Texans Are Still Armed

Home invaders are still getting shot. Fort Worth homeowner shoots alleged robber in home invasion | FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth

What we know: Officers responded to a home invasion call in the 1400 block of East Maddox Avenue just before 3:15 a.m. Friday. The caller told dispatchers that several men, wearing ski masks and carrying guns, had broken into his house, according to Fort Worth police.

The homeowner was also armed, it happened in Texas after all, and the homeowner the home invaders exchanged gunfire. One of the home invaders was hit with gunfire.

The would-be robbers fled, and the homeowner escaped the house through a window, and called 911. While officers were responding to that 911 call, someone called from a block away to report being shot.

Investigators believe the man shot one block away was one of the robbery suspects. Police said they believe the homeowner shot the suspect during the robbery as the homeowner was escaping the house.

Two other subjects are on the run. It sounds as if the police know who those two are, though it could also be that police don't know who they are. (Accuracy. Brevity. Clarity. Needs some work.)

Self-defense is a human right, and this took place in Texas, not on the island of Manhattan.

Is Anything In Your Car Worth Your Life?

They were burglarizing his car, and he decided that the thing to do would be to chase them. Man dead after shooting on I-40 in Hermitage, TN

According to Metro Police, the 26-year-old victim—later identified as Tyquan Jackson— was at a sports bar on Old Hickory Boulevard when he was informed that his vehicle was being broken into. The suspects reportedly fled in a waiting vehicle, and the victim got into his Hyundai Kona and followed.

He was found shortly after 11:15 PM Saturday on Interstate 40 with a bullet wound to his head.

Jackson was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in extremely critical condition. On Monday, July 28, police announced that Jackson had died from his injuries.

Police are investigating, but they don't even have a description of the car he was chasing.

Hat tip to Miguel Gonzalez and Play Stupid Games. Ego induced gunshot injury.

They were gone, there was nothing to be gained in chasing them other that bolster your manhood and Ego... or catch a bullet for the unnecessary effort.

My question is always about the value of your car, the value of whatever is in your car, and the value of your life. The stories I see, because of the way I search news sources, are usually about homeowners confronting people in their driveways. The question is the same. What do you think you are going to do? In this case, he caught a bullet.

Free Speech in UK and Europe Under Attack

From The Freedom Corner with PeterSweden we get the following. Free speech under attack in Europe. - by Peter Imanuelsen

The Europeans do not value free speech. Did they ever?

It was just announced tonight that Britain will be assembling an ELITE squad of police officers to monitor social media posts for wrong think!

It isn't only the UK of course.

In Norway, I exposed how leaders in a religious cult were engaged in what many consider to be grooming behaviour of young girls. Not long thereafter, police attempted to enter my house without any court order which should be illegal.

And instead of investigating the cult, the police interrogated me. I later found out that the police officer that interrogated me had very close connections with the very same religious cult…

Lone Star Parson has a similar story. Support Your Local Thought Police

In the UK you can be censored or go to jail for the sheer, brazen, literal temerity of daring to criticize the policies of that country's benevolent rulers. Pay attention, serfs, we're watching you, for your own benefit. And remember this, you thought criminals.

Click thru for the infographic on certain type of violent crime alone.

Wednesday Link Roundup - 30 July

William Teach at Pirate's Cove starts things off with Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup

7. Powerline Blog: Macron v Owens
8. Pacific Pundit: Ilhan Omar is demanding that the United States abolish all nuclear weapons

EBL - Tobacco comes to Great Britain

27 July 1586 : Sir Walter Raleigh brings tobacco to England
27 July 1965: Cigarette labeling act

Wombat-socho - In The Mailbox: 07.29.25

Dana Loesch: Trump Delivers Trade Deal With EU, also, Five Dead Including One NYPD Officer In NYC Shooting
Don Surber: Hoist The Flag

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 28 July 2025: Deliver Deletter Edition

Is ChatGPT making us stupid? (The Conversation)
I don't use ChatGPT. I became stupid through hard work and determination.

Don Surber - Highlights of the week

ITEM 2: Breitbart tweeted, “Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) says someone will DIE because President Donald Trump accused Barack Obama of treason.”
Well, execution is one of the penalties for treason so I cannot say he is wrong.

Small Dead Animals - Saturday On Turtle Island

Woke America: Americans visit Palestine. VDH – The Russia collusion story. Commie Omar Fateh. Hulkamania.
Lord Carney’s Canada: UN warns nations. Canadian concerts cancelled.

Vlad Tepes - Testimony of a Druze in Syria, Palywood, Church fined for having Church service in Canada, Tards on a plane: Links 1 for July 27, 2025

They never sent thirty million dollars to produce a transexual version of Othello adapted for a strictly lesbian audience. What they did do, was fund the invasion of the West with all that printed money and stolen futures of Western peoples.

Political Hat - News of the Week (July 27th, 2025)

The European Central Bank, Climate Cop
A central bank should stick, ideally, to preserving the value of the currency for which it is responsible and to supporting the integrity of the financial system over which it presides.

The Glibertarians - Saturday evening Links

Just a year ago the headline would have read “Biden takes well deserved beach vacation”.
Tehran is not far behind.

Flopping Aces - The Week in Radical Leftism – Back to The Nation!

Young People Have the Most to Lose From Trump’s Budget Bill
The grievances can be summed up as making them do something productive with their lives – the horror!

A View from the Beach - Flotsam and Jetsam - Brennan a 30 Point Buck in the Obamagate Headlights

Matt Vespa calls it BRUTAL: Ex-Rolling Stone Editor Just Fact-Checked WaPo's Fact Checkers on the Russian Collusion Hoax. Matt Taibbi at Racket, is Fact-Checking Glenn Kessler, "Start your Pinocchios..."

Bacon Time!!!! - Sunday Linkange

The Midwest Chick - Saturday Meme Drop………….
Pirates Cove - TDS: CNN Says Trump Is Fleeing To Scotland Over Washington Happenings

Gates of Vienna - News Feed 7/28/2025

Berlin, Paris, Madrid. Gradually, European governments are beginning to prepare their citizens for what, until recently, was taboo: the welfare system, as it has been known in Western Europe since the end of World War II, is no longer sustainable.

