Nov 052026
 

Yesterday, having stayed up most of the night, I slept most of the day (and woke up still in shock – but in a good way.) I’ll probably do the same today.

On Election Day I received an email from https://dekleptocracyalliance.org, which unfortunatelty I cannot link to, either at dekleptocracyalliance.org nor at freep.com/ (The Detroit Free Press) The email was about information which dekleptocracy sent to the Detroit Free Ptrdd (“The Freep”)concerning the price of diesel fuel, which is the fuel used by, among other vehicles, school buses. Dekleptocracy did am investigation (modtly I expect doing the math.) Here’s a brief quote from that article, which The Freep published on Monday “Michigan school districts are paying an extra $31.5 million to fuel their buses since the war with Iran sent diesel to record highs….Detroit’s district alone eats $1.5 million of that.” I have the math skills, but I don’t have the raw data to compute how the conditions would apply to El Paso County – which has at least four districts. But I’ll bet it’s a bundle. I’ll bet it’s a bundle in every state, and especialy in cities. Dekleptocracy is hoping (not unreasonably) that the publication of the information on Monday willhave affected the election on Tuesday. And not just in Detroit. The Freep has long had an excellent reputation for good journalism. which inspired people all over the country to subscribe to it.

Also on Election Day – or rather during the night after the polls closed, and I was dumbfounded, My district elected a Democratic woman – a district which has not elected a Democrat or a woman since we became a state in 1876. District 3 rejected Lauren Boebert )not by a lot, and if there are any uncounted ballots, that could change – but I have worked with out machines in the precincts, and I doubt that there are. Ans yes, we have mail voting, but we have always requires ballots to be received by Election Day. My man won for Governor (the Republican was an open Nazi.) Keisha Lance Bottoms won the gubernatorial race in Georgia – which until now has mever had a woman or a person of color as Governor. Iowa. Ohio. Texas rejected both Abbot and Paxton. My only disappointment was Alabama – and that’s really terrible – and we’ll have to deal with it. But I believe we can. Back to my state, every one of our 8 Congressional districts went blue. Which means that Colorado alone flipped four districts. I have no words.

This is from before the polls closed, but I don’t think it’s out of date. I think ir is a pattern we could easily miss, and we should not miss it. I can see why the author wanted us to see it befor the election – but in hindsight, it may not have been mecessary. I don’t think we ahould have any regrets.

This may have been resolved by the time you read it. But, in case it hasn’t – Mississippi does not do runoffs, and expects candidates to chip in on the cost of recounts. I don’t have a link, but itshouldn’t be too tough to find a candidate’s website – after all, they need all the attention they can get.

This article looks forward – but it also carries a message for people who choose not to vote because “their vote won’t count.” Or alternatively, because they”don’t do politics,” because it’s also a reminder that, even if you don’t do poliyics, politics will always do unto you. So, if you know anyone like that….

Belle Midl East

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Nov 042026
 

Yesterday, at about 12:30 pm Eastern (giving him time to type and/or notify an editor), Barak Ravid of Axios received information from the White House that the Liar-in-Chief said he was “in no rush” to decide on restarting war in Iran (Barak Ravid is one of Axios’s reporters, and has had his byline on so many releases or statements from the White House that Malcolm Nance has given him the nicknams “Trump’s secretary.”) Then, about 9:00 pm Eastern (giving him time to confirm it with the Wall Street Journal,write and record it (Ben is quite wordy so it may have been a bit later) Ben Meiselas of Meidas Touch learned that at least five bombs (five explosions were heard) were dropped on Qshem Island, in the Persian Gulf, not all that close to the Strait of Hormuz, but a strategic location in the process of getting oil out of the Strait. Also on Sunday, gas in Colorado Springs (technically in Fountain) and in Pueblo was at $4.19 per gallon. I wonder how much it is now. How much is it where you are (the 84 grade)? You likely knew all of this from your own sources, but possibly not all put together. As I type, I had not yet listened to what Malcoln had to say about this (besides that he predicted it – which he indeed did).

This would, as the saying goes, piss off the Pope. Actually, it probably does – I suspect he knows more than most Popes about what the U.S. was intended to be – and what we are now ain’t it.

