Stop the Idiocracy

Saturday, July 18, 2026

The battle no one wanted to fight again

A sombre, highly detailed illustration portrays an Ebola treatment ward where a critically ill young African woman lies upon a hospital bed beneath patterned blankets, her face glistening with perspiration and tears as she stares upward in exhaustion. A healthcare worker in full yellow protective suit, gloves, respirator and face shield gently rests one hand upon her forehead while offering reassurance with the other. Additional clinicians in identical protective equipment prepare intravenous treatment and monitor her condition amid IV drips, medical instruments and isolation screens. Warm, muted lighting, richly textured brushwork and meticulous realism underscore the emotional gravity of humanitarian medicine confronting a deadly infectious disease in a temporary field hospital.

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Seven American aid workers quarantined in Kenya after Ebola exposure. {WP 18 July}

https://wapo.st/4vAlqp2

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Muscles, mirrors, and make-believe

A richly detailed illustration in a classic adventure-comic style depicts an older silver-haired man standing before an ornate bathroom mirror, proudly flexing both arms while admiring his own muscular reflection. He wears a fitted grey sleeveless shirt and dark lounge trousers, his expression one of unmistakable self-satisfaction. Behind him, reflected in the open doorway, two young women in elegant satin nightwear pause, smiling warmly at one another while holding hands, seemingly amused rather than impressed by his display. The luxurious bathroom features polished black marble, gilded fittings, crystal perfume bottles, folded towels and a vase of white roses, all rendered with bold ink linework, warm hand-painted colours and meticulous vintage-inspired detail.

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Closet homosexuality, perhaps? — Inside #MAGA’s creepy obsession with testosterone as a marker of national strength. {The Telegraph 18 July}

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/4c55efbff4de55b1

Truth be told, I may be one of those ‘low T’ men: I am pale, anaemic, underweight, a lifelong smoker and drinker, and I hate exercising anything other than my mind. The only reason to believe otherwise is that I have a very manly voice: I have been told at certain times that I should be in radio, and did consider attending broadcast school when I was considering my college options. Perhaps I should have pursued it, but even thirty years ago it was clear that radio was no longer a growth industry (the Telecommunications Act of that very year, 1996, ruined it). More pertinently, I also lacked greatly in confidence, as a childhood of constantly being made to feel inferior to peers will do that to a human being. I have never been athletic, cut out for military service, and cannot fight my way out of a wet paper bag. Nor hath any of this ever bothered me very much, apart from the lack of confidence in myself and much regret over lacking a backbone to stand up to more than a few motherf**kers who should have been put in their place.

Perhaps my nature hath bothered some other folks I have been unfortunate enough to know over the course of this thankless life, but they may kindly kiss my Anglo-Saxon ass. What the hell do I care about ‘measuring up’ physically to other men, when most other men are complete and total f**king bores and are nothing to emulate? I have never cared what other men look like, do not like most of them on any level, and it is so nonsensical and a bit peculiar to my, admittedly unorthodox, brain that anybody would. Beyond basic biology, I often wonder why women are attracted to us. On the whole, we are ugly creatures, inside and out.

Frankly, I have a hard time imagining how all these men can be so obsessed with their manhood, and the vitality of other men, and there not be some pent-up sexual frustration at play. How can so many men be endlessly preoccupied with other men's bodies and sex lives, yet insist this is simply normal masculine, heterosexual behaviour? I do not even know if I can explain in a paragraph or two, but it is just so bloody gross to me. Bodybuilding in particular… yuck. These fellows spend half their lives admiring themselves in mirrors and spending the other half evaluating other men's physiques, and we are supposed to think this is the epitome of manhood? People are too caught up in other people’s affairs to begin with, but having to engage in virtual dick-measuring contests all the time is not something I am interested in, particularly not at forty-eight.

Like most of these moral panics the extremes of American politics cook up, there is a basis of truth. Falling testosterone levels are a scientifically proven phenomenon, and may well contribute to why many men — to my ears, at least — my age and under have high, effeminate voices now. Have we noticed that not many men have distinctive voices anymore? I notice it most when watching baseball games: nearly all the younger play-by-play announcers have these flat, indistinct voices and there is not a new Jack Buck or Harry Kalas coming along. But I digress. Ultimately, it is simply a question of how grave a 'crisis' we believe this to be. My opinion is that there will always emerge ‘alpha’ males in society, for better and for worse. Basic human nature does not change, and boys are going to be boys, men are going to be men, and most — regardless of their ‘T’ levels — shall be forever insecure in their manhood.

