! The Jamaal Bowman fire alarm memes are … on FIRE. Hat Hair's KT asks Should Rep. Jamaal Bowman be expelled from Congress? No, but he needs to be made to sweat a little more. At WaT, House Republicans want Jamaal Bowman to be given Jan. 6 treatment over fire alarm. From PM, MTG calls on DOJ to prosecute Jamaal Bowman using same law used to imprison J6ers. Curt at Flopping Aces, GOP Representatives Call For Arrest Of Jamaal Bowman Over Fire Alarm Stunt, Citing Treatment Of January 6 Protesters. At Insty, AMERICA’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD, (The Babylon Bee) Buffalo Guy Kicking Himself For Not Just Pulling Fire Alarm To Evacuate Congress.

The second issue arising from the aborted shutdown was the resumption of open war between Rep. Mat Gaetz and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Sundance at CTH features Sunday Talks - Matt Gaetz is Throwing Atomic Truth Hammers at The UniParty and Sunday Talks - McCarthy Responds to Gaetz and Links U.S Border Security Bill to Ukraine Funding Bill. At ABC Matt Gaetz says he is planning a vote to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy over government funding bill. Reuters reports McCarthy vows to survive ouster threat for avoiding shutdown. Althouse, "I think we need to rip off the Band-Aid. I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy.... Nobody trusts Kevin McCarthy." "That's Matt Gaetz."  At TownHall Matt Vespa provides The 'Hitchhiker's Guide' to Matt Gaetz's Plot to Remove Kevin McCarthy. Western Journal claims McCarthy Says He Doesn't Want to Be Part of Republican Team After Passing Continuing Resolution. At Becker News, House GOP Members Begin Push to Expel Matt Gaetz. I think Gaetz may have bitten off a little more than he can chew here. 

From the Messenger, Trump Campaign Leaves Actual Birdcage at Nikki Haley’s Hotel Door as Part of ‘Birdbrain’ Attack. Breitbart, Maher: NYT's 'Hit Piece' on DeSantis and COVID that Buried FL Outperforming Average Was 'Despicable'. At Am Great thinks RFK Jr. as Independent Would Propel Trump to Deliver Crushing Blow and Sundance at CTH says Robert Kennedy Jr Admits His Campaign Has Done Polling on Running Independent and He Takes More General Election Votes from Donald Trump Than Joe Biden... - The Last Refuge. Althouse, "First of all, I know Bobby from the time I met Maria. I always liked him. But when I look at him being suspicious of certain things, I ask myself..." "Can anyone really judge him in a fair way? Because here’s a guy who has had an uncle assassinated, a father assassinated. Said Arnold Schwarzenegger, responding to a NYT interviewer, in "Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Here to Pump You Up (Emotionally).""

Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN, Pennsylvania latest state to embrace automatic voter registration, triggers new integrity fears, “Recent history proves that automatic voter registration is inherently problematic,” said Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project."

Fox News, cited at Yahoo! claims an IRS agent said CNN has Hunter Biden email where Hunter claimed legal 'stuff' would go away under Biden admin. "The House Ways and Means Committee released a document on Wednesday showing an IRS agent relaying an inquiry from a CNN producer who claimed to have an email where Hunter Biden said that all of his "stuff" would go away once his father was elected president. To date, the alleged email has never become public." At Spiked, Brendan O'Neill says The Hunter Biden scandal has exposed the death of journalism "The liberal media’s incuriosity about the Biden family’s dodgy dealings is a betrayal of press freedom." We all knew it, but the Biden Crime Family coverup is one of the finest current examples. Matt Margolis at PJM thinks the Fire Alarm Scandal Raises New Questions About Cocainegate "How is it possible that footage of Bowman pulling the fire alarm was found and a picture released on the same day of the incident, yet to date, there’s no publicly available footage showing how that cocaine got into the White House and who brought it in?"

