Saturday Roundup of Link Roundups - 17 October

Wombat-socho is up first with In The Mailbox: 10.14.26 (Afternoon Edition)

CDR Salamander: What do you give your Navy for its 251st birthday?
Don Surber: Raid on Omar-A-Lago

EBL - Battle of Old Byland in Rhyme

14 October 1322 : Battle of Old Byland
AoSHQ: Morning Report 10.14.26

The Right Way - Top of the News

One in five college students say … - The New Neo
Trump proves he can undo Biden’s energy damage in Alaska in short order - Just the News

Small Dead Animals - Wednesday On Turtle Island

The Democratic Party’s America: Victor Davis Hanson – What might have saved Gaza. The Democrats’ Red takeover. A Trojan horse.
Carnival Carney’s Canada: Woke comes to my doorstep. Carney’s strategic partner.

A View from the Beach - Flotsam and Jetsam - Do I Really Need a Title?

From Ace, UK Prime Cuck Andy Burnham: Iran's Terrorist Army the IRGC Was "Almost Certainly" Behind the Seven Shirtless Men Casing the Air Force Base. "Tell me something I didn't already know, Cuck."

Gates of Vienna - News Feed 10/14/2026

AI labs’ hunger for data to train their models has created a market in workplace records, including Slack messages, emails, and documents, and the code that employees write, but those employees are rarely told, or paid.

Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog - LinkSwarm For October 16, 2026

Your tax dollars at work: “Louisiana Muslims Were on Medicaid While Sending Money to Terrorists.”
“New York Refused 16,070 ICE Detainers for Illegal Aliens Accused of Serious Crimes.

Again from Wombat-socho - In The Mailbox: 10.14.26 (Evening Edition)

Flopping Aces: Hey Kash! Hey Markwayne! A little help here?
Gates Of Vienna: Conquest by Foot-Washing

Political Hat - Quick Takes – Canada Keeps Killing: Can’t Cook? Death! Eating Disorder? Death! Demented? Death!

Remember when euthanasia was sold as being for the terminally ill who were suffering in pain? Apparently not being able to cook for your family is considered suffering worthy of death.

Wombat-socho again - In The Mailbox: 10.15.26

Victory Girls: Cancel the Sexual Revolution – Young Liberal Women Missed The Memo
Watts Up With That: West Virginia Is Suing Pennsylvania to Lower Electric Bills

Flopping Aces - The Week in Radical Leftism, 10/16/2026 – The Washington Post’s Continued Death in Darkness!

Trump’s crackdown, 30 days later: A timeline of what happened in D.C.
30 days later – Trump “cracks down” on DC, criminals hardest hit.

Vlad Tepes - UK at end game, border guard leaks: Links 1 for Oct. 16, 2026

2. The UK is at endgame.
3. People know about this I’m sure, and opinions about it are 100% predictable. Canadians and others with TDS will pretend that this was only done for political revenge

The Glibertarians - Thursday Morning Links

Here’s the good kind of fascism, I guess. This is in no way a surprise. And neither is the cheering it on from the left.
Sounds like a successful canary trap. Just need to wait and see who gets fired.

Once again from Wombat-socho - In The Mailbox: 10.16.26

Cafe Hayek: Michael Brendan Dougherty Swings and (Wildly) Misses
CDR Salamander: Fullbore Friday
Chicago Boyz: Obama’s Mideast Legacy

Maggie's Farm - Wednesday morning links

Nature Retracts Study Linking “Atmospheric Thirst” to 40% Greater Drought Severity
US Cities With the Most Rats

J.J. Sefton at Ace of Spades HQ - The Morning Report — 10/16 /26

The admin has charged almost 350 members and associates with federal crimes.
Trump Admin has Arrested 1,296 Tren de Aragua Gang Members

Doug Ross - Larwyn’s Linx: ☕️ BELOW THE LAW 🦠

Election Outcomes That No One Likes Chris Bray
“Recruiting tool for future terrorists” Don Surber

I leave you with Midweek Memes from Granite Grok, Thursday Memes … from MaddMedic, and Political and current event memes for regular Americans from Wirecutter.

Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0

This is apparently the result of a domestic situation. Man arrested after allegedly hitting woman with car before she shot him on Indy's east side | WTHR

Police said the shooter was a woman who was detained on scene, however, she was later released following consultation with the Marion County Prosecutor's Office because the man allegedly hit her with a car before she shot him.

