OPEN THREAD: Ring out the weekend.

I HOPE IT’S TRUE:  Khamenei has plans to flee if things get worse.

SAFETY FIRST: SpaceX lowering orbits of 4,400 Starlink satellites for safety’s sake. “The downward migration in 2026 involves roughly half of SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellation, which currently consists of nearly 9,400 operational spacecraft (though that number is always growing). The fleet is highly reliable; there are just two dead Starlinks currently in orbit, according to Nicolls.”

Think about that. And think about all the coordination, and command-and-control, that this sort of evolution involves. But for SpaceX it’s pretty much a day at the office. The understated excellence of this operation is what’s most impressive.

MY LATEST SUBSTACK ESSAY: Trump, Maduro, and What’s Next: Five dimensional chess? Or is it six?

As always, if you like these essays, please take out a paid subscription. I appreciate it when you do.

BLOOD IN THE FACE: Blushing May Have Hidden Social Advantages, Experts Suggest. “This can actually help build trust, because people often see blushing as a sign of honesty or sincerity – especially as it’s involuntary. Blushing can signal a non-verbal apology for a social misstep that can help to maintain social bonds after a transgression. Different emotions can make us blush – but the mechanism is the same: increasing blood flow to the face and making us feel hot.” Can’t read my, can’t read my, can’t read my poker face.

ALIENS: A Bizarre Seven-Hour Gamma-Ray Explosion From Deep Space Has Left Astronomers Puzzled.

AT AMAZON, Shop Same Day Delivery. #CommissionEarned

WILLIAM FORSTCHEN CALL YOUR OFFICE: Solar storms have influenced our history – an environmental historian explains how they could also threaten our future.

HEH, INDEED:

😂@AdamComedian pic.twitter.com/I05XMCZ7aa

— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) January 4, 2026

COMPARISON TEST: M5 vs. M5: The BMW M5 takes on its homonymous rival, the Kubota M5.

WATCH: Rubio Schools Sunday Show Hosts on Venezuela — ‘It’s Clown Hour’.

READER FAVORITE: NORTIV 8 Mens Military Tactical Work Boots. #CommissionEarned

IT’S ALMOST LIKE THEY’RE GARBAGE PEOPLE IN A GARBAGE INDUSTRY: When the Mainstream Media Encourages Violence Against Their Competition.

YOU CAN TELL THINGS ARE GETTING SERIOUS WHEN THE RECRUITING ADS FEATURE WHITE GUYS AGAIN, AND THIS IS WHY:

Everyone loves to hate on white guys until they need someone to black-bag a head of state and be home in time for breakfast. https://t.co/XTmOzivZ1K

— Dale Stark (@DaleStarkA10) January 3, 2026

It’s not just me noting this:

The US Army's latest ad is based around a white man, which is an ominous sign. They do not turn to diversity when they need a war to be fought. pic.twitter.com/rL9ObWk1ej

— Way of the World (@wayotworld) November 7, 2023

The US Army and US Marines are running ads featuring white males again all of a sudden.

I think this means we are definitely going to war.

— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) October 12, 2023

Related:

Pete Hegseth deserves an apology from all the bed-wetters who screamed he was unqualified. Turns out prioritizing lethality over dudes pretending to be women is actually good for the military.

— Dale Stark (@DaleStarkA10) January 4, 2026

Plus:

Hey @grok, give me a list of all the prominent democrats who said Pete Hegseth was unqualified to run the Pentagon.

— Dale Stark (@DaleStarkA10) January 4, 2026

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SACRE BLEU!

I’m devastated by this illegal capture of an elected head of state by Trump.

I live in constant fear my beloved leader, Macron who lives at 55 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, Paris share the same fate. He’s usually home with Brigitte by 9pm.

— Marc ”七十 Billy” Zeller (@Marczeller) January 3, 2026

HMM: Healthy 18-year-old welder nearly died of anthrax—the 9th such puzzling case: “Welder’s Anthrax” was first coined in 2022, when seven cases had been identified.

READER FAVORITE: GOOLOO A3 Jump Starter with Air Compressor. #CommissionEarned

OKAY: What color should I repaint my home? Ask a psychologist.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS:

…so now they have a problem with kidnapping? pic.twitter.com/gJW01Jo3It

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) January 3, 2026

s/DARN/DAMN/ : Here’s How Maduro Was Captured, and It’s Pretty Darn Cool.

If you know, you know.

TurboTax Desktop Premier 2025. #CommissionEarned

FOLLOW THE SCIENCE: The FDA knows this popular decongestant doesn’t work—so why is it still legal?

It’s a distraction from the fact that Sudafed — which actually works — got put behind the counter, allegedly to protect us from meth. How’s that worked?

MENTALLY ILL THEATER KIDS SHOULD STAY OUT OF POLITICS:

Luigi Mangione should be allowed to execute American civilians with zero consequences but Trump removing Maduro is Le “War Crime”

The left is a joke. Nobody cares what you idiots think anymore. https://t.co/wFXwRIRkdy pic.twitter.com/xneiRPESZ8

— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) January 4, 2026

Related:

Not a word, and no outrage from the loony left when President Joe Biden had President 'Juan Orlando Hernandez' of Honduras arrested and extradited to the United States for drug trafficking. pic.twitter.com/OsozAABLXn

— Clinton (@614clinton) January 3, 2026

SOROS COORDINATE! SOROS COORDINATE!

I showed a "no war with venzuela" protestor how venezuelans are celebrating in the streets.

brain.exe stopped working. pic.twitter.com/V5mfurkVnt

— Nate Friedman (@NateFriedman97) January 3, 2026

Meanwhile, in Venezuela:

“Girls were forced to prostitute themselves in prison just to get food—to get a piece of bread…and where were all of you, liberals? You said nothing! You did nothing!…do not tell Venezuelans how to feel about being freed from a dictatorship.” pic.twitter.com/O0PK6jVNBX

— Daniel Cohen (@DanielCohenTV) January 4, 2026