Wednesday Link Roundup - 8 July

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

The Chive has morning coffee.
The Right Way has Friday Babe. And Linkorama.

Wombat-socho - In The Mailbox: 07.07.26 (Afternoon Edition)

Don Surber: Why they try communism
Elizabeth Nickson: Is Disclosure The Luciferian Endgame?

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 5 July 2026: Fireworks And Leftovers Edition

Score one for Bluesky? (Tech Crunch) ...
They might hate America, but they hate AI even more.

EBL - DEMOCRAT GRAHAM PLATNER ACCCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT 🤯

What is the over/under Graham Platner drops out of Maine Senate race? And when?
Instapundit: OYSTERGRUPPENFUHRER ENTERS STALINGRAD

Small Dead Animals - Tuesday On Turtle Island

The Democratic Party’s America: A nurse in Texas. Political orphans. Mamdani. Against Usha.
Marx Carney’s Canada: Canada embarrasses senator. Cable channel seeks bailout.
Stories You Won’t Find At Carney’s CBC: Coming soon to Canada. DEI Cricket.

Don Surber - HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NEWS

ITEM 1: Matt Whitlock said of Britain’s universal health care, “In the UK, between 9/2024 and 8/2025, roughly 79,130 names were removed from healthcare waiting lists because patients died before getting care.”

Gates of Vienna - News Feed 7/5/2026

Smart Glasses Expose a Gap in Canadian Privacy Laws
Questions about privacy have been raised around the use of smart glasses and their ability to film people without their knowledge.

The Glibertarians - Sunday? SUNDAY! AM Links

Insert Jeff Goldblum line here.
I knew it! It does raise more questions than it answers.

A View from the Beach - Flotsam and Jetsam - Platner's Next Boot Falls a Credible Rape Tale

Sundance at CTH, Woman Who Previously Dated Maine Democrat Candidate Graham Platner Says He Raped Her. Scott Jennings @ScottJenningsKY, "Breaking and entering followed by a credible rape allegation is how I read this."

Political Hat - News of the Week (July 5th, 2026)

Left-Wing Insurgent Ousts 15-Term Congresswoman in Colorado
Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist, unseated Representative Diana DeGette in a Democratic primary to represent the Denver area.

Vlad Tepes - South Africa street demo against mass immigration? Canada should be treated like Cuba by the US pretty soon: Links 1 for July 5, 2026

3. Wanna know why the British government took away force multipliers from the public?
A few facts on how the British people dealt with guns

Bacon Time!!!! - Sunday Linkange

The Feral Irishman Friday Femme Fatale Farrago…..
The Shekel – Coins, Law, and Commentary – Happy 250th Independence Day!

Maggie's Farm - Monday morning links

The Guardian still dislikes Trump
Why the Left Really Hates Trump’s America 250 Celebration
Teaching Immigrants the Bill of Rights

J.J. Sefton at Ace of Spades HQ - The Morning Report — 7/ 6 /26

America and Britain have often argued, but we have also shown the world that former adversaries can become allies without pretending the past never happened.
Dear America, Happy 250th. No Hard Feelings!

Doug Ross - Larwyn’s Linx: The Lone Star Stronghold: How Islam Built Its American Capital in Texas

• Why they try communism Don Surber
• Inevitable Thing Was Inevitable Chris Bray

Anonymous Conservative - News Briefs – 07/07/2026

WEF founder Klaus Schwab claims he found spying device at his home, files criminal complaint against “parties unknown.” Probably not his local Stasi, as my impression is they backdoor regular tech, or use remote access to the environment.

I leave you with Sunday Funnies For 07-05-26 from Stately McDaniel Manor, Sunday Funnies from Flopping Aces, Sunday Meme Drop–7-5-26 Midwest Chick's Place, DALEYBABES……DAMN! from DaleyGator, and Quick Hits Of Wisdom, Knowledge And Snark #388890 Miles from Tyranny.

Defensive Gun Use Roundup - January 2026

Crime Prevention Research Center is compiling incidents for reference. Defensive Gun Uses By People Legally Carrying Guns: 33 Cases During January 2026

Click thru for the list of incidents.

The incidents are presented without comment.

Exploiting the Vulnerable to Close a Budget Gap

Why are cities, states, whoever embracing gambling? Because they can't bring themselves to cut a budget. Brandon Johnson Trying to Torpedo Chicago’s First Gambling Licenses

According to financial services firm Wallet Hub, Illinois ranks as the 17th most gambling addicted state already. The Prairie State also ranks 36 out of 50 for proper treatment availability. So, Illinois is already doing poorly over gambling and its legality is still relatively fresh.