The guy who got shot was arrested and is charged with aggravated assault and domestic battery, though the DA may amend those charges later.

Hat tip to USA Carry: Indianapolis Woman Shoots Man Who Hit Her With His Car in 7 A.M. East Side Attack, Released After Prosecutor Review While He Faces Charges

Indiana has a long history of recognizing self-defense as a legal right.

A Woman Who Didn't Expect To Be Held Accountable

I'm shocked that there is a woman who didn't think she would be held accountable for her actions. Well, and crazy people are dangerous.

She hit her ex-boyfriend in the side of the head with her purse. While some purses are lethal weapons, this one didn't rise to that level. The nurses in a pediatrician's office called 911, because that is where the incident was witnessed.

As they note in the video, in a domestic violence case, most people assume the guy is the one doing the abusing. I'm not sure that it was ever only the men, but in 2026, it certainly is more evenly divided between the sexes.

Cops determined that based on witness testimony there was enough evidence to take her in and charge her. Cops don't determine if you're guilty or not; that is for the courts to decide. If she had gone like an intelligent, adult person, she might have spent a few nights in jail.

Instead she decided to throw a tantrum like a two-year-old, spoiled brat. (I leave it to you decide if she is actually a spoiled brat.) Details are in the video. The ex-boyfriend mentioned "psych meds," though I don't know of any official statement on that.

As a result of all of that, she was charged with 10 felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing a police officer, and 1 count of domestic violence.

90% of the charges resulted from her actions after the arrest.

She ended up taking a plea deal that ended with her spending 60 days in jail. The plea included 3 of the felony charges, and the domestic violence, so the consequences are long term.

Watch the part of the video where the cops have to restrain her, after multiple warnings, and ask yourself if she has ever been held accountable for any of her actions, or if she ever thought that she would be held accountable.

This is the Midwest Safety and Sergeant Curtis collaboration video Angry Girlfriend Makes Her Arrest 10x Worse

Uncle Remus

I haven't had enough Frank Zappa in my life, and I'm guessing you haven't either. So lets fix that.

This song is "Uncle Remus (Mix Outtake)" by Frank Zappa. A shorter version was originally on the 1974 album Apostrophe ('). Today's version is a different take from the 2016 compilation album The Crux of the Biscuit.

We look pretty sharp in these clothes (yes, we do)
Unless we get sprayed with a hose
It ain't bad in the day
If they squirt it your way
'Cept in the winter, when it's froze
An' it's hard if it hits
On yer nose

Yes, the lyrics are a bit odd. This is Frank Zappa, but this song is less odd than just about anything else on Apostrophe ('). This version of the song is 4 minutes.

No Guns Policy at Oregon School Didn't Stop Shooter or Good Guy

A bad guy with a gun was stopped by a good guy with a gun before police could do anything. Teen shooter kills 4 at Oregon elementary school before being shot by a witness | The Seattle Times

Isn't this what the Left always says never happens?

A 16-year-old shot his way through locked doors to get into an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, killing three children and a teacher. He was then shot by a person at the scene who followed him inside, authorities said.

Although Miguel Gonzales doesn't mention this article, he gets the hat tip for his post School Shooting in Oregon.

What I did catch on the news channels was the attitude of the talking heads whenever they had to say “stopped by a community member” looked like they just swallowed a heaping spoonful of cod liver oil.

Because they don't want to admit that armed, law-abiding citizens make a positive difference in the world. They also don't want to admit that gun free zones do not work.

Friday Links - 16 October

Take It Outside by Alice Jones Webb starts things rolling with Basecamp Dispatch: My Name in Lights

I get digital bylines all the freakin’ time. But holding a magazine with my name printed on the page hits different. Seeing it there in black-and-white Times New Roman feels more real. It might as well be my name in lights.

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 14 October 2026: Sulfur Blond Edition

Ledger "hardware wallets" are basically physical versions of the common blockchain software wallets. The security is offered because the device can be locked in a vault. There's no password to be forgotten or stolen, so they're often used by larger investors.

So a reseller in Malaysia started embedding LTE chips - smartphone modems - inside them. (Tom's Hardware)

And stole $93 million worth of Bitcoin.

Miguel Gonzalez - Why we don’t trust or care about the Media

They cannot help but lie. It seems it is now their default mode. And they do not care because there are no consequences.