And there will always be grifters such as Trump, Andrew Tate, Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, Dana White, Pete Hegseth, and the rest of these ‘manosphere’ figures ready to take advantage of the weak, insecure, and pathetic.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Charging ahead no longer

A highly detailed illustrated image in a classic adventure-comic style portraying a glamorous red-haired woman standing beside a champagne-gold contemporary electric saloon in a luxurious indoor garage. She wears a sleek, floor-length ivory evening gown with subtle gold trim, an elegant asymmetric neckline, and a dramatic thigh-high slit revealing one leg. Resting one hand lightly upon the polished bonnet, she faces the viewer with a poised, confident expression. Warm golden lighting washes across the vehicle’s sculpted bodywork and reflective paint, while bold ink linework, rich hand-painted colours, and carefully rendered textures evoke the timeless sophistication of vintage illustrated storytelling blended with modern automotive design.

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Projections for electric vehicle sales in Trumpistan are slashed significantly. ‘Full withdrawal of federal regulatory support for electrification in the U.S. is the biggest factor’. {Yahoo! Finance 11 July}

https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/us-electric-car-outlook-tumbles-200700626.html

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Humiliation in aisle seven

A highly detailed illustration depicting a distraught blonde-haired woman standing alone in the centre of a brightly lit supermarket aisle after an embarrassing loss of bladder control. She wears a simple white slip dress that is visibly soaked across the front and lower skirt, with a small puddle spreading across the polished tiled floor around her shoes. Tears stream down her flushed face as she wipes one eye while instinctively clutching the front of her dress. Shoppers on either side of the aisle pause with expressions ranging from surprise and concern to sympathetic discomfort, some holding shopping baskets. Neatly stocked shelves and bright fluorescent lighting heighten the stark contrast between the ordinary setting and her deeply vulnerable moment.

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US grocery unit sales fall as inflation and benefit cuts squeeze budgets, forcing shoppers to buy less. {Get Ready 16 July}

https://getready.team/news/economic/2026/07/16/the-us-grocery-slowdown-is-real

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Friday, July 17, 2026

The wildfire didn't need a passport

A highly detailed glamour-style illustration of a distressed blonde woman seated upon a white toilet in an opulent marble bathroom with polished brass fittings. She wears a white satin nightdress beneath a loosely draped silk robe, one hand pressed against her lower abdomen while the other supports her tear-streaked face. Her flushed cheeks, reddened eyes, and pained expression convey exhaustion and severe gastrointestinal illness. Luxurious details, including crystal perfume bottles, folded towels, and gleaming marble surfaces, contrast sharply with her evident discomfort. Warm golden lighting accentuates the satin fabrics and refined décor, creating a poignant juxtaposition between elegance, vulnerability, and physical suffering.

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Trump, Michigan Republicans theatrically and performatively threaten Canada over wildfire smoke covering US regions. {NYT 17 July}

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/17/weather/trump-canada-tariffs-wildfire-smoke.html?smid=url-share

Ontario Premier Doug Ford provides the best comeback to the latest display of nationalist hysteria, that Canada should be held liable for acts of God. Have they considered those times the shoe hath been on the other foot?

FTA: Earlier on Friday, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, was visibly frustrated with complaints from American lawmakers about the smoke.

“As for other elected officials in the U.S., I have to remind the American people, when there was wildfires in California, we had our water bombers on standby,” Mr. Ford, a conservative, told reporters, listing other American disasters that Ontario has helped with. “If there’s some politicians out there chirping away, well, maybe what you should do rather than complain is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends. And that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

The answer to my own question is obvious… these smug #MAGA creeps simply do not care. When America's actions harm Canada or any other nation, they merely shrug. When the roles are reversed, they scream to the heavens and demand retribution (though they will not acknowledge any actual victims beyond invoking them as political props). They are bullies, thugs, and entirely emblematic of who and what the former United States of America hath become in its afterlife.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

No comfort in marble

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Figures: #Murican fast food icon Taco Bell and supplier Taylor Farms tied to cyclospora outbreak in five states. {AP 17 July}

https://apnews.com/article/cyclospora-lettuce-taco-bell-cdc-fda-13d9e9ebdc46a4d05a58da2ae8e8d0de

Not the first time either of these parties have been negligent. Food safety standards are not what they should be in what we — as Americans — are commanded to believe is the freest, richest, most advanced nation on earth. Alas, I do not suspect most Taco Bell consumers care all that much about food safety, but I digress.

