Thursday, May 18, 2017

Jessica Gomes in Paradise (VIDEO)

Via Sports Illustrated Swimsuit:



Trump's Statements Are Not an Obstruction of Justice

A great piece, from Elizabeth Price Foley, via Instapundit:
Principled objections to Mr. Trump’s policies and leadership style should not blind opponents to the dangers of repeated, knee-jerk calls for criminal prosecution of the president of the United States. Let the evidence unfold, and reserve serious charges if and when the evidence warrants it. Crying wolf undermines the credibility of the opposition, further divides an already deeply divided country and breeds cynicism about American institutions that is as dangerous to our republic, if not more, than outside meddling.
A great piece. RTWT.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Danielle Gersh's Warm-Up Forecast

It was still cloudy and cool today, but as noted by Ms. Evelyn last night, a high pressure system is moving in by the end of the week, and with it warmer temperatures.

Here's the lovely Ms. Danielle:



Mary V. Dearborn, Ernest Hemingway

Out today, at Amazon, Mary V. Dearborn, Ernest Hemingway: A Biography.

The Most Important Book for College Graduates to Read

According to Bill Gates, it's Steven Pinker's, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined.

I've been meaning to read it, actually.


Shop Today

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Today's Deals.

Especially, Military and Tactical Boots.

And, Save on the Hoover FloorMate Deluxe Hard Floor Cleaner.

Also, Esbit CS585HA 3-Piece Lightweight Camping Cook Set for Use with Solid Fuel Tablets.

Plus, Save on Fire Tablets.

More, Lasko 1827 Adjustable Elegance and Performance Pedestal Fan, 18-Inch, Black.

BONUS: Volker Ullrich, Hitler: Ascent, 1889-1939.

Robert Mueller Named Special Counsel in Russia Investigation

I guess it was inevitable, although I don't see this as a victory for anyone.

If memory serves, past special prosecutions have been a joke.


Iryna Ivanova in Red Bikini

At Your Daily Girl, "Iryna Ivanova for Knockerz Magazine."

Also at the Daily Star, "Who is Iryna Ivanova? Ukranian Playboy model says ‘boobies’ are the key to success."

Priyanka Chopra on Jimmy Kimmel's (VIDEO)

Watch:


Intelligence Leaks Wound America

From James Dobbins, at USA Today:


#PresidentTrump's Fans Shrug Off Oval Office Leak.

I'm shrugging, although I'd expect folks at the White House to get their stuff together, and fast. It's a little too exciting over there.

At Politico:


Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Eric Hinderaker, At the Edge of Empire

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Eric Hinderaker, At the Edge of Empire: The Backcountry in British North America.

Evelyn Taft's Warming Weather Forecast

Sunny but mild all day today. You could've worn a light jacket and been perfectly comfortable.

I prefer it a little warmer myself, but not bad. Not bad.

Here's the lovely Ms. Evelyn, for CBS News 2 Los Angeles:



Trump Administration's Tempers Flare

It's a little off message these days, I'll admit.

It's not what you want, actually.

But, who're you gonna trust?

FWIW, at the New York Times, "At a Besieged White House, Tempers Flare and Confusion Swirls":

WASHINGTON — The disclosure that President Trump divulged classified intelligence to two high-ranking Russian officials was a new blow to an already dispirited and besieged White House staff still recovering from the uproar and recriminations from the president’s firing of James B. Comey, the F.B.I. director.

Mr. Trump’s appetite for chaos, coupled with his disregard for the self-protective conventions of the presidency, have left his staff confused and squabbling. And his own mood, according to two advisers who spoke on the condition of anonymity, has become sour and dark, turning against most of his aides — even his son-in-law, Jared Kushner — and describing them in a fury as “incompetent,” according to one of those advisers.

Even before the latest bombshell dropped, reports swirled in the White House that the president was about to embark on a major shake-up, probably starting with the dismissal or reassignment of Sean Spicer, the press secretary.

Mr. Trump’s rattled staff kept close tabs on a meeting early Monday in which the president summoned Mr. Spicer; the deputy press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders; and the communications director, Michael Dubke, to lecture them on the need “to get on the same page,” according to a person briefed on the meeting. Even as Mr. Trump reassured advisers like Mr. Spicer that their jobs were safe at the morning meeting, he told other advisers he knew he needed to make big changes but did not know which direction to go in, or whom to select.

