Flotsam and Jetsam - DIY Friday

 Packing up to leave town

Key Bridge Updates

Baltimore bridge collapse: Several dozen ships lost propulsion in Maryland waters
Key Bridge collapse: Recreational boats use alternate channel to pass recovery site

Biden Misdismal Administration

There's an Update on the Kind of Classified Information Biden Mishandled
John Kennedy Asks Merrick Garland Point-Blank Why DOJ Let Statute Of Limitations Pass On Hunter Biden - The Daily Caller
‘You Need Therapy!’: Hearing Implodes As James Comer, Jamie Raskin Get Into Heated Shouting Match - The Daily Caller
SENILE: Joe Biden's Painfully Awkward Trip to a Gas Station Is a Major Red Flag – RedState
No, The President’s Uncle Was Not Eaten by Cannibals . . . Seriously – JONATHAN TURLEY
Jon Gabriel on X: "He's at the stage of dementia where childhood memories merge with Looney Tunes shorts from the 1930s." / X
Illegal Alien Kills Staffer Days Before Democrat Senator Calls Mayorkas Impeachment "Waste of Time" – HotAir
Illegal Immigrants Invading in Speed Boat Nearly Slam into Surfers in Southern California
Chicago Mayor Faces Criticism From All Sides Over $70 Million Package for Illegal Border Crossers
Yet Another Biden Judicial Pick Has Ties to a Left-Wing, Anti-Cop Group
Four More Years, No More Money – PJ Media
Don't Fall For Democrats' Disastrous Student-Loan Racket
Biden’s Latest Assault on the Constitution’s Separation of Powers - Frontpage Mag
Report Lists 200 Ways Biden, Dems Have Deliberately Obstructed Domestic Energy
Palestinian Authority Rubs Biden's Nose in It – HotAir
Might Turn Out That POTATUS' Gonzo Gaza Pier Plan Was a Blessing in Disguise – HotAir
O’Keefe Media Group Exposes Who Is Really Running the White House – PJ Media
Leading Report on X: "BREAKING: Biden administration has been hit with a lawsuit that accuses federal officials of destroying evidence by deleting federal employees’ emails in violation of existing statutes. The case could have a significant impact on former President Trump, who is being persecuted… https://t.co/giR8sMxKE9" / X

Trump Troubles 

Matthew Whitaker to Newsmax: 'May Be Sleeper Cells' in Trump Jury Pool | Newsmax.com
Liberal Activists Are Trying to Sneak Onto Trump Jury. But It’s Trump Who May Get in Trouble?? – PJ Media
Jury Selection Process in Trump Trial Just Hit Another Snag
Althouse: "Behind the scenes, Trump’s defense team is scrambling to find and review potential jurors’ social media accounts..."
Black Robe Cannot Hide That Juan Merchan Is Deep Blue - The American Spectator
Trump Begins the High-Wire Act - The American Conservative
Ex-Federal Prosecutor: It’s A ‘Big Gamble’ To Put Melania On The Stand In Trump Hush-Money Trial - The Daily Wire
Althouse: "Donald Trump, who relentlessly undermined the justice system while in office and since, is enjoying the same protections and guarantees of fairness and due process before the law that he sought to deny to others during his term."
Trump’s Tongue Is Trapped in Our Two-Track Justice System - The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
Democrats who continue to go after Trump are contributing to his boost in ego
Hillary Clinton Condemns Trump For Paying Hush Money To Political Liabilities Instead Of Just Killing Them - Babylon Bee

Politics as Usual

Althouse: Men in stores.
Left-wing journalist: If the Right wins, we won't accept the results of the elections | Israel National News - Arutz Sheva
Prosecutor: Cali DA Dropped Election Data Case Because It Might Help Trump
National Popular Vote Aims To Erase The Electoral College
The Power of Moderate Populism - American Greatness
Dem House Candidate Vindman Calls To Change Virginia State Flag After Posing With Confederate-Era Version
Everything Johnson Said About Ukraine Before Changing His Tune
Get out the vote group is sending unsolicited voter registrations to non-citizens in Michigan - The New Neo
Tucker Carlson Says Red States Produce 'Dumbest, Most Liberal Republicans' and Dan Crenshaw Can't DEEEAL – Twitchy
Warrant Out for Dem State Rep. He’s Mentally Ill, but How Could Anybody Tell? – PJ Media
Mollie on X: "The worst part of the Trump presidency was the hate-drenched media spewing chaos and conspiracy theories. The best part was everything else." / X

