Mid-Morning Art Thread

The Awakening of the Forest
Paul Delvaux

Posted by: CBD at 09:30 AM | Comments (308) | Trackbacks (Suck)

The Morning Report —4/ 13 /26

Good morning kids. Yet again it's the international scene that's grabbing all the attention this morning. we'll get to the latest developements off the Iranian coast in a moment, but first there are a couple of bit stories happening in Europe that might otherwise get lost in the sauce. The disappointing news first comes fromHungary.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat in the parliamentary elections on Sunday, bringing an end to 16 years of governance in Budapest. . . Conceding defeat on Sunday evening, Orbán said: “The election result is painful for us, but understandable. I congratulated the Tisza Party.

“No matter how it turned out, we in the opposition will serve our country and the Hungarian nation,” he declared, adding: “We never give up!”

I'm not necessarily in tune with the attitude of the Hungarian people but that they sent a true patriot and a staunch defender of western values, civilization and sanity packing is a head scratcher considering the madness of open borders especially with the invasion of Islamic hordes that have ravaged a significant portion of the rest of the continent. Orbán was a tough, passionate and vocal critic of the EU on this and other issues of national sovereignty, especially the insane push to go to war with Russia over Ukraine, as well as earning the enmity of the homosexual/transexual pervert lobby for his staunch criticism of them and the EU's drive to push their ideology on the Hungarian people. From what I have gathered, the new regime in Hungary will do a very abrupt about-face on all these issues and President Trump and America my lose, at least in the near term, a very key strategic ally.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum of the Hungarians we have the Irish, who really got their Irish up!

So you say you want a revolution?  Well, take a look at what’s happening in Ireland right now.  Tens of thousands of farmers, truckers, and other fed-up “normies” are taking to the streets of Dublin to protest fuel taxes, mass immigration, and poverty-inducing “climate change” policies.  For the most part, corporate news propagandists in both Europe and North America are intentionally ignoring the combustible situation.  Just when I had begun to think that all the “fighting Irish” had moved to America, the Old Country has started to show signs of life.  Perhaps there are still a few irascible pugilists willing to bash heads and take on the globalist empire after all. . . Although few people saw the present brouhaha coming, Ireland makes a natural “ground zero” in the war between Big Government globalists (aka, the “international rules-based order” club of World Economic Forum totalitarians) and ordinary citizens willing to defend their nation’s sovereignty and their own personal freedoms.  For two decades, the globalists have been taking over Ireland and stripping it for parts.

Would or could something like this ever happpen here in the USA. I Mean among real Americans and not leftist Antifa rent-a-goons agitating for revolution and committing acts of terorism to overthrow our Republic once and for all?

And speaking of Democrat/Leftist terrorism, please pardon the redundancy . . .

Turning Point USA’s “Frontlines” reporter Savanah Hernandez posted multiple videos of mob members opposed to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the Minneapolis area seemingly attacking her Saturday. After Hernandez posted photos of one assailant — a man charged in connection with the storming of a St. Paul-area church — Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K. Dhillon responded in to the post on X. (RELATED: Democrat Candidate Calls For Banning MAGA From Internet)

The only reason Antifa et al can get away with what they get away with, the corruption of the courts and Political cover by their overlords in the Democrat Party aside, is that they know that kyle Rittenhouse notwithstanding we will never preemptively hunt them down and take them out as is their strategy, let alone take up arms to defend ourselves. Because if we ever did, look out.

On that orgasmatronic pipe dream, here's a clunky segue to the latest from Iran.

Whoever’s calling the shots in Iran wasted yet another chance for peace over the weekend, and now President Donald Trump will again call Tehran’s bluff.
Iran’s negotiators refused to satisfy America’s demands Saturday in talks in Pakistan, as regime leaders bet that playing the Strait of Hormuz card would get Trump to blink.
Instead, he played it right back at them — announcing his own blockade, so that Iran’s oil exports (which had continued despite the war) will also be blocked.

