Happy 148th!

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Photo by fountain, who stopped by to pay his respects. The trees you see in the background mark the Big Horn river, where the sioux were encamped, and from where 2,000 warriors boiled out to take on Custer’s 210 — oops!

On this day in June 25, 1876, Custer made his last stand along the Little Big Horn; maybe our Sioux friends should mark this as Indigenous People’s Day?

Or at least go off the reservation for a cool ice cream treat.

The uber-queer students at this school got their wish, and Camille Paglia has been dismissed; of course, so has everybody else

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Student Body Swan Song at the Philadelphia University of the Arts

In fact, the closure had nothing to do with whacky but interesting Ms Paglia, who “identifies” as transgender, but isn’t transgendery enough, and everything to do with finances, starting with the fact that there were 1,100 students enrolled and 700 administrators on the payroll. Finances have nowhere to go but down after that.

Still, there’s always something gratifying about watching leftists get their demands met, and discovering that the results aren’t exactly what they’d envisioned.

Since when does impossibility come into consideration when regulators and legislators put their heads together?

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Automakers call for 'practically impossible' automatic emergency braking rule to be reconsidered

A trade group representing major automakers on Monday called for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider a new regulation issued this past spring that requires nearly all new cars and trucks to have advanced automatic emergency braking systems by 2029.

The group argues that the regulation, which was adopted in April and would require all cars and trucks to be able to stop and avoid hitting vehicles in front of them while moving at speeds of up to 62 mph, is "practically impossible with available technology."

The NHTSA rule came in response to direction by Congress, which included a provision in the 2021 infrastructure law that directed the agency to develop a regulation establishing minimum performance standards for automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems. AEB uses sensors like cameras and radar to detect when a vehicle is close to crashing and automatically applies the brakes if the driver hasn't done so.

The trade group said NHTSA's requirements at higher driving speeds will result in vehicles "automatically applying the brakes far in advance of what a typical driver and others on the road would expect" and would likely result in rear-end collisions.

It also argued that NHTSA "vastly underestimated the necessary and costly hardware and software change required for vehicles to comply with the rule (something that will increase the cost of vehicles for consumers)."

Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella said in the letter to Congress that the rule "will require more costly systems that won't improve driver or pedestrian safety."

"Here's what I (regrettably) conclude will happen: driving AEB equipped vehicles in the U.S. under NHTSA's new standard will become unpredictable, erratic and will frustrate or flummox drivers," Bozzella wrote.

"Yes, this rule will make vehicles more expensive, but the real issue isn't cost – it's cost/benefit. NHTSA's action will require more costly systems that won't improve driver or pedestrian safety, which is why we are asking the agency to reopen the proceeding and make these necessary corrections," he added.

The NHSTA guestimates that its new rule will save 860 lives annually — there were 35,740 killed traffic accidents in 2023.

Just last month I posted on California’s insane new law that requires all freight trains switch from diesel to electric by 2035, despite the fact that no such engines exist, and won’t exist 2035, if ever — the physics don’t allow it. I suspect that some of the people behind these impossible mandates know that they can’t be met, and intend to use them to destroy the modern world, but Hanlon’s law is probably the real answer to this idiocy: never attribute to malice what can be explained through stupidity. Unfortunately for us, the result is the same, antidisirregardless.

Elon Musk to the rescue?

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NASA astronauts 'STRANDED' in space due to malfunctioning Boeing Starliner - as experts say SpaceX could perform a rescue mission


NASA has delayed the return of two astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) for the third time, raising concerns the crew could be 'stranded.'

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were initially scheduled for a nine-day stay, which  was pushed back twice this month and now sits at an undetermined date.

The extended stay is to allow more time for review of technical issues encountered by the capsule as it traveled to the ISS, which included thruster failures and leaking valves, Boeing said in a statement.

Starliner took off at on June 5 at 10:52am ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida last week with the same leak that forced a scrub in May.

The capsule, however, launched with a known leak that was reportedly no larger than a shirt button and quite thin.

Stich said last month that he was confident 27 out of these 28 thrusters were working properly, free of leaks or other issues. 

