Recommended Reading
from Bruce
NATHAN J. ROBINSON: How We Know Kavanaugh Is Lying (Current Affairs)
This man should not serve another day as any kind of judge…
Alexandra Petri: HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO BRETT KAVANAUGH? (Washington Post)
The Founders did not break from Britain so a landed white gentleman accused of sexual misconduct could NOT be given FREE REIN over the lives of millions!
Joe Bob Briggs: The Supreme Yacht Club (Taki's Magazine)
So we should not be surprised by anything in Brett Kavanaugh's background. He's like everyone else in America right now. He's the guy who knows what he thinks before he's heard the evidence. Since we're talking about a court on which the senior justice is Clarence Thomas (27 years), where every appointment since Thomas has been an attempt to tilt the court in one direction or another, Brett Kavanaugh is just the latest version of organized jury-tampering. Nobody cares about him. He simply performs the function of holding such shallow opinions that he doesn't know how to be fair or impartial.
Matthew Yglesias: Austin can't stay weird (Vox)
You wouldn't be able to preserve weirdness - there'd be lots of new buildings and probably a lot of the architecture would be unimaginative. But you could preserve one of the biggest strengths of the Texas economic model: the availability of both middle-class jobs and cheap houses. Otherwise, if you turn against new construction, you'll end up with the "coastal" paradigm (which also happens in Denver, and, frankly, a lot of college towns) where you have a great place to live but a lot of people can't actually live there.
Matthew Yglesias: The Brett Kavanaugh confirmation fight is also about the future of the economy (Vox)
His jurisprudence would render economic and environmental regulation nearly impossible.
Matthew Yglesias: How Trump could win in 2020 (Vox)
What if President Trump did popular stuff on policy?
Robert J. Shapiro: "Don't be fooled: Working Americans are worse off under Trump" (Washington Post)
To determine how much the real earnings of a typical working American fell during that period, simply adjust the $876 in median weekly earnings in the quarter ending June 30, 2018, for the 3.32 percent inflation that occurred in the 18 months from the first quarter of 2017 to that date. The result: $876 in June 2018 had the same value as $848.20 in January 2017. In real terms, the weekly earnings of a typical working American fell $16.80, or 1.9 percent, during Donald Trump's first 18 months as president. Another blow to the White House's preferred economic narrative: The current earnings decline is a new development. Using the same measure, real median weekly earnings increased substantially during Barack Obama's final 18 months as president.
Froma Harrop: Are Low Prices Always a Good Thing? (Creators Syndicate)
The retailers make a good case. They do the work and bear the expense of spinning the outdoors dream, thus adding value to the wares. It seemed unfair to let an online discounter such as Walmart.com swoop in and grab the sale. The stores were already suffering under the advances of Amazon. Specialty shops - be they for cameras, clothing or sporting goods - face similar challenges. Customers come in, take a hunk of a clerk's time and try things. Some of them then go online to buy the desired item for $2.89 less.
David Bruce's Amazon Author Page
David Bruce's Smashwords Page
David Bruce's Blog #1
David Bruce's Blog #2
David Bruce's Blog #3
David Bruce's Lulu Storefront
David Bruce's Apple iBookstore
David Bruce has over 100 Kindle books on Amazon.com.
Presenting
Michael Egan
replied:
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
from Bruce
Anecdotes
• Maya Angelou decided not to become involved with heavy narcotics in her life. A friend named Troubadour Martin was a user, and he let her see the lifestyle. She watched as he and his friends shot heroin into their veins, and then he told her to stay away from heavy narcotics. She did, and she credits her choice to his generosity in revealing this truly bad lifestyle to her.
• At a party, a little-old-lady friend of Canadian figure skater Toller Cranston tried - and liked - mescaline. Afterward, she went to her pharmacy and ordered mescaline, only to be told by the pharmacist, "Madame, I am sorry, but that drug is highly illegal." She replied, "But when I snorted it last night, it did wonders for my sinuses."
• Sometimes Tallulah Bankhead had a weak grasp of reality, as when she said, "Cocaine isn't habit-forming. I should know - I've been using it for years." At other times, she had a firm grasp of reality; for example, in her later years, when a fan asked if she was really the "famous Tallulah," she replied, "What's left of her."
• Mario van Peebles' movie, New Jack City, contains a scene in which a character accepts drugs. When this scene was shown at a theater in New York City, an African-American man stood up and yelled at the screen, "Just say no, man!" Mr. van Peebles says this is one of the best things he has witnessed in his life.
