Oscar Night

I saw Sinners and One Battle After Another. 

Both were good. Probably all the ones I didn't see were trash (joke).

Lunch

Eat

President Deals

I do enjoy reports that Spain's Pedro Sánchez been snubbing Germany's hideous Merz, who was too stupid to realize fast enough that this was all a terrible idea, even aside from the obvious immorality.

Spain is currently doing great by bucking a lot of trends embraced by the Sensible Moderates of Europe.

Morning

Sunday funday.

The Power Of Positive Thinking

Other Places Aren't Real

Awhile back I spent a month in Sicily. I'm not completely stupid. I travel a fair amount. I look at maps a lot (many people never do anymore). I have seen that big blob at the toe of the boot. Still, stuck in my mind was the idea that "Sicily is an island off the coast of mainland Italy." And islands are pretty small, right?

Sicily is actually quite big! It's bigger than New Jersey!

Generally, no matter how much I consult maps, I have a hard time getting the sense of the scale of a place before I actually visit. The consistent thing is everywhere is bigger than I expect.

Iran is very big.

Will Hopefully Will

 Okay then

At Least The War Is Over

I used to "joke" that the plan was to occupy Iraq until we had killed everyone who wanted us to leave. Then we would leave.

That was a lot more coherent than whatever the plan is with Iran.

Droney

I am mildly curious about when the brain geniuses in the Pentagon - I am sure there are some - started planning for a future in which everybody had access to cheap military drones.

Morning

Slacker Saturday

Friday Night

Rock on.

Afternoon

I got nothin'

Lunch

Shop while you eat! (Ad, I get a commission).

Not book smart or street smart or brain smart, but...somethin'

Can't argue with that, chief.

The Strait of Hormuz is open for transit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. “The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping,” he said. “It is open for transit should Iran not do that.”

Mommy He Hit Me Back

"War with Iran is tricky because of the importance of the Strait of Hormuz" is something a precocious 9-year-old could tell you.

Top Trump officials acknowledged to lawmakers during recent classified briefings that they did not plan for the possibility of Iran closing the strait in response to strikes, according to three sources familiar with the closed-door session.

 

It Started A Little Earlier

I think 'freedom of the seas' began its erosion when Hegseth started playing pew pew pew with boats in the Caribbean.

Freedom of the seas changed the world. Now, the world is changing in ways that threaten to make the global waters less free. The ability of people, goods and money to safely traverse the oceans turbocharged trade and underpinned global prosperity. American naval dominance has long kept the maritime commons secure.

But the current mess in the Middle East — especially Iran’s assault on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — is indicative of an era in which threats to freedom of the seas are increasing, chokepoints are growing more contested, and America’s ability to patrol the waves is in doubt.

I think we were doing a bit too much patrolling. 

Morning

Funky Friday

Thursday Night

Rock on.

Happy Hour

Get happy

Of The Willing?

Sure why not.

Speaking to Sky News' Wilfred Frost, Scott Bessent said: "My belief that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through."