OPEN THREAD: Ring out the weekend.

THE NEW SPACE RACE: Another reusable rocket? Japan launches, lands RV-X prototype (video).

AS ELON SAYS ABOUT THE PAYPAL DAYS, THE SCAMMERS ALWAYS PROTEST THE LOUDEST: Historian says it’s racist to question her — after book about slavery pulled from shelves over inaccuracies.

The proper response to this sort of response to criticism is “That’s bullshit and you should be ashamed to be peddling it.”

Meanwhile, a suggestion to academic prize committees: Before you award a prize, have some research assistants check the citations and sources.

WELL, A VISIT TO THE E.R. SHOULD FIX THAT HAPPINESS SURPLUS: Too Much Happiness Sent A Woman To The Emergency Room In an Incredibly Rare Case.

FASTER, PLEASE: The Propellantless Spacecraft Technologies That Could Help Us Reach the Stars.

WELL, GOOD: Cutting-edge drug shows promise for patients with NRAS-driven melanoma.

THEY SOLD THEIR BIRTHRIGHT FOR A MESS OF POTTAGE: “Academics Spent Years Lending Their Institutional Credibility to Various Political Projects. Now they are reputationally bankrupt. If they don’t repair the damage, and convince people to keep writing the checks, many institutions will eventually be financially bankrupt as well.”

It’s probably too late.

BUICK: A Fully Loaded Buick Enclave Now Costs Luxury SUV Money.

THE MATH DOESN’T ADD UP: Butterfield Effect Hits ‘The Trace’ Hard as They Try to Reconcile Lower Crime, Higher Gun Ownership.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY’RE PLAYING INTO ELON’S HANDS WITH HIS SPACE DATA-CENTER PLAN: China Doesn’t Have to Beat Us at AI … We’re Busy Handing Them the Win by Letting Doomers Panic Over Power Lines and Cornfields.

THE 21ST CENTURY ISN’T TURNING OUT AS I’D HOPED: Since the camera is always watching, why not snap a surveillance selfie?

THE NEW SPACE RACE: India launches its first privately developed orbital rocket.

VERY EASY: I became a GLP-1 ‘secret shopper’ to see how easy it was to get a prescription.

I SIDE WITH RECIPROCITY: Empathy vs. Reciprocity.

WE CAN HOPE: Trump-style nationalism surges across globe. Will France be next with Le Pen reprise?

WHERE THE HIGHER EDUCATION BUBBLE MEETS THE K-12 IMPLOSION: SUNY institutes mandatory tutoring, extra class time due to ‘record’ number of first-years failing math, writing.

SELLING A PRODUCT NO ONE WANTS TO BUY: Northeastern Illinois gender studies major enrolls just 4 students.

ROGER KIMBALL: ‘Art’ and the Pathology of our Age: Modern art stopped challenging convention long ago. Now it challenges only common sense—and rewards the people willing to applaud the loudest absurdities.

OF COURSE IT DID: Memos reveal FBI faced roadblocks to prosecute possible 2020 Michigan voter registration fraud: The FBI collected witness interviews alleging voter registration fraud in Michigan in 2020. Newly-disclosed documents show the case was delayed, and ultimately “killed” by the Biden administration.

EVERYTHING THEY DO IS FAKE:

Lots of people comparing AOC's fake accent in Memphis to Kamala's black southern preacher routine, so went back to rewatch.

Forgot how bad this was. Absolutely brutal. https://t.co/ZXYmk9e6HR pic.twitter.com/uqlQOkf6a1

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) July 18, 2026

SEDUCTIVE AI: China cracks down on AI girlfriends, leaving users heartbroken.

Related: Your Child’s Next Teacher Could Be a Sex Robot. “But look on the bright side: this is real vertical integration, people! Just imagine a future in which the same company can sell you a) a robot to teach you at school; b) a robot to compensate for the fact that you never learned to make friends at school; and c) a robot to gratify you because you’re lonely, alienated and your job just got automated out of existence! Who wouldn’t want to live in that world?”

You should read the book.

LIFE AMONG THE SAVAGES: I danced until 2am… then it was off to my flogging.

THE OLD GODS WALK AMONG US: Mystery Deepens After 2,700-Year-Old Bronze Sword Emerges Standing Upright.

CONSEQUENCES: DHS issues scathing update on future of ‘maple leaf menace’ accused of slapping patriotic teen.

OPEN THREAD: You know what to do.