I DON’T KNOW WHAT RITTENHOUSE WAS THINKING, BUT I’M GLAD HE THOUGHT AGAIN:

I was harder on you than anyone – but I can't hold a grudge when a man apologizes.

Just remember, when it was political poison to take your side, Trump and MAGA was there for you during your lowest point.

— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) August 2, 2024

CONSEQUENCES: Acquitted former student sues 15 groups for defamation after they called him a rapist: Experienced prosecutor should have known better than to call an acquitted person a rapist, filing says. “Saifullah Khan is suing fifteen organizations including the National Women’s Law Center, the Fierberg National Law Group, and the National Crime Victim Law Institute, along with attorney Jennifer Becker, for ‘defamation, false light, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and abuse of process action.’ Khan (pictured) is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.”

THAT’S THE GOAL: Prosecutors drop charges against 300+ anti-Israel encampment protesters nationwide; expert warns campus agitators might ‘escalate with impunity.’

DISSOLVE THE PEOPLE AND ELECT ANOTHER: Voters fail Harris on border, 60% say it’s key to their vote.

#JOURNALISM:

The Slack won't allow it! https://t.co/rP9ZwHwgnd

— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) August 1, 2024

I’D RATHER HAVE THE REAL DR. PHIL: Who Is Kamala’s Dr. Phil? As Harris’s national security adviser, Phil Gordon brings a ton of experience to the job—and none of it good.

THE BIRTH DEARTH: Why fewer people are choosing to have kids. “There were many reasons why people said they didn’t have kids, including financial concerns, infertility, or that it just didn’t happen, according to the research. For people younger than 50, the top reason reported for not having children was that they don’t want to.”

IT’S FUN TO JOKE ABOUT LIFEGUARDS AT OLYMPIC SWIM MEETS, BUT THERE’S A REASON: Olympic swimmer Tamara Potocka collapses after race in scary scene.

OPEN THREAD: Rock into the weekend.

THE NEW SPACE RACE: NASA to soon resume awards of lunar lander missions.

SOMETHING YOUR GRANDMOTHER KNEW: 30 Years of Research Reveals Surprising 10-Minute Mental Health Boost. “A study reveals that even 10 minutes in nature benefits adults with mental illness. Reviewing 30 years of research, it shows positive effects from various nature exposures, including urban parks and wilderness. Activities like camping and gardening had notable benefits.”

Go play outside.

THE NEW SPACE RACE: SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites; fourth liftoff in week.

EVERYTHING IS GOING SWIMMINGLY: Younger generations more frequently being diagnosed for many types of cancer.

PLANS FOR POWER PROJECTION PROCEED APACE: China’s Blue-Water Ambitions.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BRING BACK THE OLYMPIC DUELING EVENT: Big Tech, Media Hates on Shooters Even as One Olympic Shooter Becomes a Viral Phenom.

And yes, pistol dueling was once an Olympic event: “The competition involved two competitors firing at each other with dueling pistols loaded with wax bullets and wearing protective equipment for the torso, face, and hands.”

REPAIR, REUSE, REPLACE: A Band-Aid for the heart? New 3D printing method makes this, and much more, possible.

NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME: ChatGPT still not very good at diagnosing human ailments.

HMM: Aspirin’s role in preventing colon cancer examined.

SPACE: NASA Considers Boeing Starliner or SpaceX Dragon to Return Astonauts.

I THINK THAT WAS ALWAYS THE PLAN:

There’s time! https://t.co/UjOBAWvoEl

— Mickey Kaus (@kausmickey) August 2, 2024

BETRAYAL OF DUTY: Director Rowe Personally Crippled Trump’s Secret Service Team. “The security ‘breakdowns’ were so massive and implausible when combined that any large police force could have done a better job than the most elite protection unit in the world. The shooter was identified, tracked, photographed, filmed on the roof, the Secret Service was warned multiple times, the shooter was in the line of sight of the snipers, and Trump was trotted out onto the stage and kept there as the shooter was lining up his shot in full view of the Secret Service snipers. None of that is disputable.”

YES, THE GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEY SHOWS MARRIED MOMS AND DADS ARE THE HAPPIEST: Contrary to pop culture narrative, married people happier, wealthier: sociologist. “‘Nothing predicts happiness … like a good marriage does,’ professor says.”

Pop culture says otherwise, because it’s designed to produce Democratic voters, who tend to be neurotic and unhappy.

HIGHER EDUCATION WAS SUPPOSED TO PRODUCE CRITICAL THINKING: 70 Percent of College Students Say Speech Can Be as Damaging as Physical Violence.

THEY’LL TRY TO HOLD EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THOUGH: #Bidenomics Update: Ew. “Whatever wages workers are being paid are nowhere near what they need to keep up with the Biden-Harris inflation cycle, no matter how productive they are or what raises they’ve gotten. Or how often they’re told they should be grateful because things are really, really good.”

Anybody who's been trying to look for a new job has been saying this for the past year.

— Contra Declinationem (@contradecline) August 1, 2024

DANICA PATRICK: “I don’t care who you sleep with. Whatever. But the media has spent eight years telling us Trump allegedly sleeping with Stormy Daniels is a monstrously important aspect of his character and fitness for office. How can they ignore Kamala banging Willie Brown, the married mayor?”