Nick Arama at Town Hall sees Biden Emerges From Hiding, Has Brain Freeze, Trips Over MAGA Insult. Fox reports Maher begs Biden to step aside, predicting Trump victory: You'll do 'great damage' to the country if you don't. "The HBO star said that while Trump looks 'robust,' Biden looks like 'his own skeletal remains.'" Sarah Arnold at Town Hall is amused by Trump Hilariously Mimicking Biden Trying to Figure Out How to Exit Off a Stage. Sundance sees While Demanding Ukraine Funding, Joe’s Last Marble Falls Out of the Bag. At the Pittsburgh PG, Saleno Zito analyzes Biden voters, They’ll vote for Joe Biden no matter what "First in a three-part series on the people who’ll decide the next president." Josh Kraushaar at Anxious is anxious that Some Democrats fear Bidenomics branding is backfiring. Begee Welborn at Hat Hair   "I think it’s working out great. Straight, to the point, one word who’s responsible. Messaging brilliance." Breitbart reports White House claiming We're 'on a Sustainable Fiscal Path'. From Fox, Biden admin quietly released study showing green energy receives far more subsidies than fossil fuels, "'Solar should be competing for sales in the marketplace, not for subsidies in Washington,' top Republican senator tells Fox News Digital."

At Da Caller, Trump May Have Violated Release Terms With Gun Purchase Spokesperson Said Didn’t Happen, Prosecutors Argue. 

From Twitchy, Merrick Garland channels SNL's sleazy lawyer Nathan Thurm in his 60 Minutes appearance (watch). Steve Guest@SteveGuest "WATCH: On 60 Minutes, Joe Biden's AG Merrick Garland laughably claims, "We do not have one rule for Republicans and another rule for Democrats. We don’t have one rule for foes and another for friends." But we bend the rules for our friends, and against them for our enemies. 

At Sauron's Eye, Donald Trump expects to attend start of New York civil trial Monday. Hat Hair reports POTATUS takes not-so-subtle shot at Musk. Citizen Free Press@CitizenFreePres, "Joe Biden sends a veiled threat at Elon Musk, claiming X is a source of "misinformation."" At the TaxProf Blog, Speech By Princeton's Robby George About Free Speech Is Shouted Down At Washington College.

Jennifer O'Connell at Red State reports  Shocked Parents Discover that Orange County's Capistrano USD Has A 'Private' Individual Transition Plan. I'm old enough to remember when Orange County was considered conservative. From Outkick, American College Of Sports Medicine Puts Out The 'No Duh' Statement Of The Century  "“Biological sex is a primary determinant of athletic performance because of fundamental sex differences in anatomy and physiology dictated by sex chromosomes and sex hormones,” the statement reads." At the Volokh Reports Jonathan Adler reports the Sixth Circuit Reverses Preliminary Injunctions Against TN & KY Laws Restricting Gender Dysphoria Treatments for Minors. "Given the holding and the current composition of the Sixth Circuit, this is not a particularly strong candidate for en banc review. There is also no circuit split yet on this question. The only other federal appeals court to rule on this issue thus far—the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit—reached the same conclusion. Several district courts have gone the other way, however, making it possible that a circuit split could still emerge, precipitating Supreme Court review."

At the College Fix, Duke’s female-only scholars program constitutes sex discrimination, civil rights watchdog says. 

Linked at 357 Magnum in Wednesday Link Roundup - 4 October.

The Monday Morning Stimulus

ET, Sip With Caution: How This Coffee Variety Could Elevate Cholesterol Levels

By comparing different methods of brewing coffee, including espresso (e.g., capsule coffee brewed in a coffee machine), filtered coffee, brewed coffee (e.g., French press), and instant coffee, the researchers found that drinking boiled or plunger coffee was significantly associated with elevated serum total cholesterol in both men and women. Serum total cholesterol was also higher in people who drank three to five cups of espresso daily, particularly in men.

A study published in the December 2020 issue of the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology also showed an association between coffee brewing method and heart attack and mortality, with coffee brewed using the healthiest filter method.

I'm not a huge fan of expresso, but when in Rome . . .  

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom  up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.

Maryland Falls For "Environmental Justice" Scam

The Maryland Daily Record reports Chesapeake Bay Trust establishes $17M "environmental justice" participatory fund

The Annapolis-based Chesapeake Bay Trust and nine other partners has been selected to receive and administer a $17 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program to establish and seed the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Justice Fund, the first large-scale environmental justice participatory fund in the region.

