Wednesday, June 18, 2025
AI--is it safe to eat pre-washed salad greens?
Did you mean: is it safe to eat packaged salad greens without washing them
Whether the greens are boxed or bagged, or are salads or microgreens, there are no scenarios when pre-washed produce should be washed, says Baker. You may be tempted to give it a rinse if the packaging is torn, but in this case, it should be thrown out rather than being washed and consumed.Feb 15, 2024
Should You Wash Pre-Washed Salad? - Martha Stewart
marthastewart.com
https://www.marthastewart.com › should-you-wash-pre-...
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Copied and pasted from Axios--ICE USD 2 B in debt.
The agency charged with carrying out President Trump's mass deportation promises has warned Congress it is short a whopping $2 billion for this fiscal year, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) repeatedly has faced significant budget shortfalls in recent years. Trump's immigration plans — which include deporting "millions" of unauthorized immigrants — would rack up costs even more.
Congress would send ICE an extra $500 million in the stop-gap spending bill that passed the House and is being debated in the Senate.
But that wouldn't come close to covering the nearly $2 billion the agency told Congress it needs just to keep up the work it's doing through the end of September, two sources familiar with the communications told Axios.
Add to that the expense of fully implementing Trump's plans —which will include hiring hundreds of people, more than doubling ICE detention space to 100,000 beds and adding many more planes for deportation flights.
Zoom in: Not all of that is addressed in the bill now before Congress, which means the additional money ICE says it needs is unlikely to land anytime soon.
The Department of Homeland Security may have to pull money from its other agencies — such as FEMA or the Coast Guard — and direct it to ICE.
A report from the Government Accountability Office on budgets from 2014 to 2023 found that ICE regularly overspent and had to grab funds from other agencies within DHS to cover its costs.
Monday, June 16, 2025
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Musical and Memory Essay begins here--Pavarotti sings Nessun Dorma.
https://www.google.com/search?q=pavarotti+sings+nessun+dorma+for+last+time&client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=647724f9ebf23bcf&sxsrf=AE3TifN2fdpkbZHAOxb_olcHYrJbnUJX9w%3A1749954810244&ei=-jBOaP7WDrXY5NoPr5enkAo&oq=Pavarotti+sings+Ness&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFFBhdmFyb3R0aSBzaW5ncyBOZXNzKgIIADIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigVI-ltQ_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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:192bf100,vid:cWc7vYjgnTs,st:0
We are in mourning for Melissa Horton and Mark Horton--still rattled by LA events--LA still under curfew.
No Kings rallies renamed June 14th President Obama appreciation day--so here are Democrats--thus starving His Orange TACO out of oxygen.
Knowing how he loves publicity.
Around 2-3 AM--Sat. June 14, Democratic Lawmaker Melissa Horton and her husband Mark assassinated in their home in Minnesoto
by a 57 year old man impersonating a police officer.
Came in a police car.
Very sad--this requires a very thorough INVESTIGATION.
State Senator Democrat John Hoffman and his wife shot multiple times in their home 9 miles away--underwent surgery.
Police have identified suspect.
It does't need a Nobel brain to know who probably instigated this.
Friday, June 13, 2025
Gabriel Marquez's One HundredYears of Solitude to become Netflix series
https://jasondeegan.com/one-of-the-greatest-novels-of-all-time-is-becoming-a-netflix-series/
Himal Fiction Fest Winner--
Special post--The Waters between Us--by Glen Loveland--Himal Fiction Fest-
Beautiful, sad short story--drowned cities and an archivist--a girl from the water communities.
The Waters Between Us: Himal Fiction Fest 2025
The Waters Between Us: Himal Fiction Fest 2025
Glen Loveland
This story is part of the Himal Fiction Fest 2025, a showcase of original Southasian speculative fiction. In the...
Note--the title does not say"The Waters under Us" but Between Us. All the great cities are gone.
This is like one of Stephen Baxter's novels. Speculative fiction in year 2500, I think, was the theme of the competition.
