DON’T GET COCKY: Pour Yourself a Drink, Patriot—the Democrat Party Is Crumbling.

OLD AND BUSTED: The Torricelli Gambit.

The New Hotness? Rolling Stone: Gisele Fetterman became the “de facto candidate” after husband’s stroke.

As Michael Graham wrote in 2004 after Frank Lautenberg was swapped in to replace Bob Torricelli on the Democrats’ Senate ticket in NJ, “Don’t assume you know who’s on the Democratic ticket until Election Day.”

TWITTER THREAD:

Read the whole thing.

HOW “FOOD DESERTS” ARE BORN: Wawa Closes Two Stores In Philadelphia Due To Crime. The Mayor Says It’s ‘Not A Bad Omen At All.’

MARK JUDGE: To understand the woke, you have to understand The Culture of Narcissism.

Having surrendered most of his technical skills to the corporation, [the contemporary American] can no longer provide for his material needs. As the family loses not only its productive functions but many of its reproductive functions as well, men and women no longer manage even to raise their children without the help of certified experts. The atrophy of older traditions of self-help has eroded everyday competence, in one area after another, and has made the individual dependent on the state, the corporation, and other bureaucracies.

When one observes the behavior of the new modern woke, [Christopher] Lasch’s words are stunningly prescient. The college kids literally screaming like toddlers when faced with a speaker they don’t like, the transgender people asserting that their truth is all that matters, the you-go-girl amateur psychologists helping mentally wobbly people to demand respect even if they haven’t earned it. This is the world The Culture of Narcissism predicted. These aren’t the old communists with their “dialectical materialism” and pseudoscience about the tectonic plates of evolutionary social change. These are babies with no secure sense of self throwing tantrums. A comment on a YouTube video I recently came across is very telling. The clip shows some colorful teenage dancers in a 1980s club from 40 years ago. Being in college at the time, I was actually scanning YouTube looking for my old self. Yet what caught my eye was a comment below the video, a remark left by what I assume was a younger viewer: “They all look so confident.”

The woke are not egotistical, assertive activists. They are those without a self, without history, and without confidence. More than 40 years after the publication of The Culture of Narcissism, Lasch’s screaming tyke is running the culture.

Related: The Dishonest and Dishonorable Disagreements of Former Friends.

THAT NARRATIVE DOESN’T ADVANCE ITSELF, YOU KNOW: It took me a second to realize why Twitter really wanted me to care about Jamie Lee Curtis and her, uh, daughters.

You see what’s going on here. Normally, a celebrity standing around with her children wouldn’t generate literal days-worth of top-tier placement on one of the busiest websites in the world. But one of those children is “transgender,” so they had to take the opportunity to virtual-signal the whole thing.

I’m not trying to be mean here. That’s just quite obviously what’s going on. And indeed, many of the comments underneath the tweets seem to back it up that this is not about Jamie Lee Curtis or her “daughters,” it’s about mainstreaming transgender ideology:

Okay, groomers.

AMERICA’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD: Texas Votes To Airlift Austin To California.

ANALYSIS: ABSOLUTELY TRUE. You’re living in a clown world. New video by Remy of Reason TV:

THE POWER LINE WEEK IN PICTURES: Effing-Biden Edition.

DON’T START NONE, WON’T BE NONE:

Now I know the French phrase for, "What did you think was gonna happen?" https://t.co/QT8eOqO3Zs

— jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) October 14, 2022

Also, the French phrase for “Sod off, swampy.”

Related: Climate Activists Vandalize $84.2 Million Van Gogh Painting.

Two climate activists have defaced Vincent Van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers” painting at the National Gallery in London.

Footage shows a pair of young women opening a can of Heinz tomato soup and pouring it over the artwork estimated to be worth nearly $84.2 million. Afterward, the duo glued their hands to the wall and lectured onlookers.

“What is worth more? Art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice?” they asked onlookers. “Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people? The cost of living crisis is part of the cost of oil crisis. Fuel is unaffordable to millions of cold, hungry families. They can’t even afford to heat a tin of soup.”

I do hope they’ll be serving at His Majesty’s pleasure for quite some time to come.

Earlier: Joel Kotkin: Environmentalism is a Fundamentalist Religion.

UPDATE:

OLD AND BUSTED: Google Glasses.