William Teach at Pirate's Cove - Cult Scientists Warn Climate Doom Accelerating Faster Than We Can Respond

But, if we give the scientists a lot of money they can work to come up with studies to create working groups who work on plans to come up with committees to offer more money to scientists

Holly MathNerd - What If Nothing Happens?

The arguments for and against livestreaming this execution pull in so many different directions that it’s tempting to treat the question like a vector addition problem: identify the forces, calculate the resultant, and see where we end up.

Unfortunately, human beings are not vectors. But let’s try.

Meep at STUMP - More on Sports Betting Ads and Sports Media

I am sure plenty of people keep watching “the sports”, but every weird play or fumble, you gotta be wondering: are they doing that because one of the players has a bit of action going on with the game?

Again from Miguel Gonzalez - They don’t like it when we play by their rules.

As for the way the protester is being assaulted, they should be celebrated that she is being treated the same way any male would have been treated. And they followed the guidance of Antifa rules and shut her down because that is the way things are supposed to be done, right?

Our side is finally understanding that being polite is a losing proposition

He Suffered a Failure of the Victim-Selection Process

Delivery Driver remains a dangerous job. DoorDash driver acted in self-defense in Columbia County shooting; wounded man to face charge | WJBF

I had thought that DoorDash would fire this guy, but their policy on being armed recognizes that it is a dangerous job.

A man shot three times outside a busy Washington Road shopping center Thursday is expected to face a charge once he is released from the hospital, while investigators say the DoorDash driver who shot him acted in self-defense.

Columbia County, Georgia, is in the area of Augusta. The county line is about 3 miles northwest of downtown Augusta.

[The guy who got shot] remains in the ICU after suffering three gunshot wounds – one to his left arm, one to his lower abdomen and another to his upper abdomen.

He is expected to survive to face charges, barring any complications like infections.

As for DoorDash, I found this information at The GunZone: Can DoorDash Drivers Carry a Firearm? Navigating the Complexities. This is from 2024, so I don't if anything has changed.

While DoorDash’s policy does not explicitly prohibit all drivers from carrying a firearm, it emphasizes responsible firearm handling and compliance with all applicable laws. DoorDash explicitly states that drivers must adhere to all federal, state, and local laws regarding firearm ownership, possession, and use.

Specifically, drivers are responsible for knowing and following all laws in the areas they are operating.

This policy is better than what Uber or Lyft requires.

Whatever DoorDash, Uber, or Lyft decide, self-defense is a human right. Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0. (Hat tip to USA Carry)

ChatGPT Goes Full Anti-Gun

Is anyone shocked that the tech oligarchs are opposed to armed citizens? ChatGPT launches new anti-gun AI policies one day after Everytown recommends new anti-gun AI policies

The tl;dr version:

Everytown for Gun Safety published recommendations for AI companies on September 28, 2026. The next day, OpenAI/ChatGPT changed its firearm policies and became much more anti-gun—the very next day.

It covers how this impacted one gun store, and more.

Impro Guns Found a Home Built .50 Caliber in the Wild

In California no less. .50 cal seized in California | Impro Guns

Looks like someone found the old Maadi-Griffin plan set.

If I remember correctly, .50-BMG rifles are illegal in California. But then so is building your own in that state.

Can you stomp out an idea?

No 3D Printing required.

How Should a Man With a Prosthetic Leg Defend Himself in this Situation?

I would love for someone from the gun-hating part of the Left to tell me. I'm not holding my breath. Thrown Down, Prosthetic Leg Torn Off, Still Under Attack: Gray Man Fired Four Shots and the DA Calls It Self-Defense - USA Carry

He was attacked, thrown to the ground, his prosthetic leg was detached, and he was being assaulted. So what should he do?

What he actually did was to draw his firearm.

The man fired four shots, three of which struck Spaulding in the chest and arm, resulting in his death at the scene.

Based on all of that, and witness testimony, the District Attorney has ruled that this is self-defense.

A man who was thrown to the ground and had his prosthetic leg detached during a fight outside a Gray smoke shop in August will not face charges for the four shots he fired, District Attorney General Steve Finney’s office announced Tuesday.

Gray, Tennessee, is about a 95 mile drive east-northeast of Knoxville.

Without the means to defend oneself, the old, the infirm, the disabled, and the small would all be at the mercy of the strong and the violent, From what I have seen, they don't have much mercy.

Self-defense is a human right.