J6 and the Deep State

Flashback to 2007: J6 Committee member once called for an ‘insurrection’ - American Thinker
HUMAN EVENTS: SCOTUS asks the right questions in the case that determines the fate of hundreds of J6ers—and Donald Trump - Human Events
‘The Idea … Is Crazy’: National Guard Official Says Mark Milley’s Jan 6. Warnings Led To Deployment Delay - The Daily Caller
Ace of Spades HQ National Guard Whistleblower Accuses Government of Lying About Millitary's January 6th Response
Why The FBI's Assault On Catholics Threatens All Christians
Supercharged Spying Provision Buried In "Terrifying" FISA 702 Reauthorization - ZeroHedge
We Don’t Care About Persecuted Christians … Because We Don’t Want to Join Them - The Stream
White Christian Nationalism: Threat or mirage? - American Thinker
Pro-Life Activists Jailed, Traffic Protestors Free: US Justice System Bias
Far Left YouTuber Tells 1.6M People to Shoot GOP Senator.

Media, Social Media and Government Censorship

'Public' Radio isn't Dedicated to the Masses - Frontpage Mag
NPR Got Exactly What They Want In 'Chairman Maher' – HotAir
Instapundit - “SHUT UP,” THEY EXPLAINED: https://twitter.com/ChristinaPushaw/status/1780695241584193670
And In True Journalistic Fashion, NPR Can’t Take What It Dishes Out – Issues & InsightsNew NPR CEO Took Wikipedia Censorship Orders From Feds
Is Arrogance Going to Cost Another Woke Woman Her Job? – HotAir
It’s Bigger Than NPR’s Katherine Maher - The American Spectator
The 'Disinformation' Game - The Pipeline
Mike Johnson Praises CNN's Jake Tapper Off-Air: 'You're Always Fair'
The Price of Surrendering Speech - American Thinker
In Postliberal Brussels, NatCon Survives An Attempted Shutdown
Report: China Covertly Lobbying Congress on TikTok

The Great Culture War

Wife of Obama Press Sec Shocked by Proliferation of Anti-Semitism on Campus of Obama's Alma Mater
Harvard Center Hosting Pro-Hamas Author – PJ Media
Ace of Spades HQ Surprise: Ilhan "Omar" Nur's "Psycho" Daughter Suspended from Barnard College Over, Get This, Anti-Semitic Protests
Columbia University President Appears To Mock Ultra Liberal Students After Republican Asks Her Question During Hearing - The Daily Caller
Campus Reform - Auburn Men's Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl: 'It blows my mind' that LGBTQ people support Hamas, who would have them 'killed' 
Althouse: "Since Donald J. Trump’s election in 2016, many campuses have become especially volatile places, seeing an increase..."
Radical Liberal Reduced to Tears When Forced to Face Consequences of Her Own Actions – HotAir
Whoa: Google Fires 28 Employees After Pro-Hamas Sit-In – HotAir
New NASA Mars Crew Has a Muslim, No White People | Frontpage Mag
Inclusive Education: Understanding Identity Differences in Elementary Schools
Instapundit - THE LONG MARCH THROUGH THE INSTITUTIONS: https://twitter.com/CBHeresy/status/1780270832859660460
Video: The illusion of virtue
A Hollywood Producer's One-Woman War Against... Sydney Sweeney's Looks? – PJ Media
CDC Bragging About Collecting Data to Close Down Schools – HotAir
The Morning Briefing: Sydney Sweeney Should Win an Award for Triggering Miserable Lib Women – PJ Media
School Suspends Teen for Saying 'Illegal Alien.'
DC Comics Turns Wonder Woman Into Anti-MAGA, Anti-Christian Rant – PJ Media
Sex Trafficking of Minors? No Big Deal Says California Senate – HotAir
Is Planned Parenthood Trans-ing Kids Without Parental Consent? – PJ Media
Welcome to Culture-War Thunderdome 2024 – HotAir
Smithsonian Eliminates Drag Shows Following Investigation.
'Genderseason'? YGBFKM – HotAir
The 'Inclusive' Left Has a Message for Female Republicans – HotAir
Scotland Pauses Puberty Blockers for Teens – HotAir
Scottish Follies Update: Hate Crime Law Not Enough - Useless Wants Misogyny Law to Protect Transwomen – HotAir
Oh Hey, Another Transgender Teen Arrested for School-Shooting Plot – HotAir
Want to Take a Guess Why the Media Won't Cover What Just Happened in Maryland?
Woman Complains That Men Do Nothing When 'Abusive Drug-Addled Bum' Terrorizes Train Car – Twitchy