Myentry did not win--featuring a billionaire woman in a high rise and an angel with detachable wings-- but this is beautiful too. I congratulate Glen Loveland and Himal judges. You can open an acct. and read articles and stories with your password. The Southasia articles including Myanmar, and the videos and podcasts are of very high quality--as this story shows. 6-13-2025
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Pretending to be blue--4 drag queens in drag as trumps go see Les Miz--
https://www.aol.com/shouts-felon-love-inside-trump-050415125.html
He's trying to show he's cultured, and of the people,not afraid and in charge--BUT
we will see on Sat.
Nearly 2000 protests scheduled world wide.
Scroll all the way down inside this link.
Frankly, I like the 4 drag queens the best.
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Monday, June 09, 2025
Justin Baldoni $400m lawsuit against co-star Blake Lively dismissed by judge--
https://apnews.com/article/justin-baldoni-defamation-lawsuit-dismissed-blake-lively-f1f3a84ccc09be6c4897841dd29668c2?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
I think Lively was speaking the truth. Men in the workplace do that. Also Lively's other co-stars (women) on the set supported her claims.
Something interesting going on--besides the Trump stuff and the Ukraine War--
A writers' and editors' email group I am in is redoing itself as members become seniors.
They always worked from home. About 100+ members--held together by one woman.
Over 6 years, I have dropped 5 people from my email list over years 2019-2025. On the other hand I had lots of followers on FB and Twitter, bf I got off them too. Now I have all the like-thinkers I wish to follow on Substack.
I haven't gone on Linked in since 2014--but it's still there apparently--it did result in 2 pitching trips to LA and link-ups with previous family friends.
I've dropped out of Fiber Group which got me through Covid--still do a lot of Fiber art.
I've stopped paid writing groups, not enough bang for the buck.
Mostly write and paint at home.
I have "redone"my life at least half a dozen times,and regularly change my focus as things change.
It's been a very interesting life, full of interesting people and ideas.
Time also for the USA to redo itself.
By the way, I am a specialist on Systems and Structures in Social Science, not engineering. 
Wrapped Reichstag by Jeane Claude and Christo.
kmk
Sunday, June 08, 2025
ABC News correspondent suspended after tweet calling Trump 'a world class hater'
LA Times
Stephen Battaglio
Sun, June 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM EDT
https://www.aol.com/abc-news-correspondent-suspended-tweet-180704897.html
Veteran ABC News correspondent Terry Moran was suspended Sunday after he posted a harsh criticism of the Trump White House on X.
Moran, 65, took aim Saturday at President Trump and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who has been outspoken in his desire to see a step up in the deportation of undocumented migrants.
"Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world-class hater," Moran wrote his post, which has been deleted. "You can see this just by looking at him because you can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate." He also described Miller as "vile."
Saturday, June 07, 2025
George Clooney plays Edward R. Morrow on Broadway--in his play Good Night and Good Luck.
https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/cnn-george-clooney-good-night-and-good-luck-edward-r-murrow-b2765822.html
Clooney is said to have written the play some time ago.
Set during MCCarthy communist witch hunt era.
You can also read about it in Howard Fast's memoir--Being Red and
Howards Zinn's A People's History of the United States.
Howard Fast was also Molly Jong Fast's paternal grandfather--who also wrote Spartacus.
Amazing books.
Copied and pasted--Blondie Bondi accused of serious professional conduct.
https://www.aol.com/bondi-accused-serious-professional-misconduct-231513851.html
Bondi accused of ‘serious professional misconduct’ in Florida Bar complaint
The Hill
Tara Suter
Thu, June 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM EDT
Attorney General Pam Bondi is accused of “serious professional misconduct” in a Florida Bar complaint, the Miami Herald reported Thursday.
Bondi’s record as the head of the Justice Department is being slammed by close to 70 law professors, attorneys and former Florida Supreme Court justices via a Florida Bar ethics complaint filed Thursday, according to the Herald.
In the complaint, the group alleges Bondi has breached ethical duties in her current role and that “serious professional misconduct that threatens the rule of law and the administration of justice” has been carried out by the attorney general, the Herald reported.
Bondi is from Florida and previously served as the Sunshine State’s first female attorney general. A “Pamela Jo Bondi” is listed as a member of the Florida Bar “in Good Standing.”