Doug Ross - Larwyn’s Linx: FBI's Trump-Russia coup predicted with 'alarming specificity' by foreign actors

• Five Charged in Brutal Brawl in Cincinnati That Left a Woman Knocked Out - Mary Chastain
• The Full Measure of Obamunism Is on Display in Chicago - Scott McKay

Maggie's Farm - Saturday morning links

Law Professor Reveals Who's the '30-Point Buck Out in the Open' on Possible Russiagate Charges
The Damage Caused by Russia Hoax Lies

J.J. Sefton at Ace of Spades HQ - The Morning Report — 7/28/25

One of the most important provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill has gone completely unnoticed, but promises to make the auto industry great again.
Car Lovers Rejoice! After 50 Miserable Years, CAFE Standards Are Dead

Anonymous Conservative - News Briefs – 07/28/2025

John Bolton Refused to Brief Trump on Classified Memo Which Showed John Brennan Manufactured Trump-Putin Collusion Intel — Instead He Stuck The Memo In A National Security Safe To Hide It.

I leave you with Sunday Funnies For 07-27-25 from Stately McDaniel Manor, Monday's memes from Wirecutter, and Monday Memes from Granite Grok.

Don't Bring a Crowbar to a Gunfight

You could file this under, "Another failure of the victim-selection process. 14-year-old alleged burglar shot during Encino home invasion

How exactly does the age of the person committing home invasion matter in any way?

A 14-year-old boy was being held on suspicion of burglarizing a home in Encino after he was shot and wounded by the homeowner during an early-morning confrontation not far from where a couple was murdered earlier this month during a burglary.

He either lied to his mother, or his mother lied to the police, because she said that he was shot in a drive-by shooting.

According to a preliminary crime report, the Encino homeowner was awakened around 5:10 a.m. to the sound of something breaking downstairs from his bedroom, moved his family into a safe room, and armed himself with a handgun.

The homeowner shot a figure holding a weapon. The homeowner thought it was a sword. Security video showed it to be a crowbar. It is still a deadly weapon.

On Monday night, more than 200 Encino residents attended a community meeting with police and the District Attorney to discuss their concerns about recent burglaries, and the murders of American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca.

They were found dead on July 14 inside their home on White Oak Avenue. Detectives said they believe they were shot to death during a burglary on July 10.

Not sure what the current state of self-defense is in greater Los Angeles, but I doubt that the DA is going to charge the homeowner. Doubt is not certainty.

Electric Buses Catch Fire at Orlando Theme Park

If I had to guess, I would say that one caught fire, and the fire spread to the second bus. Two Electric Buses Catch Fire at Universal Orlando Depot Near Epic Universe

Certainly both are burned to cinders.

In a startling incident on Friday afternoon, two electric buses associated with Universal Orlando’s Epic Universe theme park erupted in flames at a bus depot located at 9505 Universal Blvd., just outside the park. The fire was swiftly contained by emergency responders, with no injuries reported.

According to reports from multiple sources, the Orange County Fire Rescue Department (OCFRD) was dispatched to the scene following alerts of a fully engulfed bus fire.

So, if an electric bus catches fire, and burns to the ground, is it still considered a zero-emissions vehicle?

Firefighters arrived to find two buses affected, with flames spreading between the vehicles parked at the depot. Aerial footage captured by local news helicopters showed thick black smoke billowing from the charred remains of the buses, which were branded with Epic Universe themes.

I'm going to have to increase my searches for electric vehicle fires.

Peace, Love And Understanding

The Pretty Reckless is really a Rock & Roll band in the classic mode. Today, however, we have something in the way of a ballad. It helps that it is acoustic, or mostly acoustic.

This is "(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love And Understanding" by The Pretty Reckless from their 2022 album Other Worlds. It was written by Nick Lowe and originally released by his band Brinsley Schwarz on a 1974 album, but you are probably familiar with the version by Elvis Costello and the Attractions, which was a B-side in 1978 and on a 1979 album/

WaPo Dumps Glenn Kessler

Is the News Media getting out of the propaganda business? Probably not. The Other McCain brings us this story. WaPo Finally Dumps Dishonest Partisan Propaganda Merchant Glenn Kessler

Today is a glorious day of celebration, and if you want to know why I call Glenn Kessler a “dishonest partisan propaganda merchant,” this Breitbart thread on X is a good place to begin, although of course it could never contain every bullshit “fact check” in Kessler’s long and odious career of bullshit fact-checking. When future historians examine how the mainstream media lost all credibility, Glenn Kessler’s career at the Washington Post will certainly deserve its own chapter.

While I don't believe for a second that WaPo or other "news organizations" are going to drop Leftist propaganda, they do need to do something because they are losing money like crazy.

There is a nice history of "fact checking."

To condense it severely, however, “fact-checking” began after a series of events, beginning in the mid-1990s, which caused mainstream media to become concerned that they were losing control of the narrative-building function that is essential to their value as “Democratic operatives with bylines.”

Complete with a couple of milestones, and a quote from Kessler.

There is also a lot of info if you follow the links. Yes, it is a bit of "going down the rabbit hole," but some of it is funny, and explains why The Other McCain had this reaction.

I’m exhausted from all this dancing in glee.

Tuesday Links - 29 July

William Teach at Pirate's Cove is up first with EPA Head Announces Deal With Mexico To Fix Tijuana River Pollution Problem

This is a pretty big deal. Sure, it’s mostly about the San Diego area, but, imagine if it was Biden who got this deal done: it would be all over the national news, instead of primarily local San Diego area outlets.

Miguel Gonzalez - You cannot be this dumb...never mind. [On the International Defensive Pistol Association scheduling its Championship Match in China.]

Unfortunately this is not the first time IDPA HQ has done the stupid. I am going to say 20 years ago or less, Venezuela tried to host an international IDPA match and a lot of clubs in South Florida raised hell and then some pointing out the draconian Gun Control Laws that the country has and how they went against all IDPA initially stood for.

Moonbattery - Somali State Rep Shares Her Loathing of America

If Rep Abdi does not seem to brim over with appreciation for her adopted country, that could be because she is not here to assimilate into it, but to replace it.

The Other McCain - Hey, Who Had ‘Illegal Immigrant Colombian Transgender Pedophile Rapist’ on Their 2025 Headline Bingo Card?

Excuse my flippant sarcasm, but sometimes the news is so grim that we must choose between two reactions: (a) laugh at it and try to maintain our sanity, or (b) take it seriously and end up in a sort of catatonic madness like Kurtz in Heart of Darkness: “The horror! The horror!”

