Saturday Civics Lesson

As ever, the urbane sophisticates of the large states vs. the small-state goobers & hicks. And why there is a Senate. As if a "state", or its legislature, has any "rights" or interests that supersede those of its people. The wealthy, rigging the game since 1786.

And not word one about slavery. No doubt simplified for classroom consumption, which is no excuse.

No Joy In Mudville

Perhaps not the wisest bobblehead?

Swept? A fucking sweep? Not seven games of hard-fought ball? Well, just like this reporter, they are old & tired. Maybe a bit o' hubris involved as well, talking "three-peat" so much.

OOOOOH. Maybe the Dodgers shouldn’t have visited the White House LOLOL. Here’s me celebrating.

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— Allison Gill (@muellershewrote.com) October 15, 2026 at 8:12 PM

I hope the Guardians beat the Devil Rays & provide an all-Midwest series that no one will care about except the residents of Wisconsin & half of Ohio, & Fox Sports loses big.

Perhaps this abomination will be balanced by a Democratic sweep next month.

The End Is Near

75%+ through this annus horribilis, but it isn't over yet. Could well get considerably worse. More war losses, Election Day may be "Anything Can Happen Day", & prices & temperatures are still rising, yada.

As in temperatures of 100°F (37.8°C) predicted for tomorrow through Monday. So much for autumn in L.A., as Aug., Sep't. & Oct. are the hottest months. Guessing between poor circulation & anemia it won't bother me much.

Back To The Fifties!

The Comic Book Commie Fifties, That Is

Via Ten Bears; I thought this was an amusing addition.

Does anyone really believe this Red-baiting? This reporter is a child of the '50s, but by the mid-'60s this stuff was laughable propaganda. Joe McCarthy, anyone? Maybe you have to be 80 & stupid to swallow this now. Yet who's sucking up to Comm-u-niss China at this moment?

Friday Freak Out

Blues Guitars

My life too. Oh, the sufferation.Bonus live track:

State Of The Nation: Beat To Shit

Ed Cara / Gizmodo:
71% of Americans Say They're Completely Exhausted
Fox News:   Nearly 3 in 4 Americans are battling the same exhausting health problem, CDC reveals

Erica Sloan / Washington Post:   Americans are tired. Women and young adults, most of all.

What? You think mature male citizens aren't fucking sick & tired of the Gawddam non-stop bullshit too?

I've noticed plenty of exhaustion: Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinquo.

In conclusion, we're all exhausted:

Nowhere Is Safe: There Is No Escape

Hemant Mehta / Friendly Atheist:

Christian preachers are turning airplanes into unwanted worship services  —  Evangelists are exploiting captive audiences who can't walk away—and broadcasting it online  —  What is it about being in an enclosed space, surrounded by people who can't escape, that makes evangelical Christians even more insufferable than usual?

Tom Boggioni / Raw Story:   Evangelicals are force-feeding sermons to air travelers: ‘I just love a captive audience’

All of this reeks of Christian privilege. These kinds of stunts would never be tolerated—even for a moment—if the evangelists weren’t Christian.

It’s telling that these Christians believe a captive audience is the best way to spread their message. They’re basically admitting other people wouldn’t listen to them otherwise. The only thing they accomplish with their impromptu sermons is reminding people why they should avoid Christians when they have the option.

Are there no Air Marshals? Damn jet travel. W/ a nice four-engine turboprop the 'plane could be slowed enough that such people could be safely tossed out an open door.

Dumpster Donnie

CBS firing Colbert reminds Envisioning the American Dream of something from the days of LBJ. It's always the same shit in garbage nation.Inspiration for the Cramps? Either way, a re-recording:And why can't I find the original on your crummy site, YouTube? It was easily available. Yet another reminder that everything is garbage. Searching for the original did lead to this:

How To Do It, Right

No foolish consistency here:

Q: Is your expectation other countries will assist in effort to blockade Iran?

TRUMP: Yeah. Other countries are gonna also.

Q: Which countries, sir?

TRUMP: We don't need other countries.
pic.twitter.com/OtyTNNdy9M

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 13, 2026

Press Watch advises The NYT on better ways to tell the story of Lumpy's derangement, dementia, delusion & dipshittery.

As I wrote last week, once a news organization acknowledges that the president is – or even may be – insane, they are also acknowledging that this is an extremely dangerous situation. That obliges them to start aggressively and constantly reporting on what can be done about it – even if there appears to be no political will to do so at the moment. It’s an imperative.

What we also need – as I begged for shortly before the election, when it really could have done some good – is a “Cronkite moment,” where trusted voices in news turn to the camera, or the internet, and declare that Trump is self-evidently unfit for office.

And in the meantime, every incremental news story about something Trump does or says that is abnormal – which is almost everything he does or says – ought to be accompanied by a statement about his mental instability.