A few months ago, Democrats pressed Bondi amid her confirmation hearing over her ability to push back against Trump, who had repeatedly stated he would come for his enemies and that he has the “absolute right” to do what he wants with her department.
Advertisement
Bondi is also stated in the complaint to have “sought to compel Department of Justice lawyers to violate their ethical obligations under the guise of ‘zealous advocacy,’” according to the Herald.
The Hill has reached out to the Justice Department and the Florida Bar for comment.
In a statement, Justice Department chief of staff Chad Mizelle told the Herald that “the Florida Bar has twice rejected performative attempts by these out-of-state lawyers to weaponize the bar complaint process against AG Bondi.”
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Abrego Garcia--contd. Copied and pasted from link below:
"Mr. Garcia is going to be vigorously defending the charges against him," the attorney said.
The decision to pursue the indictment against Abrego Garcia led to the abrupt departure of Ben Schrader, a high-ranking federal prosecutor in Tennessee, sources briefed on Schrader's decision told ABC News. Schrader's resignation was prompted by concerns that the case was being pursued for political reasons, the sources said.
Schrader, who spent 15 years in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nashville and was most recently the chief of the criminal division, declined to comment when contacted by ABC News.
The alleged conspiracy spanned nearly a decade and involved the domestic transport of thousands of noncitizens from Mexico and Central America, including some children, in exchange for thousands of dollars, according to the indictment.
Abrego-Garcia is alleged to have participated in more than 100 such trips, according to the indictment. Among those allegedly transported were members of the Salvadoran gang MS-13, sources familiar with the investigation said.
Abrego-Garcia is the only member of the alleged conspiracy charged in the indictment.
Abrego Garcia back in US but facing more (trumped up) charges.
https://www.aol.com/kilmar-abrego-garcia-way-back-185850961.html
Mistakenly deported Salvadoran native Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been brought back to the United States where he will face criminal charges for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants within the U.S.
More than two months after the Trump administration admitted it mistakenly deported Abrego Garcia from Maryland to his native El Salvador, a federal grand jury has indicted him for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants within the United States.
A two-count indictment, which was filed under seal in federal court in Tennessee last month and unsealed Friday, alleges Abrego Garcia, 29, participated in a yearslong conspiracy to haul undocumented migrants from Texas to the interior of the country.
MORE: Justice Department investigating 2022 Abrego Garcia traffic stop: Sources
He was scheduled to have his initial court appearance Friday in the Middle District of Tennessee.
Abrego Garcia's return follows a series of court battles in which the Trump administration repeatedly said it was unable to bring him back, drawing the country toward the brink of a constitutional crisis when the administration failed to heed the Supreme Court's order to facilitate his return.
Abrego Garcia's attorney, in an online press briefing, called the charges against his client "an abuse of power."
"They'll stop at nothing at all -- even some of the most preposterous charges imaginable just to avoid admitting that they made a mistake, which is what everyone knows happened in this case," said attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.
Friday, June 06, 2025
Name--
AI Overview
The name Laertes means "gatherer of the people" or "urging the men". It is a Greek name, with roots in the words "laos" (people) and "eirein" (to fasten together or to speak, say). Laertes was a significant figure in Greek mythology, known as the father of Odysseus. He was also a king of Cephallenia.
Best way to save money--
Snopes
Trump posted 'easiest' way to save money in the federal budget is to cancel Musk's government contracts
Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts." Fact check by Snopes.com: Correct Attribution 20 hours ago By Laerke Christensen
Thursday, June 05, 2025
Nalanda Univ in India--5th century AD--stupa was built over remains of Shin Sariputra
the Buddha's "Right Hand" main disciple. The "Left Hand" was Shin Maugalyana--
see wikipedia, Buddha's life story.
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/nalanda-the-university-that-changed-the-world?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Ukraine drone hits of Russian planes and Arakan Army assassination of junta general
got the most blog hits on this blog in last 2 weeks.
From Harry Sisson--Substack--Musk is Icarus--I could not save "Elon and downed Space X"
Here comes the Trump Musk "sa-plit"like
AFPFL split in Burma in 1950s, which escalated Ne Win's1962 coup.