FTA: The FDA’s traceback investigation identified a single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico used by the Taco Bell locations where people who got sick ate, federal officials said. The Mexican food chain is among the restaurants linked to foodborne illness outbreaks in the past. Taylor Farms also was tied to a 2013 cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to salad mix and a 2024 E. coli outbreak tied to onions served at McDonald’s.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

The slow suffocation of Lady Liberty

image generated via ChatGPT

‘The Treasury Department’s top tax policy official was forced out of his job after he warned that the White House was at risk of violating a federal law prohibiting senior officials’ involvement in IRS audits’. {WSJ 17 July}

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/top-treasury-tax-official-ousted-after-clashes-with-white-house-over-irs-audits-60d5b1df

This regime is not even trying to hide its corruption, it is wearing it as a badge of honour. Kenneth Kies, according to the Wall Street Journal, hath ‘been at the center of Republican tax-policy circles in Washington for nearly a half-century’, probably as partisan a creature as one is likely to find. Yet he retained enough sanity and common sense to warn these fascist reprobates not to violate federal law and become politically involved in IRS audits, and said reprobates responded like the petulant, belligerent individuals they are and forced him out.

How many times now have we seen people with a degree of competence and sanity try to work with Trump and the lunatics around him, and every single time they are driven away. From Tillerson to Mattis and Kelly to Fauci to Bolton to his own former VP, and literally hundreds in between, Trump eventually exhausts the patience of serious people. Always. This second reign of terror hath not seen as much turnover as the first, predominantly because Trump took care to put the real lunatics and loyalists in key positions, but even now we are seeing defections, in-fighting, and firings. For there is no pacifying such a chaotic individual.

Electing Donald Trump president in 2016 was a mistake. Wilfully returning such a proven failure and conman to power in 2024 was a collective act of political arson from which white working-class America shall never redeem itself — even those of us who have opposed this madness all along are forever tarnished — and the country as a whole shall never recover from it.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

This was not in the briefing

A highly detailed fantasy-glamour illustration depicting a blonde female Secret Service agent standing in an opulent executive office at night. She wears a tailored black blazer over a fitted white blouse, a short black skirt, sheer black tights, and black high-heeled shoes. Her posture conveys visible frustration: one hand rests on her hip while the other is raised in a dismissive gesture, her gaze fixed downward with an exasperated expression. Behind her, tall windows reveal a vast night sky dominated by the ringed planet Saturn. An American flag stands near dark wood panelling, leather furnishings, and a large presidential-style desk. Dramatic cinematic lighting and rich contrasts create an atmosphere of tension, authority, and weary determination.

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Secret Service reportedly fed-up with VP Vance and family. {MS NOW 15 July}

https://www.ms.now/news/veeps-security-detail-fed-up-with-hastily-arranged-personal-and-family-travel-requests

Blatantly entitled, brazenly so, and only a heartbeat away from the presidency. Taking a young boy to a golf lesson aboard a military helicopter at taxpayer expense, reportedly costing more than $24,000. Meanwhile, JD Vance and his wife — ever the natalists — are expecting their fourth child soon.

Vance is not fit for the office he holds, and certainly not the presidency: too young, too self-assured, too many contradictions about him, and too aloof in nature. Alas, thanks largely to his boss, standards no longer apply to most Republican office-holders, provided they remain in Trump's good graces.

White Americans and much of the mainstream media — generally speaking, of course — do not hold Republicans to the same standards they apply to Democrats. I believe this has been true for decades, beginning with the political realignment that followed the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, but more acutely so since 2016, when a third or so of the overall American population decided what a wonderful idea it would be to join a political cult led by a foul-mouthed real estate mogul and ‘reality television’ star with closets full of skeletons.

At the dawn of his political career, Donald Trump could have attempted to run as a Democrat. After all, he spent roughly a decade registered with the party in the 2000s. Yet he understood that his chances of success were far greater as a Republican. He needed the white working-class vote, and that constituency had been drifting away from the Democratic Party since the 1960s, a process completed with the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008.

Just look at the number of state legislative seats Democrats lost during Obama's presidency, particularly across the South. The scale of the decline is staggering. Trump was taking note. Trump could not have won as a Democrat, nor could he have gotten away with everything he has gotten away with as a Republican. No demographic group has proven more willing to overlook — or even embrace — his corruption, incompetence, and ethical failings than the coalition that now comprises #MAGA.