Gambling at bars, or gambling at a massive casino downtown, none of it is good for Illinois. But politicians are rubbing their hands greedily over the possible tax revenue it will generate.

But that is the world we live in. Someone needs to revisit the definitions of license and liberty. (Mortimer J. Adler's work is a good place to start.)

American Spirit

It has been a long since I featured a song by the Australian artist Washington. Her full name is Megan Washington, though that isn't always remembered. It seems that Australia hasn't abandoned Indie and Alternative Rock the way the suits in the American Music industry have.

You can find the lyrics at this link.

This is "American Spirit" by Meg Washington. It was released as a single in 2019, but it doesn't seem to be part of an album. (Albums are such a 20th Century concept.) It certainly wasn't a song on the album she released in 2020.

Tuesday Links - 7 July

Miguel Gonzalez starts us off with a story about selective outrage. They only count when they want to.

But those deaths do not count because… reasons?

William Teach at Pirate's Cove - Cool: NICE Arrests 10K Illegals In 5 Days

The only ones whining about “heavy-handed tactics” are liberals, who won’t support Trump, won’t vote for Trump, and, really, why would Trump care? He cannot be re-elected.

Libs of TikTok - Texas Muslim Nurse FIRED after LoTT Exposé

Ahlam posted a video online where she appeared to show how she would refuse to treat patients if they were watching Fox News.

Gates of Vienna - Risen From the Ashes

The site was taken down on Tuesday by a massive attack. In the interest of prudence, I won’t go into details. I’ve been hassling with it since then, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will stay up.

The Silicon Graybeard - Happy Independence Day - 2026

My lesson is that while they were important, the big picture is to remind ourselves of the history, and celebrate the achievement of getting to our semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of our Republic

Colion Noir - Alaska Man Returns Fire and Chases Off Alleged Copper Thieves

To paraphrase a familiar saying, when seconds count, help is usually minutes away. Now, imagine how true this is for those who live in Alaska, amid vast swaths of remote territory that law enforcement is responsible for policing.

Samizdata - Quote of the day – The history of post-war Britain

The history of post-war Britain is essentially the educated middle class giddily, gleefully taking a sledgehammer to every single load-bearing pillar in society in the belief that the roof will somehow stay up through the sheer force of our own cleverness.

Light Over Heat with Professor David Yamane - AMERICA 250: The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Today is July 4th, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Whatever else we may count as founding moments, this one is significant. The Declaration contains powerful words that still point to an aspirational reality.

Wombat-socho - FMJRA 2.0: Waiting Until August

I guess I’m not the only GM for whom July is a bad month in which to draft. Co-commish Lance has decided to push the draft back to August, and since this apparently will cost us an impatient manager, we have an opening if you’re interested.

And again from Wombat-socho - Rule 5 Sunday: Happy 250th, America!

A twofer this week…actually I could probably have filled the post with Kamen America bikini pics, but I decided to Show Some Restraint.

Massad Ayoob on Defensive Firearms

Massad Ayoob at Guns Magazine About This Whole Defensive Firearms Thing …

What’s the best defense gun? The real answer is, “The one you have with you.”

Many years ago, I was at a gun writers’ conference at a host hotel, and a bunch of us were lounging out by the pool. The topic of “the best defensive handgun” came up. “High capacity 9mm,” said one guy. “1911 .45,” said another, confidently. Someone — it might just have been Evan Marshall — was then smart enough to ask, “Well, what are all of you carrying right now?” A sheepish silence descended.

Rule number one of gunfighting: Bring a gun.

Click thru for more insights.

Hat tip to MaddMedic at Freedom Is Just Another Word…

Don't Swim in Creeks in Florida

This is a tragedy from start to finish. Florida woman who was torn apart by alligator as boyfriend tried to save her is named for first time

I am really tired of reading stories like this.

A 31-year-old woman has been named after she died in a horrific alligator attack.

Brittany Clark had been swimming in Florida with her boyfriend when she was brutally killed by the reptile.

She died after the gator tore off both of her arms in a death roll.

The devastating incident occurred when Ms Clark, her boyfriend, and an unnamed friend were swimming in "shoulder-deep water" in the Econlockhatchee River.

To quote SiGraybeard from a few years back:

Don’t go swimming if you know there are gators in the water. Corollary: if your map says “Florida” on it, and you’re in fresh water, there are gators in there. If it’s brackish or saltwater, there might be crocodiles with you.

