Althouse: Sunrise.

August 30, 2026

Sunrise.

Open thread.

23 comments:

Narr said...: An echo with light.; 8/30/26, 7:27 PM
Breezy said...: Ducks ruin symmetry. When will they get with the program…; 8/30/26, 7:35 PM
tcrosse said...: The Madison Reflecting Pool.; 8/30/26, 7:56 PM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: First U.S. military strikes on Iran in a month. Economic “D-day” apparently not getting the job done.

So tomorrow is an ‘oil up / stocks down’ day?

And Trump insiders knew that on Friday.; 8/30/26, 8:37 PM
Original Mike said...: "Earlier today, American forces attacked two Iranian launchers on Larzac Island. Revolutionary Guard forces were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines toward the Strait of Hormuz."

We saw a risk to all who would use the Strait and we removed it. Rich would have us sit back and take it.; 8/30/26, 8:45 PM
JES said...: Nice. Thanks for sharing; 8/30/26, 8:46 PM
hanuman_prodigious_leaper said...: Chinese drama with Althouse Meade vibe!
Could Meade be secret billionaire?
https://youtu.be/Y5KCLiHbZAc?is=F4dTplhbqqJHjPIr; 8/30/26, 8:51 PM
Peachy+2 said...: Islam - the real Handmaid's tale

Islam - the real big money lobby.; 8/30/26, 8:52 PM
NKP said...: Nice picture; 8/30/26, 8:53 PM
hanuman_prodigious_leaper said...: I found out AI that Iran Shah was allowed to seize islands in the strait with blessings from USA Kissinger which were previously Arab territory during Suez Crisis and British military abandoned the region under Prime Minister Wilson.; 8/30/26, 9:00 PM
bagoh20 said...: "Prosecutor Blows the Whistle on NY AG Letitia James’ Office, Says He Was Ordered to “Find Crimes” Committed by Trump Despite Zero Evidence"

Dirty dirty people. The Democrats are a shithole party.; 8/30/26, 9:04 PM
bagoh20 said...: Just saw some reports Iranian Intelligence is complaining that the population is nearing overthrow, because their enemies have failed militarily and it's all they have left. Other reports are that the IRGC is planning an exit.

One high level IRGC official fell over dead on video during a fiery speech today. ""I'm afraid the strain was more than he could bear."; 8/30/26, 9:11 PM
hanuman_prodigious_leaper said...: Military strategists refer to the chain of Iranian-controlled islands—including Larak, Qeshm, Hormuz, Hengam, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa—as Iran's "Arch of Defense" or maritime gate bolt across the Strait of Hormuz.Larak Island (The Eastern Gate): Located at the narrowest bottleneck of the Strait of Hormuz, right off the mainland naval hub of Bandar Abbas. It is used to monitor and interdict traffic right as it enters or exits the open waters of the Gulf of Oman.The Tunb Islands (The Western Approach): Situated further inside the Persian Gulf, just south of the massive Qeshm Island. Because the waters in this part of the gulf are relatively shallow, the deep-water channels running between the Tunbs and Abu Musa are the only navigable paths deep enough for international oil tankers to pass through; 8/30/26, 9:17 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: This is a good picture.; 8/30/26, 9:28 PM
Aggie said...: '.....chain of Iranian-controlled islands—including Larak, Qeshm, Hormuz, Hengam, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa—as Iran's "Arch of Defense" or maritime gate bolt ....'

So it looks like the primary strategic advantage the Iranians have for controlling Strait traffic has been compromised.

I wonder what would happen to their control over the Strait if it was taken away from them completely. Let's see, their oil exports have to pass these islands too, right? For instance, Oman is a much more, hmmm, level-headed and stable culture. Or the U.A.E., for that matter.; 8/30/26, 9:36 PM
Dave Begley said...: Cubs play Brewers 7 times yet this season.; 8/30/26, 9:38 PM
Jupiter said...: Thinking about the idiotic "Target blackface" shakedown, I am reminded of something that happened a while back, in Mexico. I own a property there -- I think, it's hard to be sure, what you own in Mexico -- and I pay a man, who I have known for decades and hold in very high regard, to manage the property. His daughter was having her quinceanos, which is a big deal down there, and I was invited. I bought a new shirt, and a gift, and put on some clean pants, and I was an honored guest. Except.

I expect most Americans are familiar with the concept of the pinata, which is a ceramic figure, typically a donkey, that is filled with small candies and hung from the ceiling. Children are blindfolded and given a club, and they try to smash it. Their blindfolded antics are a source of amusement, and when one of them finally breaks the thing open, everybody scrambles for the candy.

But in a process somewhat akin to the commercialization of American Halloween, pinatas are no longer produced locally, they are produced by some bizarre, corporate marketing cartel. Anyway, the net result here, is that my Mexican amigo, and his amigos, had purchased a Snow White pinata, and hung it from a beam on the porch, and were now encouraging their children to attack it with clubs.

I think it is fair to say, that until the moment when he saw me moving closer to my blonde, white daughter, and putting my arm around her, it had not occurred to my friend that there could be a problem here. When our eyes met, I did my best to keep my face still, although I was not going to fake a smile. She did not take a turn, swinging at the pinata. But actually, once that was behind us, we had a good time.; 8/30/26, 9:53 PM
James K said...: "a Snow White pinata, and hung it from a beam on the porch, and were now encouraging their children to attack it with clubs."

I wonder if they've produced Trump.pinatas.; 8/30/26, 10:06 PM
Dave Begley said...: Trump will have a press conference in Tehran within the next 30 days. Dems hardest hit.; 8/30/26, 10:26 PM
Josephbleau said...: If you spend time in real Mexico, not the costal resorts or the tine parts of Mexico City you will see these things. In Monterey it is common to see full size stuffed black people dolls sitting in rocking chairs outside of restaurants with fabric watermelons. It’s just what they have, and they really don’t seem to mean anything by it. It’s just a thing for them. They don’t seem to hate anyone unless you act like a snotty gringo.; 8/30/26, 10:35 PM
Original Mike said...: "Trump will have a press conference in Tehran within the next 30 days."

You're a slow learner.; 8/30/26, 10:38 PM
Indefinitely Extended Excursion™️ said...: “𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘐𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴”

Are these the ones Trump previously claimed were "totally destroyed", "decimated", or "literally obliterated"?; 8/30/26, 10:42 PM
Big Mike said...: Dave and Original Mike, losing a war fought using economic power is like going bankrupt: it happens gradually, gradually, then all at once. It could happen in the next 29 days, but, with all due respect, Dave, I don’t think that’s the way to bet.; 8/30/26, 10:47 PM