The prez is thinking outside the box with this blockade and his plans to escort ships through the Strait; if necessary, he can later order US forces to take Kharg Island and eviscerate the regime’s power base.
This also guarantees that Tehran’s effort to charge a toll on all tankers crossing the Strait will fail — honoring an American commitment to freedom of the seas that goes back to President Thomas Jefferson, the Barbary Pirates and the US Marines’ triumphant excursion “to the shores of Tripoli.”
Of course Iran’s rulers (whoever they are at this point) responded with fresh bluster, vowing a “strong and forceful response” to Trump’s move and huffing that it would end the cease-fire.
Utter bull: Tehran has almost no offensive capabilities left except those that threaten Strait shipping, and those assets can now be eliminated as completely and readily as the rest of its Navy, missile launchers and drone capabilities already were.
It can’t seriously mine the Strait without choking off its own exports, nor can that blockade last once America and its allies’ minesweepers, backed by the US Navy, get down to work.
Trump’s blockade won’t much impact Europe or the Americas, while our Middle Eastern allies are switching to export routes that don’t rely on the Strait; it’s Iran and its allies (mainly China) that will now suffer most. Beijing and its dependents in Moscow will soon regret vetoing the UN Security Council measure to reopen the Strait.
Meanwhile, the Iranian hardliners behind this lunacy will face more internal pressure from other regime factions; everything they’ve tried to do has blown up in their faces.
They assumed America would be help captive by conventional wisdom; our president proved them wrong.
Trump once again tried to reach a peaceful settlement; the Iranians again refused: Now they’ll pay yet a higher price for thinking they could get him to chicken out.

Have a great day!

And lastly, a quick shout-out and a huge thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at 07:15 AM | Comments (403) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Daily Tech News 13 April 2026

Top Story

• DC. Suicide Squad is a DC property, not Marvel.
  
  
  
• The peril of laziness lost. (Dtrace)
  
  AI makes it easy to generate millions of lines of code.
  
  What it doesn't make it is a good idea.
  
  It used to be that laziness by itself placed a brake on the wheel of code churn. Now you also need to know what you are doing. And that is hard work to begin with.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM | Comments (88) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Sunday Overnight Open Thread - April 12, 2026 [Doof]

Howdy Hordelings! Welcome to the Sunday night ONT. How has the springtime weather been treating you? Enjoying baseball and golf? Suffering from allergies? Planting flowers yet? It's an open thread, as always. What's on YOUR mind tonight?

By the way - in case you missed the announcement on the Gun Thread, this year's NoVa MoMe will take place on Saturday, June 20th, 2026 from 11am to 3pm. Same signup method as the past several years -- Send an email to WeaselBell Productions to get the registration details. Info is also on the left sidebar of the main page. There is NOTHING like a MoMe! Veteran MoMe attendees - please attest to this!

Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:00 PM | Comments (442) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Gun Thread: 2026 NoVaMoMe Announcement Edition!

Howdy, Y'all! Welcome to the wondrously fabulous Gun Thread! As always, I want to thank all of our regulars for being here week in and week out, and also offer a bigly Gun Thread welcome to any newcomers who may be joining us tonight. Howdy and thank you for stopping by! I hope you find our wacky conversation on the subject of guns 'n shooting both enjoyable and informative. You are always welcome to lurk in the shadows of shame, but I'd like to invite you to jump into the conversation, say howdy, and tell us what kind of shooting you like to do!

Holy Shitballs! How in the ever-loving Hell did it get to be the 2026 NoVaMoMe Announcement Edition? Seems like only last week was the Happy Easter Edition!

With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?

Posted by: Weasel at 07:00 PM | Comments (241) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Food Thread: A Flying Martini?

I was given that bottle by a well-meaning relative, because...I have no idea, other than that she drinks a lot of gin cocktails when she comes to our house.

The company is co-owned by Ryan Reynolds, who is a comedic actor who is from Canada, so he doesn't matter at all. But I shy away from celebrity endorsed products, and definitely from celebrity-owned companies. So I have never bought a bottle of the stuff.

But I am also a cheap bastard and will absolutely drink celebrity gin if it is free!

SO I made a martini (stirred, not shaken!), and while it was fine, the gin absolutely does not deserve the hype, or the premium price. Commenter and amateur bartender (I won't insult him by calling him a mixologist) naturalfake, who has a better palate than mine, thinks it is too sarsaparilla forward, but will work well in an ... AVIATION! I don't know about that, but it's not worth the money if you are making martinis.

Now, I prefer the classic London Dry Gin flavor profile, so take my review with a few grains of salt.

Posted by: CBD at 04:00 PM | Comments (261) | Trackbacks (Suck)

First World Problems...

This is the most ridiculous packaging I have encountered in a very long time. These batteries are encased in plastic that has no seam to make it easy to peel apart. Then they are wrapped in another layer of plastic before they are wrapped in thin but stupidly tough cardboard.

Oh...they are also flavored. I shit you not! They have a "non-toxic bitter coating" so that you don't accidentally confuse them for mints and pop one into your mouth, and then chew them up. I guess.

I get that the company is trying keep kids from eating batteries, or maybe keep adults from eating batteries! But how about a little bit of personal responsibility? Like putting them on a high shelf. Yeah...that's a complex operation, but I managed to do it!