Spiked - We are coming apart

The leafy Essex market town of Epping is the latest place to go off. On Thursday night, a protest was held outside the Bell Hotel, where migrants have been housed since 2020. Last week, an Ethiopian resident of the Bell was charged with three counts of sexual assault, one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence. He’d arrived in the country, by a small boat, just eight days prior.

Again from The Other McCain - ‘Forgetting Is Sin’: Some Thoughts on the Life and Career of My Friend Jeff Dunetz

Jeff Dunetz knew who he was. His sense of identity was a source of inspiration, as well it should be.

EBL - Mills Brothers : Nagasaki (1937)

26 July 1945: The plutonium core leaves for Tinian Island

Wombat-socho - FMJRA 2.0: Playoff Season

I finally figured out how many players I can keep for next season in the 1969 Continual Draft league that Pete runs, and I have some hard choices to make. Speaking of which, we’re looking for a new manager to run the Expos. Contact me or Pete and we’ll get you set up.

Legal Insurrection - Thirty-Two Discriminatory Scholarships at Florida State Univ. Challenged By Equal Protection Project

The Equal Protection Project (EqualProtect.org) has challenged almost 500 discriminatory programs and scholarships at over 100 colleges and universities. But we didn’t expect to find a major problem at one of the largest state universities in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis has made getting DEI out of higher ed one of his priorities.

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 27 July 2025: Bean Sprouts And Carrots Edition

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says that AI is not a licensed therapist, doctor, or lawyer and there are no legal privacy guarantees for its users. (Tech Crunch)

Sam thinks there should.

But not for any reason other than it would benefit him personally.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg HATES Self-Defense

DA Bragg loves the career criminals and hates the law-abiding people of NYC. Exclusive | CVS clerk slams DA Alvin Bragg for charging him in self-defense stabbing

Alvin Bragg's office decided to charge Scotty Enoe in the death of someone he was forced to defend himself against. Forced, because Alvin Bragg, and the Progressive Left running NYC and NY State, refuse to stand up for law and order.

The former CVS worker cleared in the stabbing death of a violent shoplifter slammed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for charging him at all — instead of standing up for hardworking New Yorkers.

A serial shoplifter came into the CVS, threatened workers, and this guy defended himself and his coworkers. DA Bragg tried him for murder.

Click thru for the details.

This isn't the first time Bragg has gone after someone working in a store.

But some of Bragg’s prosecution choices have sparked outrage, including his initial decision to charge Harlem bodega worker Jose Alba with murder for fatally stabbing an ex-con who attacked him inside his store.

Or the first time Bragg has gone after someone forced to defend themselves in the lawless wasteland that is NYC.

Last year, straphanger Daniel Penny was also ultimately acquitted at trial in the chokehold death of homeless man Jordan Neely aboard a Manhattan F train on May 1, 2023.

Enoe noted the similarities between his case and Penny’s, who he said was “standing up for the people.”

As Mr. Enoe said, Alvin Bragg refuses to stand up for the hard-working people in New York, and instead takes the side of the criminals.

10 Round Limitations v Reality

The Second Amendment is NOT about deer hunting. 18 Reasons You Might Need More Than 10 Rounds

William Kirk of Washington Gun Law is back, and this time he’s serving up a spicy reminder: the next time your father-in-law tries to shame you at Thanksgiving for owning a “high-capacity” magazine, you might want to bring up the Princess Jewelry incident.

18 thugs in 5 cars pulled up to Princess Jewelry, and tried to break in.

They were met by the armed owner/employees of the store.

The mob scattered like cockroaches, and nothing was stolen. But here’s the kicker: California has a 10-round magazine limit. So while these criminals rolled deep, the good guys were legally limited to what the state thinks is “enough.”

Joe Biden said on at least one occasion that if you need that many rounds to hit the deer you shouldn't be hunting. Which is true. But the Second Amendment wasn't passed because the Founders thought that the white-tailed deer posed a threat to life or liberty. (Hat tip to MaddMedic.)

Liberal Policy Doesn't Work. Liberals Want More of It

Their own study says it's a failure. So they're going to keep it. NYC public schools boss admits ‘restorative justice’ discipline policy needs work — but is here to stay — as police incidents spike

Still, Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos insisted the $100 million push toward the softer discipline style — which favors “meditation rooms” and phone calls to parents over suspensions — was here to stay.

But what does the data say?

The comments came as the new study, released by the Manhattan Institute think tank Thursday, found the new disciplinary policy has largely been a bust — with police incidents in schools doubling to 4,200 reports this year and “chronic absenteeism” spiking to a whopping 35%.

Shocking incidents and data cited in the report pointed to increased disruptive behaviors and questions over classroom safety and academic progress since the reforms began in 2015 under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, and continuing under Mayor Eric Adams.

Somehow I am not surprised that Liberals don't give a damn about classroom safety or academic progress. They are liberals, and the way the feel about a policy is more important than if that policy actually works or not.

William Teach at Pirate's Cove on the Climate Change Hysteria

First William Teach has a story about air conditioning. The Atlantic: Summers Are Like Winters, With Americans Stuck Inside

The folks at The Atlantic can't go outside because they like to stay in the air conditioning, and somehow that is my fault.

Well, I guess if you’re soft and weak like the barking moonbat Warmists at the Atlantic you avoid a little weather

I'm old, and I'm fat. I still manage to get outside during the summer, and do things like cut grass and trim hedges and other things like that. Do I like it as much as I used to? No. But I'm old and I'm fat, and I'm not willing to give up the privacy I have with my multiple acre yard.

Not to be left out, the Chicago Tribune also has to get into the act. Your Fault: Larger, More Damaging Hail To Happen More Often

We could have avoided this, but, you refuse to give more of your hard-earned money to the government to give to NGOs, er, warlords in 3rd world shitholes, er, governments in developing nations which has zero strings attached

Click thru for the all the links and the details.

Safeguard-chan Watches Over Us Still

Wombat-socho versus Europeans. Rule Five Sunday: The Ghost of Safeguard-chan Watches Over Us

A couple of weeks ago on X I was inspired to rip on various Euros who thought they were some kind of classy for having various tatterdemalion castles scattered about by pointing out that not only did we have pyramids, we could afford to build them in the middle of nowhere and have them shoot down ICBMs. One thing led to another, and Grok drew me a pic of Safeguard-chan, maintaining her lonely vigil amidst the wheatfields of North Dakota.

Clic thru for Safeguard-chan.

Umbra

Ghost released a new album in April. I like a number of the songs on this new album. I think you may too. A couple of them sound like they came from the 1980s, others are definitely more modern Metal. As far as today's song goes, It could have been on the radio, back when everyone listened.

