Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Who's the Putin Puppet?
Max Boot: Here are 18 reasons Trump could be a Russian asset (Washington Post)
This is hardly a "beyond a reasonable doubt" case that Trump is a Russian agent - certainly not in the way that Robert Hanssen or Aldrich Ames were. But it is a strong, circumstantial case that Trump is, as former acting CIA director Michael Morell and former CIA director Michael V. Hayden warned during the 2016 campaign, "an unwitting agent of the Russian federation" ( Morell) or a "useful fool" who is "manipulated by Moscow" (Hayden). If Trump isn't actually a Russian agent, he is doing a pretty good imitation of one.
Matthew Yglesias: The real crisis is that Trump has no idea what he's doing (Vox)
So Trump is asking Democrats to help him out of a political jam that he created by lying, and in exchange, he's offering them nothing. Not surprisingly, they are not taking the deal.
Matthew Yglesias: Trump's Hannity interview reveals a president out of touch with reality (Vox)
He can't explain what he's trying to do or why.
Lauren Gambino: "'It's ruining people's lives': federal workers count cost of shutdown" (The Guardian)
Trump's demand for taxpayer funding for a southern border wall has now led to the longest government closure in history
Andrew Tobias: "Elizabeth Warren: Not Who You Think"
Before you buy into the notion that Elizabeth Warren - and, for that matter, young Alexandria Ocasio-Cortzez - are unhinged lefties, here are a couple of things you may not have known. Elizabeth Warren was a moderate Republican until her forties. "I was a Republican because I thought that those were the people who best supported markets. I think that is not true anymore," she explains.
Joe Bob Briggs: Herb Kelleher and the Flying Bus (Taki's Magazine)
My only conversation with Herb Kelleher happened in the mid-'70s, before he was famous, when he hunted me down through my editor at Texas Monthly magazine to find out how I felt about the emergency landing in Waco.
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Presenting
Michael Egan
replied:
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
from Bruce
Anecdotes
• In August 1996, Cerise Summers was inside her home watching a soap opera. Inside with her was Bambi, her seven-month-old pet beagle. Outside, playing in a sandbox where she could hear them, were her three-year-old son, Troy, and his playmate, Mika Paloma, who was two and a half years old. Cerise said, "At a crucial part of the program, Bambi started whining and barking to be let out. I told her to wait." Bambi would not wait. When Cerise reached out to give Bambi a swat, Bambi snapped at her-something that she had never done before. Cerise said, "I was shocked. And maybe that brainy beagle knew that was what it would take to make me pay attention to her. Anyway, that was when I began to think seriously that something must be wrong to make her act in such a manner." Cerise let Bambi out. Cerise said, "The moment she was free of the house, she began snarling and growling like she was ready to do battle with a bear, I ran after her to see what had so upset her-and then I got the shock of my life!" The shock was a strange man who had Troy under one arm and Mika under the other. Bambi bit the man, who dropped the two children. Cerise said, "He was cursing Bambi a blue streak, but by this time I had a garden hoe in my hands and was charging toward him. He took one look at the rage in my eyes, the hoe in my hands, and the fury in Bambi's snapping teeth, and jumped over the fence. That's when I really started to scream, and several neighbors came out to see what was happening." Bambi received a very nice reward for saving the two children from the strange man: a huge serving of her favorite meal-hamburger and French fries and ketchup.