Because that is really what explains Trump. Most immediately, it explains why we’re at war, and why he makes it worse and worse all the time.

No Doubt "Fake" News

Sky News: While Trump, the so-called leader of the free world, sits rage-posting on SM like a man screaming into a void, France, Japan, Philippines, & UK are quietly, methodically cutting deals with Iran. The world has moved on & US Mainstream Media is not covering a bit of this. #sheshed

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— Donna Stern (@dvsmemphis.bsky.social) April 8, 2026 at 2:38 PM

Couldn't possibly be true if the mainstream media isn't reporting it.

You Did Vote For A Retarded Moron

Trump's face is drooping and his eyes are closed pic.twitter.com/zHuoQ4Suse

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 26, 2026

Or is he a moronic retard?

President Donald Trump interrupts a Cabinet meeting dominated by Iran war, airport security lines and shaky global markets to brag how he uses Sharpie markers to save the government money.

Priorities: Billions of dollars for war crimes & murder, but not a penny for Sharpies.

Tell The Truth Now!

The war makes it more urgent for journalists to call out Trump’s derangement

Don't hold your breath. As Froomkin types, it isn't up to the journalists, but their institutional masters.

I sincerely hope that the leaders of our top news organizations are doing some serious introspection right now.

Maybe they’re searching for the right language – they just can’t bring themselves to use words like deranged or dangerous.

Well here are some things they can say – in the institution’s own voice — that don’t sound so extreme, all of which are backed up by extensive evidence.

He is volatile. He is unreliable. He lacks credibility. Sometimes he is incoherent. He is asserting dictator-like powers. He operates in a bubble of enablers. When he utters a falsehood, it is because he is lying or because he has lost touch with reality – or both. He is being misled by his aides. He believes the lies he sees on Fox News.

And if news executives aren’t willing to be blunt in their institutional voice, they should at least include informed speculation about why he says and does things that are so irrational and disconnected from reality.

They can attribute it to experts or critics if they must, but they should fully describe the critique that provides the essential context for virtually every news article coming out of Washington these days.

Something like: “Critics say Trump is deranged and unfit, that his aides are venal, that his cabinet is inept, and that his supporters are cultists. They say nothing he says can be trusted and that he should be removed from office.”

Still nagonna happen.

"Cost Of Doing Business"?

"Cost Of Doing Business"? Really? Welcome To The New Old United Snakes, Suckers! Now Die!!

Yes, it's 1923 again, just as they want it.

Can not wait until Morbillivirus hominis percolating through 300+ million sheep mutates a few times & becomes as debilitating as it is infectious, which is very. Why in hell do these people hate America so damn much?

Joseph Choi / The Hill:
US hits 1 year of measles spread, CDC's No. 2 calls outbreaks ‘cost of doing business’  —  The U.S. on Tuesday met one of the key conditions for losing its measles elimination status, more than 25 years after it achieved this distinction and one year into a second Trump administration …
Kerry Breen / CBS News:   Measles cases surge in South Carolina as U.S. risks losing elimination status
Devi Shastri / Associated Press:
The US is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status. Here's why that matters
Helen Branswell / STAT:   Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’

CBS News:   Parents on edge as massive measles outbreak grows

Deidre McPhillips / CNN:   The US had a record-breaking year for measles. It may be the start of a deadly comeback

Taylor Delandro / The Hill:   Measles case confirmed at Clemson amid South Carolina outbreak

New York Times:   Has the U.S. Lost Measles Elimination Status?

"Dark Ages" here we come! What'll suburban woo mom say when Junior & Sis are spared "vaccine-induced autism" or whatever because they died of supermeasles? "I didn't vote for this"?

Enough!

Enough ugliness & stupidity, numb yourselves w/ more dull ol' clouds.

As taken:

Retouched, & closer to how it appeared to this human's peepers, 'though perhaps brighter.

"Stop the world, I want to get off!"

Doddering Old Fool Is Stupid, Ignorant & Demented

Trump Bizarrely Touts ‘Clean, Beautiful Coal’ to Child at Christmas

Trump also bragged about his electoral successes while talking with kids on Christmas Eve.

Th' hell's w/ the oversized ornaments?

President Donald Trump marked Christmas Eve by chatting with children about their holiday wishes. On phone calls, he promised kids to not let a “bad Santa” infiltrate the country and even suggesting that a stocking full of coal may not be so bad.

Adam Gabbatt / The Guardian:
Is Trump mentally OK? A look back at the president's unusual behavior in 2025
Thomas Kika / Raw Story:   Questions about Trump's ‘mental and physical performance’ dominate his first year back

New Republic:   Cognitive Decline? These Were Trump's 11 Most Senile Moments This Year

Still not convinced he's "demented", just that he's a stupid, ignorant loud-mouthed jerkwad. Once he starts drooling during "executive" nap-time & someone (Preferably an almost literal lick-spittle Cabinet member.) has to come on camera & wipe that filthy mouth we can talk about actual dementia.

