Lara Stone Cowgirl

At Egotastic!, "Lara Stone Topless Cowgirl."

Rita Ora Upskirt Encore

At Taxi Driver, "Rita Ora White Pantie Upskirt."

BONUS: "Rita Ora is Topless on New 'Lui' Cover."

Joanna Krupa Body Paint for PETA

She goes all out for PETA, heh.

At WWTDD, "Joanna Krupa Goes Pussy for PETA."

Dodgers' Epic Season Collapse

At LAT, "How did Dodgers go from possibly the best of all time to, right now, the worst team in the majors?":

How did the Dodgers go from possibly the best of all time to, right now, the worst team in the majors? https://t.co/FAnNoG7vfO pic.twitter.com/8agq2oTLUi

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 12, 2017

The first loss felt innocuous. On Aug. 26, a crisp, clear evening out at Chavez Ravine, there was no way Dodgers manager Dave Roberts could have foreseen the avalanche awaiting his team.

After getting shut out by the Milwaukee Brewers, Roberts wore a smile as he pulled up a chair at his postgame news conference.

“You’re going to have those nights,” he said. “We’ve got a good club.”

At that moment, the start of one of the worst stretches in franchise history, Roberts and the Dodgers stood atop the baseball world. The team had already won 91 games — the same number it won in all of 2016 — with a month remaining in the season. Their lead in the National League West was 20 games, and the primary concern was keeping the regulars fresh and settling the roster for an October playoff run.

The team entertained thoughts about making history: Challenging the major league record of 116 wins in the regular season, then snapping a 28-season World Series drought in October.

The best team in baseball. The sobriquet fit. Those were the 2017 Dodgers, the purported team of a lifetime, a group assembled by a high-powered front office, supported with the sport’s largest payroll, aided by strategic innovations, infused with a rare combination of stardom and depth, and imbued with a flair for the dramatic. No lead felt safe when the Dodgers came to the plate. Anything seemed possible.

Everything, except for what happened next. By losing 10 in a row and 15 of 16 heading into Monday night’s game at San Francisco, the Dodgers shattered the confidence of a fan base wary after four consecutive early playoff exits.

The pitchers have been pummeled. The offense has been silent. Yu Darvish and Curtis Granderson, the two stars acquired by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in July and August, have flopped. The losing has become constant, a counterpoint to a summer in which the team appeared incapable of it. And the Dodgers have three weeks to resurrect their morale.

With no answers in sight, fans have cast about for solutions. The explanations vary from the illogical (Roberts juggles his lineup too often) to the inconsequential (the arrival of Granderson hurt the team’s chemistry) to the supernatural (the team was cursed by a Sports Illustrated cover proclaiming “Best. Team. Ever?”).

The actual answer is something that cannot be solved by a ritual burning of a magazine or a campfire “Kumbaya” to build unity or a tough-love speech by a manager. The Dodgers have foundered because of diminished performances from the players they relied upon during their historic summer.

“It’s past the point of anger and frustration now,” All-Star shortstop Corey Seager said Sunday afternoon. “We have to go out and play better.”

The skid occurred in stages, building from a nuisance into a puzzle into a source of full-blown dread for fans and a source of lost sleep for team officials. Sometimes at night, Roberts joked over the weekend, he looks up at the ceiling and reminds himself what his team’s record is. He did not always sound this downtrodden.

After the fifth loss, on Aug. 31, which completed a three-game sweep by Arizona in Phoenix, Roberts offered perspective. The Dodgers had not experienced a three-game losing streak all summer. He was disappointed in his starting pitchers, but all teams, he reasoned, go through times like this. “We just have to turn the page,” he said.

After the eighth loss in nine games, Roberts looked resolute. The Dodgers had dropped three of four to the woeful San Diego Padres, but the manager crossed his arms and declined to overreact. “I can assure you, this won’t break us,” he said.

After the 12th loss in 13 games, Roberts bumped into a reporter outside the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium. The losing had gotten so contagious, even ace Clayton Kershaw was affected. Following another sweep by Arizona, Kershaw got pummeled by Colorado. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Roberts said...

More.