Bank of America Fined $1.2 Billion by Treasury

That B of A is doing stuff like this makes me very mad. Fines are not enough. Executives need to be tried for crimes. US hits Bank of America with $1.2 billion fine over money laundering | AP News

The U.S. Treasury Department said Tuesday that it’s imposing $1.2 billion in fines on Bank of America for allegedly violating anti-money laundering and sanctions laws.

They were apparently providing support to Iran, and Russia, as well as helping with Chinese money laundering.

Treasury said Bank of America also reached an $11.6 million settlement with the department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control over “apparent violations of numerous sanctions programs, including on Iran, Russia, narcotics, and global terrorism.”

Executives should not get a pass on aiding global terrorism.

Click thru for details. (Hat tip to ParlerNews.)

Electric Cadillac Escalades Burn at Texas Dealer

If 8 electric vehicles catch fire, and release a lot of toxic gases, are they still considered zero emission vehicles? Asking for a friend.

Different reports mention different numbers of vehicles. I think 6 burned completely, 2 had "extensive damage" and 2 more were somewhat damaged. Or six may have been the early count, before the dealership took stock after the fact. Fort Worth electric vehicle fire burns for 17 hours — raising concerns about toxic smoke, safety

According to Pat in the video below, an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle fire would take about 30 minutes, and a few hundred gallons of water. Six ICE cars on fire at once would take about an hour, and more water. This incident lasted as long as a structure fire would be expected to last.

The smoke has cleared after a fire in West Fort Worth burned for more than 17 hours, destroying several electric vehicles and highlighting the unique challenges and potential health risks firefighters face when responding to electric vehicle fires.

According to the Fort Worth Fire Department, eight electric vehicles caught fire, creating a complex and hazardous scene unlike anything some local responders had previously encountered.

One of the things that Pat at Stached Training said, is that the battery packs on 6 (or 8) Cadillac Escalades is about as much power as would be found in an industrial battery electric storage system, of the kind used by solar and wind farms.

Click thru for the details. The hat tip goes to StacheD Training and the video Texas Dealership Fire: 6 Electric Vehicles Burning. The video is 5 and a half minutes long.

Wednesday Link Roundup - 14 October

William Teach at Pirate's Cove is up first with Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

Theo Spark has Minnesomalia.
Victory Girls Blog has Sunday morning cafe cocktails linkage.

Wombat-socho - In The Mailbox: 10.12.26 (Annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea Appreciation Post)

Don Surber: The Story ABC Does Not Want You To See
Elizabeth Nickson: Absurdistan Rising

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 13 October 2026: Hickory Daiquiri Edition

Why is AI programming not revolutionising programming? (Ars Technica)
Because it's perfect for the problems billion-dollar companies don't want you to solve. Basically.

EBL - Digger

A fantastic disaster movie...that is a disaster. You go Tom!
Instapundit: Tom Cruise digs himself a hole, A fascinating disaster...but a disaster, that THR even hates, and is losing hundred million+

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 10 October 2026: Wavy Tableau Edition

The US government have suspended US companies Microsoft, Adobe, and Cognizant, and a bunch of European and Indian IT companies as well, from the H-1B visa scheme. (Tech Crunch)
Not placed restrictions on them. Not added fees. Booted them entirely.

Political Hat - News of the Week (October 11th, 2026)

Germany’s former spy chief arrested for treason
August Hanning accused of selling state secrets to a foreign power after his departure as BND president

Don Surber - Highlights of the week

ITEM 26: RCI reported, “Canada’s employment unexpectedly shrinks in September, jobless rate inches up.”
The story said, “The decline follows 42,000 job losses in August.”

The Glibertarians - Saturday evening Links

The Brits are there, let them fucking do it.
I’m glad I got to visit France before it became Francistan.

Gates of Vienna - News Feed 10/13/2026

FTC Probes Block Over Frozen Square Accounts and Locked Funds
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating Block, the parent company of Square and Cash App, to determine whether it is in violation of consumer protection rules.

Vlad Tepes - “protests” and “migrants” and active measures and political warfare: Links 1 for Oct. 13, 2026

1. Moroccan Warships Breached Ceuta Waters during Invasion, Sánchez Admits 74 Days On
2. In the UK you are not allowed to sing Church songs off of Church grounds. Really.

Small Dead Animals - Saturday On Turtle Island

China Carney’s Canada: Alphabet people demand money. Anne who?? Corrupt Carney. Corrupt Liberals.
The Democratic Party’s America: Victor Davis Hanson – The Art of the Deal. Left vs Right.