So long as JD Vance remains Trump’s trusted VP, he shall be Teflon. Ask Mike Pence what happens, however, when one falls out of good graces. The best thing that can happen between now and the scheduled presidential election of 2028 (and I use the word ‘scheduled’ as there is no guarantee there will be any election in 2028) is for Trump to throw Vance under the bus and fire him, for he would be a horrible president (yes, worse).

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

La Dernière Liberté

A highly detailed illustration portrays a red-haired woman lying upon an opulent four-poster bed draped in rumpled white silk linens within a richly furnished French-style bedroom. Wearing an ivory satin nightdress, she appears exhausted and emotionally distressed, with tears visible on her face and one arm resting across her forehead. Beside the bed stands a blonde nurse in a crisp white uniform and cap, carefully preparing medication or treatment on a tray. Warm lamplight illuminates ornate woodwork, lace curtains, floral arrangements, and luxurious furnishings, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and solemnity. The composition evokes themes of illness, caregiving, vulnerability, compassion, and end-of-life care.

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Dignity: French Assembly approves assisted dying for incurable illnesses; Macron hails passage after Senate rejection. {France 24 15 July}

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260715-france-expected-to-pass-final-vote-on-assisted-dying-after-years-of-debate

Not in a million years will assisted dying be permitted in #Murica.

Is there anything ultimately crueler than forcing a person in pain — to be clear, the legislation in France applies only to competent adults suffering from illnesses deemed incurable — to continue existing in this world? What obligation does any individual who is suffering have to everybody else that the force of law should compel them to remain?

Frankly, it is akin to slavery. Society does not legitimately own any individual; it can only claim such ownership through force. Anyone who opposes mercy for the suffering is claiming ownership over them, and that disturbs me more than I can put into words.

I applaud the French legislators responsible for seeing this measure through, but it is only a first step towards establishing genuine respect for individual rights, personal autonomy, and human dignity.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

The long night of a Justice

A highly detailed illustration depicts a frightened blonde woman sitting curled up on a leather sofa in a warmly lit living room. Wearing a black dress with a white Peter Pan collar, she clutches a blanket and presses a thumb nervously to her lips while tears run down her face. Red-and-blue police lights flash through the window behind her, casting an ominous glow into the room. Family photographs, bookshelves, and soft lamplight create a domestic atmosphere that contrasts sharply with her visible fear. A bulletproof vest rests on a nearby armchair, suggesting concerns about personal safety. The composition conveys anxiety, vulnerability, and the intrusion of public threats into private family life.

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Justice Amy Coney Barrett reveals bulletproof vest and swatting threats, as US Supreme Court seeks increased security funding. {The Guardian 14 July}

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/14/supreme-court-justices-security-budget

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Secrets in the wine

A lavish historical-fantasy illustration depicts an opulent reception hall inspired by imperial Kyiv, illuminated by chandeliers, candlelight, and gilded décor. At centre left, a red-haired woman in an elaborate embroidered gown stands beside a banquet table, her attention focused on a glass of red wine. Around her, elegantly dressed guests mingle beneath Ukrainian banners and ornate architectural details. To the right, US Senator Lindsey Graham laughs with a group of dignitaries while holding a wine glass. In the foreground, a decorative chest displays labelled bottles, while documents, medals, flowers, and crystal stemware rest upon richly appointed tables. The scene combines diplomatic pageantry, courtly intrigue, and theatrical historical symbolism within a grand ceremonial setting.

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Trump: FBI ‘wasting time’ in investigating the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham. {NBC News 14 July}

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/rcna587500

Translation: his puppet master Putin was the culprit, so nothing to see here, folks.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Steaks, sermons, and socialism

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Ron Paul: Trump polices ‘just as, if not more, dangerous to liberty and prosperity as anything proposed by Mamdani or Sanders’. {Ron Paul Institute 13 July}

https://ronpaulinstitute.org/congressional-ratification-of-president-trumps-corporatism/

Ron Paul: yes, he is still alive, and not at all wrong in the following assessment. I wish more folks would start making this point:

“Despite regularly denouncing the rising socialist menace, President Trump has been pursuing a policy arguably just as, if not more, dangerous to liberty and prosperity as anything proposed by Zohran Mamdani or Bernie Sanders: using government funds to purchase partial ownership of private companies.”