Posted by: CBD at 02:00 PM | Comments (161) | Trackbacks (Suck)

This Might Be Better Than A Flying Car, Especially In Traffic

US Army's next-gen combat vehicle adds autonomy, 50 mm cannon power

At the center of the XM30's capabilities is an unmanned turret equipped with a 50 mm XM913 Bushmaster autocannon. This weapon offers greater range and firepower than the 25 mm cannon on the Bradley, improving effectiveness against modern armored threats.

The unmanned turret allows the vehicle to operate with a two-person crew. Both crew members remain inside the hull, enhancing protection by removing the need for a traditional manned turret position.

Here's the video! Yes, it's an advertisement, but it looks like just the thing for commuting into our blue cities.

I saw a video of one of our Bradleys we gave to Ukraine absolutely knocking the snot out of a Russian tank. And the Bradley carries a 25mm gun.

A 50mm chain gun will be a game changer...maybe.

Posted by: CBD at 12:00 PM | Comments (176) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Book Thread: 04/12/2026 [MP4]

Good morning, ‘rons and ‘ronettes. It’s time once again for the monthly MP4-hosted Sunday Book Thread. Dress is country club casual, but ladies are encouraged to wear some spring fashion, such as this:

So ask the barman for a Cape Codder, covfefe or tea and let’s get started!

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:00 AM | Comments (329) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Daily Tech News 12 April 2026

Top Story

• Sam Altman may control our future. Can he be trusted? No. (New Yorker) (archive site)
  
  As the article goes on to explain, fuck no.
  
  
  
• My baby deer plushie told me that Mitski's dad is a CIA operative. (The Verge)
  
  Nobody ever expects the Butlerian Jihad.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:35 AM | Comments (139) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Saturday Night Club ONT - April 11, 2026 [The Double Bogeys]

From The Masters on X

Welcome to Club ONT - a collaboration of The Disco and The Dino. Come in in, grab a drink or 3.

It's Masters weekend - free drinks to any Masters champions who wear their green jacket tonight! Caddies welcome 1:00 - 1:15

Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:00 PM | Comments (360) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Saturday Evening Movie Thread [moviegique]:

Halloween: 3, Moviegoers: 0

I kid the third entry in the Halloween series. Because it's awful. But as it's one of Darcy The Mail Girl's favorite movies, and she got to program Friday night for The Drive-In Jamboree, we all watched it together with director Tommy Lee Wallace and stars Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin on stage. Allowing for a little too dim a projection—the Jamboree had a lot of technical difficulties—it was basically the best possible circumstance to watch Halloween 3: Season of the Witch.

Rather amusingly, Drive-In Producer Austin Jennings had prepared a supercut of all the times Joe Bob had trashed this movie, which was fun with everyone there and a pro-H3 audience. Did I say "all"? Apparently, it was a mere fraction of the times he had done it.

Because, again, it's just not a very good movie. If we're being honest, the crowd was still just barely over 50/50 thumbs-up/thumbs-down, and that's with a strongly pro-Tommy Lee, pro-Tom Atkins, pro-Stacy Nelkin, pro-Darcy audience.

"Hello, England? You remember that lintel from Stonehenge you were looking for? Yeah, it's here in California. I don't know how they got it here in three days! You'll never believe what they're doing with it!"

Posted by: Open Blogger at 08:37 PM | Comments (178) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Hobby Thread - April 11, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. It is that time of the year, a spin of the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) came up with paper folding as a theme for this Hobby Thread.

Paper folding? Yes. Read further...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM | Comments (119) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Ace of Spades Pet Thread, April 11

Courtesy Jeannie Harris

Culture and cats

* * *

Good afternoon and welcome to the almost world famous Ace of Spades Pet Thread. Thanks for stopping by. Kick back and enjoy the world of animals.

Would you like a treat?

Let's relax a little with the animals and leave the world of politics and current events outside today.

Posted by: K.T. at 03:34 PM | Comments (58) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, April 11

The famous Pat* reminds us that it is spring!

I caught our forsythias at peak, early last week.

Forsythias just say "Spring"!

Posted by: K.T. at 02:20 PM | Comments (59) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Old Civilizations, Wonderful Things

Still true

It was a relief to see the astronauts make it safely through re-entry and successfully splash down in the Pacific last night. I read that Congress would not allocate funds for much new development for this mission, so much of the technology was 50 years old. But when lunar landings start again, with rovers and a planned permanent moon base, new technology will be contracted out to private firms.

The artist's rendition of a future moon base here reminds me of some of the torn-up landscape we passed this week from the probably-doomed high-speed rail project in California. Except that there was a lovely ranch house a few hundred feet away, over a small ridge.