A View from the Beach - Flotsam and Jets - Talarico Turns Up

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, Mamdani: I Demand Trump Release Illegal Alien, Gang Member, and Felon! UPDATE. That's just insane. Bret Stephens at NYT opines on Zohran Mamdani’s Moral Obscenity. I'm surprised they let him.

Maggie's Farm - Monday morning links

Why Columbus Day?
At 81, he’s the most-cited nutrition expert. Here’s what he eats in a day.

J.J. Sefton at Ace of Spades HQ - The Morning Report — 10/13 /26

What do you think happened next?
Sweden: Man Pours Pig’s Blood on Qur’an

Doug Ross - Larwyn’s Linx: Democrats’ bargain with the left will replicate Europe’s catastrophic decline

Democrats’ bargain with the left will replicate Europe’s catastrophic decline - Jonathan S. Tobin
The story ABC does not want you to see - Don Surber

I leave you with The Week in Pictures: Electile Dysfunction Edition From Power Line, Saturday Meme Drop 10-10-26 from Midwest Chick's Place, Memes to Start the Weekend from According to Hoyt, How 'bout some Holiday Weekend Memes? from SiGraybeard, and Quick Hits Of Wisdom, Knowledge And Snark #4274 from 90 Miles from Tyranny.

Another Failure of the Victim-Selection Process

Also, people in Tennessee are heavily armed. Homeowner shoots burglary suspect during break-in at northeast Memphis apartment, police say | Fox13 Memphis

The homeowner told police he arrived home just before 3:15 p.m. and saw a masked man trying to take his television from the wall.

According to police, the homeowner said the suspect turned around toward him and reached into a bag.

The homeowner reacting to a threat, shot him twice.

He fled from the police, but as he was injured, they found him eventually, and had him transported to a local hospital. He is listed in critical condition.

He had various Jordan shoes, a PlayStation 5, and a Roku. Police returned the items to the homeowners, along with ...

... a purple PlayStation controller to the homeowner's wife who said all items belonged to the couple.

A PS5 is currently going for $650 (at playstation.com). A wireless controller is $75. Roku is currently $70. I don't know what TV this guy has, but you can get a decent (4K, UHD, etc.) for less than $1000 bucks at Walmart. If you want the latest tech, the highest refresh rates, the darkest darks, etc. then you will pay more.

But this guy got shot, is lucky to be alive, and will spend at least some time dealing with the legal system. Over $2000. I guess it is true that criminals are mostly stupid.

Self-defense is a human right, and this didn't happen in Massachusetts.

DIY AR9

Impro Guns brings us an interesting example from Brazil. Professor Parabellum DIY AR9 (Brazil)

Another example of the hybrid-3D printed DIY AR9.

The AR9 is a hybrid 9mm carbine. Some parts are 3D printed (receiver?) with steel tube reinforcing. It makes use of some standard AR-15 parts, like the grip, though other photos show everything being part of the 3D print. It appears, from the pictures at Impro Guns (follow all the links) to use Glock magazines. (There are 3D print plans for Glock magazines, include a mandrel to wind your own springs.)

Plans are available with a simple web search. That is what makes the gun controllers crazy; anyone can build these with a $400 3D printer, and the tools found in the average suburban garage.

World Turning

This might be the first Fleetwood Mac song that made an impact on me. It is off the 1975 album Fleetwood Mac. This is the first album to feature Lindsey Buckingham on guitar and Stevie Nicks doing vocals. This is the sound that I think most people think of when you mention Fleetwood Mac.

This is "World Turning" by Fleetwood Mac from the 1975 album Fleetwood Mac. It was NOT their first album; it was their 10th album.

Tuesday Links - 13 October

Miguel Gonzalez starts things off with A bit sad, but no regrets

They say you never realize your last day at something. I just found photos of what was going to be my last project in the studio.

William Teach at Pirate's Cove - Appeals Court Takes Out NYC Climate Scam Lawfare Suit

NYC could not run without fossil fuels. All the cars, trucks, limos, cabs, and ships. Planes and helicopters. About 47% of its power comes from natural gas.

The Silicon Graybeard - NASA issues RFP for private space stations

Today, Friday October 9, NASA released a Request For Proposals (RFP) to the US commercial space industry to develop private space stations that, as early as 2030, will succeed the International Space Station as a place for astronauts to live in low-Earth orbit.