Here is a little secret that many people do not wish to admit: Trump's voters are perfectly comfortable with socialism, provided it is not openly labelled ‘socialism’ and provided its benefits flow primarily to them rather than to the ‘wrong’ people. They will tolerate endless wars and reckless government spending so long as Daddy Trump tells them society's problems are the fault of liberals, immigrants, and LGBT people, and gives them permission to hate. They will tolerate it so long as their churches continue telling them that Jesus supports Trump and therefore they must as well.

So long as social and cultural grievances remain foremost in these people's minds, they will continue running back to Daddy Trump — and to whatever demagogue eventually follows in his wake.

Ron Paul, Thomas Massie, and only a scant few others represent the remnants of a strain of uncompromising libertarianism that is now nearly extinct. One need not agree with all of their views or policy prescriptions — I certainly do not — but when they call a spade a spade and sound the alarm about what government ownership of previously private companies means for both the economy and individual liberty, fair people ought to give them a fair hearing.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Monday, July 13, 2026

Between the dragon and the sun

A fantasy illustration shows a blonde woman reclining on richly patterned drapery, wearing a flowing translucent gown with gold embellishments. She gazes confidently towards the viewer while seated amid a surreal landscape. Behind her, smoking industrial towers and flames contrast with crystalline cities, floating islands, waterfalls, wind turbines, and solar panels suspended in the sky. Luminous dragon-like forms drift through the clouds as a spiral of golden light ascends heavenward. The image juxtaposes industry, environmental change, technology, and utopian possibility within a vividly coloured dreamlike setting.

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Energy prices soar, led by a seventeen-year high in the cost of natural gas. {Bloomberg 13 July}

https://finance.yahoo.com/energy/articles/us-cost-gas-power-17-110000139.html

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

The burden of false guardians

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White Christianity having been thoroughly hijacked by #MAGA, a remnant of pastors with a conscience run in Democratic primaries. {AFP 13 July}

https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/democratic-pastors-run-reclaim-jesus-013012065.html

Godspeed to these individuals, but they have a very long and steep hill to climb if they believe American Christianity is going to be reformed any time soon. Indeed, they may even be placing themselves in genuine physical and legal danger. The seeds were planted long ago; now, so to speak, the harvest is underway.

Many within the younger generations are being indoctrinated into Christian Nationalism, and informed by violent anti-Semites and misogynists such as Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes. When the youngest members of that movement eventually come to power in force, they may unleash waves of repression across this country — and beyond — that are scarcely imaginable to the average Western citizen today. The Democratic Party should have confronted the political and cultural right's successful hijacking of Christianity and patriotism decades ago. To attempt to reverse the process now is too little and far too late for a party that is itself, in all likelihood, headed for the ash heap of history.

Furthermore, I am no longer entirely certain that Jesus is opposed to any of this. Perhaps He is simply allowing these travesties to unfold as judgement upon an empire — not so much a nation as an empire — of hypocrites, sinners, and liars. I am almost certain that He hath forsaken this polyglot realm of the former United States (still known as such in name, of course), and entirely certain that He hath hated me from the day of my birth. As a nation, at least — I shall deal with my own spiritual house, thank you — seeking His favour at this point seems a futile endeavour.

In other words, America increasingly appears a lost cause, and I believe it is so. And if so many people genuinely desire their Christian Nationalist utopia, then perhaps we ought to carve out a large swathe of this empire — a substantial portion of the South and Midwest, sacrifices notwithstanding — and allow them to build it in earnest, no more ‘woke’ folk to get in the way. Raise a wall around and keep their citizens the hell out of everybody else’s lands. As someone living in Massachusetts, I have no desire to be governed by such people, nor to watch them continue to poison the well for the rest of us.

Again, though, good on these pastors for trying. If I lived in any of those states, I would not hesitate to give them my vote — even in vain. After all, it seems to me there have been many times through the years I have voted for candidates and ballot questions that I knew were going to lose, so do not mistake my cynicism for lack of approval… perhaps there is even some mild enthusiasm here.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Summer beyond the window

A highly detailed illustration depicts a glamorous blonde woman resting inside a vintage iron lung in a rustic ranch-house bedroom. Only her head and neck emerge from the polished metal cylinder, which stretches across most of the room and is fitted with gauges, portholes, valves, and mechanical components. Her hair is styled in elegant mid-century curls, and she gazes upward with a calm, reflective expression while resting on a white pillow. The warmly lit room features wooden panelling, framed photographs, a bedside lamp, a saddle draped over a chair, and a view of open countryside through the window. The contrast between the sophisticated portraiture and the imposing medical device creates a poignant atmosphere, evoking themes of resilience, isolation, and life sustained through technology.