The New Hotness? 10 Cutting Edge Features to Expect From Apple’s Upcoming AR/VR Headset.

4K Micro-OLED Displays

Apple is using two high-resolution 4K micro-OLED displays from Sony that are said to have up to 3,000 pixels per inch. Comparatively, Meta’s new top of the line Quest Pro has LCD displays, so Apple is going to be offering much more advanced display technology.

Micro-OLED displays are built directly onto chip wafers rather than a glass substrate, allowing for a thinner, smaller, and lighter display that’s also more power efficient compared to LCDs and other alternatives.

Apple’s design will block out peripheral light, and display quality will be adjusted for peripheral vision to cut down on the processing power necessary to run the device. Apple will be able to reduce graphical fidelity at the peripherals of the headset through the eye tracking functionality being implemented.

More Than a Dozen Cameras

Apple is outfitting its AR/VR headset with more than a dozen cameras, which will capture motion to translate real world movement to virtual movement. It is said to have two downward-facing cameras to capture leg movement specifically, which will be a unique feature that will allow for more accurate motion tracking.

The cameras will be able to map the environment, detecting surfaces, edges, and dimensions in rooms with accuracy, as well as people and other objects. The cameras may also be able to do things like enhance small type, and they’ll be able to track body movements.

I thought the Apple Watch was red-lining the geek-ometer. Will the Apple googles succeed where the Google Glasses failed?

DISPATCHES FROM WEIMAR AMERICA: New York congressional candidate makes porn video in order to show ‘Sex Positive’ campaign.

In a grunt for attention, third-party Congressional candidate Mike Itkis has released a sex tape to highlight his sex positive campaign platform. The 53-year-old Army cyber operations officer is bound to lose to Rep. Jerry Nadler in Manhattan’s 12th Congressional District. But he posted the 13 minute video to a popular online porn site of him having sex with porn performer Nicole Sage as “a conversation piece,” he told City & State. “If I would just talk about it, it wouldn’t demonstrate my commitment to the issue. And the fact I actually did it was a huge learning experience, and it actually influenced items on my platform.” His issues include legalizing sex work, and making sexual rights explicit – “do NOT rely on privacy or free speech rights,” his campaign site reads, where sex positivity is one of just three campaign issues, which are all thin on details. Itkis, whose bio identifies himself as “Not married. No kids. Not celibate. Atheist.” also seems to take aim at child support payments, writing that “men should not be required to support biological children without prior agreement.”

Itkis said the video “Bucket List Bonanza” in 2021 was his first time having sex on camera, and insisted he’s not an exhibitionist. “I’m very much an introvert,” the “very liberal” registered Democrat said. “I’m kind of a nerd who doesn’t like to be the center of attention if I can avoid it. But I thought the issues I’m trying to address are so important… I wanted to have my issues talked about in some way.”

“I’m kind of a nerd who doesn’t like to be the center of attention if I can avoid it,” but watch my sex video and vote for me to oust Jerry Nadler.

UPDATE (FROM GLENN): To be honest, he had me at “oust Jerry Nadler.”

RURAL NORTH CAROLINA JUDGE SENDS POTENTIAL JUROR TO JAIL — WITH NO BOND — FOR REFUSING TO WEAR MASK:

The Harnett County Clerk of Court, Renee Whittenton, said potential jurors were told of Gilchrist’s requirement upon check-in, and told WRAL-TV:

You can go into any District courtroom without a mask. You can come into the Clerk of Superior Court’s office without a mask. You can go to the District Attorney’s office without a mask.

After Hahn communicated his unwillingness to wear a mask to Whittenton, he was sent to Gilchrist’s courtroom. According to Hahn, Judge Gilchrist said, “I understand that you don’t want to wear a mask?” To which Hahn replied, “That’s correct, sir.” Gilchrist asked, “May I ask why?” Hahn replied, “There is no mask mandated in the courthouse, in the county, or in the state.” Gilchrist then asked:

“Let me ask you again. are you refusing to wear a mask in my courtroom?”

Hahn said:

“Yes, I am.”

Hahn was then sentenced to 24 hours in the Harnett County Jail, handcuffed, and taken to the jail. He informed the judge that he was a single father and asked to call his child, but says Gilchrist refused.