However, Starliner encountered five failures of its 28 maneuvering thrusters, five leaks of helium gas meant to pressurize those thrusters and a slow-moving propellant valve that signaled unfixed past issues since launching.

When Starliner arrived in the space station's vicinity to dock on June 6, the five thruster failures prevented a close approach by the spacecraft until Boeing made a fix.

It rewrote software and tweaked some procedures to revive four of them and proceed with a docking.

Starliner's undocking and return to Earth represent the spacecraft's most complicated phases of its test mission.

Boeing has spent $1.5 billion in cost overruns beyond its $4.5-billion NASA development contract. 

Boeing’s ineptness in rocketry is neatly matched by its dismal inability to manufacture airplanes that are safe to fly, and its aviation sales have nearly collapsed. But not to worry: the company, whose troubles began when it replaced engineers with financial bean counters in the executive suite, is righting its ship: it’s expected to appoint a (biological, alas) female as its CEO and, although she appears to be a little on the white side, she’s unburdened with any scientific or engineering training that might otherwise distract her from her primary role of increasing the stock option prices for her fellow executives. And she also, mind you, “is a passionate advocate for developing and nurturing our talented Boeing teammates and creating a working environment where every person can thrive.”

Suppliers Think Pope Will Be Next Boeing CEO.

From her corporate bio:

Stephanie Pope is chief operating officer of The Boeing Company and executive vice president, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, with primary responsibility for leading the commercial airplanes business and strengthening safety and quality across its operations. Commercial Airplanes specializes in the design, production and delivery of airplanes to customers worldwide with more than 13,000 Boeing jetliners in service today.

Prior to this role, Pope served as chief operating officer for the company since January 2024. Before that, she was president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, from April 2022 to December 2023, with responsibility for leading Boeing’s aerospace services business supporting commercial, government and aviation industry customers worldwide.

Previously, Pope was vice president and chief financial officer of Commercial Airplanes, from December 2020 to March 2022, with responsibility for the financial management and strategic, long-range business planning for the business unit.

Earlier, Pope was vice president and chief financial officer of Boeing Global Services, where she oversaw all financial activities for the business unit and was instrumental in its establishment in 2017.

Pope also served as vice president of Finance and controller for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, with responsibility for the regulatory compliance of the business unit as well as ensuring the accuracy, transparency and timeliness of its financial disclosures.

In her three decades at Boeing, Pope has held several other senior leadership positions at the corporate and program levels.

Pope is also a passionate advocate for developing and nurturing our talented Boeing teammates and creating a working environment where every person can thrive. As a member of Boeing’s Executive Council, Pope serves as the executive sponsor of Boeing Women Inspiring Leadership, a business resource group dedicated to increasing gender diversity awareness and promoting diverse representation among women.

Pope was an Eisenhower Fellow in Brussels and Ireland in 2008 and has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southwest Missouri State University and a Master of Business Administration from Lindenwood University.  Prior to this role, Pope served as chief operating officer for the company since January 2024. Before that, she was president and CEO of Boeing Global Services, from April 2022 to December 2023, with responsibility for leading Boeing’s aerospace services business supporting commercial, government and aviation industry customers worldwide.

Previously, Pope was vice president and chief financial officer of Commercial Airplanes, from December 2020 to March 2022, with responsibility for the financial management and strategic, long-range business planning for the business unit.

Coming to a Justice Department near you

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GERMANY: Woman Convicted Of “Offending” Migrant Gang Rapists Receives Longer Prison Sentence Than The Rapists

A 20-year-old woman in Hamburg, Germany, has been sent to prison after making “hateful” remarks towards a migrant who was involved in the gang rape of a child. The woman is just one of 140 people being investigated for making “harmful comments” towards the rapists.

The horrific assault took place in 2020, and involved multiple groups of migrant men independently attacking a 14-year-old girl in Hamburg’s Stadtpark over the course of one night. The park had become a popular hang-out spot for youth during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and the girl had been there drinking with her friends. But they became scattered after police swept the park and broke up groups while enforcing social distancing measures.

Confused and alone, the girl was defenseless against the first mob of four predators.