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The last American polio patient to still rely on an iron lung device hath died, aged 78. {AP 12 July}

https://apnews.com/article/iron-lung-last-patient-died-polio-41e5b4da4f4e710344dd0872d7fcf987

FTA: Polio was once one of the nation’s most feared diseases, with annual outbreaks causing thousands of cases of paralysis. The disease primarily affects children.

Vaccines became available starting in 1955. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a national vaccination campaign cut the annual number of U.S. cases to fewer than 100 in the 1960s and fewer than 10 in the 1970s. In 1979, polio was declared eliminated in the U.S., meaning it was no longer routinely spread.

If Americans had thought in the 1950s the way so many do today — and if public-health policy had been dictated by the likes of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — the widespread adoption of Jonas Salk's vaccine would never have been possible. There would be far more individuals like Martha Lillard in the world (albeit most would not live anywhere near as long), and the polio virus would likely remain a scourge upon the planet.

Martha Lillard was told not to expect to live beyond the age of twenty, and the fact that she reached seventy-eight is undoubtedly a testament to the human will to live. I would have thrown in the towel decades ago, so she hath my deepest respect.

Fare thee well.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Sen. Lindsey Graham hath passed, aged 71

A formal portrait of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham smiling outdoors in bright daylight. He wears a dark navy suit, light blue dress shirt, and burgundy tie, with a small lapel pin combining the flags of the United States and Ukraine. His white hair is lightly tousled by the wind, and he faces the camera with a relaxed, approachable expression. The background is softly blurred, showing indistinct industrial or maritime structures that provide context without distracting from the subject. Natural sunlight illuminates his face and clothing, creating a clear, candid image typical of contemporary political and news photography.

Reuters

Would not have to explain myself to John McCain, and am thinking suicide. RIP all the same: Sen. Lindsey Graham is dead. {Washington Post 12 July; photo: Reuters}

https://wapo.st/4f6QMNV

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Saturday, July 11, 2026

The lady of the Black Sea

A highly detailed fantasy illustration depicts a blonde warrior princess standing atop a rocky cliff overlooking a turbulent coastal landscape. Dressed in richly embroidered Slavic-inspired garments with an ornate blue-and-crimson cloak, decorated belt, jewellery, and leather boots, she raises an elaborate sword high above her head in a gesture of defiance and resolve. Her long hair streams dramatically in the wind as she gazes towards the horizon with determination. Below her, a rugged shoreline stretches beside dark waters, while damaged infrastructure, smoke plumes, and signs of conflict scar the distant landscape. Overhead, Saturn hangs prominently in a cloud-filled twilight sky, its rings glowing against the fading light. The composition combines heroic symbolism, folklore-inspired costume design, and epic environmental detail to create a powerful image of courage, resistance, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

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Inside Ukraine’s campaign to cut off Crimea by air, land, and sea. {The Telegraph 11 July}

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/261ace880b5d185a

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

The trial of public service

A dramatic, cinematic illustration depicts a dark-haired woman seated in a wooden chair within a dimly lit office strewn with papers and abandoned desks. She wears a white blouse and dark skirt, while thin wires attached to her wrists, arms, and legs connect her to a nearby polygraph machine. Leaning back in apparent exhaustion and emotional strain, she gazes upward with tears visible on her face, conveying anxiety, defiance, and inner turmoil. The room is illuminated by warm, low lighting that reflects across the polished floor and scattered documents. Through the large windows behind her, an immense image of Saturn dominates the star-filled night sky. The contrast between the intimate human drama, the interrogation equipment, and the vast cosmic backdrop creates an atmosphere of scrutiny, isolation, and psychological pressure.

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Homeland Security overhaul has traumatised staff and migrants alike — did the Stasi ever treat its own people this poorly? #Murica {The Guardian 11 July}

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jul/11/inside-homeland-security-campaign-of-fear

To put this in layman's terms: really f**king scary stuff, straight out of the world of dictatorships and hellholes on earth. If Homeland Security — at least under this regime, though many problems existed under previous administrations as well — cannot be trusted to treat its own people with respect and dignity, then it cannot be trusted to treat others with either, nor can it be trusted to keep the American public safe from genuine threats.

Running government agencies on fear and propaganda is driving competent and humane people out across the board, and rebuilding all of this — if, not when, these lunatics are finally removed from power — is going to be a gargantuan undertaking. And one that the former United States may not be able to fully afford.