This song is "Umbra" by Ghost from their April 2025 album Skeletá.

More on the Walmart Stabbing

The Other McCain reminds us that Crazy People Are Dangerous

Say hello to Brandon Gille and, while you’re at it, go ahead and say good-bye, because he will almost certainly spend the rest of his life behind bars. Gille went on a stabbing spree at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday. All 11 of his victims survived the attack and, for once, the “Ann Coulter Rule” turned out to be wrong in this case. Police were for some reason unwilling to identify the suspect in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s attack, even though they had the guy in custody.

What is the Ann Coulter Rule? (I didn't know, or if I did know at one point I'd forgotten.)

The Ann Coulter Rule specifies that, the longer the police delay identifying the perp, the greater the likelihood that it’s not a white guy. So everybody was speculating that the Traverse City stabber must be a Muslim or perhaps an illegal immigrant, but it turned out to be a crazy white guy.

Click thru for the details, including a bit on Derrick Perry, the armed bystander who put an end to the incident.

Going to guess that this delusional guy with a history of drug abuse was homeless.

Go on. Click thru.

My earlier post on this incident is Armed Citizen Stops Mass Stabbing

Armed Citizen Stops Mass Stabbing

Most of the media, apparently, doesn't want to recognize that this maniac was stopped by a good guy with a gun, who was not a cop.

The New York Post is open to the facts. At least 11 stabbed at Traverse City Walmart in terrifying scene before armed shopper helped detain knife-wielding madman

At least 11 people were stabbed in a bloody scene inside a Michigan Walmart Saturday night — causing terrified shoppers and employees to flee — before a brave armed citizen helped detain the knife-wielding maniac, according to police, witnesses and harrowing video.

The terror unfolded around 5 p.m. when the alleged 42-year-old male attacker began randomly stabbing shoppers with a “standard” folding knife in various sections of the big-box chain store in Traverse City, about 255 miles northwest of Detroit, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said.

Why don't the media as a whole want to recognize the role that legal concealed carry played in this incident? Because they hate guns, and gun owners, and they only want to push the narrative that guns make everyone unsafe. A law abiding gun owner stops a maniac with a knife. How does that promote the narrative?

Thankfully there are a few outlets like the NY Post where they don't let their bias dictate coverage.

The knife-wielding monster was ultimately taken down by a pair of brave shoppers, including one who was armed, before authorities arrived and took him into custody, according to police and witnesses.

This is Colion Noir's video Caught On Camera Armed Citizen Stops Walmart Mass Stabbing Of 11 People.

A man with a folding knife went full Michael Myers and Traverse City, Michigan, stabbing not one, not two, but 11 people in a Walmart before someone finally said, "Nah, not today," and stopped him. The only way you stop a psychopath with a knife, with a gun. But you wouldn't know that if you watch most of the news coverage. They're allergic to saying the word "gun," unless it's in the same sentence as "ban."

The video is just over 9 minutes, but worth the time. It includes a news story from a local station.

Cities and States v National Immigration Law

We had to pass the law, so that sanctuary cities and states could see what was in it. Or something. Federal Funds for Local Obedience: Immigration Clause Puts Dems in Bind | RealClearPolitics

A little-noticed provision in the “Big Beautiful Bill” forces blue states and cities to make a tough choice: Comply with federal immigration law or lose federal money for criminal justice aid.

As it should be. But hey, they can do without. I think it should have said "all federal funds," but it's a start.

Hat tip to William Teach at Pirate's Cove. Oops: BBB Includes Provision Blocking Federal Funds From Sanctuary Jurisdictions

Usually the GOP goes all squishy, but, they slipped an interesting tidbit into the BBB and Democrats never noticed

I expect that they will start screaming, and some liberal judge will say that Congress cannot determine parameters around funding.

California Cannot Require Background Checks for Ammo

This was one of the stupidest laws ever, and just meant to make ammo more expensive. Calif. Appeals Court: Cannot Require Background Checks to Buy Ammo | Newsmax

In a 2-1 vote, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California, upheld a lower court judge's permanent injunction against enforcing the law.

Circuit Judge Sandra Ikuta said California failed to show that the law was consistent with the country's historical tradition of firearm regulation, as required under a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

Why does anyone want to live in a state with the highest taxes, and the lowest liberty? It isn't that beautiful, and yes, I did live in California for about 5 years after college.

Schools and Active Shooters

Can we have a rational discussion? Probably not. Should Teachers Carry Guns in Schools? | USCCA

What happens if there is an active school shooter. People, for whatever reason, don't want to protect schools. That would mean we would harden them, and provide security. Why? Because that isn't what it was like in their idyllic childhood. So what do you do, if a bad guy, or a crazy person, shows up with a gun?

It takes law enforcement anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes to respond to an emergency. The FBI reported that 69 percent of active threat events end in five minutes or less, and 67 percent are over before officers arrive. For rural schools, response times can stretch up to 20 minutes or longer — minutes that schools can’t afford to lose.

The last couple of events that come to mind were at churches, and the person was stopped by someone, not a cop, and a school shooting that was stopped by a cop.

So what should happen in that 10 or 20 minutes? Assuming of course that you don't live in a place like Uvalde, Texas, where the cops will show up and do nothing.

People in an active shooter incident have 3 choices. They can run, they can hide, or they can fight.

According to the research, [from The Purdue Homeland Security Institute,] when all the victims hide, the survival rate was 1.8 percent. When all the victims fought back, the survival probability was 98 percent. Their findings showed that the introduction of an SRO, armed staff member or both into a school shooting event resulted in significantly higher survival rates.

Click thru and read the article. Pros. Cons. The feelings of teachers. There is a lot about "feelings" when there isn't data. This is followed up with a spinkling of "might" and "could." But the article does look at both sides of the question.

State laws vary significantly. Some states, like Ohio, have robust programs like FASTER, while others allow individual districts to make decisions. Kansas permits arming teachers but faces insurance challenges. Policies frequently change, so it is crucial for teachers and parents to check with their state’s most recent legislation.

As I said, read the whole thing.

And here is my favorite photo of what I consider the most useless SWAT team in America. They sure look spiffy in their uniforms with their tactical gear and their diversity.

Gen Z Versus Hollywood

From Movieweb we get some truth on Gen Z. Jenna Ortega & Tim Burton Reveal Why Hollywood is Failing to Win Over Gen Z Audiences

Hollywood can't seem to get their minds around the fact that the endless reboots/sequels is not connecting with the current generation.

The emphasis on integrating Gen Z slang and behavior in films is so forced that it turns people off. I think studios are trying way too hard. Just give the new guy a chance, give the original script a chance, allow people to be creative and maybe step back a little bit. With Gen Z, it’s hard to grab their attention. You can’t show them stuff that they’ve already seen.

In other words, the endless remakes, sequels, prequels, whatever, are not going to work for Gen Z. But then I am a long way removed from Gen Z, and I'm done with the remakes/reboots/whatever. Try something new.

Tim Burton agreed.

Hat tip goes to Derek Anderson - The D.A. and his video JENNA ORTEGA DROPS TRUTH BOMB! Why Gen-Z Has Abandoned HOLLYWOOD And Why Anime Takeover Continues! The video is about 14 minutes, though it covers a lot more than the Movieweb article.

He has some recommendations on anime, which seems to be the one thing that is of interest to Gen Z.

Armed Citizen Stops Knife Attack

The incident described in this story happened in June, but I did not see it and write about it at the time. Armed Citizen Stops Knife Attack in Orlando Mall Parking Lot

You could also call this "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight."

Anti-gun advocates just can’t bring themselves to admit that armed citizens use their firearms to save themselves from attackers millions of times a year. That fact runs directly against their philosophy and beliefs.

Another thing they’ll never admit is that armed citizens frequently save other people from attackers, using their firearms to protect their unarmed neighbors from bad guys intent on harming them.

A woman and a man had been in a relationship. They met, apparently, to determine if things could be put back together. She had the good sense to meet him at a mall, a public place, at least. The discussion ended with her stabbed and slashed.

According to the police report, a witness told investigators that he and some family members were standing in the parking lot “when they saw a female ‘all stabbed up’ exit a red Tesla and heard her screaming.” The witness said that he then drew his concealed pistol, racked a round into the chamber, and pointed it at John.

According to another witness, after the armed citizen drew his gun and reportedly told John to back off, John replied, “The problem is with her, not you.” The attacker then got back into his vehicle and left the scene.

He fled the scene, when the concealed carry license holder did not back down. Cops arrested him in a nearby town. (Hat tip to Keep and Bear Arms.)

Mountain Lion on Camera in Backyard

The video is interesting but short. VIDEO: Mountain lion caught entering Brentwood homeowner's backyard - ABC7 San Francisco

So what would you do if you stumbled across a mountain lion in your back yard? Remember, the good people of California (and the Bay Area) think guns are uncivilized for the most part.

This is one big cat. Click thru for the video. It was caught briefly on security video. It is a fairly typical residential/suburban area, so it is a bit surprising.

I'm not sure there is a message with this story, except to point out that since it is California, no one recommends "shoot it with your firearm." Maybe you can't in California, maybe they value the cat's life above human life.

Brentwood, California is in Contra Costa County. It is about a 45 mile drive east of Oakland, and about a 25 mile drive west of Stockton. The Wiki lists it as being the the East San Francisco Bay area. I'm not sure I would have said that when I live in that part of the world.

National Education Association Wants to Erase Jews from Holocaust

There is no antisemitism here. What are you talking about? Largest Teachers' Union in United States Erases Jews From the Holocaust

The NEA described the Holocaust as having '12 million victims' from 'different faiths' without mentioning the attempted extermination of the Jewish people

Education or Indoctrination? (Hat tip to Irons in the Fire.)

AI Insanity and Other Tech News

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony has too much Tech News today for just an entry in Tuesday's Links. Daily News Stuff 26 July 2025: Spill Edition

How are things in the world of AI?

Meanwhile over at Amazon, "security first" means about as much as "talent first" did with VShojo. (Tom's Hardware)

Hackers were able to inject a persistent vulnerability into an Amazon AI coding tool by, uh, asking it to do it for them.

Also, anyone who buys an exercise bike or a treadmill that has an app, deserves to get exactly what they got.

Echelon home gym equipment can no longer be used without a monthly subscription, an internet connection, and probably government-issued photo ID stored on a public server. (Ars Technica)

So you bought a piece of exercise equipment that didn't require a monthly payment, but now it does require a monthly subscription. Congress or the FTC really needs to fix that bait and switch.

Click the link at the top for info on the Tea app kerfuffle. (Every user of Tea has had their government ID published to the net), and Britain's decent into technological dystopia, where you have no free speech, and are tracked by the best tech they can muster.

1984.0.0.1.

Saturday Roundup of Link Roundups - 26 July

Wombat-socho is first with In The Mailbox: 07.23.25 (Afternoon Edition)

The Bugscuffle Gazette: Think-pudding still offline
Toni Airaksinen: Study says boys more likely to be victims of dating violence than girls

The Right Way - Top of the News

The Arrogance of Leftists - The Daley Gator
Iran and China Are Circumventing Sanctions via Notorious Bank and Letitia James Is Implicated - IOTW Report

Animal Magnetism - Animal’s Hump Day News

I sure hope you’re right.
Yeah, a lot of us already knew that.

EBL - MAGA : Tulsi Time ☀️😠

Legal Insurrection: Tulsi demolishes Obama, Hillary on "Heavy Tranquilizers" and Russia Collusion
Instapundit: Come on Barbi, you can do it...

Wombat-socho again - In The Mailbox: 07.23.25 (Evening Edition)

Shot In The Dark: The Invisible Hangover, More Vibrancy! Where’s The Beef?, Berg’s 21st Law Is Universal, and Ask Not Why Stephen Colbert Is Gone
This Ain’t Hell: Rancid Cherry Theory Proven Once Again

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 24 July 2025: Test Your Backups Edition

Over 400 organisations including the Department of Energy have been breached while waiting for a Microsoft Sharepoint patch. (The Register)
Oops.

Small Dead Animals - Thursday On Turtle Island

Lord Carney’s Canada: The acceptance of WHO regulations. Woke bosses at the CBC. Tamara Lich.
Stories You Won’t Find At Carney’s CBC: A pox on pronouns. Everyone is tired of them.

A View from the Beach - Flotsam and Jetsam - Obamagate Heats Up

Matt Margolis, Gabbard Refers Barack Obama for Criminal Investigation Over Russiagate Scandal. TownHall's Cutie Pavlich has the LATEST: Gabbard Confirms Obama Has Been Referred to DOJ for Criminal Investigation.