* * * * * * * *

As Hahn noted, Gilchrist was not wearing a mask while holding Hahn in contempt, and there was no mask mandate at the Harnett County Jail. So what, exactly, was the point of him holding Hahn in contempt of court and putting his child at risk?

Earlier: The last of the Covidians — how should we treat those who refuse to acknowledge the pandemic is over?

‘WE COACH BALL, WE DON’T LOOK AT COLOR:’ Buccaneers Head Coach Stops Woke Reporters In Their Tracks.

One reporter asked Bowles about how he and [Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers] are “two of the few black head coaches in the league,” what their relationship was like, and about the interim head coach for the Carolina Panthers Steve Wilks “joining that fold.”

“I have a very good relationship with Tomlin,” Bowles replied. “We don’t look at what color we are when we coach against each other. We just know each other. I have a lot of very good white friends that coach in this league as well.”

“And I don’t think it’s a big deal,” he added. “As far as us coaching against each other, I think it’s normal … and we coach ball. We don’t look at color.”

Another reporter then jumped in and appeared to scold the coach for not giving the woke response desired, and reminded him that “you also understand that representation matters, too, right?”

She then told the head coach about how seeing him there inspires others because “football players, they see you guys. You know, they see someone that looks like them, maybe grew up like them …”

“Well, when you say ‘see you guys’ and ‘look like them’ and ‘grow up like them’ means that we’re oddballs to begin with,” Bowles replied. “And I think the minute you guys start — stop making a big deal about it, everybody else will as well.”

Those aren’t reporters covering a press conference, those are activists with an agenda.

WAUKESHA MASSACRE SUSPECT DARRELL BROOKS CLAIMS “I DO NOT IDENTIFY BY THAT NAME:” “Darrell Brooks, who is representing himself, went on a 50-minute rant yesterday in which he also asserted that he doesn’t identify by the name Darrell Brooks, despite the Judge pointing out that he has provided no alternative name by which he should be identified. At the same time, he also asked that the case be dismissed because the victims weren’t present in the courtroom. He said that there was ‘no injured party’ in the courtroom, which he believes violates his right under the 6th amendment to face his accusers. Also, don’t you just love that he always wears a mask? Safety first, you know. Wouldn’t want to kill grandma…”

MEANWHILE, OVER IN WORLD WAR III:

Shot: NATO to kick off nuclear drills involving B-52 bombers on Monday.

The nuclear drills — which do not involve live bombs — are taking place amid heightened tensions after Russia repeatedly threatened nuclear strikes in Ukraine following major military setbacks on the battlefield there.

“Steadfast Noon” is likely to coincide with Moscow’s own annual nuclear drills, dubbed “Grom”, which are normally conducted in late October and in which Russia tests its nuclear-capable bombers, submarines and missiles.

NATO said the Western drills were not prompted by the latest tensions with Russia.

“The exercise, which runs until 30 October, is a routine, recurring training activity and it is not linked to any current world events,” the alliance declared on its webpage, adding that no live weapons would be used.

“This exercise helps ensure that the alliance’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective,” said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu.

—Reuters, yesterday.

Chaser: Putin Moves Nuclear Bombers to NATO Border. Analysts fear buildup may be preparation to carry out tactical nuclear attack.

—Timcast, yesterday.

GUITARLINGTON! The annual Arlington, TX guitar show is this Saturday and Sunday, if you’re going to be in Dallas Metroplex. Here’s my video from last year’s show:

RIP: Robbie Coltrane, star of Cracker and Harry Potter, dies aged 72.

DISPATCHES FROM THE PARTY OF TOLERANCE FOR DIVERSITY: Watch: The folks over at MSNBC really have no idea how they’re going to live on this earth with Republicans.

JIM TREACHER: Biden: Don’t Let Republicans Ruin This Great Economy.

The Dems have got it down to a science: Lie about every single thing under the sun, make the lies as big as possible, and just keep repeating those lies until everybody gets tired of pointing out that they’re lies. It’s an endurance test. Exhaust reality. Make the truth a chore.

The people who write down the words this old fossil repeats into a microphone certainly haven’t forgotten:

Read the whole thing.

THE TRUNALIMUNUMAPRZURE BROTHERS: Biden to campaign for John Fetterman in Pennsylvania next week.