Some agencies and institutions may never completely recover. Others may never recover at all. Millions of lives ruined.

What y'all voted for.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

A mortgage, not a miracle

A bright, cheerful illustration shows a red-haired woman seated barefoot on the wooden front steps of a tidy suburban home. Her vivid hair is styled in playful pigtails tied with red ribbons, and she wears a short white summer dress with a distinctive red Peter Pan collar. Smiling warmly towards the viewer, she holds a glossy red lollipop in one hand while a light breeze lifts strands of her hair and the hem of her dress. Behind her stands a well-kept two-storey house with white siding, dark shutters, flower boxes filled with colourful blooms, and a neatly maintained lawn. Bathed in soft daylight, the scene conveys optimism, comfort, homeownership, and an idealised vision of suburban prosperity.

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Bipartisan housing bill becomes law without the president's signature; Trump dismisses housing affordability for American families as 'so unimportant' while continuing his hissy fit over the stalled SAVE America Act. {AP 11 July}

https://apnews.com/article/trump-housing-bill-77ec340dcdd676c46c458813b461b1af

Rigging elections in his own favour and that of his party, under the thin pretence of combating largely nonexistent voter fraud, hath been openly declared by this man to be more pressing than helping Americans purchase homes. The alleged epidemic of voter fraud was thoroughly debunked in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, yet that hath neither stopped him from repeating the lie nor dissuaded his supporters from believing it.

And this bipartisan legislation is probably not even a bandage upon the gaping wound that is housing unaffordability in today's #Murica. It is better than nothing, certainly, but even that appears to be a step too far for a president determined to have the entire world — and every person's very psyche — orbit around himself.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

The wrath of the red moon

A richly detailed fantasy illustration portrays a powerful sorceress standing at the centre of an opulent Persian-inspired palace hall. She wears flowing crimson robes embroidered with gold, layered jewellery, and an ornate jeweled headdress, while strands of glowing red magical energy spiral from her outstretched hand. Her dark hair cascades around her shoulders and her intense gaze dominates the composition. Surrounding her are lavish carpets, silk cushions, gilded lanterns, carved marble columns, intricate tilework, and jewel-toned draperies rendered in extraordinary detail. In the background, two elegantly dressed women recline together upon cushions, providing a quiet contrast to the central figure’s commanding presence. Warm lantern light, rich crimson and gold hues, and elaborate decorative motifs create an atmosphere of luxury, mysticism, and regal authority.

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Khamenei Jr. vows to avenge his father’s death, crude oil prices soar again, while the White House seeks an agreement to free up the Strait of Hormuz that is never going to be adhered to. What a bloody mess. {Reuters 11 July}

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/us-seeks-iranian-pledge-to-free-up-strait-of-hormuz/

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Friday, July 10, 2026

Pennsylvania Avenue prisoner

A symbolic illustration depicts a distressed Lady Liberty standing in chains before a tall metal security fence surrounding the White House at night. Wearing a torn classical robe and the iconic spiked crown, she grips the bars while heavy shackles bind her wrists and ankles. Tears streak her face and her expression conveys sorrow, helplessness, and confinement. The illuminated White House stands behind the fence, framed by security barriers and lamplit grounds. Above the scene, an enormous image of Saturn dominates the dark sky, its rings stretching across the horizon. Dramatic lighting highlights the contrast between the glowing presidential residence, the cold steel bars, and the chained figure, creating an allegory of liberty restrained by power and security.

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The actions of one fancying never leaving office: Trump regime considering permanent fencing near White House and Lafayette Square. {CBS News 10 July}

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-considering-plan-to-add-fencing-nearby-to-bolster-security/

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

The woman who said no

A formal portrait of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum standing in an ornate government office. She wears a cream-coloured dress with embroidered details on the sleeves and a presidential sash in the colours of the Mexican flag, featuring the national coat of arms. Her hands are clasped before her as she gazes slightly to one side with a composed expression. Behind her are dark wooden bookcases filled with books, carved architectural details, and a Mexican flag positioned beside a large desk. Warm lighting highlights the rich wood panelling and ceremonial atmosphere, conveying authority, dignity, and the formality of high office.