Again from Wombat-socho - In The Mailbox: 07.24.25

CDR Salamander: What Does The Expected New CNO Think?
Chicago Boyz: Uncontrollable Anger
Da Tech Guy: Five Thoughts Under the Fedora

Gates of Vienna - News Feed 7/24/2025

Calif. Appeals Court: Cannot Require Background Checks to Buy Ammo
A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that California’s first-of-its-kind law requiring firearm owners to undergo background checks to buy ammunition is unconstitutional.

Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog - LinkSwarm For July 25, 2025

“Justice Department Announces Task Force to Investigate Obama Officials’ Russiagate Role.”
“Iran Acknowledges That US Airstrikes ‘Destroyed’ Nuclear Facilities.”

The Glibertarians - Thursday Morning Links

“How do you do, fellow football fans.” I assume a staffer is gonna get fired.
Please, God, make this happen. It might be the greatest podcast ever.

Once again from Wombat-socho - In The Mailbox: 07.25.25

American Thinker: They’re Not Sanctuary Cities; They’re Slavery Cities
Animal Magnetism: Rule Five Terms You Shouldn’t Use Friday

Maggie's Farm - Wednesday morning links

Tulsi Is About To Drop More Evidence Against Barack Obama
Russiagate's Architects Suppressed Doubts to Peddle False Claims

J.J. Sefton at Ace of Spades HQ - The Morning Report — 7/23/25

Distrust in institutions is at all-time high. Americans are looking for alternatives.
The Death of 'Expertise' Is America’s Great Rebirth

Doug Ross - Larwyn’s Linx: Benedict Obama

• Obama’s Real Legacy Comes into Focus - J.B. Shurk
• When Obama Began Strangling the Republic “By the Book” - John Kass

Anonymous Conservative - News Briefs – 07/24/2025

Media is blowing up the fact Trump’s name reportedly is in the Epstein files, due to Trump having met him and dealt with him, White House says it is a non-story.

I leave you with Wednesday's gifs from Wirecutter, Quick Hits Of Wisdom, Knowledge And Snark #2796 from 90 Miles from Tyranny, and Wednesday Memes … from MaddMedic.

Don't Bring a Baseball Bat to a Gunfight

The DA made this determination in a little more than 2 weeks, which is amazingly fast by the standards of most jurisdictions. Allentown road rage shooting determined to be self-defense, no charges to be filed - 6abc Philadelphia

The incident took place on July 6th. Allentown, PA is roughly a 60 mile drive north of Philadelphia.

The DA's office says surveillance footage showed 35-year-old Tamir Johnson forcing another driver to the curb.

That's when Johnson reportedly got out of his vehicle and was swinging a baseball bat at the other car.

What actually precipitated the incident we don't know. We only know how it ended.

Tamir Johnson was shot once in the torso by the driver of the car he forced to the side of the road, after he hit the driver's door with the bat. After the shooting, the driver drove two blocks and then called police.

The Lehigh County District Attorney's Office ruled the shooting was self-defense and no charges will be filed.

It isn't surprising that this was ruled self-defense, given that there is video evidence, but investigations of this nature, and determinations of self-defense can take longer in Texas or Florida. So hats off to Gavin P Holihan, the DA of Lehigh County.

Self-defense is a human right, and this is clearly a case of Good Guys 1, Bad Guys 0.

Two Fires in Four Months at this EV Battery Facility

So, if a bunch of lithium-ion batteries catch fire, are they still "green technology?" West Michigan auto parts facility catches fire for second time in 4 months

Fire crews with the Holland Department of Public Safety responded to the facility, at 926 Waverly Road, shortly after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9.

The auto parts manufacturing facility also caught fire overnight on March 30.

There are details at the article, but I recommend the StacheD Training video below. Patrick Durham is Fire Department captain in Michigan.

This is the StacheD Training video Two Fires, Four Months: This EV Battery Facility Keeps Burning

RIP Chuck Mangione

In the news that Ozzy had passed away on the 22nd, Chuck Mangione's passing was lost in the noise. Chuck Mangione also passed away on the 22nd, but I don't believe his family announced that for a couple of days.

If you were listening to the radio in the late 1970s, early 1980s you would have heard his music. "Feels So Good" was his signature song. It came out in 1977 and was on the radio a lot. It hit #1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and was #4 on The Hot 100. That mattered in 1977. I never liked that song, or I heard it so much I got sick of it. Either way, that isn't what we have today.

This song is "Give It All You Got" by Chuck Mangione from his 1980 album Fun and Games. This wasn't nearly as successful as "Feels So Good," but I like it.

"Feels So Good" was in an episode of Friends, an episode of King of the Hill, and made an appearance early in the 2016 movie Doctor Strange, among other appearances.

Brett Kimberlin Returns

From The Other McCain we get the following. Return of the Pro Se Pipsqueak: Disney and Hulu Get Sued by Brett Kimberlin!

This current legal action is in relation to a documentary on Disney/Hulu about the so-called The Speedway Murders.

In 1978, four teenagers who worked at a Burger Chef fast-food restaurant in the Indianapolis suburb of Speedway, Indiana, were kidnapped and murdered. The local police badly bungled the investigation, and no one was ever convicted for what was at the time a very notorious local crime.

Brett Kimberlin had previous sued The Other McCain.

One of the things you must remember is that I’ve been a journalist since 1986, and spent decades with a copy of the AP Stylebook and Libel Manual on my desk. The secret to avoiding libel is simple: (a) stick to the facts and (b) always attribute accusations. It is not me, the reporter, who is accusing the suspect of a crime; rather, I am merely reporting what “police say” the suspect has done.

The creators of the documentary, The Speedway Murders may or may not have defamed Mr. Kimberlin. That is for others to sort out. I'm not even clear on the details of the suit. The courts will figure that out.

Just for the record, by the way, I am informed by people who have looked into the Burger Chef murders that Kimberlin almost certainly was not involved with that particular crime which was likely committed by someone personally connected to one of those teenage victims.

Click thru for more details on the current case, and the way the case went for The Other McCain. It is hard to believe that was all more than 10 years ago. Instapundit, Popehat, and Legal Insurrection all covered that suit. I think it may be how I was introduced to The Other McCain. I would have to go back and check the archives.

Friday Links - 25 July

The Other McCain starts the ball rolling with Hunter Biden’s Lack of Impulse Control

One of the aspects of addiction that most people don’t understand is how heavy long-term substance abuse has a cumulative effect in terms of brain damage. In particular, the damage impacts the frontal cortex, impairing the function of conscience and impulse control.