OK, a day late (since Tuesday’s my day off) but posting it anyway because – although we’ve won some – it is, I believe, the first time we have won 7-0. Correct me if I’m wrong about that – and really, even if I am, I still think a 7-0 verdict is noteworthy.


This one is optional because it is a 33 minute video. Let me explain. It is an interview between David Sirota of The Lever and Senator Chris van Hollen of Maryland, and the topics discussed include “Does the national Demcratic Party need new leadership?” Y’all probably recognize the Senator’s name, but out of an abundance of caution I’ll remind us that he is the Senator who flew to El Salvador to personally speak with Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia about what really happened to him. (And I agree with the opinion about him of Abdul el Sayed which is quoted in passing.) There is a transcription – and it matches the CC, so it probably contains typos, but it should be understandable.

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Nov 032026
 

Few days overdue – but too clever to pass up …

Minimalistic but effective Halloween decorationsOriginal post

— Massimo (mirror) (@rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social) 2026-10-19T01:47:08.945Z

 

Amazing!

But under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you try this at home!

Lion dance practice: #AGoodPlaceSource: www.reddit.com/r/Damnthatsi…

— Michelle says: Be kind. Always. ❤️ (@snarkysillysad.bsky.social) 2026-10-17T20:24:31.586Z

This is an example of managing monetary issues efficiently that you will NEVER see in the DJT administration:

Employee of the Month

— Place where cat shouldn't be (@catshouldnt.bsky.social) 2025-02-17T14:26:03.637Z

And this is the kind of weird face we all hope we see on DJT, his corrupt cabal & his MAGATs tonight when the Big Blue Wave TSUNAMI rolls over them!

— Pierre Polyester (@canadian-critic.bsky.social) 2026-10-22T01:12:51.231Z

 

…

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Nov 022026
 

Yesterday, I ran into another verbal pet peeve of mine – confusing or conflating “ancestors” with “descendants.I” I’m not going to share who did this, because I truly believe he is smarter then that (at least about linguistics.) I will mention that I own a Match-3 computer game which has a plot requiring the protagonist to prove his descent from Moctezuma in order to recover custody of an artifact which was taken from him forcibly on the grounds that the thief claims direvt descent from Hernan Cortez. It’s mostly very well done, including portraits of everyone in the family tree (as well as some distant cousins he meets while tracking his tree all over the world), and there is impressive art for each of the locations also. But the word “descendant” is never used in it – only the word “ancestor,” which leads to some rather ridiculous misstatements. The match-3 boards get more and more difficult as the player goes – but at least it doesn’t kick the player out if she or he fails to solve a board withi the time limit three times in a row, which some do. So I keep playing it when I have time.

I share this because Newsom is virtually certain to fun for President. And no, I don’t expect any president to be perfect. But I do excpect voters to be able to see them “warts and all” before we decide how to vote in 2028.

https://steveschmidt.substack.com/p/jfks-four-tests-of-leadership-and
Steve Schmidt writes about integrity, and quotes a JFK speech as a demonstration. Between the intro, the speech, and Steve’s ending remarks, it’s longish – but impressive.

https://joycevance.substack.com/p/the-week-ahead-5c9
For once, I got, and was able to at least skim, “The Week Ahead” in time to put it up before the beginning of the week. I don’t expct that to happen again any time soon, but this a good week for it to happen.

Mayo Clinic

Just to give you an idea of the scale – the pumpkin starts out at 210 pounds (95+ kilos)

 

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Nov 012026
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was “I Pagliacci” by Ruggero Leoncavallo – although these days they are calling it just “Pagliacci” which I’m not happy about – theres a difference betwen “Clowns” and “The Clowns”, and I think the latter is more appropriate for “This one particular troupe of Clowns.” I’s in the verismo style, characterized by telling stories pf ordinary working class people, and usually violence. Most of my lifetime the tradition was to present Pagliacci in a double bill with “Cavalleria Rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni – butin about the last 25 years or so, both of those have been more often paired with a different short opera, and today it was played by itself. I have heard it often enough – and there is enough distasteful subject matter in it, that, although I set myalarm in time to get up andhear it, when thealarmwent ogg I decided to sleep another two hours. The male lead, Canio, was a signature role of Caruso’s, but it’s been sung by just about every competent tenor anywhere in the world. The main aria – “Vesti la giubba,” has probably been sung in concert even more that it has been sung in full productions. It also inspired the cliche “Laugh although your heart is breaking, which also inspired a pop song in the 30s or 40s. I’m off to see Virgil now and will check in upon return.