A participatory fund is a method of grant-making in which members of impacted communities have the power to decide who and what to fund.The Chesapeake Bay Trust, the distributor of funds from the Maryland Chesapeake vehicle license plate program and 40 other sources across the seven-jurisdiction watershed, has long empowered communities and groups to lead environmental actions through grant-making and other resources.

The Trust will partner with Dr. Sacoby Wilson, the co-director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center and the Director of the Center for Community Engagement, Environmental Justice, and Health (CEEJH); the National Wildlife Federation (NWF); Howard University, Environmental Finance Center (EFC); and a network of regional environmental justice leaders to establish the Mid-Atlantic Environmental Justice Fund to advance environmental justice, urban forestry, public health, economic opportunity, and climate resilience through ecological services that are co-designed and co-delivered.

The Mid-Atlantic Environmental Justice Fund is the first of its kind in the Chesapeake region and stands to correct longstanding injustices for communities most affected by pollution by providing funding and resources directly to the communities and community-based organizations that have historically faced constraints in competing for funding to address environmental justice issues. In addition to awarding grants to under-resourced groups, the Fund’s core partners will provide outreach and technical assistance support so a larger number of grantees can more effectively address localized and systemic disparities in environmental and public health.

Any time you have to modify the word "justice" the outcome is generally nothing to do with justice, and a lot to do with woke politics. My understanding is that a lot of this money is to be spent planting trees in minority communities where trees tend to not be a priority. 

You know, keeping trees in urban (and even suburban) environments requires a certain amount of work. In urban environments, they will likely need water, fertilizer, and occasional trimming. And, of course, leaves need raking. It's not like my back lots where we can just let the strong ones succeed, and the weak, or unlucky ones die. Even then, large ones occasionally die, and require expensive felling, as least I'm not comfortable with it. It will be amusing to see what happens to trees planted in Baltimore in a few years.

Random Celebrity News

For some values of "random", "celebrity" and "news." First, at Sheknows, Fans Are Going After Katy Perry Over Her Latest Legal Battle That’s About to Head to Trial

Back in early August, news broke that Katy Perry and her fiancé Orlando Bloom were in some serious legal drama after the previous owner of a home they had recently bought sued the couple. According to the legal documents obtained by Daily Mail at the time, the home’s previous owner, 84-year-old veteran Carl Westcott, claimed he was of “unsound mind” and recovering from back surgery when he signed over his property for $15 million back in 2020.

Now, almost two months later, Westcott and Perry/Bloom are headed to trial on Sept 27, and the internet, as well as Westcott’s family members, aren’t holding back on their thoughts. “I hope this case can be dismissed and Carl Westcott can keep his home. Greed should not win,” wrote one user on X (formerly known as Twitter).

According to a recent interview with RadarOnline, Westcott, who has been battling Huntington’s disease for the past few years, is also bedridden and “unable to be present in the courtroom.”

“Why are you trying to kick a dying vet out of his house?” wrote another user on X. “What is wrong with you? Your real estate agent is so shady, getting him to sign something while he’s on drugs from surgery in the hospital.” “What’s up with Katy Perry’s & her disturbing real estate deals/scams in CA?” echoed another user, who referred to Perry’s ill-fated real estate track record

Jeez haters, what's the point of becoming rich and famous if you can't stomp on the little people?  At TMZ, Cops Visit Britney Spears at Home ... After Dangerous Knife Dance & Apparent Injuries

Law enforcement sources tell us they received a call Wednesday expressing concern for Britney based on her recent conduct on social media. We're told deputies were also familiar with the knife video, and out of an abundance of caution, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department went out to Britney's house.

We're told Britney was home, and deputies were able to speak with her and determine she was OK ... so they left.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... several people called the cops after Britney posted the knife video, and one of them is a person who actually did a welfare check on her in the past and was alarmed.

At Parade, Britney Spears Clears Up Confusion About Worrisome Video With Knives

After the video went viral, Spears updated the caption, noting, " Don’t worry they are NOT real knives !!! Halloween is soon 🙈🙈🙈 !!!"

