WATCH: New Donald Trump Video Mocks Hillary Clinton as Malfunctioning Robot

It's good.

At Instapundit, "HEH: Trump video mocks Clinton as short-circuiting robot."

Tim Lincecum Designated for Assignment

Heh.

I called it last night, "Was That Tim Lincecum's Last Game?"

And indeed it was.

Jeff Fletcher reports, at the O.C. Register, "End of the line? Angels cut Tim Lincecum, ask him to go to minors":

Angels have DFA'd Tim Lincecum.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 6, 2016

#Angels hope Lincecum will go to AAA and work it out. He has the choice of accepting.

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 6, 2016

The Angels couldn't let Tim Lincecum keep trying -- and failing -- in the majors any more. They DFA'd him. https://t.co/ZRab6ug6rC

— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 6, 2016

SEATTLE – Tim Lincecum’s comeback attempt with the Angels -- one phase of it anyway -- is over.

The Angels designated Lincecum for assignment on Saturday, a day after his ninth start ballooned his ERA to 9.16.

“He hasn’t progressed from his first couple starts,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s regressed a little bit. It’s a matter of understanding his mechanics, getting his release point more consistent. That’s really impossible to work out at the major league level.”

Presumably Lincecum will clear waivers and then he will have the option of accepting the Angels assignment to Triple-A or becoming a free agent.

“We hope he’ll go to Triple-A and work on it and see how it progresses,” Scioscia said.

Lincecum left the ballpark Saturday before reporters had the chance to talk to him, but Scioscia said that he handled the news well.

“It’s hard news to take, but Tim understands it,” Scioscia said. “He’s pragmatic. He understands the work he needs to do. Hopefully he’ll accept this challenge and use the opportunity to become a better pitcher.”

Lincecum, 32, has spent much of the past five years trying to revive his career. A two-time Cy Young winner, Lincecum has struggled since 2012, with much of his trouble because of a hip injury that altered his delivery and led to surgery last year.

The Angels signed Lincecum in May – after watching him pitch in a showcase event in Arizona – and gave him a few weeks to get ready in the minors.

His June 18 debut in an Angels uniform was encouraging. He gave up one run in six innings in a victory over the Oakland A’s.

Since then, though, he has failed to finish six innings in any of his last eight starts. He has allowed at least three runs in each start...

I haven't blogged Angels baseball as much this summer as I did last year (the Angels were heavily in the hunt then). But if you're following me on Twitter you'd have seen my comments on Lincecum. I was really pleased with his initial comeback outing in Oakland. Of course, everyone had high hopes. But good things never materialized and last night it all fell apart. I bet Scioscia was getting a lot of heat about it, and he finally made the call to cut the dude loose. It's gotta be humiliating for a former Cy Young winner, but what are you going to do? I agree with Scioscia: He needs to go back down to Triple A and grind it out for a while. Maybe he'll get another chance to play in the majors. He's only 32-years-old.

But keep reading.

#ThirdWorldGames — Hope Solo FTW!

Well, I don't follow women's soccer that much, and I thought Hope Solo was a prima donna.

But this is a riot.

At LAT, "Solo quiets the crowd and France in record-setting 1-0 win":

Solo quiets the crowd and France in record-setting 1-0 win https://t.co/0wI1qkOLT4

— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) August 6, 2016

BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- Hope Solo is arguably the best goalkeeper in women’s soccer history. But she’s clearly not the most popular.

For the second time is as many games at the Rio Olympics, Solo was booed mercilessly every time she touched the ball Saturday. And for the second time Solo answered the taunts with a shutout in a 1-0 victory over France on a goal from Carli Lloyd in the 63rd minute.

With the victory the U.S., the three-time defending Olympic champion, moved a big step closer to winning its group and earning a quarterfinal date in Brasilia against a third-place team. France, on the other hand, needs at least a tie to finish second in the group and win a quarterfinal trip to Sao Paulo, where it would play the winner of Group F, likely Germany or Canada.

Both teams have one game left in group play Tuesday, the top-ranked U.S. against Colombia on the edge of the Amazon jungle in steamy Manaus and No. 3 France against New Zealand in the colonial port city of Salvador.

That picture would be far more jumbled if not for Solo, who was making the 200th appearance of her international career, the most by any goalkeeper, male or female, in history.

The Brazilian crowd was in no mood to help her celebrate the milestone. Each time she touched the ball the crowd booed loudly – or as loudly as a crowd of about 10,000 people can boo – then chanted “Zika!” each time she took a goal kick.