The men took turns on the girl, repeatedly raping her over an extended period of time. They robbed her of her wallet and cellphone before leaving her. Traumatized and disoriented from the first attack, and having no method of calling for help, the girl was assaulted a second time by two more men who took advantage of her vulnerable state.

Disturbingly, her assailants had begun inviting other men to rape her via their chat groups, gleefully sharing the news that there was an isolated teenage girl in the dark park with no potential witnesses.

The child was attacked a third time by a single man, and then a fourth time by three more men, who dragged her into a bush and sexually assaulted her.

Finally, the child managed to break away and ran, though pursued by her rapists. Eventually, she came across people who recognized her traumatized state and immediately called the police.

A total of 11 men were initially charged, but two were acquitted quickly due to a lack of DNA evidence. The sperm of nine of the men, however, had been successfully recovered from the girl’s body.

Five of the men were in possession of German passports, while the remainder were not citizens of Germany. Among those charged, none were of German heritage. The rapists were identified as a Pole, an Egyptian, a Libyan, a Kuwaiti, an Iranian, an Armenian, an Afghan, a Syrian, and a Montenegrin. The men had a team of 20 defense attorneys arguing their innocence.

Videos of the first and third rapes had been recorded and shared by the assailants to contacts through WhatsApp, but the videos were deleted before the case could be heard in court. Witnesses who did see the footage before its deletion did testify that it depicted clear sexual assault, with one noting that the girl had been holding her hands over her head in a protective position.

During the trial, the victim, who now suffers from PTSD as a result of the night of abuse, was called upon to speak about what happened to her. While she recounted her horrific ordeal, the men showed “no signs of remorse” and at least one is said to have almost fallen asleep during proceedings.

However, despite DNA and WhatsApp evidence, eight of the nine men convicted walked free with probation and spent no time in prison at all. The ninth was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison without parole.

The case caused outrage in Germany, both for the brutality of the rape itself and the lenient sentences given to the rapists. As a result, one of the men had his identity and phone number circulated on Snapchat by furious sleuths.

Angered by the news of the case, a 20-year-old woman from Hamburg messaged the number through WhatsApp. The unnamed woman called him a “dishonorable rapist pig” and a “disgusting miscarriage.” She added: “Aren’t you ashamed when you look in the mirror?”

The targeted rapist then reported the woman to police, and she was charged with sending him insulting messages.

The woman has now been convicted and sentenced to a weekend in prison for her remarks — meaning that she will have spent more time in jail than 8 of the 9 rapists. In court, the woman apologized for her remarks, saying she acted out of a “reflex” upon hearing the sickening details of the case.

But, according to the Hamburger Abendblatt, this woman is not the only person who could be facing a conviction for insulting the rapists.

Authorities in Hamburg are reportedly investigating 140 people for offenses related to issuing “insult, threats, or other detriment” towards the Stadtpark predators.

Where they shared the outdoor shower with Joe and his daughter?

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Is there anyone at the White House who isn’t a pervert or drug addict, or both?

Michael Knaapen, LGBTQ of Maryland Head Busted for Texting Teen, Visited the White House MULTIPLE Times

This guy sums it up nicely:

Related:

Two attacks on religion: one blocked access to a synagogue, the other blocked an abortion clinic — guess which one gets the pass?

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Biden 'appalled' by violence at LA synagogue, but DOJ won't say if it's seeking charges

More details here. As far as I can tell, no arrests were made, presumably because the Religion of Peace folks just got a little overly-exuberant, and, hey — let’s be culturally sensitive, eh?

But attack the Holy Church of Abortion? Polish up the jackboots and truncheons.

Here’s who the government went after hammer and tongs — that the DOJ found time to prosecute these threats to society while also pursuing 76-year-old grannies in MAGA hats is a testament to our guardian’s dogged determination and self-sacrifice.

Notice the ages of these defendants and the length of their sentences.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI Field Offices in Newark, New York City, Boston, Pittsburgh and Detroit provided valuable assistance. It was prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Fraud, Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York; and FBI Field Offices in Newark, New York City, Boston, and Detroit provided valuable assistance.

Back to LA for one more shot: