I thought we were done with this

I was surprised to find out that three Americans were killed in Syria as a result of a Muslim terrorist attack: "3 Americans Just Died for Syria". God have mercy on their souls.

Why were they there? And although I generally trust Trump on foreign policy matters, I don't get his playing nice with Syria's new ruler. Wheels within wheels, I suppose, but I doubt that the families of the two dead National Guardsmen and their civilian interpreter are going to be content with an amorphous generality like that.

Classical corner

The first movement (Allegro) from the first concerto ("Spring") of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

What a bloody week

On top of the mass shootings, there's a breaking news report out of California: "Rob Reiner & Michele Singer Reiner Allegedly Stabbed by Son Nick".

I would not wish such a death on anybody: to be killed by one's own child. And here's a bizarre twist:

Nick has long spoken about a battle with substance abuse, and — in spite of his family's wealth — periods of being unhoused.

Nick co-wrote with Matt Elisofon the semi-autobiographical 2015 film "Being Charlie," which his dad directed. He told People at the time, “Now, I’ve been home for a really long time, and I’ve sort of gotten acclimated back to being in L.A. and being around my family."

Anybody out there in Hollywood still want to criticize Trump's war on Venezuelan drug smugglers? (And yes, I know the sad answer to that question).

Viva Chile!

Rightist José Antonio Kast of Chile's Republican Party has defeated the Communist Party's candidate Jeanette Jara Roman by a substantial margin (58.3% to 41.7%) to become Chile's new president. Crime and immigration played a major role in Kast's victory.

Mrs. Paco has been celebrating with her relatives in Chile via WhatsApp. From the photos posted, I'd say there has been much uncorking of Champagne bottles.

Another campus shooting (with few details)

At Brown University. 

A "person of interest" has been taken into custody.

Terror in Australia

Updated Confirmation (as if confirmation were needed) that the terrorists in Bondi Beach were Muslims.

Gunmen in Bondi Beach, Australia fired on a Jewish festival, killing 11 people: "Bondi Beach terrorists unloaded on Hanukkah celebration for more than 10 minutes without being stopped".

The police did not exactly shine on this day:

One furious Israeli-Australian survivor said that the shooting went on for up to 20 minutes. “Twenty minutes with four policemen there — nobody give fire back. Nothing, like they are froze,” said the witness, who revealed he covered his children with his body while watching the horror unfold. He added: “Four policemen there didn’t give fire back. I don’t understand why.” When asked who they were targeting, he responded, “Everyone. Jews. Men, old, kids, everyone. It doesn’t matter.”

It wasn’t until a local good Samaritan, a local fruit seller, disarmed one of the terrorists that police appeared to return fire, video shows.

I presume that we will hear, eventually, that the gunmen were Muslim terrorists.

May God have mercy on the souls of the dead, and may justice be done.

H/T to friend and commenter Mick for this breaking news.

Sunday funnies

 

Reminder: Santa Wants Gluten In His Cookies

ASAP!

Identification.

The spirit of innovation is alive and well among Australia's youth.

When you bump into your ex.

Appalachian insult of the day.

Another edition of the Possum Lodge word game.

Cemetery prank.

Mom is clearly the boss.

So, you want to buy a Belgian Malinois.

From the inspired maniacs at Neural Viz. The Glurons are the successors to the human race, btw. And, truth to tell, I've seen clips from real fashion shows in which the models wear stuff that is at least as weird as this.

From Power Line's The Week in Pictures.