Last month Solo, who said she had considered skipping the Olympics because of the Zika virus, posted photos of herself on Twitter wearing an anti-mosquito mask and holding a bottle of insect repellent, angering many Brazilians.

Solo later apologized but the apology wasn’t accepted by everyone...

She apologized?

Okay, but the tweet's still up, heh. No wonder they hate her.

Not sharing this!!! Get your own! #zikaproof #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/y3d8hnuEjk

— Hope Solo (@hopesolo) July 22, 2016

I'm not planning on watching that much of these games, but I'll watch kick-ass women's soccer. These women are rad!

Donald Trump's Watching the Olympics to 'See How High the Mexican Pole Vaulters Go...'

Quips the so-called "libertarian" presidential candidate Gary Johnson.

That's pretty funny, I gotta admit.

At the Hill, "Gary Johnson: Trump watching Olympics to see how high Mexican pole vaulters go."

Johnson's really a leftist who likes to smoke weed, heh. Or at least, that's what John Hawkins has been saying, but it sound about right.

And see this interview with Johnson at Reason TV, "Gary Johnson on Trump, the Presidential Election, and Life as a Pot Company CEO":

Johson recently found his "dream job" as CEO of Cannabis Sativa, a publicly traded company that markets weed products. "We want to be the Dom Perignon [of marijuana]," he explains. Johnson is also the chairman of the nonprofit Our America Initiative, which advocates for balanced budgets, defense cuts, drug policy reform, and improved ballot and debate access for third-party candidates.

And, of course, once he became the "libertarian" nominee, he had to issue the obligatory repudiations of the wacky weed. See, "Libertarian Johnson would not use marijuana as president," and "Gary Johnson: 'I've stopped using marijuana' during White House bid."

Hmm, I don't believe it, lol.

John Lott, The War on Guns [BUMPED]

From John Lott, just out this week, at Amazon, The War on Guns: Arming Yourself Against Gun Control Lies.

Gisele Bündchen's Legs Do the Walking at #Rio2016 Opening Ceremony (VIDEO)

I know. I blogged the boring Olympics last night.

I didn't even watch, and I'm glad.

But the world went crazy over Gisele Bündchen, it turns out. So here's a little roundup of reactions, heh.

First, watch, at NBC Sports, "Gisele Bündchen kicks off the Opening Ceremony with the final catwalk of her modeling career."

And see the hilarious reaction at BuzzFeed, "This Is Just an Appreciation Post for This Marvelous Woman Called GISELE BÜNDCHEN":

Hi guys, let’s talk about the most important part of the opening ceremony.

Also, at London's Daily Mail, "Gisele uses her final catwalk to honor Brazil at #Olympics #OpeningCeremony. Woah."

And, "Tom Brady reveals why he missed Gisele's starring role at #Rio2016 #OpeningCeremony." Well, he's married to the woman, heh.

At CBS News Boston, "Tom Brady Praises Wife Gisele’s Role In ‘Incredible’ Olympic Opening Ceremony #Rio2016."

And here's a review, at NYT, "Even on NBC, Rio's Colors Can't Be Airbrushed Out."

Sarah Palin Doubles Down on Paul Ryan Snub (VIDEO)

Heh.

Ryan's "kinda screwed his chances for the 2020 GOP bid..."

Click through to watch:

Sarah Palin doubles down tells voters to fire Paul Ryan Mama Grizzly roars!
https://t.co/3DNcOk7R9v

— KGB Agent Краска (@HouseCracka) August 6, 2016

British Toddler with 'Worst Case of Chickenpox Ever Seen' Turned Away from Doctors; Mum Told Not to Worry (VIDEO)

The scariest case of chicken pox I've ever seen.

And the doctor's office told the mum, "every mother thinks their child has bad chickenpox," so stop freaking out already.

At Pajamas, "Toddler With 'Worst Case of Chickenpox EVER Seen' Turned Away from Doctors."

I had to check around to make sure the kid was okay.

Thankfully, yes.

At the Mirror U.K., "Tot with worst case of chicken pox ever entertains This Morning hosts with his bored antics."

Here's the video, "Severe Chickenpox Put My Child In Hospital - This Morning."

I had chicken pox. The itching just about kills you, but you'll survive.

But both of my sons were vaccinated, so thank goodness they didn't have to go through it.

Lucca Poni and Her Child in South Sudan

At the Los Angeles Times, letters to the editor, "The price of being a girl in South Sudan":

Child brides being sold for cows: The price of being a girl in South Sudan https://t.co/XjbtCuQayw pic.twitter.com/UFwgiimPOm

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) July 30, 2016

To the editor: On the front page of The Times this week was one of the simplest, yet most spectacular photos that I, a designer, have seen. (“What daughters are worth,” August 1)

The portrait of Lucca Poni and her child in South Sudan accompanied a fine article by Robyn Dixon on young girls’ plight in that part of the world.

