What Are Joe Biden’s Fixed Principles? - WSJ Opinion

In his public appearances, Mr. Biden, who is properly chary of giving press conferences lest he lapse into one of his infamous gaffes, has come more to resemble the puppet in a ventriloquist’s act.

Cauliflower has never looked so good.

In Kabul, Private Rescue Efforts Grow Desperate as Time to Evacuate Afghans Runs Out - WSJ

And countless Afghans who thought the U.S. would protect them after having assisted the U.S.-led coalition forces in the past two decades are now realizing that they will most likely be left behind to face Taliban wrath alone.

Afghan Evacuation Drama Nears End, as Aug. 31 Deadline Approaches - WSJ

Many aid organizations have been told by Western governments that evacuation flights won’t continue past Friday, as the U.S. military will need the days remaining until the Aug. 31 deadline to remove its own equipment and troops from Kabul. That guidance represented one sign that the window for Afghans desperate to leave the Taliban-controlled country is closing and that thousands of Afghans who want to leave likely will be stranded.

The article title is misleading.

I think it’s clear that the drama is only just beginning.

Biden’s Guest Hosting Of ‘Jeopardy!’ A Disaster As He Flees Every Time A Contestant Puts An Answer In Form Of A Question - The Babylon Bee

“Sorry,” he said while exiting the stage, “my staff says if I answer any questions, I don’t get ice cream.”

Delta Air Lines to Impose $200 Monthly Surcharge for Unvaccinated Employees, Add Testing Requirements - WSJ

to pay an extra $200 each month. The company said the additional charge will help to cover hospital stays that are more likely for unvaccinated people infected with Covid-19—something that Delta said can cost the company tens of thousands of dollars a person. In recent weeks, all Delta employees who have been hospitalized with Covid-19 were unvaccinated, Mr. Bastian said.

I was wondering when insurance surcharges would start. Completely reasonable to cover an unnecessary risk.

CIA Chief William Burns Met With Senior Taliban Figure in Kabul - WSJ

CIA Director William Burns met secretly with the Taliban’s top figure in Kabul on Monday amid a chaotic U.S. effort to evacuate American citizens and Afghans allied with the U.S. in advance of an Aug. 31 deadline, U.S. officials said.

The humiliations continue.

A Taliban 9/11 - WSJ

So a question for those who still believe Mr. Biden was right to pull us out: Do they also believe his assurances that our loss of on-the-ground intelligence, an air base in a strategic part of the world, and an ally instead of an enemy in Kabul will all be compensated for with “over the horizon” capabilities?

Fitbit Charge 5 Tracker Design and Features Leaked in New Video - MacRumors

Google-owned Fitbit appears to be readying an update to its Charge fitness tracker lineup

Fitbit still exists?

U.S. Struggles to Count Its Citizens in Afghanistan as Biden Weighs Withdrawal Delay - WSJ

The Taliban are currently screening documents on behalf of the U.S. outside the Kabul airport, and there is concern that the group may raise objections when it comes time to evacuate locally employed Afghan staff in larger numbers.

Wonderful! I bet they’re working with the efficiency and dedication of the East German Border Guards.

The Taliban, through direct talks with the U.S. in Kabul, said in response that it wouldn’t recognize any extension, nor would it assure that forces that stay in Afghanistan beyond Aug. 31 wouldn’t be subject to attack. Some U.S. officials fear that if the U.S. stays beyond Aug. 31, security cooperation with the Taliban would collapse.

Nothing wrong with the contents of that paragraph.

“We are well aware of the stated desire of the Taliban to have this mission completed by the 31st,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday

Is there anything else we can do for them? Maybe a bedtime story and a glass of warm milk before we tuck them into bed?

iCloud storage management is the absolute worst.

U.S. Considers Ordering Commercial Airlines to Help in Afghan Evacuation - WSJ

The White House is expected to consider activating the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, or CRAF, created in 1952 in the wake of the post-World War II Berlin Airlift, to provide nearly 20 commercial jets from up to five airlines to augment U.S. military efforts to transport Afghan evacuees from bases in the region, according to U.S. officials.

This is a good idea. Much better way to transport people over long distances.

Really starting to notice the days shortening.

Last week until School is back!

✏️

It is very hard to:

A) Be a homeowner, and:

B) need to find a good local contractor, and:

C) not have Facebook.

Why does every business think that having a Facebook page is enough of a web presence?

🏡

The Democratic Food-Stamp Boom - WSJ

A 2018 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined diet quality of food-stamp beneficiaries and similar low-income individuals who didn’t receive the handouts from 2003 to 2014, a period in which average benefits increased more than 50%. Low-income food-stamp non-beneficiaries ate more healthily than beneficiaries, and their diets also improved more over time.

Taliban Seize U.S. Weapons in Afghanistan, Stockpiling Helicopters, Guns and Trucks - WSJ

“It is unconscionable that high-tech military equipment paid for by U.S. taxpayers has fallen into the hands of the Taliban and their terrorist allies”

Does anyone have the number for the US Government Fraud, Waste, & Abuse hotline?

It’s remarkable how different iOS/iPadOS look in greyscale. Instanteous sensory relief.

Paying With a Credit Card? That’s Going to Cost You. - WSJ

Large retailers generally don’t surcharge and instead pass credit-card fees along via price increases.

Higher prices for everyone, just so Visa and MasterCard can get their cut.

Perfectly Good Cookie Dough Ruined By Putting It In Oven - The Babylon Bee

They frantically looked around for the spoon to lick, but it was too late, as she’d already rinsed it out.

What a waste!

These economic numbers are so lame.

We should be on an absolute rocket right now.

Joe Biden’s speech:

• Blame assigned to Trump, Afghan civil government, soldiers in the Afghan National Army
• Took 18 minutes to accept some measure of responsibility
• Passing mention of cascading humanitarian disaster
• Don’t worry, we’ll use diplomacy with the Taliban to advocate for the Women of Afghanistan
• Left the room without taking questions, immediately returned to Camp David.

These colors do run, apparently.

US officials say 7 killed in Kabul airport evacuation chaos - WTOP

A senior U.S. official said “it’s heartbreaking” to see what’s happening in Kabul, but that President Joe Biden “stands by” his decision to pull out because he didn’t want the war there — already the longest in U.S. history — to enter a third decade.

Unacceptable. Infuriating.