PEAK GOVERNMENT: Spending the money was the point, not actually beautifying the city. The lights were purchased and stored in a warehouse for years until being auctioned off.

ROGER SIMON: Mamdani and the Rise and Fall of Great Cities: Rome, Athens aren’t what they were. New York next?

All New York needs to be great is a city government that will do the obvious stuff: Keep the streets safe and clean, mostly. But there’s not enough graft, and self-importance, in doing that.

Related item here.

THE NEW SPACE RACE:

Falcon 9 completes its 500th mission pic.twitter.com/G6JVgulgo1

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 13, 2025

STEPHEN MOORE: The Biggest Conservative Victory in 30 Years. “Everyone knows that the ‘big, beautiful’ tax bill signed into law on the Fourth of July lowers tax burdens for families and businesses. It also averts a $4 trillion tax increase starting next year. That’s enough reason to heartily celebrate. But what isn’t well known is that this new law doesn’t just change tax policy. It includes dozens of other long-sought policy goals — what I call ‘hidden gems.’ Here is a list of some of the major policy victories.”

NOT MUCH LOVE FOR GOVERNOR GAVIN:

Oh no, your donors are big mad that they can’t exploit the illegal child labor for $2 an hour anymore. Thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/BYZDRMle7o

— Savannah (@BasedSavannah) July 12, 2025

Nor should they. They were illegal aliens and they should not be in our country. https://t.co/lmdHV4xWb9

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) July 12, 2025

Remember when you were tearing your state apart with draconian lockdowns while you ate in luxury restaurants?

We do. https://t.co/04qKNqQwBU

— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) July 12, 2025

OPEN THREAD: For vibrations and compatibility, I think it’s like a magnet.

PLAYING IT SAFE: NASA considering flying only cargo on next Starliner mission. Probably smart, but not a vote of confidence in Boeing.

ALWAYS IN THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK: This Martian Region Is Hiding Thousands of Kilometers of Ancient Rivers.

STAYING OFF SOCIAL MEDIA? A Simple Daily Habit Could Help Lower Your Blood Pressure.

I BLAME DONALD TRUMP: Northern Arizona resident dies from plague.

IT’S KINDA BIG, CLUMSY, AND UGLY: Why Isn’t The Jeep Wagoneer Selling Better?

OOPS: Another Bad Guy Brings A Knife To A Gunfight.

HMM: Study suggests semen quality could signal broader health concerns for men.

FIGHT THE POWER:

Masculine young men are a threat to society and should be censored, say the media, NGOs, and Left-wing parties. They're not. They're rightly demanding their rights, including to speak. The real threat comes from the Left's totalitarian and misandrist, anti-civilization agenda. pic.twitter.com/LWY9CO4yy8

— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) July 11, 2025

SUPERVOLCANO! Earthquake swarm detected at Mount Rainier, biggest since 2009. “Hundreds of small earthquakes have rattled Mount Rainier this week in the largest swarm of tremors in more than a decade. But experts say there’s no need to panic — at least not yet.”

HMM: Nerve pain medication gabapentin possibly tied to dementia, study says.

OF COURSE IT DOES, FOR A FEE IT WILL TURN A BLIND EYE TO ANYTHING: Human rights advocates say Harvard turning blind eye to China’s genocide.

Back before China was let into the WTO and became a huge power, it was all FREE TIBET. Now it’s like “Uighurs who?”

LIES, BIGOTRY, AND DISCRIMINATION AT CORNELL: Internal emails suggest Cornell considers race in hiring despite merit-based claims: Although Cornell University states it hires based solely on merit, internal documents suggest the school may factor race into hiring decisions—potentially violating federal law.

INCENTIVES MATTER:

England puts people who defend themselves in jail. Why would anybody put himself at personal risk when he knows he may be prosecuted? They did it to themselves. https://t.co/umppXkjwxp

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) July 11, 2025

HOW FAR DOES THIS HAVE TO GO BEFORE TRUMP INVOKES THE INSURRECTION ACT?

Let this sink in: Los Angeles is waging insurrection against the federal government. https://t.co/srJNjwvMJj

— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) July 12, 2025

The rioters waving the flags of foreign countries on American soil while they clash with National Guard troops should be treated as enemy combatants.

— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) July 11, 2025

DID ANYONE EVER TRY THIS?

shower thought

why is no one doing outbound for pizza

"Hey this Gigi from Gigis Pizzas calling. You ordered last week. We have a Pepperoni Pizza ready and could deliver it in 10 minutes. You hungry?"

— Peer Richelsen — oss/acc (@peer_rich) April 8, 2024

JAMES PETHOKOUKIS: Lessons from the end of the world: Why we take civilization for granted. “The degrowth dream of a ‘simpler life’ isn’t about escaping modernity — it’s about buying a curated version, one with solar panels, trust funds, and barn parties. It’s not simplicity. It’s aesthetic.”

SO MUCH FOR THE “EXPERTS.” AGAIN.

How it started vs How it’s going pic.twitter.com/WhgHjS2JBt

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 11, 2025

GOOD QUESTION:

“What level of untapped talent exists in this country that a combination of DEI and immigration have basically cut out of the loop for the last 50 years?” https://t.co/UfDPKUWOHk

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) July 11, 2025

OPEN THREAD: We are here to save the Erf. E – R – F.