Pro tip: There are always, and I do mean always, sharks at the beach. You may not see them; they out there.

I know it is hot, and that you go swimming in the Midwest, or the West, or New England, or wherever. Don't do it in Florida, unless it is in a designated area.

Improvised Guns That Actually Look Good

This guy is a true craftsman, and he isn't using a 3D printer. DIY Makarovs Down Under | Impro Guns

he clearly very talented craftsmen built a rather commendable version of the MK3 .380 sheet metal pistol and It appears he even ‘evolved’ the basic Professor Parabellum design into a Makarov look-alike worthy of presentation to any high ranking member of the Central Committee.

Click thru for the photo. One looks very professional. Pride in Craftsmanship is a rare thing today.

Trenches

Pop Evil is listed as Post Grunge, and Alternative Metal. I can never decide if I like this style of music or not. (It does make me feel like I need to to be banging my head on something.)

This song is "Trenches" by Pop Evil. It was orginally on their 2013 album Onyx. This version is from the 10th Anniversary Delux edition from 2023. That edition includes some bonus tracks, but I can't determine if this song was remixed or remastered.

Self-Defense Is Legal in Alabama

But then I suspected that it was. No charges expected after Huntsville homeowner shoots intruder

If I had to make a bet on whether Texas or Alabama was the more heavily armed state, I'm not sure which state I would select. You have to wonder why bad guys would invade a home, where they are likely to encounter an armed defender.

Police were called to a home at 3AM. They found a guy who had been shot, and they had him taken to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

Detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit believe the injured man broke into the home while carrying a gun. Police say he then threatened the people inside before one of them shot him in self-defense.

The DA considers the shooting to the be self-defense. The guy who got shot has not been charged, though first-degree burglary was mentioned. The reasons are that he is still in the hospital, and the investigation is still going on.

My guess is that he thought having a gun made him the most dangerous person in the room. He was wrong.

I usually include some geographic reference, but if you don't know where Huntsville, Alabama is, you need some remedial education.

TDS in the Military

From The Hill: Air Force major arrested after calling for Trump impeachment outside Capitol

An Air Force major was arrested on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday after calling for President Trump’s and Vice President Vance’s impeachments.

Peaceful demonstrations are permitted on Capitol grounds, but a protester must remain alongside a member of Congress to speak openly from the steps.

He was asked to leave the steps. He did not leave.

The Air Force major could be court-martialed or face disciplinary measures under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

See the embedded X/Twitter post below for the reason.

Hat tip to William Teach at Pirate's Cove: Air Force Dipshit Calls For Trump Impeachment, Gets Arrested

You know the Democrats put him up to this, probably using his TDS to get him to do something monumentally stupid

I'm no lawyer, but this sounds reasonable.

pic.twitter.com/kTe8qsWC1E

— The American Pirate🇺🇸🏴‍☠️ (@boonesghost) July 4, 2026

Another tweet indicate that he will lose pension, VA benefits, educational benefits, everything.

Minnesota's Democrat Governor Pardons Monster

Trump Derangement Syndrome Minnesota's Democrat Governor Tim Walz pardons illegal migrant PEDOPHILE who raped girl aged 10 to stop the predator from being deported | Daily Mail Online

Minnesota Democrats (all Democrats?) love these monsters more than they love Justice.

Vang admitted to repeatedly sexually abusing the child for four years when he pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in 2006, and at the time he justified his actions by claiming it is a 'cultural thing' to 'marry and have sex with girls as young as 12.'

But he was due to be deported, and Democrats hate that, at least when a Republican is in the White House.

Hat tip to Clayton Cramer: Remember What Party Hates Trump More Than Child Rapers

This is the party that with no evidence claims Trump is a pedophile but helps keep a guy who makes excuses for raping a 10-year-old in the U.S You also notice that justifying raping a child got him no jail time in 2006.

No jail time. I miss living in a civilized society that took the concept of Justice seriously.

Tren de Aragua Gang Members Kidnap/Kill Man in Chicago

I miss living in a civilized society. Venezuelan gangsters beat man to death after kidnapping him from Chicago park — then called his mom to tell her where the body was: prosecutors

Rojas Barrios was walking with two other men near the park’s basketball courts when Tren de Aragua members captured him, forced him into a vehicle, and drove him to an apartment, according to the allegations. There, Boutros said, men bound his hands behind his back and held him against his will for hours before transporting him to an abandoned building.

Inside the vacant building, prosecutors said, the attackers beat Rojas Barrios and then shot him multiple times before leaving him face down in a bathroom with part of his body inside a bathtub.