Fish Pic Friday - Astrid deGrunchy

Astrid deGruchy@catching_astrid 💼 | @vaynersports 🎣 | Producer & Co-Host of Bean Sportfishing TV 🏆 | 2023 Telly Award Winning Producer 🎓 | SJU, ASU Law & Harvard Alum waypointtv.com/bean-sportfishing

RIP: A Ramblin Man - Dickey Betts

People, Dickey Betts of Allman Brothers Band Honored by Ex-Bandmates After His Death: 'You Will Be Forever Remembered'

Dickey Betts' ex-fellow Allman Brothers Band members are honoring the late singer-songwriter and guitarist.

After news of Betts' death at age 80 was confirmed by his family on April 18, his former "Ramblin' Man" bandmates reacted with a heartfelt statement issued to PEOPLE in a press release.

"With deep sadness the Allman Brothers Band learned today that founding member Dickey Betts has passed away peacefully in his home in Sarasota, Florida, following a period of declining health," wrote the Grammy-winning band, co-founded by brothers Duane and Gregg Allman with an original lineup also featuring Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson.

"Dickey wrote quintessential Brothers songs including 'Blue Sky,' 'Rambling Man,' 'Jessica,' 'In Memory of Elizabeth Reed' and many others," continued the statement. "His extraordinary guitar playing alongside guitarist Duane Allman created a unique dual guitar signature sound that became the signature sound of the genre known as Southern Rock."

Betts played with the band from 1969 through 2000, when he claimed to have been fired. However, in a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, Johanson alleged he actually quit the group.
. . .
PEOPLE can confirm Betts' cause of death was cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to the late artist's manager David Spero.

I've seen the Allman Brothers a couple of times, but later than 2000, so I never saw Betts live, and I regret that.  

Maryland, My Maryland

 Yes, sea level is rising, gently, and women and illegal aliens hurt worst according to this very pretty (but extremely deceptive) article in the Guardian, In Maryland, female migrant laborers face an uncertain future as sea levels rise – photo essay "For the women who pick and prepare Maryland’s famous crab, the once profitable work is far more uncertain – and the climate crisis has had a damaging impact."

For more than 20 years, Malagón has been coming to work in crab processing plants on Hoopers Island, one of the many island communities in the Chesapeake Bay.

Hoopers Island, a chain of small islands linked by causeways, has been the center of the state’s seafood industry since the early 1900s. Due to its low-lying nature, the region has faced erosion and destructive storms over the years.

But rising sea levels are increasing the frequency of flooding, creating uncertainty for the village’s watermen and their families, who have long depended on the seafood industry for their livelihoods. The situation is especially worrying for female migrants such as Malagón, who have limited job prospects back home in Mexico and wonder how long they will be able to work on the island.

Historically, a cadre of largely black women living on the Eastern Shore picked crab. However, in recent years (meaning the last 20 or so), the black women have been largely replaced by illegal immigrants who come to the region for crab season, and leave when it is over. What happened to the black women who used to pick the crab? Well, in particular cases it's anybody's guess, but in a general sense, rising welfare payments (along with the aspects of welfare that discourage marriage) has probably encouraged them to move elsewhere, Hoopers Island not having an exactly riveting night life. I suspect many have moved to Baltimore and PG County in search of better paying, and less messy jobs.

