Midweek 1st July

Good morning, Stroock's Books weekenders and Happy Dominion Day to all our Canadian reader(s) out there. 

Related, a new season of Shoresy, we learned, is on Hulu. 

Ah, there's that fear and trepidation we're always warning about, brought on by solitude and the heat wave - even though we have a brand-spanking-new AC system. 

Also we had a massive gout attack yesterday. It just snuck up on us at the gym, right in the small of the left foot. This was a bad one, but it passed. The foot is still sore though, as is the left toe from the gout attack the other day. 

Supreme Court...no complaints. The court went 3 for 3 yesterday as far as Stroock's Books is concerned. Sorry, fellow MAGA hats, the 14th amendment is absolutely clear, 'All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.' If one is born in America, one is an American. However, Section V states, 'The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.' Couldn't congress end birthright citizenship?

And there's an important principle here. In many countries, say Whogivesadamnistan*, if your parents are from Slobovia, you won't be Whogivesadamistani since your parents aren't Whogivesadamnistani even though you were born in Whogivesadamnistan.

What Will's Watching: on the recommendation of a friend, To Live and Die in LA. This is a noir film, an 80s cop film about a pair of Secret Service agents very often at odds as they try to bring down a counterfeiter. William Dafoe is a nihilistic criminal. William Peterson is driven to revenge for his partner. John Pankow is a reluctant agent.  To Live and Die in LA was directed by auteur William Freidkin. Watch the film as a product of its time and place. Watch the film for its style. And there's a hell of a twist, 3/4.

DOGE report.

We finished the Soviet Salyut station story yesterday. 

*Term borrowed from M Steyn, upon whom we wish good health.