Bravo (follow up to a previous post)

Charlie

Delta

Echo

Foxtrot These programs seem to be starting to trend lately. More power to them.

Randy – a day late for Hallowe’en, but a day early for Day of the Dead. Let’s split the difference.

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BlueSky Says “BOO!”

 Posted by at 3:12 pm  Politics
Oct 312026
 

Forget black cats.  This fire breathing cat is a helluva lot scarier!

Fire breathing cat#Cat #Caturday

— Free Cats Daily😻 (@freecatsdaily.bsky.social) 2026-10-07T17:22:20.768Z

And this cat is a helluva lot cuter!

Baturday/Caturday

— KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 (@kojamf.bsky.social) 2026-08-16T00:35:27.790Z

Well, it wouldn’t be Halloween without some clever pumpkin carvings …

I have to pick up a pumpkin soon! 🎃 Here are some of the jack-o'-lanterns I've done for the cats in the past. 1. The vet2. Vacuum cleaner3. Spray bottle4. Nail clippers5. The cone6. Fleas

— Cats of Yore (@catsofyore.bsky.social) 2026-10-25T01:34:09.718Z

But I can’t decide which of the next two pumpkin carvings I like better.  What do you think

If only.

— Maryland Blue Girl 💙 I have words and know how to use them (@quothpam.bsky.social) 2026-10-07T16:18:46.090Z

Or …

The next one runs a bit long – but it is so clever & so well done I know you’ll enjoy it:

One of the best Halloween costumes everOriginal post

— Massimo (mirror) (@rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social) 2026-10-28T23:39:33.273Z

And not to get all pedantic, but I never thought Halloween could serve as a useful lesson on the difference between Capitalism & Socialism.  But I was wrong1

🎯🎯🎯

— Biggie (@biggienotsmalls.bsky.social) 2026-10-20T19:36:30.778Z

 

.

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Oct 312026
 

Yesterday, * SAT *

This seemed like a good article for today. Of course thise would not apply to all ghost stories – but some, very much so.

At one time, I believe it did make sense to appeal to moderate Republicans – because moderate Republicans existed. But, in hindsight, I don’t believe that has been true since 1980. What we need now (and have since 1984) is a modern FDR.

Miles Taylor, with his team at Defiance dot org, has made a documentary called “Corruptionland” which can be seen at corruption dot org. They want your email address, so Defiance dot org can send you information as they update it. If you’re uncomfortable with that, the other button on that page will take you to it on YouTube. The bottom line is that all the corruption they wee able to quantify totals 337 BILLION dollars, and they know there are also some bigger ticket items which they were not able to quantify accurately (his estimates are always substantially too low.)

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Oct 302026
 

Yesterday, I corrected my calendar on a couple of appointments I had entered on the wrong dates, and managed to watch “El Ultimo Sueño” again, and picked up on more thingd I hasn’t noticed the first or second times. I’m afraid that will have to be it, though. So glad I was able to see it at all.

I’m not convinced that knowing the identities of the Orange Oligarch’s unelected henchmen (henchpersons?) will help us to defang him – but ProPublica put a lot of time and effort into this one, and they do actual investigations for good reasons.

It’s not news to sane people that the Apricot Antichrist lies – nor that that applies to everyone in his regime as well. But sadly, there are still people just now finding it out. Ordinarily I can’t get into WaPo, but today, for some reason, it allowed me to. In case it shuts you out, here;s the alternate link.

My feelings are hurt – Colorado didn’t get one of these letters (OK, just kidding – I don’t feel hurt at all. More like a sigh of relief.)

Cat 2fer

A little dark humor on a Friday.

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