Wombat-socho - Rule Five SundayMonday: Belated Bikini

Too farking busy running a convention this weekend to post anything.

Massad Ayoob - A VERY POPULAR PISTOL

When a firearm becomes hugely popular, there are generally good reasons. I’ve carried a Glock 19 for much of this year. Here’s why, from GUNS magazine where I’ve been writing the Handguns column for many years now.

The Federalist - Judge Tosses Russia Hoaxer Marc Elias’ Suit Against Wyoming’s Proof Of Citizenship Law

Russia collusion hoaxer Marc Elias was dealt a major defeat on Tuesday when a federal judge tossed his group’s lawsuit challenging Wyoming’s proof of citizenship voting law.

Miguel Gonzalez - Double down on dumb? Bold strategy.

So Colbert will become even more obnoxious to the point of having the few sponsors simply quit what’s left of the show so their brands do not suffer.

Miguel Gonzalez - And now is a stake through the heart

SIG decided to die in the P320 hill only to discover it was a quicksand bog.

Pixy Misa at Ambient Irony - Daily News Stuff 23 July 2025: Still Sitting Edition

Replit, the company whose AI "Agent" deleted a user's production database, has promised that its AI "Agent" will no longer delete users' production databases in the future. (The Register)

Basically the system currently uses the same database for test and production, with no built-in rollback support.

When using an entirely experimental technology, this is kind of a bad idea.

Ask Dr. Drew - Bombshell: Dozens of Organ Donors “Still Alive” When Harvested, RFK Reveals In HHS Investigation

The conspiracy theorists were right again. In a shocking report released by RFK, the HHS found at least 28 patients who were likely still alive when organ harvesting began.

Meep at STUMP - RIP, Malcolm-Jamal Warner: Drowning as the Summer Menace

The main month for drowning deaths in the U.S.?

July.

Another Failure of the Victim-Selection Process

In Philadelphia of all places. Man shot multiple times by homeowner after allegedly trying to break into home in Philadelphia's Kensington section, police say - 6abc Philadelphia

A man was shot multiple times by a homeowner after he was allegedly trying to break into a home in Philadelphia's Kensington section.

The guy who got shot was taken to the hospital, and he is expected to survive. The cops didn't wait for him to be released, and they arrested him and are holding him in custody while he is in hospital.

Kiladelphia is a Blue City, so it isn't clear, to me anyway, how the DA views self-defense in that city.

So far, no charges have been filed against homeowner.

Which tells me that the cops are mostly on the side of self-defense.

Kensington is an area of Philadelphia that is low income, at least according to the WiKi. Does the DA think that poor people have the right to defend themselves? I would like to say, "We'll see," but I doubt that the media will write another word about this incident.

Self-defense is a human-right.

A Helicopter Crash and the Sig P320 Kerfuffle

Matt Silvey at 2A Cops has some thoughts about the P320. Star 6 Crash, 20 Years Later

The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC120, suffered a catastrophic engine failure due to a faulty fuel pressure regulator.

The fuel pressure regulator issue was something Eurocopter knew about, but chose to take the Ford Pinto route. They figured it would be cheaper to repair the helicopters that broke rather than recall all the faulty regulators. They figured pilots would have enough altitude to safely autorotate down if and when they failed.

When this particular fuel regulator failed, that didn't happen. Two people died. One person had life-altering injuries. All because profits are more important than people.

This incident, the Star 6 crash, is why I absolutely HATE companies who produce unsafe products, and rather than recall them, figure it will be cheaper to settle lawsuits.

You should click thru and read the whole thing. And while you are there you should subscribe to 2A Cops.

A Mid Fantastic Four Movie Won't Get It Done

The "early reviews" of Fantastic Four: First Steps were all along the lines of, "This film is Amazing!" Those were all from what Nerdrotic, Critical Drinker, and more call the Access Media. They can't say something is bad, or they will lose access to early showings. Now, more rational reviews are coming out. Some people like it. Some people don't. No body seems to hate it. The general reaction seems to be something along the lines of, "Meh."

Alan Ng of Film Threat is a film critic that I trust. One of the few. Here is his review at Film Threat. The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The first 20 minutes of the movie are a family dinner. Try to remember that this is supposed to be an action-oriented, superhero movie.

The story goes on from there.

Marvel has also returned to form by making its story on Earth deadly serious. Yes, there are light moments, but the characters are not constantly throwing out one-liners. This seriousness was the tone of the early MCU movies, up to Endgame. By being serious, all the Galactus stuff is allowed to be taken seriously as well.

They seem to have realized that Waititi laughing at everything lost them a couple of boatloads of money.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is good, when it should have been great.

20 minutes of cooking and family. Pedro Pascal as a confused Reed Richards. And a few other issues makes me not want to see this movie. At all, let alone in a theater.

Now Chris Gore, also liked the film overall, and I usually like these two guys and their take on movies. I am not convinced.

Next up will be Avengers: Age of Apathy, or something along those lines. The apathy has already set in for me. 15 years ago, I would have been excited to see this movie in a theater, if only at a matinee on a smaller screen. I saw bad Marvel movies, like Nick Cage in Ghost Rider, even though I knew they were going to be bad. (Ghost Rider is bad, and yet somehow got a sequel, which managed to be worse.) Then I would get the DVD from Hollywood Video or Blockbuster to watch "The making of" features.

Today, I'm not sure I will hunt it down when I can see it on streaming. First, Disney Marvel has made me not care about any of these movies, with the quality of the movies and TV shows they have produced. Even before Endgame some of them were bad. Second, I don't generally give money to people who hate me, and Hollywood has proven they hate everyone in "flyover country."

If you see the movie over the weekend, I would be interested in your thoughts. I do - very rarely - see movies in the theater these days, as there is a theater that does the Cheap, Tuesday Matinee deal, even if it means not seeing the movie in the best format. (IMAX is a long drive, and rarely worth it these days.)

One more note. Nerdrotic gave us only a quick thought from X after seeing the movie in LA.

Fantastic Four: First Steps is the best Disney Marvel movie of the year.
#FantasticFour

If you're not counting, that means that Fantastic Four is better than Thunderbolts^*, which nobody saw, and Captain America 4, the Captain America film without Captain America. Both of those films lost money, though we don't know how much. Thunderbolts^* made just under $400 million at the global box office, and Captain America 4 made just over that amount. Both have a listed production budget of $180 million, which few people believe. And then there is marketing.

