You Have Enough Cobalt? No, You Probably Don’t. Get Some More Cobalt.

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Per SciTech Daily, “Scientists Discover Surprising Quantum Properties in Seemingly Ordinary Element,” 2/16/26:

For decades, cobalt has served as a benchmark ferromagnet. Its crystal structure and magnetic properties have been extensively documented. However, the new findings show that cobalt hosts a rich topological electronic structure that remains stable under everyday conditions, pointing to an unexpected layer of quantum behavior.

A defining characteristic of cobalt’s nodal lines is that they are inherently spin-polarized. Because ferromagnetism breaks time-reversal symmetry, . . .

What?

the electronic states forming these lines carry a net spin orientation. By reversing the material’s magnetization direction, researchers can fully flip this spin polarization.

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“In certain directions inside the crystal, the nodal lines intersect and cross the Fermi energy where electrons can move freely,” explains Sánchez-Barriga. “Near these crossings, electrons in the material behave like massless, relativistic-like particles, similar to how light behaves, and can travel extremely fast. This is an exceptional behaviour that has never been observed in any elemental ferromagnet before. Moreover, by changing the direction of the magnetic field, it is possible either to open a gap at the crossing or to fully control the spin texture of the nodal lines while retaining the unique properties of the gapless state. This is exactly the kind of switch-on-off functionality sought for practical applications.”

Well, electrons’ spin is linked to their magnetism, electrons can behave like photons, ferromagnetism breaks time-reversal symmetry, and I-Don’t-Know is on third.

News I can’t use.


 


 


 

Friday Night Open Thread: In Praise of Laziness

Laziness keeps you out of all sorts of trouble. Just now, I was tempted to go raise some hell, but decided it wasn’t worth getting up out of my chair. And I’m betting it’s for the best.

  • ——

Random thought: People talk about “yesterday” and “yesteryear,” but mention “yestermonth” and they will look at you funny.

  • ——

I read the news today, oh boy: ten thousand halals in Blackburn, Lancashire.


 

News You Can Use

… for complaining purposes:

https://travelpander.com/dimensions-of-an-airplane-seat/
“Airplane seat dimensions focus on width, which has shifted over time. In 1985, major US carriers had seats at least 19 inches wide. From 2000 to 2018, average widths fell from 18.5 to 17 inches, with some seats as narrow as 16.1 inches. These changes affect passenger comfort and seating arrangements in airlines.”

So it’s not my imagination.

I guess Whoopi and I will have to ride in separate aisles on our fun-filled vacation.


 

What’s Not To Like?

GOP Rep Moves to END Chain Migration, Targeting 1965 Immigration Law in Major America First Push
Big League Politics | March 18, 2026

A major shakeup of America’s immigration system is now on the table, as Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) rolls out legislation aimed at dismantling decades of globalist policy and restoring what he says should be a strictly “America First” standard.

The proposal would represent one of the most sweeping immigration overhauls in modern U.S. history—targeting not just illegal immigration, but the very structure of the legal system itself.

At the heart of the bill is a clear directive: immigration policy must serve the national interest—not foreign interests, not activist agendas, and not bureaucratic inertia.

“All immigration to the United States shall serve the economic, cultural, and security interests of the United States as determined by Congress,” the legislative text states.

Ogles’ plan takes direct aim at chain migration, a system that has allowed extended family members of migrants to enter the country for decades. Under the proposal, family-based pathways would be dramatically curtailed and replaced with a merit-based system prioritizing skills, economic contribution, and national security considerations.

The legislation would also eliminate the diversity visa lottery, which currently hands out roughly 55,000 green cards annually to applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S.—a program long criticized by conservatives as arbitrary and vulnerable to abuse.

In addition, the bill introduces significantly tougher screening standards for applicants seeking entry into the United States.

Under the proposal, individuals could be denied entry for a wide range of red flags—including suspected gang affiliations, prior arrests for offenses such as domestic violence or DUI, abuse of public benefits, visa overstays, or failure to meet tax obligations.

Even without a criminal conviction, such factors could disqualify applicants under an expanded definition of “good moral character.”

The plan also calls for enhanced vetting procedures, including deep background checks, social media screening, and mandatory in-person interviews.

Wait a sec. We’ve been at this for 250 years, and still don’t have mandatory in-person interviews? Bureaucracies suck at their jobs.

While immigration debates have long centered on border security and illegal crossings, Ogles’ proposal signals a growing shift on the right: a willingness to fundamentally rethink legal immigration itself.

At its core, the legislation seeks to roll back key elements of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965—better known as the Hart-Celler Act—a law widely credited with transforming the demographic makeup of the United States.

That legislation abolished the national-origins quota system and replaced it with a framework prioritizing family reunification and broader global migration flows.

Ogles has been blunt in his criticism of that shift.

“The Hart-Celler Act scrapped the highly effective national-origins quota system and replaced it with an immigration regime built to favor third-world migration,” he said.

If passed, the bill would mark a historic pivot away from the policies that have governed U.S. immigration for more than half a century—and could ignite a fierce national debate over who America’s immigration system is truly designed to serve.

That’s it, in a nutshell: who? The country, or the people trying to get into it?


 

Straight Line of the Day: There’s a “No Kings” Protest on March 28th. Why Aren’t You Going?

‘No Kings’ protesters to march to Washington State Capitol on March 28
KIRO7 | 3/14/26 | MyNorthwest.com Staff

The third “No Kings” march and rally has been scheduled for March 28, as participants will march toward the Washington State Capitol in protest of the “unconstitutional and unaccountable behavior of our federal government.”

The event will begin at 11 a.m. and run until 3 p.m., including a march followed by a rally that features speakers, music, and sign-waving

That’s supposed to be a draw?

For adults?

