IT HAS BEFORE: Democrats fear this 'October Surprise' will cost them the Senate in the mid-term elections.

But it's a double-edged sword; the Republicans have lost as well.

SPEEDING TO A DEGREE: Does a college credential signify ... anything?

As a now-retired engineering PhD, except in very narrow instances, the answer is "NOT REALLY". At the Bachelor's degree level, it probably won't hurt. Master's degree, only if you're seeking particular (usually STEM skills) training. And I can think of only three reasons to get a PhD, the first being that it's a box to check to get thatjob you really want (college professor, for example); the second is just for the hell of it (to prove to yourself that you can do it). The latter was my reason. The third -- and worst -- is the 'Dr. Jill' reason: I wanna be called 'Doctor'.

Post-PhD I spent the remainder (~25 years) of my working life in engineering and rarely, if ever, had to call on that added expertise of a PhD. And I must note that the two years spent not truly employed cost me roughly $80,000 in lost income (not including tuition and fees) over that 25-year working lifetime. In 1980 dollars. I don't even want to think of what that would be in 2026 dollars.

WHITE COATS AND IRON LUNGS: It's long, but of particular interest to me since I had polio the year before the Salk vaccine was released (in 1954).

The post isn't so much about polio, it's more about technology, moral capital, earned trust, assumed authority, and its misuse by our 'expert' class.

That said, read it all. Trust me, it's worth serious thought.

COGNITIVE ATROPHY IS A THING: Concern grows that Artifical Iintelligence is damaging users’ cognitive abilities. That strikes me as a pretty common sense observation which I've noted a number of times recently.

WHAT HAPPENED to the 11 scientists and employees who worked for NASA or were involved in nuclear research?

My theory is that they are all extraterrestrials (ETs) who have given up on Planet Earth, decided to shed their human skinsuits, and go home.

MORE EVIDENCE OF LEFTIST HYPOCRISY (IF NEEDED): Tom Steyer just secured the most hypocritical endorsement of the California governor's race. Billionaires are fine, as long as they're our billionaires....

Remember when Sen. Bernie Sanders [I-VT] hated millionaires -- until he became one?

IS RICO ACT SCRUTINY NEEDED FOR ACT BLUE? Here are two reasons why it is.

WE NOW HAVE PROOF. The IRGC blocks Iran's President and seizes control of state functions.

It's time to follow LeMay's Law and kill the Revolutionary Guard extremists until they stop. If it means all of them, then so be it.

SUNDAY SMILES: Here's the first:

And when you go to see the rest, read the rant about Mamdani's grocery stores on the way.

JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON is distinguishing herself on the U.S. Supreme Court — and not in a positive way. "It’s as though she’s positioned on an island defined by woke ideology, racial justice, and equity, while the other eight justices remain on the mainland of restraint."

Read the whole thing.

IT WOULD BE GREAT: Are we seeing the makings of an Iranian civil war?

SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS urged to call in the FBI after second Supreme Court leak emerges.

It's waaayy past time for Justice Roberts to listen to himself: "[J]udges are like umpires. Umpires don't make the rules. They apply them... Nobody ever went to a ballgame to see the umpire." Then make sure the prosecution enforces them. To the maximum.

HOPEFULLY A SOON-TO-BE FORMER SENATOR: John Ossoff is running on California cash, not Georgia support.

NOT COUNTING STATE AND LOCAL MISUSE, Federal waste and fraud costs every U.S. household at least $140K or more over your lifetime.

I THINK THE MIDDLE EAST is about to have a new parking lot soon. Called Iran.

After all the rubble has been cleared away....

ALL SIGNS point to Gracie Mansion for the NY Mets April losing season.

Heh.

YOU SHOULD BE SURPRISED: At least 350,000 dead people currently listed on voter rolls across those jurisdictions as active voters.

And that's just from the 22 states/jurisdictions that have responded to the DOJ's demand for voter registration rolls.

But I suspect you won't be....

GUESS WHICH ONE: A union that shouldn't even exist spends more on political contributions in Washington than the entire technology industry.

MATH IS HARD; expecially if you're a Democrat.

For those of you who squeal in pain whenever Republicans mention Social Security, look up my posts on the subject. Warning: I can do math....

WHY WOKENESS is so hard to kill.

Linked from Instapundit.