The movie officially opens today, which really means yesterday with previews. There was also a fan screening on Tuesday, and I believe a critics' screening on either Tuesday or Monday.

Disney-Marvel's Fantastic Four and the Business of Movies

In May of 2002, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Enterprises released Sam Raimi's Spider-Man. It made a lot of money and kicked off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They had a good run, and made a whole lot of money.

Since Disney took over, they seem to have forgotten how to tell stories. They continued for a while, and then fired the people who oversaw the rise of The MCU. Disney Marvel has released 2 Marvel movies this year, and both lost money. They have number three queued up, and things are not looking good for that movie.

Let's start out with an article from Forbes. ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Box Office Projections Far Below ‘Superman’ Opening

Since I've mostly lost interest in what Disney Marvel has produced in the way of movies, I am more interested in the business part of the movie business. It is supposed to be a business after all. (It isn't "Show Friends.")

While The Fantastic Four: First Steps exact budget number hasn’t been released, Variety reported that the film cost above $200 million to make before P&A.

Disney is famous for understating the cost of their movies, and the entertainment trades usually just take them at their word, but Forbes is diligent about the business. If a movie is produced in the UK, or in any one of several US states, if they want their Movie Production Tax Credit, they have to file very detailed reports about the actual budgets. In the case of The Fantastic Four: First Steps we won't see any of those reports (if they exist) before the end of this year, or the start of next year.

So let's just assume that the $200 million number is correct for the cost of production. Then there comes the Prints and Advertising budget. This includes the obvious stuff, like trailers, ads, expenses for getting the actors to network interviews. The P&A budget also includes the cost of having the movie translated into other languages for international exhibition. It isn't uncommon for movie studios to spend half of the production budget on P&A. Disney Marvel often spends much more than that. Since I have erased ads (mostly from my life) I don't know how much this has been pushed, but I think it is fair to assume $150 million in advertising, etc.

So Disney Marvel is all in on this movie to the tune of $350 million.

Now movie studios don't receive 100% of the box office. Strange as it may seem theaters actually want to make money. That is called rentals, and while the actual amount that studios get is a bit complicated, the general rule is that studios get about half of the global box office take. A bit more than half in North America, a bit less in Europe, South America, and most of Asia, and much less than half in China.

So this movie needs to make $700 million at a minimum at the global box office just to break even for Disney Marvel. Probably more than that. So they might break even, but I doubt it.

Now Disney will also pay themselves $100 million for showing The Fantastic Four: First Steps on Disney+ and/or Hulu. That is smoke and mirrors. If you take $20 out of your wallet, and put it in you pocket, you don't have $20 more than you had before you started. Disney would count that as 20 bucks paid to the movie by "someone."

So the hat tip for this goes to Az at HeelVsBabyface and his video Fantastic Four Box Office Projections Spell [Dr] DOOM for the Movie!!

More Self-defense in California

It seems to be catching on in that Blue State. Taft man shoots alleged burglar in his backyard: KCSO

KCSO said the homeowner confronted the alleged burglar — later identified by investigators as Felix Cortez Villasenor, 36 — in the backyard of his home.

According to officials, Villasenor allegedly charged at the homeowner while holding an unknown object and the homeowner shot Villasenor.

At the time the article was published, Mr. Villasenor was in intensive care in a Kern County hospital.

Taft, California is about 32 miles west-southwest of Bakersfield, or about 150 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

Even though the guy who got shot remained in the hospital he was booked into the county jail on "first-degree burglary and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant."

Cops don't make determinations about charges, but they did not arrest the homeowner.

Self-defense is a human right.

Court Orders Removal of Solar Panels for Airport Safety

A Dutch company installed solar panels that caused issues for pilots. Dutch court orders removal of 78,000 solar panels near Schiphol to protect flight safety

How DARE you stand in the way of our solar insanity.

Schiphol took DGEC to court in June after receiving no response to safety warnings. The judge ruled DGEC had acted with “social negligence”, prioritising cost over safety by installing lightly textured glass panels instead of the recommended deeply textured ones.

DGEC argued it followed permit rules and disputed the glare risk, suggesting pilot reports were subjective and alternatives like sunglasses or selective runway closures could mitigate the issue.

They face a €50 million fine if they don't remove the panels according to a schedule provided by the court.

They didn't want to do anything without the courts. Airport safety? What do they care about that? They are doing important Net Zero work.

This is MGUY Australia's video Net Zero Quickie: Court ORDERS removal of 78,000 solar panels near AIRPORT

The Cultural Wasteland that is 2025

What movie has entered and impacted our culture in the past 20 years? Name something new? Not a remake, or reboot, or deconstruction. Can you name something that is not Jurassic Park 11, or the third reboot/remake of a movie based on a 60-year-old comic? What new thing has been created? I can actually think of one thing off the top of my head, and could probably come up with more if I think about it. And I could come up with more if we branch out beyond movies and TV.

But few things have made any impact on the culture, like the things from our past. When the book The Lord of the Rings caught fire in America in the 1960s, (I'm told) you would see "Frodo Lives" graffiti in subways and elsewhere. When J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books were made into movies, you could buy Berty Bots Every Flavor Beans at Blockbuster Video, and the books themselves had an impact, though I never understood why. Though I guess the books are better than the movies.

Other things have not had quite the impact, even when they have achieved popularity. The book Angels and Demons by Dan Brown had some impact even before Tom Hanks was in the adaptation of The Da Vinci Code, which is the second book in the series. And yes, that is just more than 20 years ago, but still... Ready Player One by Cline apparently had some impact, but no one, as far as I know, quotes the book or the movie.

This is Critical Drinker's video Why Modern Movies Suck - They're Completely Forgettable

First the Drinker gives a list of movie quotes, such as "I'll be back," or "Make my day," and so on. Then he gives us a list of movie characters, including Captain Kirk, Hannibal Lector, and Rocky Balboa. Quotes and characters most or all of us will know. Not only know, but be able to identify the character or the quote with particular actor, and probably name the movie the quote came from, or at least where we first encountered that character.

Not one of them was created or written in the past 20 years.

And before you start accusing me of cherry-picking my examples just to prove a point, I can tell you that I looked up six different lists of the hundred best movie quotes of all time for this video, read every single one from start to finish, and not a single one belong to a movie made after 2005.

The video is 8 minutes long.

I looked at the list of "Best Books of the Last 20 Years" at Goodreads, and I knew exactly one, The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, and I was sure it was older than 20 years.