However, in the Reel, the singer bangs the knives together, making the same noise that the sharp objects make when there's friction between them. The reflection of the light on the knives also shows that they're not made out of rubber, like most fake weapons sold for Halloween. Additionally, the ridges and handles are seemingly the same as the ones featured in cooking knives.

TMZ reported that according to multiple sources, Spears has a fascination with knives, keeping them "all around the house—including the bedroom." A source noted that she "was paranoid someone was going to get her, and she needed the knives as protection." The same claims were shared in the tabloid's documentary about the pop star, Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom.

I'd be more impressed if they were running chainsaws. From Outkick, Native American Group Hopes Taylor Swift Can End Chiefs' Tomahawk Chop, Because Apparently There Are No Other Issues

Rhonda LeVado, founder of the Native American group Not in Our Honor told TMZ that she hopes Taylor Swift will convince Chiefs fans to stop doing the gesture.

“We remain hopeful that an outside influence like Ms. Swift could be an ally for us in moving the conversation forward on why the chop is a racist act,” LeValdo said.
. . .
She’s determined that after going to one Chiefs game, it’s Taylor Swift’s duty to tell Chiefs fans what to do.

That’d go over well.

“We implore Ms. Swift to take the time to understand our perspective and the scientific and psychological research into the harm to youth and communities caused by such behavior.”

There are real problems facing indigenous communities. It makes sense that an activist like LeValdo would want to use her time with a major outlet like TMZ to try to get Swift’s attention.

She could’ve shined a light on communities dealing with contaminated water. Maybe a focus on increasing tribal governance in education. She could’ve even talked about the disturbing, disproportionate amount of missing and murdered indigenous women that rarely if ever gets reported (so rarely, that I guarantee some of you are hearing about it for the first time from me and not the woman who runs a Native American special interest group).

Nope. She went with the Tomahawk Chop. She’s too busy getting mad about hand gestures and sports team names to have mentioned those other things.

I hope Taylor resists the temptation to virtue signal on this, but I wouldn't bet a lot of money on it.

And last but not least, from Louder with Crowder, Watch: This TikToker Is Making Big Boobs Great Again... So when have they not been great?

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom  up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Fire Bell Rings, Congress Keeps Spending

Our short national nightmare is over at least for a short while, as the House and Senate passed and the Preznit signed a "Clean Continuing Resolution"  to allow the Federal government to continue spending our money for 45 more days, at which point, we may have to revisit the whole process again. I haven't covered it much until now, because, well, all the fun traditionally happens at the last minute, and this time was no exception.  At some point in the House proceedings, Rep Jamal Bowman tripped a fire alarm and caused the chamber to be evacuated, claiming it was inadvertent because he was trying to open a door that is normally open, but many suspect was an effort to obstruct the proceedings. Meanwhile, Matt Gaetz is threatening  McCarthy's job for cooperating with Democrats. Stacy McCain, House Passes Spending Bill After Democrat (Allegedly) Pulls Fire Alarm.

It’s always “allegedly” with these people:

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) allegedly pulled a fire alarm in the United States Capitol complex moments before the House was scheduled to vote on a bill preventing a government shutdown, according to the House Administration Committee.
U.S. Capitol Police and the House Administration Committee, which oversees House operations and Capitol security, are investigating. . . .
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) gave a long filibuster speech minutes later as Democrats attempted to delay the vote on a 45-day extension of government funding. The bill eventually passed by a large margin after the incident.
Rep. Jim Banks is among those calling for Bowman’s arrest, tweeting the possibility that Bowman’s actions could be part of a conspiracy among Democrats.

J6 protesters were sentenced to years in federal prison for “interrupting official proceedings,” and yet a Democrat thinks he can pull a fire alarm to stop a congressional vote. “Allegedly,” I hasten to add.

Fox, House adopts 'clean' stopgap funding bill possibly averting shutdown. "The short-term spending bill is meant to last 45 days"  NRO,  Senate Passes Stopgap Spending Bill, Averting Shutdown. Ed Driscoll at Insty, BREAKING: Senate Approves Continuing Resolution to Avoid Government Shutdown, signed by Biden: Biden signs last-minute, short-term bipartisan bill to avert disastrous government shutdown. 