World Economic Forum

Sheinbaum vows legal action against the former United States after a Mexican national is killed in Houston by ICE agents. {click2houston 10 July}

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/07/08/mexican-president-vows-legal-action-against-us-after-ices-shooting-death-of-lorenzo-salgado-araujo-in-houston/

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

The plunder of Eden

$A dramatic allegorical illustration depicts a distressed Lady Liberty standing upon a fractured stone pedestal. Her pale hair streams in the wind, her torch raised as numerous hands reach from all sides, clutching her robes and pulling at her body while she struggles to remain upright. Her torn garments and anguished expression suggest vulnerability, conflict, and the erosion of cherished ideals. Behind her, Saturn looms immense in a dark cosmic sky. Below, the Earth appears scarred by environmental devastation, with vast open-pit mines, drilling rigs, polluted waterways, dying wildlife, barren forests, and cracked landscapes. The composition symbolically links threats to liberty, exploitation, and ecological destruction.$

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A crime against nature: the Trump regime moves to undo regulations that have protected endangered species for fifty years. {NYT 10 July}

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/10/climate/endangered-species-act-harm.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wlA.sROY.QiZOjeuzP9GG&smid=url-share

Some of the regulations currently in place may indeed be overly burdensome, and there was a time when I would have argued that certain revisions to the Endangered Species Act were warranted. Now, however, I am older and under no such illusions. The veil hath been lifted: human beings — particularly those motivated by profit — simply cannot be trusted. Private industry, despite its frequent proclamations to the contrary, cannot be relied upon to serve as a good steward of either the environment or the natural world.

Donald Trump and the individuals who comprise his dictatorial government cannot be trusted to protect nature. Indeed, many of them have repeatedly demonstrated all the qualities of cartoon villains and would probably relish the destruction of habitats and the extinction of entire species. Therefore, even if some regulations are overly burdensome, I am afraid they remain necessary for so long as human beings are fallen and sinful creatures.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Echoes of 2008

A dramatic, highly detailed illustration depicts two women outside a neglected suburban house under a turbulent, storm-darkened sky. In the foreground, a distressed blonde woman wearing a blue gingham dress kneels upon cracked pavement amid overgrown weeds and signs of decay. Tears stream down her face as she looks upward in anguish, her posture conveying desperation and vulnerability. Towering above her stands a dark-haired woman in a fitted navy business dress and high heels. With one hand on her hip and the other pointing sternly downward, she projects authority, judgement, and control. The weathered house behind them appears abandoned or in severe disrepair, reinforcing themes of financial hardship and personal crisis. Strong contrasts of light and shadow heighten the emotional tension, creating a visual allegory of foreclosure, powerlessness, and economic displacement.

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Foreclosure rate at seven-year high in former US, driven mainly by Trumpvilles in South and Midwest. {MortgagePoint 7 July}

https://themortgagepoint.com/2026/07/07/foreclosures-reach-7-year-high-as-affordability-remains-a-challenge/

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈

Among the faithful dead in the last refuge of civilisation

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Literacy crisis: Americans today are outright refusing to read; gambling now more common than books in the former US. {Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic 8 July}

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/?gift=9FZn7jkTomfZUUZKAohjmj-cCDVI01zjt7XQQzsljuM&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

A new Dark Ages is taking shape, and that is not hyperbole but probably an understatement. Consider this anecdote, FTA:

Adult-literacy scores have also dropped: Nearly 30 percent of American adults cannot paraphrase or make inferences from a multipage text. In 2017, that number was less than 20 percent.

That is a staggering decline in less than a decade. Nine years is not even a blip in the course of modern civilisation. The figure is so extraordinary that I can scarcely wrap my mind around it, so I shall not attempt to do so any further at the moment.

The scariest part of the decline in reading for pleasure is that it is being witnessed across all demographics. The youngest generations are the least inclined to read and the most tech-addled, as one might expect, but only an estimated 38 per cent of Americans read a novel last year. Is it any coincidence that this is occurring at the same time anti-intellectualism is running amok and a narcissistic clown has returned to the White House after failing spectacularly the first time around?

Decades of vapid popular culture, political gaslighting that convinced people to oppose their own interests, and immersion in technologies designed to fragment attention have combined to produce a society that no longer practises critical thinking. A kind of mass zombification is underway, and I want out of this timeline and away from everyone in it. It is not the sort of life I wish to live, nor the sort of society in which I wish to live. #Murica.

FTA: Reading books is a workout for the attention span. The more you read, the easier it is to read, and the more you’re rewarded with new understanding. Eventually the process is more pleasurable than it is challenging. But as with physical exercise, the converse is true as well: The less you read, the more difficult it is to read, and the rockier the path to acquiring knowledge.

linktr.ee/arthurnewhook

🪐💔 #QueSeraSera 𓅨 🕈