There's certainly no evidence that rising sea level has had any effect on the crab population or fishery in Maryland. I would also take the opportunity to point out that the sea level rise in the Chesapeake Bay region is a relatively modest and constant 3 mm per year (and much of that is natural, and man made subsidence, and not the result of glacial ice melt). Yes, at those rates, low lying islands like Hoopers experience continued erosion, and flooding, particularly in developed areas, which unlike the ubiquitous salt marsh, in unable to build upward.

Flotsam and Jetsam - Trump Visits Bragg's Bodega, Mayorkas Skates Without Trial

The next few days might be kind of meager, we have an out-of-town visitor who's likely to take up some time. First, a small Key Bridge update. WMAR News,  "There's a lot of pressure on us": Removing and recycling Key Bridge wreckage  

We saw crews cutting into the biggest piece of steel the salvage teams have removed from the Key Bridge wreckage site so far. They used the biggest crane on the Eastern Seaboard to do it - the Chesapeake 1000. "The piece itself was quite big - roughly 400 - 500 tons worth of steel," Frank Schiano, member of the U.S. Coast Guard's Atlantic Strike team, and salvage branch director for Unified Command, said.  

At the Balmer Sun, Dali’s owner declares ‘general average’ in Key Bridge disaster. What does that mean? Basically, it's a old nautical device used to spread the costs to shippers out over the whole cargo. 

General average, a maritime principle written into shipping contracts, has roots in ancient Greece and the Byzantine Empire. If a ship was in a storm, for example, and the crew needed to jettison some cargo to avoid sinking, they might throw certain goods overboard. Afterward, the ship owner and everyone who had cargo aboard would be responsible for covering that shipper’s loss — not just the unlucky owner whose possessions were sacrificed. That’s how general average works on a small scale. On a large scale and in modern times, it can mean that cargo owners have to share in the cost of huge salvage efforts — say, pulling thousands of tons of steel off the 984-foot Dali and repairing its bow — with the ship owner.

The Trump Trial in New York continues This Is the Biggest Head-Shaking Issue in the 'Bogus' NYC Case Against Trump. Vicky Taft at PJM thinks This Is the Biggest Head-Shaking Issue in the 'Bogus' NYC Case Against Trump. "Bragg's legal theory is that Donald Trump stole the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton. Yes, really. Clinton won nearly two to one in Bragg's state of New York, but there's something even more odd going on here than the fact that he bases his state case on other states' electoral outcomes. The founder of the Article III Project and Trump supporter, Mike Davis, wonders how someone could steal an election if all the alleged "crimes" happened in 2017 — after the election. All 34 charges are stated to have happened after the election, according to Bragg's indictment." mrcTV is outraged that DA Bragg Calls on Judge to Hold Trump in Contempt for Social Media Posts About Daniels & Cohen. PJM's Athena Thorne admires  Trump’s Brilliant Prosecution Juxtaposition Campaign, a visit to the bodega where Alvin Bragg attempted to prosecute the owner for stabbing to death the robber attempting an armed robbery. From TNP, Trump Tells Tish James ‘PAY UP’ After Her Frivolous Bond Claim. "The attorneys for former President Donald Trump affirmed that his $175 million bond posted in connection with the ongoing civil fraud case in New York is financially sound. They have requested that the judge consider New York Attorney General Letitia James‘s challenge to the bond invalid. Additionally, Trump’s legal team is asking the former President to be awarded costs and fees for having to produce additional documents to comply with James’s challenge of the bond."

The Dersh to Newsmax: Dems '100% Correct' in Dismissing Mayorkas Charges. Senate Dems disposed of the Mayorkas impeachment trial in three hours by the simple of expedient of voting on party line to declare the impeachment charges unconstitutional. I hope somebody remembers that strategy for the next impeachment attempt against Donald Trump. From Ace, Illegal Alien Released by Biden Charged in Hit-and-Run Death of Senator's Aid "The Third Worldization of America continues." At least she was a Democrat. At Da Wire, Dem Congresswoman Called Deportation ‘Cruel And Unusual Punishment,’ Fought Against Removal Of Refugee Charged With Molesting Child. Breitbart reports  House Dissatisfaction with Johnson Explodes over Foreign Aid ‘Insanity’ that Neglects Southern Border.