 Charlotte Hazzard at JTN, New York Democrat under investigation for pulling fire alarm during votes ""Rep. Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in Cannon this morning," House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil wrote on X. "An investigation into why it was pulled is underway." At Red State 'Bonchie' thinks Rep. Jamaal Bowman Broke the Law, and He Needs to Be Charged and Nick Arama reports the GOP Now Taking Action to Boot Bowman After He Pulled Fire Alarm, as Old Tweet Comes Back to Haunt Him. Congressman Jamaal Bowman@RepBowman "No one in this country is above the law – including former President Trump." WaEx, Jamaal Bowman's obstruction of Congress is a crime, perhaps three times over. At Twitchy, Twitter/X reacts to Bowman fire alarm drama and #S30 is born. Jonathan@k2jonathan1,"#S30 will forever go down in history. I’d like to submit a request for a day of remembrance for S30. It reminds me of 9/11." At Town Hall Matt Vespa claims Matt Gaetz Hurls Serious Allegations at Speaker McCarthy Over How Shutdown-Averting Bill Got Passed "So, there is no shutdown, but Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is hurling some serious allegations that McCarthy struck a deal with Democrats to grease the wheels to pass the government shutdown-averting bill. Yes, I know this might not shock many people. It had to do with the House voting on a separate measure for Ukraine aid, which was announced after the CR passed." Gosh, you mean there's politics in Washington D.C.? I'm shocked, shocked. Leah Barkoukis at Town Hall, Rand Paul Explains What He'll Do to Avoid a Shutdown “To avoid a government shutdown, I will consent to an expedited vote on a clean CR without Ukraine aid on it. If leadership insists on funding another country’s government at the expense of our own government, all blame rests with their intransigence.” Eric Worrall at WUWT, Green Panic? Congress Strips Ukraine Aid From Interim Funding Bill. 

Matt Vespa again, Bob Menendez Wanted to Address Corruption Charges With Dem Colleagues. Here's How They Reacted.  "Menendez requested a super-secret, closed-door meeting with his Democratic colleagues, where he repeated his position of not resigning. There was no clapping, just a deafening silence as his colleagues listened respectfully, according to NBC News."

At WaEx, Trump shifts to attacking Nikki Haley after debates: 'Birdbrain'. Matt Margolis at PJM, There’s Only One Reason Why Donald Trump Turned on Nikki Haley. Basically, the nail that sticks up gets hit. From Da Caller, Donald Trump Says Looters ‘Should Expect To Be Shot’ If He Retakes White House In 2024. Sounds good to me, but as Preznit he wouldn't really have that much authority in the states. 'Bonchie' wants you to WATCH Ron DeSantis Kill It on Bill Maher, Has the Lib Audience Cheering. Hat Hair's KT, So, Ron DeSantis went on Bill Maher's show - here is what happened. Not surprisingly, Never-Anybody-But-Trump sundance at CTH sees it a little differently, Desperate DeSantis Appears on Bill Maher Show to Defend Joe Biden from 2020 Election Questioning.

Reliving what she imagines is her best moment, Katie Couric says Obama Owes Me a 'Big-Ass Bouquet' for 2008 Palin Attack Interview (NewsBusters).

Da Caller reports GOP Rep Says There Will Absolutely Be An ‘Impeachment’, Republican Wisconsin Rep. Scott Fitzgerald. NewsBusters, Go Figure: ABC, CBS, NBC Circle the Wagons Around Biden After First Impeachment Hearing. The Babylon Bee quips Democrats Criticize Republicans For Wasting Time Impeaching Biden When He's Probably Just Going To Be Dead In A Few Weeks Anyway. At NYPo, Biden’s brother Frank reportedly called him ‘the big guy’ when he called, as in "10% for 'the big guy.'" Also, Hunter Biden’s daughter Naomi repped Peru, lived in White House: public records. It must be handy to have an ambassador who lives in the White House. Larry Bell at NewsMax asks a silly question, Why Didn't Intel Protect Us from Hunter Biden? They were actively helping him at our expense!  More satire from the Free Bacon, EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Here's What Joe Biden's Anti-Fall Physical Therapy Routine Looks Like. "The American people deserve to know the truth."