Also, "Dodgers skip the champagne after their playoff-clinching victory they didn't know about."

Vast New Intelligence Haul Fuels Next Phase of Fight Against Islamic State

At LAT:

Vast new intelligence haul fuels the next phase of the fight against Islamic State https://t.co/LZIYajfG6K pic.twitter.com/I5x8Y9WM7p

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 11, 2017

Today's Deals

I'm late to this. These Deal of the Day offers end at Midnight.

At Amazon, New deals. Every day. Shop our Deal of the Day.

And see especially, Drill America DWD29J-CO-PC Qualtech 29 Piece Cobalt Steel Jobber Length Drill Bit Set in Plastic Case, Gold Oxide Finish, Round Shank, Spiral Flute, 135 Degrees Split Point, 1/16" to 1/2" Size.

More, Coleman Performance Cooler, 48-Quart.

And, GSI Outdoors - Pinnacle Camper, Nesting Cook Set, Superior Backcountry Cookware Since 1985.

Also, GSI Outdoors 74340 Pivot Tongs $8.29.

Here, OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent 6 ounce (Pack of 2).

Still more, LG Electronics 55UJ6300 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2017 Model).

And, KIND Breakfast Bars, Peanut Butter, Gluten Free, 1.8 Ounce, 32 Count.

Plus, Mountain House Just In Case...Breakfast Bucket.

BONUS: Gail Z. Martin, The Summoner (Chronicles of the Necromancer, Book 1).

Lindsey Pelas Full Motion

On Twitter:

👙 The incredible Lindsey Pelas in glorious full motion. Hit ❤️ if you'd love to wake up to this sight every morning 😮 #sexy #model #dance pic.twitter.com/PjBY9LJun7

— Man On (@ManOnToday) August 13, 2017

A Trump Presidency Damage Report

I don't think these leftist outlets are getting it. They're a major part of the reason why we got Trump. Frankly, this kinda stuff is only boosting his reelection chances.

See, for example, Ta-Nehisi Coates, "The First White President."

Look for our latest issue online Tuesday, featuring cover stories from @jacklgoldsmith @EliotACohen and @tanehisicoates pic.twitter.com/JdffSeEtdk

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) September 8, 2017

Mexican Pride!

From Lauren Southern:

Posting this here cause FB banned me for 3 days over it 😂 pic.twitter.com/3voHZdHEtL

— Lauren Southern (@Lauren_Southern) September 10, 2017

Erin Heatherton

She's spectacular.

Erin Heatherton always knows how to make us laugh! https://t.co/hTltsQh6p3 pic.twitter.com/nfaz68CgrN

— SI Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) September 10, 2017

Dana Loesch

You should check her out, at DanaRadio.com.

Live now! In your market or stream at https://t.co/AI5fToPM2X. #DanaRadio pic.twitter.com/9v6yrfU9oV

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 11, 2017

Hackers Could Program Sex Robots to Kill

At Instapundit, "I DON’T TRUST THE INTERNET OF THINGS."

Is America Still a 'Nation of Ideas'?

From Jedediah Purdy, at Politico, "Is America Still a ‘Nation of Ideas’? Warring tribes or united by principle: Donald Trump’s presidency forces a question we haven’t had to answer in generations."

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of solidarity? Is America Still a ‘Nation of Ideas’? https://t.co/v94Z1DEcUK via @politicomag

— Jed Purdy 🌹🌱🇺🇸 (@JedediahSPurdy) September 5, 2017

Yeehaw!

Chargers at Broncos is on right now, at ESPN.

LAT's Mike DiGiovanna‏ tweeted earlier:

Yeehaw! We have arrived at Sports Authority Field in Denver. pic.twitter.com/5lG3O7Qxg0

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) September 11, 2017

America, 16 Years After 9/11, More Divided Than Ever

I don't put any particular stock into September 11th being some high time of American unity, although apparently nostalgia for some long-lost comity and togetherness is a thing.

See Ed Driscoll, at Instapundit, "IN THE LONG RUN, 9/11 DIDN’T BRING US ANY CLOSER TOGETHER."