• In February 2011 an earthquake struck New Zealand, killing dozens of people in Christchurch. Blair McConnell, who is blind, was caught in the earthquake along with Kiwi, his eight-year-old Labrador mix guide dog. Mr. McConnell said, "I dived under the desk. Kiwi was already under it. I grabbed Kiwi's harness, and he was quite keen to get out of the building." Kiwi led Mr. McConnell out of the building, in which blocks of concrete were falling in the dusty air, to safety. Kiwi remained calm in the emergency. Mr. McConnell said, "I guess the fundamental motivation of any animal is survival. Based on a threatening situation, for them to put the safety of their handler … above the primeval requirement of survival is quite astounding." Other guide dogs were present with their handlers during the earthquake. Paul Metcalf, head of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind's Guide Dog Services, said that all the dogs helped their owners-none ran away. Mr. Metcalf said, "Handlers and dogs worked very well to get out of the area as quickly as possible." Unfortunately, some of the guide dogs are now showing signs of severe stress. He said, "There is the harsh reality that some of the dogs will have to retire because of the stress they've been through. If one of the dogs is really struggling with it, we wouldn't put the dog under the same pressure again." In such cases, another home is usually found for the guide dog. The earthquake was severe. Jaydn Katene, a Christchurch resident, said, "We've had friends in town call us and say there are just bodies lying around: lots of dead bodies outside shops just lying there just covered in bricks."
• On January 31, 2011, in Port Charlotte, Florida, a man with a knife confronted a woman named Angela (no last name given), whose 2-year-old son was with her, and told her not to make any sudden movements or noise. Fortunately, a 65-pound Pitt Bull came to the rescue. Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones said, "I don't think the dog physically attacked the man, but he went at him and was showing signs of aggression, just baring his teeth and growling and barking. It was clear he was trying to defend this woman. I don't know what this man's intentions were, but it is very possible this dog saved her life." Angela had never seen the Pitt Bull before. Mr. Jones said, "You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid. He was like her guardian angel." After the dog frightened away the man with the knife, Angela went to her car. The Pitt Bull jumped into the back seat. The Pitt Bull was taken to an animal shelter, and if its owner does not claim it within five days, Angela has plans to adopt it. She has even named it "Angel." Angela said, "I'm glad that Angel showed up because I don't know what would have happened."
• When Hurricane Katrina hit the coast of states lining the Gulf of Mexico, 80-year-old George Mitchell stayed in his hometown of Biloxi, Mississippi, figuring that since he had already survived three hurricanes that he could survive one more. He did move into a neighbor's house that was on higher ground than his own, and he did have an elderly pet dog (a miniature poodle-schnauzer mix) named Frisky to stay with him. Hurricane Katrina was worse than the three previous hurricanes that Mr. Mitchell had survived. It destroyed his house, it ripped off the back door of the neighbor's house he was staying in, and it flooded the neighbor's house he was staying in. As the water rose, Mr. Mitchell put Frisky on an air mattress. The water kept rising, and soon Mr. Mitchell was treading water while holding on to the air mattress. Of course, soon Mr. Mitchell grew tired. He said later, "I started to give up. Then Frisky crawled to the edge of the mattress and licked my face." For all that night, whenever Mr. Mitchell stopped treading water, Frisky licked his face and kept him awake and moving. The next day the water began to go down. Both Mr. Mitchell and Frisky survived Katrina.
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© Copyright Bruce D. Bruce; All Rights Reserved
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Bonus Links
Jeannie the Teed-Off Temp
Reader Comment
Current Events
"The Upside" is a remake of a 2011 French film called "The Intouchables"
with Omar Sy in the role Kevin Hart takes and Francois Cluzet in the role that Brian Cranston plays. The story is based on a real-life disabled man and his unorthodox assistant. I haven't seen "The Upside" yet, but I saw "The Intouchables," and it was superb.
Linda >^..^<
We are all only temporarily able bodied.
Thanks, Linda!
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
JD is on vacation.
Visit JD's site - Kitty Litter Music
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Rainy night and more rain ahead.
Public Screening
Bruce Springsteen
Fans attending a free screening of " Springsteen on Broadway" at Monmouth University in West Long Branch Sunday night may not have noticed a familiar face in the audience: Bruce Springsteen.
According to the Asbury Park Press, Springsteen donned a red baseball cap and slipped in to view the film incognito. Springsteen arrived 10 minutes into the movie and took a seat in the back center section in the Pollak Theatre with director Thom Zimney and his co-manager, Barbara Carr.