At 1945, ‘Not A Transition Candidate’: Joe Biden Is Worse Than We Could Ever Have Imagined "When Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, he promised to be a “transition candidate.” What happened to that idea?" A transition to something worse. Byron York at WaEx says For millions, 'Bidenomics' is a painful joke. Joe Biden loves it. Not exactly a loyal Republican Ruy Teixeira warns The “Bidenomics” Pitch Falls Flat, "Never tell people they should be happy when they’re not." Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair observes Yes, they are coming for your gas furnaces too. 

Kevin Downey at PJM, Never Mind Those Hordes of Military-Aged Chinese Men With the Same Clothing, Haircuts, and Tattoos Swarming Our Southern Border, coming to a Chinese restaurant near you. "Retired U.S. Col. and a member of Devon Nunes’s staff, Derek Harvey, recently revealed to The Epoch Times that many of the Chinese men scrambling over the border are showing up with the same haircuts, tattoos, backpacks, and “pocket litter,” which he defined as the same wallet and the same type of ID cards. Even more harrowing, Harvey claims they are all a part of a special ops wing of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and our intel officials are well aware of what is happening."

From the Messenger, New York Vs. Trump: Five Charts Explain the AG’s Fraud Case Against the Former President and His Business Empire. "The Messenger shows how the New York AG's charts of five of the former president's most storied assets lays out the case." WaEx, Donald Trump indictment: Fulton County prosecutors signal potential plea deals. "Special prosecutor Nathan Wade made the suggestion during a procedural hearing Friday for former Trump campaign lawyers Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, the alleged brainchild of the fake elector scheme. The pair of defendants will head to trial on Oct. 23 on charges related to alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 general election results in the Peach State." 'Becca Downs at Town Hall thinks Top Georgia State Senator Removed From Caucus for Daring to Stand Up to Fulton County DA.

At ET, IRS Contractor Charged for Leaking Tax Returns of Trump, Thousands of Wealth Taxpayers.  "Federal authorities say the IRS consultant stole the tax return and tax information and leaked it to two unnamed media outlets between 2018 and 2020."

From Da Wire, Jury Finds Former Loudoun County Superintendent Guilty Of Crime Stemming From Trans Rape Coverup, "Former Superintendent Scott Ziegler used his position to retaliate against a teacher who cooperated with Virginia investigators." 

Hat Hair's Capt. Ed has  A conversation with Owen Strachan on "The War on Men."

Stacy McCain, Let’s Play, ‘Find the Hidden Racism’! 

Appalling is a word we don’t use often enough, but it’s perhaps the best word for what is going on in America’s public schools in the name of “social justice.” You may not be able to read the text in that screen-cap, but apparently academics have invented a term, “evaded racism.” Here’s a brief summary from a journal article:

Evaded Racism
Prominent race scholar, Richard Valencia (2012) argues that while in the past intellectual inferiority and cultural deprivation were prominent theories used to uphold racial inequity in schooling, today, individualized analysis of underachievement are tools that maintain the status quo. K. D. Brown & Brown (2012) contend that dominant rhetoric blames students of Color and their families for a lack of academic success, promoting a shift in their behavior as the solution (e.g., reminding parents to read more to their children; advocating for a growth mind-set), rather than suggesting shifts to structures or policies that systematically fail students of Color (e.g., limited resources, racial profiling; Malagon & Alvarez, 2010). Blaming communities of Color for educational inequality at the individual level invisiblizes institutional responsibility, thus providing a rationale to study race yet evade concrete analyses of racism (Bonilla Silva, 2006).

Got it? Now watch this short video clip . . . 

Mythinformed@MythinformedMKE  “Things that white families do, like reading to their children” Woke k-12 teacher is opposed to schools promoting positive activities like families reading to kids, because that’s what white people do. She thinks they should instead be focused on “oppressive and racist policies”. 

Palm Sunday

Featuring Emily Elizabeth:

MSNP: 6 Palm Trees Hardy Enough to Thrive in Oregon

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: I’m In Love With Shouko’s Mom up and garnerning clicks at The Other McCain.