At least there's a musical aggregation willing to face mind & brain issues.

I see black Christmas trees
Barbed wire, funeral homes
I see your face, forest fires
Rats in the street gnawing at your bones

That Was The Week (Of Horrible) That Was

Burr Deming's weekly reader (well-worth-reading) is now available. It'd be worth reading even if he weren't kind enough to winnow my chaff & find something worthy each wk.

Scum Of The Earth

Republicans, Democrats, all of them filthy rich hypocrites. Every one of these bastards deserves to die alone in prison.Shove it Bill Gates, you sex criminal jerkwad. Too busy poking 10-yr. olds to keep your four eyes on your bullshit business, so you've literally & figuratively fucked everybody on the planet?

Windows 11 sucks, like everything else. Why do I have to start the damn slideshow myself, you incompetent fuckhead?

How much more of these assholes rubbing our noses in their shit are people expected to take? I know I've had more than enough, & am indeed about to explode.

The Tiffany Network

Yes, that sound is Edward R. Murrow spinning like a top in his grave. Looks as if it isn't working, however.

Big Advertisers Appear Wary of CBS News’ Bari Weiss Town Hall Format

Ha ha ha you ninny. No one sane wants to hear Erika Kirk whine about Jesus. Where was He when Charlie got plugged, anyway?

Live From L.A.: The Taste Of Victory

Every one east of the Rockies can suck it!! We're Number One, you're number two!!

Everybody's A Critic

The Usual Pin-Dicked Losers Bemoaning The State Of Masculinity Or Something

Matt Donnelly / Variety:

Sources: Disney is on the hunt for original movie concepts to lure young men aged 13-28 back to the brand, as audiences dwindle for the superhero genre  —  Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty aren't the only ones looking for a prince.  —  Leadership at Walt Disney Studios has been pressing Hollywood creatives …

Lou Aguilar / The American Spectator:   Disney's Lost Boys

Tyler Durden / ZeroHedge News:   Disney Wants Men Back In Theaters After Years Of Catering To Feminism

@born2wrshp.bsky.social:   ...unfortunately this age group has been exposed for far too long to the “sociopath that wins” narrative - refer to the Fright House...a “functional” superhero that fights for good is a foreign concept...the “dysfunctional, sociopathic hero” concept seems to work - refer to Deadpool & Wolverine...

Kristi DeRubertis / Kristi DeRubertis on LinkedIn:   Maybe try leaning into the elder millennial Disney parents—the ones willing to drop $$$ to take their family of five (who are Disney kids by default, thanks to us) to the movies. …

Parkscope Joe / @parkscopejoe.bsky.social:   Millennials grew up when they were making original films, Gen Z hasn't.  It's really kinda that simple.  —  variety.com/2025/film/ne...  [image]

Simon Waite / @thecinemascene.bsky.social:   Oh boy this is an interesting read regarding Disneys woes and personally speaking they've brought a lot of these problems on themselves variety.com/2025/film/ne...

Bill Mudron / @mudron.bsky.social:   It's only been a decade since they bought Star Wars to fix this problem but they're already back to “How do we make stuff that appeals to the most consistently stupid and easily-manipulated demographic of all time?”

Ace / Ace of Spades HQ:   Variety: Disney Seeks Original IP Which Will Appeal to Young Men

Megan Peters / Screen Rant:   Disney's Gen Z Reboot: Embracing Anime for Hollywood's Future

Zachary Faria / Washington Examiner:   DEI Disney is wondering how to win back young men

Megan Garside / GamesRadar:   Forget Star Wars and Marvel, Disney is reportedly looking for fresh IPs that will lure a Gen Z male audience to the brand

John Daniel Davidson / The Federalist:   Disney Wants Ideas For Movies That Will Appeal To Young Men. I Have A Few

Natasha Lee / Mediaweek:   Media Roundup: A Current Affair boss quits, Apple TV+ Australia boss speculation, Chalmers orders AI review, Fox launches $20 streamer, Smallzy producer exits, and Disney targets Gen Z

Jacques Peterson / Daily Mail:   Disney pressures its filmmakers to man up as it desperately tries to bounce back from ‘woke’ flops

Amy Curtis / twitchy.com:   After Years of Girl-Boss Garbage, Disney Wonders How It Can Win Back Young Men

Brandon Morse / RedState:   Disney Is Finally Realizing It Was a Bad Idea to Drive Men Away

Silly fruitcakes. Did all those witchy women steal their little weenies, African-style?