At NYPo, Biden suggests uncle eaten by ‘cannibals’ in New Guinea — but military says his WWII plane lost at sea. NewsMax, Biden Is Off on Details of His Uncle's WWII Death. John Podhoretz@jpodhoretz "People. This is not good. And don’t whatabout me on Trump. I’m not a Trumper. Quote RNC Research@RNCResearch, "BIDEN: "I made it clear to the Israelis — don't move on Haifa!" Haifa is a major city *IN* Israel." I&I is disturbed by Joe Biden’s Wars. 

NewsMax, Rep. Comer Calls Out WH Obstruction in Impeachment Inquiry, again.

The Balmer Sun has a Sun/FOX45/UB poll: Lagging support for Biden, Trump underscores lack of enthusiasm. I dunno. I see a lot of enthusiasm for and against Trump. I don't think anyone is excited by Biden. Hat Hair's Dave Strom cites a Former Biden Supporter on Why She Enthusiastically Supports Trump "Now, I wake up every morning in a panic that our last best hope of ending the monopoly of power on the Left rests on the imperfect shoulders of Donald Trump." Breitbart asserts Swing-State Voters Sour on Endless Ukraine Funding. 

Shawn Fleetwood at Da Fed reports California Sues Huntington Beach To Overturn Voter ID Measure Approved By Voters, because, well, California, and wonders Why Did This Left-Wing Elections Group Send An Iraqi Refugee A Voter Registration Form? At NewsMax, OANN, Smartmatic Settle 2020 Election Voting Case on undisclosed terms. 

Reagan Reese and Henry Rogers at Da Caller notice Trump-Aligned Republicans Silent After Voting To Extend Warrantless FISA Powers. From TNP, FISA Bill Progresses, As ‘Checks and Balances’ Amendment Fails. At HE, Dave Krayden asserts America is already a police state; it just hasn't captured you yet. 

Paul Sperry at RCI reports Impeachment ‘Whistleblower’ Was in the Loop of Biden-Ukraine Affairs That Trump Wanted Probed 

In 2019, then-National Intelligence Council analyst Eric Ciaramella touched off a political firestorm when he anonymously accused Trump of linking military aid for Ukraine to a demand for an investigation into alleged Biden corruption in that country.

But four years earlier, while working as a national security analyst attached to then-Vice President Joe Biden’s office, Ciaramella was a close adviser when Biden threatened to cut off U.S. aid to Ukraine unless it fired its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, who was investigating Ukraine-based Burisma Holdings. At the time, the corruption-riddled energy giant was paying Biden’s son Hunter millions of dollars.

From NRO, Uri Berliner Burned His Bridges at NPR, Then Set the House Ablaze. Matt Taibbi at Racket has Thoughts on the resignation of the former NPR senior editor On Uri Berliner's Resignation from NPR . "We all saw this coming, but many journalists reacted angrily to this news. A lot of people in media still have affection for the old NPR and wanted this moment to become its turnaround. Finding a way to keep Berliner around would have been a powerful message that the network intended to try to fix its problems. Sadly, this was never going to happen, as we learned in the last week." Ace, NPR Whistleblower Resigns, Stating He Cannot Work For an Organization Whose CEO "Disparages" Him. "Disparages? Or defames? Might be a promise of a lawsuit to come." Twitchy, Dozens of NPR Staffers Sign Letter to CEO and Unwittingly Prove Uri Berliner's Point. Chris Rufo at CJ has some Quotations from Chairman Maher "NPR’s new CEO exemplifies the ideological capture of America’s institutions."

What you notice first about Maher’s public speech are the buzzwords and phrases: “structural privilege,” “epistemic emergency,” “transit justice,” “non-binary people,” “late-stage capitalism,” “cis white mobility privilege,” “the politics of representation,” “folx.” She supported Black Lives Matter from its earliest days. She compares driving cars with smoking cigarettes. She is very concerned about “toxic masculinity.”

On every topic, Maher adopts the fashionable language of left-wing academic theory and uses it as social currency, even when her efforts veer into self-parody. She never explains, never provides new interpretation—she just repeats the phrases, in search of affirmation and, when the time is right, a promotion.