Later, reporters could hear senior aides shouting from behind closed doors as they discussed a defense after Washington Post reporters informed them of an article they were writing that first reported the news about the president’s divulging of intelligence.

As they struggled to limit the fallout on Monday, Mr. Spicer and other Trump aides decided to send Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, the national security adviser, to serve as a surrogate.

They realized that selecting such a high official would in some ways validate the story, but they wanted to establish a credible witness account exonerating the president from wrongdoing — before the barrage of Twitter posts they knew would be coming from Mr. Trump on Tuesday morning.

The White House counsel’s office worked with the Army general on framing language, producing a clipped sound bite: “The story that came out tonight as reported is false.”

As he was working on his statement, General McMaster — a former combat commander who appeared uncomfortable in a civilian suit and black-framed glasses — nearly ran into reporters staking out Mr. Spicer’s office.

“This is the last place in the world I wanted to be,” he said, perhaps in jest.

As the general approached microphones on the blacktop in front of the West Wing, one of his deputies responsible for coping with the fallout, Dina Powell, could be seen peering behind the reporter pack to see how her boss’s statement was being received.

On Capitol Hill, there were signs that Republicans, who mostly held the line after Mr. Comey’s ouster, were growing alarmed by and impatient with Mr. Trump’s White House operation.

“There need to be serious changes at the White House, immediately,” said Senator Patrick J. Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican who wants Mr. Trump to appoint a Democrat to head the F.B.I. The Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, called on Mr. Trump to operate with “less drama” on Tuesday....

*****

There is a growing sense that Mr. Trump seems unwilling or unable to do the things necessary to keep himself out of trouble, and that the presidency has done little to tame a shoot-from-the-hip-into-his-own-foot style that characterized his campaign.

There is a fear among some of Mr. Trump’s senior advisers about leaving him alone in meetings with foreign leaders out of concern he might speak out of turn. General McMaster, in particular, has tried to insert caveats or gentle corrections into conversations when he believes the president is straying off topic or onto boggy diplomatic ground.

This has, at times, chafed the president, according to two officials with knowledge of the situation. Mr. Trump, who still openly laments having to dismiss his first national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn, has groused that General McMaster talks too much in meetings, and the president has referred to him as “a pain,” according to one of the officials...

Alexa Chung for Vogue U.K. June 2017

Click through for the photos:


Emily Ratajkowski and Her Hot Mom

At the New York Post (and Ms. Emily's Twitter entry for last year below):


Daniel Drezner, The Ideas Industry

Drezner did a job talk at UCSB about 1996. His blog was the first blog I read, followed by Althouse. He used to be libertarian, even kinda conservative on economics. But increasingly he became a leftist, and appeared on panels (if memory serves me) with the infamous Israel-basher Stephen Walt.

That said, he's an interesting guy who writes quirky books.

Here's his latest, at Amazon, Daniel Drezner, The Ideas Industry: How Pessimists, Partisans, and Plutocrats are Transforming the Marketplace of Ideas.

'Black Magic Woman'

From yesterday afternoon's drive-time, at the Sound L.A.

Note, back then, Gregg Rolie, who later co-founded Journey, was Santana's lead singer.

Magic Man
Heart
4:56 PM

Simple Man
Lynyrd Skynyrd
4:51 PM

Doctor My Eyes
Jackson Browne
4:48 PM

Have a Cigar
Pink Floyd
4:43 PM

Can't You See
The Marshall Tucker Band
4:37 PM

Message In a Bottle
The Police
4:32 PM

Help Me, Rhonda
The Beach Boys
4:29 PM

Bohemian Rhapsody
Queen
4:24 PM

Sweet Emotion
Aerosmith
4:19 PM

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Live)
George Thorogood
4:11 PM

Jet
Paul McCartney & Wings
4:07 PM

I've Seen All Good People: A. Your Move / B. All Good People
Yes
4:00 PM

Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen
Santana
3:54 PM

I Won't Back Down
Tom Petty
3:52 PM

Tush
ZZ Top
3:49 PM

Space Oddity
David Bowie
3:45 PM

You Really Got Me
Van Halen
3:35 PM


Nina Agdal Goes Topless (VIDEO)

Via Sports Illustrated:



Plus, bonus topless at WWTDD.

Our Responsibilities as the Survivor Generation

From Daniella Greenbaum, at Commentary, "A Reminder Not to Forget."