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 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 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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Oct 282026
 

Yesterday, my day off, I didn’t do much, including needlework. I untangled the yarn on a project which I’m knitting with double strands, and I fixed a dweater neckline which I had made too tight – I could get it over my head, but not without taking off my glasses. This was the second one, and I have one more to go. 😢

This contains a video which is quite short, and also on loop. I don’t get out much, and therefore seldom if ever talk with idiots. But if I did, my response would be like Bob’s. Wajeeh Lion puts it a little stronger – “You may not f**k with politics, politics will still f**k with you.

IIRC, the original Nazis also rewarded snitches. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. But rewarding snitches is all this is. Don’t try to report any actual law breaking through this program – you might get locked up.

Archived from The Atlantic, which is even stricter than Conde Nast publications. You may need to close a money ask page to get to the articlw. And I was not the first to archive this one. It’s from Saturday – but it’s a prediction, not news, and the prognosticated date is still in the future.

This is an extra, because it is not news, but history. But I’m betting it is history you don’t know about unless you saw this article before I posted it – or are yourself an investigative reporter. I knew about thw Middle Ages, but this time period was all new to me. Not that I should be surprised, knowing that there is a market for snuff films other than executions.

Reich Pronouns

Cat

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Oct 242026
 

Yesterday, I got up slightly before I had intended to, and managed to stay on track to get to bed in time to get up even earlier today for the radio opera. I also listened to two Substack videos which discussed the $2B Jared Kushner got from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. One was Malcolm’s, and he went into some detail about how Jared’s smartphone is almost certainly hacked by them, as well as Ivanka’s, their kids’ phones, and their dog. Yes, the dog (if they have one -they may be, like Daddy, too cold-blooded.) It never occurred to me, but the microchips which are so highly recommended and which have reunited some many animals with their families, are electronic, and therefore can be hacked. You probably wouldn’t get barks or meows, but you might get coordinates.

I subscribe to Andy, but don’t often post him. So many of his posts are partial, with half or more restricted to paid subscribers, and as far as I can tell, Substack doesn’thave gift links. But this one is the Andy you remember, complete with Harland Dorrinson.

Definitely not new – but definitely needed and needs and will continue to need to be said – and as forcefully as possible. I’m seriously considering printing a few paper copies and taking them with me anywhere I go (ever though that’s almost nowhere almost never.) And yes, the video today is also Robert Reich – because it goes with The Conversation article.

This is from earlier in the week, and today is almost Sunday, and I try to find good news not involving politics or government.

The Conversation is doing its best to keep up with all the AI oopsies – and I am doing my best to keep up with The Conversation.

Brad Lander sounds like a decent person (which I would expect from a Democrat – but not always see, sadly.) I can’t offhand think of a state that wouldn’t benefit from more Democrats in Congress. I hope he wins.

RReich AI

2fer

Today’s cartoon is in the Borowitz short take. I did copy and save it – but since it’s gotten annoying to get them the right size, and it’s already in a short take, I thought I’d just refer it for once.

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Oct 222026
 

Yesterday, I was able to stream the opera “El último sueño de Frida y Diego” a new opera by Gabriela Lena Frank. Several from last season I have missed – they have only been available for a day or two and by the time I had time to watch, they were gpne. This one, thankfully, I caught. I had heard it live on the radio, but that’s not the same – especially sn opers with so much color, and with characters living and dead. And your choice of Spanish or English CC. and Isabel Leonard as Frida.

On Tuesday, Malcolm Nance said on his “warcast” “We are now a Russian satellite state.” He said this right around the 30 minute mark, afyer presenting all his evidence that it is absolutely true. Depressing as it is, I think we ought to know about it. You don’t need to listen – you can open CC. which is never perfect, but usually close. Yesterday I managed to fing time and nergy to skim through an email, which I received last Thursday, from UC Health, which is now my medical provider. Its subject line was “A hopeful prognosis for Pope Leo.” I don’t know whether they sent it to everyone (probable, sinse it also included other health information), or just to those patients registered as Catholic (they do ask for that affiliation in our profiles, but it may not be required.) Either was, I thought it was a very kind thing to do.

I don’t know whether or not TomCat would have posted this if he were still with us. But I can’t help but think of him because it happened in Oregon.

The only surprise about this investigation by Pro Publica is that, apparently, our wanna=ne king was smart enough to think of the project (which I don’t believe for a second. Someone pitched it to him.)

Because Republicans know they cannot win unless they cheat. Every accusation a confession. There used to be terms for the distinction Joyce is making – “funny-ha-ha” and “funny-peculiar.” I think we need them back. (Although – “funny-peculiar” being a euphemism for “funny-suspicious”, maybe we should use that instead.)

This is an extra because it is a petition. Sign if you want to – don’t if you don’t. It does include the details of what Zuckerberg (or, as I sometimes call him, the big rock candy mountain) did through his chain of command for plausible deniability. You know, I wouldn’t mind a king so much if he were Aragorn (think the book, not the movie.) But our king wanna-be is no Aragorn. More like an Orange Orc.

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Oct 192026
 

Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. I left the house a half hour earier than normal, in order to [A] fill the tank with gas, and [B} cast my ballot in a voting drop box. I did that for the primary, and the next day, I received two emails from the County Clerk’s office. The first said they had received it, and the second said it had been counted. I don’t know if they can possibly be as fast with this election, but I’ll be watching my inbox[es] today. I think Virgil is starting to lose enough hearing for it to be noticeable. It also may in part be because the Sergeant of visiting has rotated, and he’s changed how the tables are assigined. Previously, they seated us as far apart as possible, which gave us a little privacy – and also reduced the noise. The new Sergeant kind of seated us in a cluster, and that may have made it difficult for Virgil to hear. However, he also turned down the air conditioner significantly. So he gets a pass from me on the seating. I don’t know what, if any, options Virgil has there for hearing care, but I’ll look into it.

Also yesterday, during the night I gather, there was an accident on a Canadian Army training base, when a natural gas storage pipeline which was hit by maybe a tank, or possibly live ordnance and exploded. It killed 7 and wounded at least 100. There are some details in Malcolm Nance’s recording – but even he doesn’t have all the details.

I don’t often post the F news – and this is long. Even the first section, on the premise that lack of accountability creates lask of affordability is what I considered most important.

It’s been too long, and even when I was active, this was not in my job description, so I couldn’t do this kind of connecting-the-dots analysis. Fortunately, I don’t have to.

No No surprise from Common Dreams – but I like the way they tell it like it is.

RR Construction

2fer (“Renata” means “reborn” – and Renatino” means “little reborn.”)

P.S. – They – WordPress – hae changed some things again,and apparently one change is how videos work. They worked just fine for me in the draft, so I don’t know why they are not working – at least, not in the preview. If you can go into the dashboard, they should work, or anyone can click the button to watch on YouTube.

 

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