• Margaret Trudeau, the wife of Pierre, Prime Minister of Canada, was a free spirit. Frequently, the smell of marijuana drifted from the windows of the Ottawa residence of the Prime Minister, and a local police officer once gave her a gift of incense in an attempt to disguise the smell of the marijuana smoke.
• Monty Python member Eric Idle was shocked to discover that people in the United States thought that the Python comedy sketches were written by its members while they were high on drugs. He points out, "When you're stoned, it's hard to find the keys on the typewriter."
• More and more presidential candidates have taken illegal drugs. During an interview broadcast on CNN, Bill Bradley, who ran for President in 2000, was asked if he had ever tried marijuana. He replied, "On several occasions." He was then asked if he had inhaled, and he replied, "I did indeed."
• Actor Robert Morley's father wanted him to know of the seamier side of life, so he once took him to what he thought was an opium den (actually, it was a Chinese grocery store) and asked for "snow." The Chinese proprietor told him, "You want to come in winter."
• Lord Buckley was an outrageous 1950s comedian. Once, after a show, he approached a police officer, lit a marijuana joint, pointed to an innocent bystander, and said, "I want to report a dope addict." Then he blew marijuana smoke in the police officer's face.
***
© Copyright Bruce D. Bruce; All Rights Reserved
***
Bonus Links
Jeannie the Teed-Off Temp
Reader Comment
Current Events
Agree with everything except the last sentence--I'm NOT voting for Barbara Trumpstock (votes with Predator over 97% of the time! That's your "independent" Republican woman for you!); I'll be voting for Jennifer Wexton:
Lindsey Graham Sets His Sights On Becoming First Lady
by Helen Philpot
Margaret, did you know that women currently make up more than half the population in the US, but we are represented by a Congress made up of 80 percent men? Oh, and honey, it gets worse. Among other countries we are ranked 104th in the world when it comes to female representation in government. Five places behind Saudi Arabia! Hell, we're almost 40 spots behind Iraq... Yes. You heard me: BEHIND IRAQ.
How long before men realize that women are their equals? After last week, we can probably make the argument that we are more than equal. Everyone of those GOP Senators expected an overly emotional, erratic and maybe even hysterical witness... and let me tell you Brett Kavanaugh did not disappoint. If I were Brett, I'd be worried that The Donald might now try to grab his pussy. Christine Ford managed to stay calm and respectful for 4 hours. Brett couldn't last 2 minutes before he came undone. And speaking of undone, Lindsey Graham deserves an award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Donald Trump's new girlfriend. Move over Stormy Daniels. Hurricane Graham has arrived.
To be clear, Brett Kavanaugh is indeed innocent until proven guilty. And it's not search and destroy like Kavanaugh and Trump want us to believe. It's about making sure the truth comes out. Afterall, if there is nothing to find, then it doesn't matter how hard you search. When a woman finds the courage to speak about sexual assault, she deserves to be heard. And hearing her means taking the time to fully investigate in hopes of uncovering the truth. And if that means men need to be a little scared, so be it. We women have been living scared all our lives. If you are worried for your sons, I have one piece of advice for you. Teach them to respect women. Problem solved.
But I don't even know why I am wasting my time writing this. For the love of God, Republicans just elected a man who was videotaped bragging about assault. Are we really surprised they think a calendar showing exercise workouts during the 80's is proof enough of innocence? If you are a Republican woman, I hope you are paying attention. It doesn't matter how accomplished, how intelligent or how credible you are. You will be ignored, dismissed and even smeared if you stand between a Republican man and his path to power... regardless of what evidence you have or don't have. If it happens in their teens, it's boys will be boys, and if it happens as adults, it's just locker room talk. Evidently Republicans are just fine electing men who sexually harass and assault women.
Honestly, how do Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins sleep at night? It's been almost thirty years since the Anita Hill testimony, and we women continue to be ignored about sexual harassment, assault and rape at the hands of powerful men. There have been 52 total women in the United States Senate since its establishment in 1789. And one of those women simply served for one day. Until 2001, the most common way for a woman to become a US Senator was to be appointed following the death or resignation of a husband or father who previously held the seat. Today there are 21 female Senators - 16 Democrats and 5 Republicans... well 6 depending on which column you place Lindsey Graham. Imagine how differently things could be if there were 50.
The late Governor Ann Richards liked to say, "Life isn't one thing after another. It's the same damn thing over and over again." Well, I am tired of fighting this fight over and over again. This November we have more women than ever running for elected office, and I for one plan to vote for them early and often. I mean it. Really.
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONTINUES BUILDING THE FASCIST STATE.
REPUBLICANS ARE FOLLOWERS OF SATAN!
"TRUMP PROPHECY."
'NUNERS' SECRET.
THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SOUL.
Visit JD's site - Kitty Litter Music
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
The raccoon are extra active - sounds like they're bowling on the roof (again).
Will Broadcast Live on Election Night
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert is gearing up for a new round of election-night results.
The late night comic will host a live broadcast of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on CBS on Tuesday, November 6, continuing a tradition of doing the show live around big events of national importance. The last live "Late Show" aired Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 following President Trump's State of the Union address. This election-night event will mark the 18th time "Late Show" has broadcast live.
CBS said guests for the broadcast, to take place at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York, will be announced at a later date.
The live broadcasts have lent Colbert distinction in a competitive era in late-night TV. Indeed, he credits a live broadcast for Showtime on the night of the 2016 presidential election for helping him find his voice after coming to CBS from Viacom's Comedy Central. During that broadcast, during which it became clear Donald Trump would defeat Hillary Clinton, Colbert had to abandon his original plans.
The audience in the Ed Sullivan Theater was not happy with the news, and the crowd's surprise colored the evening, turning what should have been an upbeat night into the equivalent of an on -air funeral. Within 40 minutes of going on the air, the comedian began drinking bourbon onstage. Colbert maneuvered through a difficult environment, and liked the fact that he had been able to do so. "The last 10 minutes of that election show were honest. They were honest, and that was a turning point for us," he told Variety in 2017.
Stephen Colbert
Pens Powerful Letter
Emma Watson
Emma Watson has written an open letter to Dr Savita Halappanavar, who died in 2012 at the age of 31 after being denied an abortion in Ireland.
Dr Halappanavar, who worked as a dentist, had been 17 weeks pregnant with her first child when she and her husband found out that she was extremely likely to experience a miscarriage.
After asking if she could have an abortion to terminate the pregnancy, Dr Halappanavar and her husband Praveen were told that it wasn't allowed "under Irish law", unless there was evidence that her life was at risk. On October 28 2012, Dr Halappanavar died from cardiac arrest caused by a septic miscarriage.
Her death made a huge impact in Ireland and spurred a movement in the country to repeal the eighth amendment, the law in the constitution that banned abortion in almost all circumstances, and stated that a pregnant woman and a foetus have an "equal right to life".
You can read the full letter in Porter magazine here.
Emma Watson
Zombies Honor George A. Romero
Pittsburgh
George Romero's classic movie "Night of the Living Dead" spawned the genre of American zombie films.
John A. Russo, who co-wrote the film with Romero, said Hollywood was producing bland horror films at the time, and the two collaborators wanted to do something different. They made the film in the Pittsburgh region for $114,000.
Russo was among about 70 people who gathered Monday outside the Byham Theater in Downtown Pittsburgh to honor Romero on the 50th anniversary of the "Night of the Living Dead" premiere. The movie opened on Oct. 1, 1968, at the Fulton Theater, which later became the Byham.
Lori Cardille, daughter of the late Pittsburgh television and radio show host Bill Cardille, who had a part in "Night of the Living Dead," said she attended the premiere 50 years ago with her father.
"I was 14 years old, and I was so afraid of horror movies that I stood in the back of the lobby the whole time," she said. "I was terrified."
Pittsburgh
Biopic in the Works
George Carlin
Gail Berman's Jackal Group is developing a biographical project about the late legendary comedian George Carlin, which will be written by Stan Chervin, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind Brad Pitt's Moneyball.
Carlin's prolific career spanned over five decades, more than 130 Tonight Show appearances, 14 HBO specials and 23 solo albums that earned him five Grammy Awards. His infamous 1972 set "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" put him at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case, FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, that would outline the extent to which the government could regulate speech on broadcast and radio.
Carlin passed away at the age of 71 in 2008, the same year he was awarded the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain prize for American humor.
Chervin and Berman will produce, along with Jackal Group's Joe Earley; Bruce Kaufman, under his new banner Wood Hollow Pictures; and Jerry Hamza, the comedian's former manager and the executor of the George Carlin estate. It is currently unclear what format the project will take, but the longform biopic will either have a theatrical, streaming or television release.
George Carlin
Applying For Trump's Farm Bailout Funds
Grassley
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Creep) supported President Donald Trump's (R-Grifter) $12 billion bailout for U.S. farmers to mitigate the damaging effects of the trade war. Now the senator is applying for those same bailout funds for his own 750-acre Iowa farm, The Washington Post reports.
In the spring, Grassley issued a statement saying that the Trump administration had a "responsibility to help" farmers hurt by retaliatory tariffs set by China after Trump enacted tariffs against Chinese imports.