The Chicago gang members then had an associate in Venezuela call the dead man's mother, and tell her where the body was.

These are the people that the Democrats don't want to deport.

One of the people now charged with the murder was not in jail for a previous offense, but was on pre-trial electronic monitoring.

I miss law and order.

Hollywood in Decline and in Denial

There are apparently a number of Hollywood Trade articles about the decline of the movie industry. Comparisons to Detroit seem to be everywhere. And there is a reason for that.

Below is Disparu's video How Hollywood Decided It Deserved To Die

But the most interesting part of the question isn't if they're failing, it's what caused them to fail, and how are they trying to fix it?

There is a lot of denial in Hollywood. Their failure isn't due to anything they are doing wrong. They believe they are not doing anything wrong.

There is also denial about where regulations come from.

It's like, oh, we're just a victim of California's tangle of regulations. as if they spring up out of the ether, that regulations are just a fact of life that have to exist rather than a consequence of the actions which California have taken themselves.

They can't see that regulations are a direct result of the people and the party they vote for.

One part that really interested me, is his discussion on the morality of actors. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson didn't want to discuss politics. He was immediately attacked and they tried to "shame him back onto the reservation."

This was part of a discussion of how, and why Hollywood has systematically fired all of the risk takers, and the psychology of the people who are left. (And why they want to shame The Rock back onto the reservation.)

They've killed off the risk takers, the new ideas, because to have new ideas, to be creative, you have to risk being offensive to the horde. You have to tell everyone else, "I don't care what you're doing. I know better." Because sometimes you will.

The video is almost 24 minutes, but I think it is worth your time. You don't need to watch all of it in one go.

I was interested in the 3 articles Disparu mentioned regarding theories of Moral Development, and why Hollywood is stuck in the "go along with the crowd" phase of development. I list them here, in case anyone else is interested.

• Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development
• [Carol] Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development
• Understanding Political Differences Through Moral Foundations Theory (Haidt)

How Old Do You Need to Be to Defend Yourself?

Are children just magically immune to crime? Of course not. Twenty-four more cases where a minor under 17 used a gun defensively - Crime Prevention Research Center

We have previously collected data on young people who successfully defended themselves or others with firearms, though it was for people either under age 18, teenagers, or under 21. Below are 24 cases involving children under the age of 17 who used a gun in self-defense.

Click thru.

Where Did America's Tradesmen Go?

Why do people listen to "educators?" These are the people who destroyed math education. These are the people who decided we didn't need phonics, and ushered in an epidemic of illiteracy. These are the people who championed the "open concept" classroom. (Look it up!) Have they gotten anything right? America Didn't Lose Its Tradesmen by Accident | RealClearMarkets

Somewhere along the way, America decided that a four-year degree was the only respectable answer to the question of what comes after high school. The plumber who just handed you a $250 bill to replace a faucet cartridge never got that message. He also doesn't have $50,000 in student loan debt. The joke, it turns out, was on the rest of us.

America didn't stop needing tradesmen. It spent thirty years telling young people not to become one.

Read the whole thing.

London Electric Bus Fire

Sparky vehicles gonna spark. Double-decker bus destroyed by fire in West London bus garage

Four fire engines and 25 firefighters responded to a fire at a bus depot on Great Western Road, Westbourne Park. When they arrived, they found a double-decker electric bus on fire. There were no reports of any injuries, and two electric vehicle charging points were also destroyed.

The fire took place 24 June 2026 at the Westborne Park bus garage in West London, at 1823.

This is the StacheD Training video London Electric Bus Burns During Record Heat Wave

In the middle of all these hot days, there was just an electric double-decker bus that went up in flames, and it wasn't on the road. It wasn't after a crash. It was actually sitting parked in its own garage.

No one has said that the bus was being charged, though I think that is likely to be the case. The video is 5 minutes and 20 seconds.

The Other McCain, Fireworks, and Overkill

I hope there is some video. Our Patriotic Duty: Fill the Sky : The Other McCain

We bought wholesale by the case this year, shopping the “Early Bird” special in April, but we did not stop there. Every time I thought, “OK, we have enough fireworks now,” the universe answered: “More.”

Click thru for photos from several folks, including The Other McCain.

As I’ve explained before, the reason that consumer fireworks (1.4G) are so much fun is that you don’t need safety “setbacks” as long as those required for professional (1.3G) shows.

If this was Florida, this might qualify as Peak Florida.

And I'm not sure why the 37th Maxim of Maximally Effect Mercenaries came to mind.

Happy Fourth of July