I had to look twice to be sure it was not a painting.

Photographer Sara Hylton’s attention to subject matter illustrating the article, composition, light and color are worthy of Pulitzer consideration to my mind.

Marty Huyette, Dana Point

That's very nice.

The status of women in South Sudan? Not so much.

Special Rule 5 for Woodsterman!

I forgot to add Woodsterman to my morning babe blogging, now cross-posted Astute Bloggers, "GUARANTEED NOT HALAL: RULE 5 SATURDAY."

Here's Odie's entry, at Woodsterman's, "For Edutcher ~OR~ Rule 5 Woodsterman Style."

WikiLeaks Trying to Hack Donald Trump's Tax Returns (VIDEO)

Julian Assange confirms he's trying to hack Donald Trump's tax returns, on Bill Maher's show.

Watch, at CNN, "Wikileaks: We are working on hacking Trump's taxes: Julian Assange told Bill Maher in an interview that Wikileaks is working on hacking into Donald Trump's tax returns. The Republican nominee has refused to release the returns, despite multiple requests from reporters."

At the clip, Scottie Nell Hughes notes that they wouldn't be hacking into Trump's files, they'd be hacking into the IRS.

Assange is wanted in Sweden anyway, and would likely be extradited here. I think a lot of folks think WikiLeaks just broke onto the scene the last couple years. But Assange and his cyber-terrorists tried to demonize and discredit the U.S. back in 2010.

These are bad people. Don't kid yourself about them. They're genuinely evil.

Shame on Bill Maher for giving him a platform.

Leftist MSM Smear Campaign Won't Stop Donald Trump (VIDEO)

Heh, at the D.C. Whispers blog, "ALERT: Democrat & Republican Leaders to Declare Donald Trump “Mentally Incompetent” (UPDATES)."

Lolz.

Declare Trump "incompetent"; say he's about to "drop out"; and allege that the entire GOP establishment has abandoned him, and you can create an almost impenetrable Orwellian bubble of lies.

That's what the left does. It's all lies.

I will concede the polls are not going Trump's way, although I'm still leery of the sampling.

We'll see, of course.

In any case, you gotta love the Alex Jones folks for keeping the faith:

Democrat Party Registration Numbers Surge Behind the Orange Curtain

The O.C.'s a polarized county.

If you get up into North Orange County, it's almost like Los Angeles and Long Beach. Totally diverse --- and leftist.

But in South Orange County --- Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, and Dana Point, for example --- I'm sure there's still large Republican majorities. But even there it's changing.

At the O.C. Register, "Democratic surge shrinks GOP lead":

A surge in Democratic voter registration has cut Republicans’ advantage in Orange County to less than 6 percentage points and has doubled the number of Democratic cities over the past year.

The Republican margin has been shrinking since 1990, when the GOP edge was 22 points. But in the past six months, the pace of change has been four times as fast as the 26-year average – due in part to the GOP’s controversial presidential nominee. That could hurt the local Republicans in November’s down-ticket races.

“Donald Trump has become our best marketing tool,” said Henry Vandermeir, chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County. “He’s insulted pretty much every constituency in this county, which has helped drive Democratic registration and turnout to new highs.”

Vandermeir’s registration efforts have gotten a boost from other quarters. In addition to the county Democratic Party, at least four left-leaning groups – including MoveOn.org – have been registering voters in Orange County. County GOP Chairman Fred Whitaker said his party has gotten virtually no outside help.

Additionally, Sen. Bernie Sanders attracted young adults who might have otherwise not participated. And the competitive Democratic presidential primary in June boosted turnout, while the Republican contest was already decided....

Orange County was long touted as the nation’s most Republican county. The modern-era high point was 1990, when the GOP’s 56 percent share of the electorate translated to a 22-point advantage over Democrats. (In 1928, Republicans were at 73 percent.)

That edge has slowly dropped, to 17 percentage points in 2000 and to 11 points in 2010.

Republicans are now 39.7 percent of county voters, an all-time low. Democrats are at 34 percent, their highest since 1992. Voters with no party preference account for 22.6 percent, down from the all-time high of 23.6 percent last year.

That means Republicans’ 8-percentage point edge in February has shrunk to 5.7 points...

I grew up in Orange County. Shoot, I walked to school through the orange groves behind my postwar track housing neighborhood. It was great!