Bailout money isn't being provided to other industries impacted by the trade war. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has already cut some 7,800 checks worth a total of $25 million for farmers, many in the swing states of the Midwest that voted for Trump in 2016.
Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, argued against using a bailout program to mitigate a problem created by the administration, saying it would set a bad precedent by politicizing farm payments. Farmers "want their markets left intact and not screwed up by some policy," he said earlier this year.
"Sen. Grassley participates in farm programs for which he is legally eligible, including this program, like every other farmer," his spokesman Michael Zona told the Post. The typical farmer, however, does not impact Trump administration policies the way senators can.
Grassley
College Bar Fight
UB40
Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh loves himself some beer - and red red wine.
While a student at Yale, Kavanaugh got into a bar fight with a patron he mistakenly believed to be UB40 singer Ali Campbell. The New York Times obtained a police report of the incident, which took place at a local Yale bar in 1985.
Chad Ludington, one of Kavanaugh's college friends, told the New York Times that the altercation occurred after attending a UB40 concert. Kavanaugh mistakenly believed one of the bar's patrons was UB40 singer Ali Campbell; after the patron asked Kavanaugh and his friends to stop looking at him, Kavanaugh allegedly threw a beer at him. A brawl between Kavanugh, his friends, and the Ali Campbell lookalike ensued.
Police questioned Kavanaugh and four other men, and Kavanaugh "did not want to say" whether he threw the beer. He was not arrested.
UB40
Secret Adventure Game
Google
One of Google's most iconic Easter eggs is that dinosaur game that becomes playable any time the Chrome browser is unable to connect to the internet, but it turns out that it's not the only game the company has hidden from sight. Last month, Reddit user attempt_number_1 discovered a full text adventure game hidden in Google Search which no one had ever seen before. It's unclear how long it's been there, but anyone can play it at any time.
In order to access the game, you'll need to open up a browser (Chrome is preferable, but Edge and Firefox both work as well), head on over to Google.com, and search for "text adventure." Once you reach the search results, hold down Ctrl+Shift+J on Windows or Command+Option+J on Mac to open the console. You should see a prompt asking if you want to play a game. Type "yes," press enter, and the game will begin.
In this original text adventure, you play as the big blue G from Google's logo, in search of your friends "red o, yellow o, blue g, green l, and the always quirky red e" around the Google campus. It's not quite as difficult as text-based games of yore, but it's a clever Easter egg that should keep you occupied on a slow Monday.
Once you finish looking for your friends in the adventure game, be sure to check out this page on Wikipedia to see all of the other dozens of Easter eggs that Google has hidden on its site and within its various services.
Google
In Memory
Charles Aznavour
Charles Aznavour's performing career endured eight decades, with a prompter in his final years the sole concession to age - or to difficulty recalling a 1,000-song repertoire.
Known as France's Frank Sinatra, the dapper crooner and actor, who got his start as a songwriter and protege of Edith Piaf, died Monday at 94.
Often compared to Sinatra, Aznavour started his career as a songwriter for Piaf, but it was she who took him under her wing, encouraging him to sing his own material. Like her, his fame ultimately reached well outside France, including being awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017.
"What were my faults? My voice, my size, my gestures, my lack of culture and education, my honesty, or my lack of personality," the 5-foot-3-inch (1.6-meter) tall performer wrote in his autobiography. "My voice? I cannot change it. The teachers I consulted all agreed I shouldn't sing, but nevertheless I continued to sing until my throat was sore."
In his career, Aznavour wrote upward of 1,000 songs, for himself, Piaf and other popular French singers. The love ballad "She" topped British charts for four weeks in 1974 and was covered by Elvis Costello for the film "Notting Hill."
Aznavour sold more than 180 million records, according to his official biography. He broke an arm in May but was set to start a new tour in November in France, starting in Paris.
Shanoun Varenagh Aznavourian was born in Paris on May 22, 1924, to Armenian parents who fled to Paris in the 1920s and opened a restaurant. His singer father - whose own father was a chef to Russian Czar Nicholas II - and actress mother exposed him to the performing arts early on, and he acted in his first play when he was 9.
Aznavour was awarded France's prestigious National Order of Merit In 2001, and in 2009, he received the National Order of Quebec, a first for a singer.
Along with other French celebrities, in April 2002 he urged people to sing France's national anthem in a campaign to defeat far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen, known for his anti-immigrant stance.
"If Le Pen had existed (in my parents' time) I wouldn't have been born in France," Aznavour said at the time.
Married three times, Aznavour had six children. He is survived by his wife of more than four decades, Ulla.
Charles Aznavour
| CURRENT MOON lunar phases |