SAUDIS RELEASE BOMBSHELL STATEMENT SAYING BIDEN DID TRY AND DELAY OIL PRODUCTION CUT UNTIL AFTER THE MIDTERMS IN DESPERATE BID TO AVOID GAS PRICES SPIKING — as White House hits back and claims Kingdom knew OPEC deal would benefit Putin.

Related: Mythmaking about Khashoggi has been a disaster for Biden. “Why are we in this mess? Because Biden, whose administration and party are rife with Brotherhood sympathizers, has made Khashoggi’s murder the focal point of the U.S.–Saudi relationship. Khashoggi was undoubtedly executed with MBS’s approval, and probably at his direction, as U.S. spy agencies believe.”

UPDATE: How to Lose Friends and Influence Over People: A decade of Obama-Biden foreign policy has broken the Middle East and America’s security order.

K-12 IMPLOSION UPDATE: Intersectionality Breakdown: Liberals shocked to learn Muslims in Dearborn, MI don’t want LGBTQ content pushed in schools. “You see, for the left, it’s fine to call a bunch of mostly white and suburban parents racists and terrorists, but when Muslim parents start showing up and protesting the same issues, things get… difficult.”

JAMES LILEKS ON PAYPAL’S SELF-IMMOLATION:

I’m going to unwind from PayPal, because – well, you know. This will not affect any ongoing subscriptions for many months, but Jeebus Crow, this terms-of-service nonsense is ridiculous. I have my ideas about how it happened, though.

They’re not sitting around thinking “how do we shut down the voices of everyone who stands in our way?”

I don’t think they’re not that self-aware.

It’s more like “we are the smart and correct people whose beliefs are good and true and settled, and there are no good-faith rebuttals. Disagreement can only come from a bad place. No reasonable or good person can defend hate.”

Hmm. Hate.

Okay, well, I think you may have gleaned over the years that I hate fatuous anti-human abstract architecture that destroys the historical fabric of settled, established communities.

Does that count? Why not? It’s hate. It’s grounded in a series of defensible aesthetic opinions, but it could be defined in the end as hate.

No, of course not, that’s not what we’re talking about!

Okay, well, I hate Putin. Does that count?

No, that’s good hate, and good hate isn’t hate hate. Besides, if we banned good hate we’d have to ban all sorts of people with strong opinions about things that don’t matter.

Why not? If hate is the defining term, do they not understand how this could be applied in the broadest possible fashion? I you fail to apply it in the broadest possible fashion, then you might seem, oh, what’s the word, selective?

Read the whole thing.

HEY, WHAT’S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? Germany’s Apokalypse Now.

Confidence that the Western sanctions regime will outlast Russia’s financial resources likewise overlooks the fact that the Russian central bank can print money if it needs to, which it currently doesn’t. EU countries have paid more than 100 billion euros to Russia for fossil fuel imports since the invasion began. Russia will record a current account surplus this year of some $200 billion; the West’s hit to its foreign exchange reserves, while unprecedented, was still relatively modest. Many of Russia’s Western imports are being rapidly substituted by China and even U.S. allies like India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, while markets for Russian energy are being expanded all over Asia and the Middle East. Perhaps the Russian system under Putin really is so rigidly corrupt that it won’t be able to adjust to the shock of Western expulsion; but overconfident Western predictions of Russian economic weakness and irrelevance were part of what got us into this mess in the first place.

Furthermore, even if Russia’s economic picture is as dire as many hope, and even if the Russian elite is as humiliated by the war as it deserves to be, that does not automatically mean that Putin will suffer a crisis of legitimacy. Even on the day of the Russian invasion, Putin spoke of his war aims in genocidal terms; at best, the vast majority of his subjects and courtiers demonstrated a remarkable degree of apathy. The war has since gone very badly, and has inflicted pain on elite and ordinary Russians alike. But Russians have never known any other kind of war.

There are plenty of Germans who are panicked that Putin would sooner ignite a thermonuclear exchange with the United States than be removed from office or killed: Their analysis does not go anywhere the president of the United States didn’t go in his remarks at a Democratic fundraiser last Thursday, when he warned of “the prospect of Armageddon.” But there are also German officials and policymakers who, all too reasonably, read Putin’s snowballing nuclear threats as a strategy aimed specifically at Berlin.