Maher understands the game: America’s elite institutions reward loyalty to the narrative. Those who repeat the words move up; those who don’t move out.

Frankly, I don't see how she survives in the post much longer. I just hope she gets the chance to testify to a House committee before the end. Althouse, "No one’s been harder on Trump than me. But I get it, and I’m bored with it. And there’s a different way to do this...." ""Not to defend Trump, but to defend the people who still vote for him. Because what they see on the other side, to them, is even more dangerous. Because it’s closer to home: 'My kid is coming home from school and he thinks he’s a racist? He’s five, what have you been telling him? My son thinks maybe he’s not a boy.' And maybe that’s true, that happens. Those kind of things are what they say. 'That’s why I’m voting for Trump.'" Said Bill Maher, criticizing the mainstream commentators who endlessly express negativity toward Trump, quoted in "Bill Maher Defends Trump Voters in Contentious Katie Couric Sit-Down" (Daily Beast)(video at the link)."

Spin, Strangness and Charm, explores an UnHerd exclusive: the shady company behind the “disinformation demonetization” apparatus. It's a pretty good video, but I won't embed it.

Dan Greenfield at Front Page is shocked, shocked when CAIR Asks Prosecutors to Lock Up Journalists Exposing Hamas Supporters, "With penalties from 1 to 5 years in prison for Jewish activists." Da Wire wants you to WATCH Democrats Refuse To Condemn Burning American Flag, Chanting ‘Death To America.’ The Free Bacon reports Harvard Taps Longtime DEI Advocate To Help Pick University’s Next President. "Vivian Hunt, an ex-McKinsey consultant who has argued meritocracy ‘isn’t good enough,’ will serve as president of the Harvard Board of Overseers." Ace, ACLU Fires Asian Lawyer For Using "Racially Harmful" Language to Complain About Black Boss. She Didn't Say Anything Racist; the ACLU Contends That Simply Criticizing a Black Boss Is Inherently "Harmful" Because It Caused "Hurt Feelings" Among Other Blacks. "Nice to have it laid out like this. You are now claiming it's racist to disagree with a black person or to dislike their management style. No backtracking; you said what you said. "Racism" now means simply "failure to sufficiently praise a privileged minority.""

Nina Power at Compact thinks The Trans Reckoning Is Here. It may be starting, but I think she's optimistic. 

A Thursday Tune - As the Palaces Burn Cover

 

 

Ever since Kiki was a wee little girl, she had a passion for animals and music. Like many little girls, she dreamt of being a veterinarian, playing doctor on her stuffed animals.

At the age of six, she also discovered her passion for music and started classical piano lessons. When she was thirteen, her family gifted her father the first family acoustic guitar, a Yamaha Eterna, purchased from Costco. Her father taught the first influential three chords G, C, and D. She sought out the rest of her guitar education through the internet (yes, pre-YouTube days). She played in countless garage bands throughout high school with all types of music varying from indie to death metal. She also learned how to play the drums at the age of sixteen followed by a bit of undeniable bass-slapping.

After graduating from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor’s in Biological Science/Pre-Medicine, she decided to take a break from the books and become a full-time guitarist with the all Asian-American girl band, Nylon Pink, and later became the lead vocalist.

She then had experience playing on stage with Taylor Swift at the 2014 VMA’s and Usher at CBS’s Fashion Rocks Fall 2014. She was also the lead guitarist of Bret Michael’s in a commercial for Nissan. She then joined the band She Demons put together by Jerry Only’s the Misfits touring internationally and nationwide in the fall of 2015 as direct support. The band name was later changed to Hellfire Heart.

After music took a halt, her and former singer of Nylon Pink, Kaila Yu, decided to pivot their brand into a travel blog, which generated over 100,000 views per month in the first six months of release. They later co-wrote the best-selling book “30-Day Travel Challenge: How to Make Your Travel Dreams a Reality and speak as travel experts on multiple news networks such as KTLA, CBS, NBC, and Fox News.

Kiki Wong currently plays guitar for the Los Angeles rock band, Vigil Of War.