But keep reading (via Memeorandum).

If you click though, little noticed there is the surge in "no party preference" voters, at almost 23 percent (up from 10 percent in 1992). A lot of independents are extremely angry and frustrated and may well vote for Trump as the anti-establishment outsider. I think idiot Democrats ought not be counting their presidential chickens before they hatch.

Deal of the Day: Up to 30% Off Barska Level Series Spotting Scopes

At Amazon, Barska WP Level Angled Spotting Scopes.

Also, Barska 20-60x65 WP Level Straight Spotting Scope.

More, KIND Bars, Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, Gluten Free, 1.4 Ounce Bars, 12 Count.

And, LG Electronics Tone Pro HBS-760 Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Headset - Black (Certified Refurbished).

Plus, Bose SoundTrue around-ear headphones II - Apple devices, Charcoal.

Fire HD 6 Kids Edition, 6" HD Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB, Blue Kid-Proof Case.

And, Mary Katharine Ham, End of Discussion: How the Left's Outrage Industry Shuts Down Debate, Manipulates Voters, and Makes America Less Free (and Fun).

Bruce Levine, The Fall of the House of Dixie: The Civil War and the Social Revolution That Transformed the South.

Still more, from Leon Litwack, Been in the Storm So Long: The Aftermath of Slavery.

Clint Romesha, Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor.

And John Nagl, Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice.

BONUS: Dexter Filkins, The Forever War.

Kendall Jenner Steps Out in Tight Dress in Woodland Hills

At the Mirror U.K., "Kendall Jenner flashes nipples AGAIN as she steps out in tight see-through dress."

And at London's Daily Mail, "Bra-less Kendall Jenner wears VERY flimsy dress as she arrives late to family lunch and meets with survivors of gun violence."

Saturday Rule 5

I haven't done a roundup in a while, as always, because they take too dang long.

But here's a few celebrity shots and blog links, what the hell?

First Street Journal, "Rule 5 Blogging: Totally Hot Twitter Edition."

At 90 Miles From Tyranny, "Morning Mistress."

And London's Daily Mail, "Meet Sahara Ray, the topless Australian model linked to Justin Bieber." And at Drunken Stepfather, "CENSORED SAHARA RAY TITS YOU’VE SEEN WITH CENSORED JUSTIN BIEBER YOU’VE SEEN OF THE DAY."

Still more, at the Mirror U.K., "Competing with Orlando Bloom? Justin Bieber and his girlfriend strip off during Hawaii getaway."

At YOLO Selfie, "Nude Selfie Breastroom."

More, at DListed, "Open Post: Britney Spears' New Video for “Make Me”."

The Hostages, "Big Boob Friday, "BBF – National Underwear Day Edition."

And Proof Positive, "Friday Night Babe: Chase Kennedy!"

Theo Spark, "Victoria’s Secret – Easy Collection Commercial Featuring Lily Aldridge (VIDEO)."

From Izismile, "Every Girl with Cute Tushie Should Wear Such Jeans (8 Pics)," and "Hot Women from '70s Sure Had Some Style (24 Pics)."

Bob Belvedere Flashback, "Rule 5 News: 08 June 2013 A.D. - Featuring Famke Janssen."

Check Pirate's Cove, "If All You See……is a terrible waste of water for fun when climate change will destroy all water, you might just be a Warmist."

Ms. EBL, "White Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter...Rule 5."

At Wirecutter's, "Your Good Morning Girl."

BONUS: At the Rule 5 blogfather's blog, the Other McCain, "Rule 5 Sunday: I Never Would Have Guessed."

Drop me a link in the comments to be added. I don't do these that much anymore, so I'm out of shape, heh.

Machete Suspect Screams 'Allahu Akbar' in Latest Belgian Jihad Attack (VIDEO)

The daily jihad attacks are back.

Watch, at Euronews, "Two policewomen wounded in machete attack in Belgium."

And at the Telegraph U.K., "Belgian police officers injured in machete attack."

BONUS: Flashback, "Postcard from a Failed State? Attacks Cast Light on Belgium's State Crisis."

'Reparations' Website Exploits Guilt-Ridden White to Provide 'Free' Services to Black Americans

Blazing Cat Fur has the story, "Website Invites the Liberal-Guilted to Give Free Stuff In Exchange for 'White Privilege Offsets'."

I think it's despicable.

I saw this at the Los Angeles Times yesterday, "Artist launches Reparations website and 'social experiment' on white privilege":

As an interior designer relatively new to the business, Christy Lynn Abram lacked the connections that could make her start-up a success. Then a friend recommended Reparations, a new Internet site that allows ethnic minorities to request help or services from a white person who would fulfill them free of charge.