The screening took place in the same theater where Springsteen held rehearsals for the Broadway show, which opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Oct. 3, 2017 and closed Dec. 15, 2018. The film is streaming on Netflix.
Springsteen has long been partial to the venue, having sat on that same stage for a Q&A promoting his book, "Born to Run."
The screening was presented by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, which is located on campus, in conjunction with the university.
Bruce Springsteen
2019 "Moving On! Tour"
The Who
The Who have revealed dates for their upcoming "Moving On! Tour", a 29-city outing which comes in support of the band's first new album in 13 years.
The tour is divided into two separate legs, the first of which kicks off in Grand Rapids, MI on May 7th and is highlighted by a date at Madison Square Garden on May 11th. The second leg runs from September 6th to October 13th and includes prominent stops at Fenway Park in Boston, Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Alpine Valley, WI, and two nights at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
As previously reported, each date will see Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend joined on stage by a local symphony. Daltrey told Rolling Stone that the idea stemmed from his own recent solo tour in which he plays The Who's Tommy with the accompaniment of an orchestra. "I'll be 75 years old in March and this feels like a dignified way to go and do music," he remarked. "That's all we're really left with. We're old men now. We've lost the looks. We've lost the glamour. What we're left with is the music and we're going to present it in a way which is as fresh and powerful as ever."
Along with the orchestra, Daltrey and Townshend will be joined on stage by guitarist/backup singer Simon Townshend, keyboardist Loren Gold, bassist Jon Button, and drummer Zak Starkey.
The Who
Roasted
'Family Guy'
In the latest Family Guy, the writers savagely went after President Trump (R-Stain) in the second of a two-part episode centered around Peter and Trump. Family Guy has taken shots at Trump in the past. During their 2016 Emmy campaign, the show mocked then candidate Trump as a "dumb loudmouth." On Sunday night, Family Guy hit on Trump's hair and his hands, and even took a swing at his finances.
"Billionaire? Please. You're worth $700 mil on the high side," Peter said to Trump. "And most of that is borrowed or tied up and underwater. That's why you ain't releasin' your taxes, Trump. You're cash poor!"
After Peter catches Trump attempting to assault Meg, he says to Trump, "What would your third wife, the softcore girl-on-girl porn lady think about this? Or the actual porn star your lawyer paid hush money to?"
Nobody in Trump's orbit was safe. Vice President Mike Pence, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell all made appearances as well in very unflattering ways. And the writers couldn't help but take a shot at Trump's son in law, and one of his closest advisors, Jared Kushner.
Talking to Meg about a makeover, Ivanka Trump, Kushner's wife, said, "When I'm done with you, you'll be pretty enough to marry an Orthodox Jewish son of a felon who's too stupid to get into Harvard the normal way." Meg Replies, "And whose voice is way higher that you thought it would be?" Right then, Kushner walks in and in a child's voice says, "Hi, honey. Ready for dinner?"
'Family Guy'
"Enter Night Pilsner"
Metallica
Metallica is teaming up with a brewing company to release their own brand of beer.
Rock band Metallica have released "Enter Night Pilsner" in partnership with Arrogant Consortia (a Stone Brewing imprint).
According to a release, the beer combines the beauty of a traditional Northern German Pilsner with Arrogant Consortia's modern overtones of aggression.
The beer will gain full US distribution in the first quarter 2019, and will roll out this spring covering Europe, Australia, China and beyond.
Metallica
False Claim Retracted
Interview
After spreading a false claim in her interview with President-for-now Donald Trump (R-Pendejo), Jeanine Pirro (R-Shill) is walking back the statement on Twitter, citing "numerous reports" for her error.
In her post Sunday, the Fox "News" host announced the mistake made in the broadcast, which aired the previous day.
"During my exclusive interview with Pres Trump I said Speaker Pelosi was in Puerto Rico with a bunch of her Democrat colleagues," she wrote. "I based that on numerous reports that turned out to be wrong. The Speaker's office says she has been in DC all weekend and I take them at their word."