Is California government, with Gavin Newsom and Eric Swalwell, a dying civilization?

If you gave away $126 billion to subsidize free flights between LA and San Francisco at current demand levels, you could fund roughly 150 to 200 years of travel before the money runs out. https://t.co/8ro72lJIfc

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) April 8, 2026

* * * * *

One wonderful thing that has happened in California recently is that Victor Davis Hanson is looking and sounding much better after his cancer surgery (with a complication). He is a tough guy. Some commentary from him below.

Posted by: K.T. at 11:22 AM | Comments (190) | Trackbacks (Suck)

The Classical Saturday Coffee Break & Prayer Revival

[That's not a reasonable likeness of me]

*****

Good morning boys and girls and everything in between. Before we enter the Prayer Revival just a few housekeeping matters to go over. (Rulz for those of you in Wild Rose)

1) This is an open thread. Feel free to lurk, opine and/or bloviate.
2) Be kind. Be nice. The ban-hammer is omnipresent .
3) Running with sharp objects is not looked upon with approval. You have been notified.
4) Have a great weekend!

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at 08:00 AM | Comments (306) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Daily Tech News 11 April 2026

Top Story

• Look around, find the worst price! But don't buy before you come to Micro Center because we can't be beat! Our prices are insane! (WCCFTech)
  
  And not in a good way. Elsewhere it would cost you an eye-burning $1600 to buy 128GB of RAM right now.
  
  At Micro Center it's over $4000.
  
  Western Digital and Samsung SSDs meanwhile have tripled in price in just the last three months, and there's little relief there with even cheaper brands using YMTC flash increasing by 50% or more.
  
  
  

Posted by: Pixy Misa at 04:30 AM | Comments (107) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Please Be gentle. It's My First ONT

Welcome to the ONT! Tonight we're going to consider the difference between reality and fantasy.

Posted by: WeirdDave at 10:47 PM | Comments (385) | Trackbacks (Suck)

Fang-Fang Banger and Democrat Smear Merchant Eric Swalwell is Melting Down as Campaign Staffers Quit and More Sexual Assault Accusers Come Forward

As they say: Every "Male Feminist" should come along with a rape whistle to warn the unwary.

A former staffer claims that Swalwell raped her when she was too drunk to consent. Twice.

From the SF Chronicle, quoted by Red State:

A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent.

[...]

The woman said Swalwell began pursuing her within weeks after she was hired at age 21 to work in the Democrat's district office in Castro Valley in 2019. Swalwell messaged her on Snapchat, she said, sending images of his genitals and seeking nude pictures of her in return.

She said Swalwell, who is married and 17 years her senior, tried to kiss her in her car when she drove him home from a donor meeting one night. Driving him to another event weeks later, she said Swalwell pulled out his penis in the car and asked her to perform oral sex on him. She said she did so in a parking lot.

He took it out.

In September 2019, the woman said, Swalwell invited her out for drinks and she became so severely intoxicated that she does not remember the rest of the night. She said she woke up naked in Swalwell's hotel bed and could feel the effect of vaginal intercourse. She said Swalwell distanced himself from her afterward and the relationship faded.

The woman also alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her five years later, when she was no longer a staffer, where, after a charity gala, she was "so inebriated that she only remembers snippets of the night, including pushing Swalwell away and telling him, 'No,' while he allegedly forced himself on her."

Apparently she told two people about the second sexual assault, at about the time it happened.

More accusers are coming, says Democrat-friendly leak receptacle CNN.

Three other women who spoke with CNN also alleged various kinds of sexual misconduct by the Democratic congressman -- including Swalwell sending them unsolicited explicit messages or nude photos.

One woman who connected online with Swalwell over her interest in Democratic politics says she ended up extremely drunk inside his hotel room after a night out with the congressman, with little memory of what occurred. Earlier in the night at a bar, he kissed her and touched her leg without her consent, she said.

Another woman, who described receiving unsolicited nude messages from Swalwell, was social media creator Ally Sammarco. She said she initially reached out to the congressman on Twitter to discuss politics. "I truly never thought he would respond -- I had like 1,000 followers at the time," she said. "And he actually responded."

CNN also adds: She told family members and friends about the sexual assault a day or two after it happened.

So the Democrats are terrified that two Republicans will win the jungle primary and they will be locked out of the governor's mansion. To reduce those risks, they have to drive some of the other Democrats out of the race and consolidate around a couple candidates -- or better yet, one single candidate.

Gee, I wonder who benefits from this and I wonder who is screaming the news out on Twitter but totally wasn't behind this coordinated political-"journalistic" hit:

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 08:54 PM | Comments (222) | Trackbacks (Suck)