Olympia’s “No Kings” event will be just one of many similar nonviolent events occurring on March 28 across the U.S. In Olympia specifically, marchers will begin lining up at 11 a.m., leaving Percival Landing Park at 217 Thurston Avenue N.E. at 11:30 a.m., and marching to the Capitol Campus to begin the rally.

Who’s dictating the schedule? A committee of dictators?

“Currently, America has a cruel king surrounded by cruel cronies. …,” Amy Rehwaldt of Evergreen Resistance Olympia shared.

Thanks for sharing. Most people just speak.


 


 

Bond Girlathon Friday : Results from 3/13/2026 : New Matches for 3/20/2026

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Nice to get out for a bit of fun.

Results from 3/13/2026

(9) Lana WoodNo Preference(14) Tania Mallet
1380109

Nadja ReginNo PreferenceLola Larson
114654

New Matches for 3/20/2026

Match 1

(13) Claudine Auger (Domino Derval) vs Denise Perrier (Marie)

ContestantRecordTotal Scores
(13) Claudine Auger3 – 2 – 0625 – 7 – 426
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Domino Derval

Actress:Claudine Auger
Nationality:French
Bond Movie:Thunderball (1965)

Synopsis:

Domino Derval was the mistress of SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo. Bond discovers that Largo had killed Domino’s brother, and thinks he can use that fact to get her on his side. They meet underwater as Bond untraps Domino’s flipper from the coral, and Bond manages to convince her to plot against Largo.ger

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Claudine Auger

VS

ContestantRecordTotal Scores
Denise Perrier1 – 4 – 0211 – 32 – 617
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Marie

Actress:Denise Perrier
Nationality:French
Bond Movie:Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Synopsis:

As Bond seeks out Blofeld to get revenge for the death of his wife, the trail leads him from Tokyo to Cairo, where he interrogates a gambler about Blofeld’s whereabouts. “Marie… ask.. Marie.” Bond finds Marie, who asks “Is there something I can do for you?” Bond replies with “There’s something I’d like you to get off your chest”, and then removes her Bra and begins to strangle her with it.He gets the information he wants and pursues the lead.

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Denise Perrier

Who do you prefer?
41 votes · 41 answers

Match 2

Luciana Paluzzi (Fiona Volpe) vs (16) Izabella Scorupco (Natalya Simonova)

ContestantRecordTotal Scores
Luciana Paluzzi3 – 2 – 0527 – 8 – 525
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Fiona Volpe

Actress:Luciana Paluzzi
Nationality:Italian
Bond Movie:Thunderball (1965)

Synopsis:

Fiona Volpe was the archtypical Bond henchwoman, with the task of seducing men into traps. She was feisty and more competent than many of the henchmen in the Bond films. She met her end while dancing with Bond; a henchman tried to shoot Bond in the back, but he quickly spun round and the bullet killed Fiona instead.

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Luciana Paluzzi

VS

ContestantRecordTotal Scores
(16) Izabella Scorupco3 – 2 – 0562 – 4 – 423
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Natalya Simonova

Actress:Izabella Scorupco
Nationality:Polish-Swedish
Bond Movie:Goldeneye (1995)

Synopsis:

Natalya Simonova was a programmer working at a Russian Space Control Centre along with Boris Grishenko. Xenia Onatopp and General Ourumov staged a test drill in the centre, and after getting the launch keys, Onatopp shot everyone in sight. Natalya managed to escape, and made contact with Boris over the Internet. Unfortunately, Boris was a traitor working with Onatopp, and Natalya was captured.After she escaped a near death experience with Bond, the two paired up, and Natalya’s computer skills helped Bond overcome the traitors.

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Izabella Scorupco

Who do you prefer?
43 votes · 43 answers


 

You Keep Using That Term “Border Force.” I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.

More than 250 illegal migrants cross English Channel as smugglers exploit hottest day of year so far
GB News | 3/18/2026 | Mark White, Jack Walters

More than 260 small boat migrants entered Britain today at the start of several days of good weather in the English Channel.

At least 56 migrants arrived in the Dover harbour on a Border Force vessel just after 10am, GB News can reveal.

Three other migrant boats made the illegal crossing in the hours that followed.

Just after 3pm, the Border Force vessel Typhoon unloaded another 82 at the migrant processing centre in Dover, taking the total for the day to 261.

It takes the total number of illegal arrivals so far this year to 3,718.

Several more days of good weather in the Channel this week are expected to see hundreds more small boat migrants attempt to reach Britain.

The Border Force facility at Dover harbour has now reopened after being closed for upgrade work for the past two months.

Whatever happened to the “One In, One Out” policy?

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Not sure that I trust any graph that doesn’t label its X-axis. And wasn’t Liz Truss gone like dandelion pollen in like 60 seconds?

Also, if the numbers are cumulative, is a PM responsible for the numbers let in by their predecessors? They are responsible for the rise, yes; but this graph creates a visual impression that they have done more damage than is fair. They should all start at a zero baseline from their first day in office.


 

Oh, NO! Part 2

Mind bleach, stat!

Single Whoopi Goldberg reveals she goes bar-hopping to fulfill her sexual needs
NY Post | 3/18/26 | Audrey Rock

Goldberg quipped, “I am single,” adding, “Yeah, I bar hop, I go hang! And I do hit and runs when I need it.”

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.

Latest workday for interns:

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Phew


 


 

Oh, No!

MS NOW cuts an hour from ‘Morning Joe’ in drastic overhaul
New York Post | March 18, 2026 | Taylor Herzlich

This will give Mika much more time to FaceTime with me. Or OnlyFan. I forget which.

Here she is wearing her Star Trek red shirt for the newly-branded program, Late-Morning Joe:

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She said it was hard to swallow.