Chicago Contrarian - Two Stories. Two Warnings. How Many More Before Springfield Acts on the SAFE-T Act?

How many more people must be injured? How many more must be killed? How many more families must bury a loved one before Springfield decides that the SAFE-T Act and Illinois' broken warrant system are serious enough to fix? We keep hearing the same political language about studying the problem, looking at the issue, and being open to changes. Meanwhile, real people are paying the price.

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 9 October 2026: Wormsmith Edition

Global PC shipments have plunged 20%, shocking industry analysts. (Notebook Check)

Who expected the numbers to be much worse.

One of them tried to blame it on "macro conditions", which is of course pure bullshit, unless he's referring to the scale of the price increases.

Again from William Teach - Use Of AI Can Reduce Film Budgets By Up To 40%

[Lee Sung-gyun, Netflix senior director of APAC production,] gets it: AI is a tool. A powerful tool. But, that is it. It is not sentient. It’s still programming. Powerful programming that can assist and decrease costs while providing a heck of a lot of help.

V. Saxena, The Western Journal at The Gateway Pundit - Stephen King Asks Why Billy Bob Thornton Series ‘Landman’ Was Snubbed by Emmys, and X Schools Him

Oblivious Hollywood dullard Stephen King had the audacity on Thursday to ask folks on social media why a blatantly conservative TV series didn’t get nominated for an Emmy Award this year.

From Wombat-socho - FMJRA 2.0: A Winning Homestand

So after the wretchedness of the previous weeks, Senators fans were able to leave their agonizers at home in their recharging cradles as we swept the Orioles in a three-game series before going 1-2 against the Bravos.

And again from Wombat-socho - Rule 5 Sunday: No Fishy Just Sexy

It’s Marie Dee’s birthday. Happy birthday, Miss Dee.

Contra Costa County Sheriff Backs Down on 2A Suit

California, and its various counties, will bend over backwards to restrict your rights. California Sheriff Backs Down, Ends County’s Ban on 1911s, Red Dots, and Pistol Lights

The Second Amendment Foundation has reached a settlement agreement with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office over policies that previously prohibited permit holders from carrying handguns equipped with red dot sights or flashlights and an outright ban on the carry of single action only 1911- and 2011-style pistols.

Because you if you have a red-dot or a weapon-mounted light that is an unfair advantage over the bad guys. Or something. I can't even imagine why 1911s or 2011s were banned.

The sheriff ended up backing down in the face of the suit, because it is ridiculous.

“A sheriff does not get to invent a shorter list of approved handguns and accessories than the Constitution allows,” said SAF Director of Legal Research and Education and attorney of record in the case Kostas Moros. “Even though red-dot sights, weapon lights and 1911 and 2011 pistols are in common use for lawful self-defense, Contra Costa treated them as contraband. This settlement ends that unlawful practice, and we are pleased the County saw the error if its ways and resolved these issues.”

Hat tip to Stephen Green at Instapundit.

So flagrant that Sheriff David O. Livingston chose to settle rather than take it to court.

Contra Costa County, California, in in the East Bay part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It runs from a few miles east of Berkley to about 10 miles west of Stockton, east to west, and from the Suisun Bay in the north to San Ramon in the south.

Darwin Award Near Miss on Crown Mountain in British Columbia

Don't use AI to plan your trip into the wilderness. Just don't. From British Columbia, Canada, we get the latest insanity. A teen used AI to plan a hiking route. It trapped him on a cliff.

My last post, on the same issue, but in California, was at the beginning of September.

A teenage hiker in Canada recently became another cautionary tale about the perils of overtrusting artificial intelligence. After relying on an AI-generated route to ascend Crown Mountain in British Columbia, the 16-year-old found himself stranded on a steep cliffside near a climbing route known as the "Widowmaker." The wayward traveler's position was so precarious, that it took roughly three hours to coordinate a proper rescue plan.

Most hiking routes have a lot of information available. Local clubs. These are mostly in national or provincial parks. Topographical maps with incredible detail. And the rescue services probably have some information available as well, so they don't have to rescue people. But AI is all in style or something. Your safety isn't an issue for style.

Generative AI has suggested hungry users add glue to thicken pizza sauce, claimed that snakes are mammals, and advised fixing a broken turn signal with something called "blinker fluid."

Granted, some of that is old info, but it is still funny.

My post on the Mount Shasta incident is at this link, and the article linked above mentions it as well.