The slip-up related to news on Puerto Rico's opening night of "Hamilton," the Broadway hit that debuted on the island Friday, helping to raise money for the area as it continues to recover from Hurricane Maria.
Interview
Oscar Tactics
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is calling on the film academy to stop preventing stars from appearing on award shows before the Oscars.
In an unusually critical statement Monday, SAG said it has received multiple reports that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is pressuring actors to appear only at next month's Academy Awards. Several award shows occur before that, including SAG's own Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 27.
SAG says that limiting its members from other awards shows "is utterly outrageous and unacceptable." The actors union is asking the academy "to cease this inappropriate action."
Reports have suggested that producers of the currently host-less Oscars are trying to unite the "Avengers" cast for the telecast.
Screen Actors Guild
Losing Ice 6 Times Faster
Antarctica
Antarctica is melting more than six times faster than it did in the 1980s, a new study shows.
Scientists used aerial photographs, satellite measurements and computer models to track how fast the southern-most continent has been melting since 1979 in 176 individual basins. They found the ice loss to be accelerating dramatically - a key indicator of human-caused climate change.
Since 2009, Antarctica has lost almost 278 billion tons (252 billion metric tons) of ice per year, the new study found. In the 1980s, it was losing 44 billion tons (40 billion metric tons) a year.
The recent melting rate is 15 percent higher than what a study found last year.
Eric Rignot, a University of California, Irvine, ice scientist, was the lead author on the new study in Monday's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He said the big difference is that his satellite-based study found East Antarctica, which used to be considered stable, is losing 56 billion tons (51 billion metric tons) of ice a year. Last year's study, which took several teams' work into consideration, found little to no loss in East Antarctica recently and gains in the past.
Antarctica
Sculpture Sparks Outrage
'McJesus'
An art exhibit in Israel featuring a crucified Ronald McDonald has sparked protests by the country's Arab Christian minority.
Hundreds of Christians calling for the removal of the sculpture, entitled "McJesus," demonstrated at the museum in the northern city of Haifa last week. Israeli police say rioters hurled a firebomb at the museum and threw stones that wounded three police officers. Authorities dispersed the crowds with tear gas and stun grenades.
Church representatives brought their grievances to the district court Monday, demanding it order the removal of the exhibit's most offensive items, including Barbie doll renditions of a bloodied Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
Museum director Nissim Tal said that he was shocked at the sudden uproar, especially because the exhibit - intended to criticize what many view as society's cult-like worship of capitalism - had been on display for months. It has also been shown in other countries without incident.
The protests appear to have been sparked by visitors sharing photos of the exhibit on social media.
'McJesus'
Sound Installation
Toto's 'Africa'
From soft-rock smash to karaoke staple to Internet bait, the shelf life of Toto's 1982 smash "Africa" has reached remarkable, unexpected lengths.
Perhaps it's finally reached its logical conclusion with one multimedia artist's new sound installation, which plays the 1982 smash on loop until the end of time deep in the, er, coastal Namib Desert.
Namibian-German artist Max Siedentopf installed "Toto Forever" late last December while back home with his family in Namibia. Six speakers are placed atop individual plinths and attached to an MP3 player that contains only the song; the entire thing is powered by solar energy with the promise that it will run "for all eternity."
He writes that he was inspired by the online resurgence of interest in the song, spurred on by benevolent Twitter bots, a Reddit page dedicated to the song, and unexpected covers from pop artists spanning from Pitbull to the rascals in Weezer. (The latter cover, with a just-as-silly video starring "Weird Al" Yankovic, was the band's first single to top Billboard's Alternative Songs chart in more than a decade.)
"I was very intrigued by this and wanted to pay the song the ultimate homage and physically exhibit 'Africa' in Africa," Siedentopf writes to NPR. "The Namibian desert - which is, with 55 million years, the oldest desert in the world - seemed to be the perfect spot for this."
Toto's 'Africa'
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