"I was kind of drawn to it," said Abram, who is black. "My thought wasn't that someone owed me anything. It was more about opening myself up to having someone help me."

Launched as a modest project on Facebook in mid-July but soon expanded to a standalone website, Reparations is starting to draw international attention for its brazen approach to race relations. It is provoking strong reaction, including condemnation from those who see it as a racially divisive tool that exploits white liberal guilt.

But Seattle-based conceptual artist Natasha Marin, who created the project, defended her site as a social experiment intended to explore "white privilege."

"There are people across the political spectrum who don't understand that they have privilege,” she said. “So in many ways the site lets you cash in your whiteness to help other people."

The site has drawn more than 1,000 visitors per day since launching, estimated Marin, who said that her site analytics shut down because traffic exceeded capacity. She said the project has received more than 1,000 requests and offerings.

In a modern news era when social media reaction can amplify a relatively small number of voices into a national or even global conversation, Reparations has spurred coverage by outlets including the Washington Post and the Guardian, as well as several conservative sites such as the Daily Caller and Breitbart, which have taken a more critical approach to the project.

As word of the site has spread, offers and requests have come in from all over the U.S. as well as countries including Britain, New Zealand and Zambia — including one offer of a night’s shelter and a meal to a person of color traveling near Paparoa, New Zealand.

Marin, 37, is black and hails from Trinidad. She said that she has received a barrage of negative online feedback, including death threats, racial slurs and messages calling her a "whore."

She said she was surprised by some of the vitriol.

"You can tell the whole world that I was that naive," she said. "I don't feel like I deserve the hatred I've been getting out of this."

The artist said that requests are moderated and that she tries to facilitate exchanges.

Abram, the interior designer, said she received several responses that were helpful, including one from a man in Montreal who gave her career advice via Skype. But she also received "nasty” messages, including one that said white people didn't owe her anything and another that called her a "bloodsucker."

The concept of reparations has been controversial, especially when referring to the notion that black individuals in the U.S. should be compensated for the legacy of slavery.

On Monday leaders affiliated with the Black Lives Matter movement published a political platform calling for slavery reparations.

"The government, responsible corporations and other institutions that have profited off of the harm they have inflicted on black people — from colonialism to slavery through food and housing redlining, mass incarceration, and surveillance — must repair the harm done," said the Movement for Black Lives, an umbrella group that includes Black Lives Matter...

Black leftists have created a recipe for mutual hatred and recrimination. No wonder race relations are worse today than they've been in decades.

Keep reading.

Gold Star Mom Karen Vaughn Goes 'On the Record' (VIDEO)

Following-up from yesterday, "Gold Star Mom Karen Vaughn Says Obama Used Son's Casket as 'Photo Op' (VIDEO)."

She's a good lady.

From Greta's show yesterday afternoon:

Russia and America: Destined for Conflict?

From Dimitri K. Simes, at the National Interest:

THE NEXT American president will face the most serious challenge from Russia since the end of the Cold War or, for that matter, since the early 1980s, when the United States and Yuri Andropov’s Soviet Union actively confronted one another around the globe. Russia today is increasingly an angry, nationalist, elective monarchy, and while it is still open for business with America and its allies, its leaders often assume the worst about Western intentions and view the United States as the “main enemy”—indeed, a new poll finds that 72 percent of Russians consider the United States the country most hostile to Russia. Worse, Moscow has been prepared to put its money where its mouth is in proceeding with a massive military modernization. The Russian government is simultaneously tightening domestic political and police controls and seeking new alliances to balance pressures from the United States and its allies and partners.

It is important not to oversimplify this situation. It is not a reenactment of the Cold War; history rarely repeats itself so precisely. Vladimir Putin’s Russia is not a superpower and its top officials are realistic about their country’s military, geopolitical and economic limitations. Russia does not have a universal ideology predicated on the West as an enemy. In fact, Putin and his associates regularly profess interest in resuming cooperation with the United States and its allies—on terms acceptable to the Kremlin. The Russian government is eager to obtain foreign investment and access to Western technology, which requires normalcy in relations with the West.

We cannot be sure how Putin and his associates would respond if the United States and its allies were prepared to reshape their policy towards Russia by defining their interests more narrowly, being less categorical about Russian domestic practices, putting a premium on avoiding confrontation and, when possible, even engaging in cooperation with Russia. All that can be said at this point is that Russia’s trajectory is alarming, but probably not yet irreversible...

Keep reading.