And see Dana Loesch, on Twitter:

“I wish America could feel united again,” the repeat remark of every caller today. #DanaRadio

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 11, 2017

Die-Hards Hang On in the Florida Keys

From Molly Hennessy-Fiske‏, at LAT, "The incredible stories of the die-hards who looked Irma in the face — and stayed":

As Hurricane Irma barreled into Key West, Peter Borch stood atop the oldest guesthouse in the city, a converted Victorian mansion built in 1880, to film the unfolding mayhem.

Storm gusts bent nearby palm trees nearly in half, stripping and scattering fronds down empty streets. The horizon was nearly obscured by a white wall of surf roaring in.

“The eyewall is about to hit here in Key West. No power. Trees down. No flooding,” Borch, 31, shouted to be heard over the wind.

Then he shifted focus to a porch below, where an older man sat, shirtless, sipping coffee from a mug, oblivious to the onslaught.

From initial reports Sunday, it appeared that the Florida Keys had taken a pounding but dodged the sort of catastrophic disaster that had been widely expected as Irma roared north out of the Caribbean. But there were reports of missing people, and fears for what might be found in the light of day on Monday.

Keys residents are a hardy, proudly eccentric bunch, accustomed to surviving storms. Many refused to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Irma, including residents at the tip of the island chain in Key West known as conchs. The keeper of Ernest Hemingway’s historic home stayed put to care for his brood of six-toed cats. Watering holes like the Blue Macaw stayed open, offering a drink special called the “Bloody Irma” (five shots of Tito’s vodka). But as the storm descended Sunday, some denizens reconsidered and headed for shelters of last resort like a school on Sugarloaf Key. Others hunkered down, set up live feeds and promised to stay in touch.

One holdout filmed himself nearly getting washed away by storm surf striking the red and yellow buoy at the southernmost point of U.S. Route 1. Florida snowbirds and other island regulars posted queries online: How were the federally protected Key deer faring? Key West’s roaming roosters? Initial reports were good.

Then the power went out, cell service ceased and with it, the live feeds. Only those with satellite phones and land lines could stay in touch with the outside world.

Those at the Sugarloaf School were among the lucky few with a satellite phone, and used it to report that those sheltering there had survived the storm unscathed. Volunteer rescuers used an app on their cellphones called Zello to report what else they were seeing.

“I’m in Key West and we’re all right down here. I never do run from a storm,” said a man who identified himself as P.J.

Judy Cox searched online for signs of her friend, Borch, one of several Key West neighbors who decided to weather the storm.

She last heard from him at 9 a.m., about an hour after he posted his last video. She said he told her “it was windy and not a lot of flooding. Some trees down and no power since last night.”

Now, she was worried.

She had trouble reaching another friend, a boat captain, who was weathering the storm by Schooner Wharf, she said.

“Last I heard he was on his boat,” Cox said...

More.

How Does Terrorism End?

An excellent piece, from Robin Wright, at the New Yorker, "Sixteen Years After 9/11, How Does Terrorism End?"

On 9/11 anniversary, my @newyorker piece on how terror groups end: average lifespan only 8 yrs, only 5% "succeed." https://t.co/mQP5iaDecM

— Robin Wright (@wrightr) September 11, 2017

Delilah Hamlin

She's the 19-year-old daughter of Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, at Taxi Driver, "Delilah Hamlin in See-Through Top."

Amazon Deals

Do some shopping, at Amazon, Shop Our Deal of the Day.

See especially, Bosch DDB181-02 18-Volt Lithium-Ion 1/2-Inch Compact Tough Drill/Driver Kit with 2 Batteries, Charger and Contractor Bag w/ Compact Laser Measure and 47-pc Bit Set.

More, AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable - 3 Feet (0.9 Meters), Black.

Here, Braun BrewSense 12-Cup Drip Coffee Maker.

And, FIJI Natural Artesian Water, 500mL Bottles (Pack of 24).

Plus, Mountain House Just In Case...Classic Assortment Bucket.

More here, Columbia Sportswear Bora Bora Booney II Sun Hats.

BONUS: Robert Spencer, Confessions of an Islamophobe.

September 11 Attacks Marked with Moment of Silence (VIDEO)

Following-up, "The Anniversary of 9/11."