Now to paraphrase the Burmese saying, as two water buffalo tussle, we the grass roots must beware we don't get crushed. Grass by definition cannot run.
k
https://www.axios.com/2025/06/05/tesla-stock-elon-musk-president-trump
Wednesday, June 04, 2025
Introverts vs extroverts--
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/acting-like-an-extravert-has-benefits-but-not-for-introverts?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
From me--
1. extroverts are not "happier"--they may be running away from something.
2. introversian is not a sickness. I did better and am still alive vs my close friend who was labeled "extrovert"--she was different from me in race and religion and even when we were put in same Ivy League Univ, difft schools and subjects, she ended up ABD, blaming me--while I expanded into broadcasting, writing, and painting.
She was also OCD--from my observations.
Tuesday, June 03, 2025
Very good movie--set in Jackson, Mississipi--The Help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kctkgy-X4Q
Previously, due to the title, I thought it was a romcom like The Nanny.
But instead it's a serious story about Civil Rights, almost as good as Mississipi Burning.
A bit slow going,rough going, but worth it.
Made by Participant Media, which also made Lincoln, Malala, Kite Runner, Syriana.
It stopped production in 2024--partly due to Hollywood writers' strike--a real pity.
In 2015 I queried them about my novel Wolf, and got a nice rejection and a phone call.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Participant_(company)
Monday, June 02, 2025
Sunday, June 01, 2025
Special post--Courtauld Museum --Gauguin's semi-memoir--Avant et Apres--Before and After.
There's a French-English translation--but unfortunately it's formatted too small for my laptop screen and my eyes--but it's very poetic.
https://courtauld.ac.uk/gallery/the-collection/prints-and-drawings/discover-avant-et-apres/
There are lots of youtubes of van Gogh--
And a new article on Gauguin in The Atlantic
And a new book on Gauguin-
But I don't like guided tours and I don't like biographies and I don't like being told what to look for and how to look--but I do wish my screen was large enough so I could read the English version of Avant and Apres--I think the Courtauld is playing a trick on us.
I thinkI will just write my own novels--I'm too poor to make my own movies.
Saturday, May 31, 2025
NAACP calls for immediate shutdown of Elon Musk's Memphis superconducters--
https://www.aol.com/news/naacp-calls-emergency-shutdown-musk-214543496.html
"Being the world's richest man does not give you the right to pollute Black communities."
Lester Holt's last newscast at NBC--thank you--we will miss you--please come on Substack soon--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9993ST1hbao
Boy feeling President Obama's hair--photo--Pete DeSouza.
Friday, May 30, 2025
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
We need a break--redo your back yard--+ DIY projects--
https://www.aol.com/2-month-project-transforms-boring-233000179.html
My fave--Crown Prince of Norway's lamp coffee maker or coffee maker lamp.
Runner up--van Gogh ducks.
--
DIY cat tree.
etc. Since I don't have a backyard, I am redoing my indoor plant pots.
I am all for art using recycled materials.
Big thank you to anonymous donor and Village Center who gave me a whole lot of needlepoint yarn, and the non-anonymous 2 ladies who gave me Amazon yarn coupons--
for the blue-green color that van Gogh loved, but I am not so fond of--for personal reasons.
--
kmk
Farmer's market in Beirut--Chef Andres' substack.
Another thing--Trump admin cancels contract with Moderna for bird flu vaccine--
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/05/28/moderna-bird-flu-vaccine-funding-cancelled/83908209007/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
All medical professionals worldwide, scientists and WHO should protest loudly.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Two famous (female) sculptors: Louise Nevelson.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Nevelson
Upon Nevelson's death, her estate was worth at least $100 million. Her son Mike removed 36 sculptures from her house. Documentation showed that Nevelson had bequeathed these works (worth millions) to her friend and assistant of 25 years, Diana MacKown.[54][55]
In 2005, Maria Nevelson, the youngest granddaughter, established the Louise Nevelson Foundation, a non-profit 501c(3). Its mission is to educate the public and celebrate the life and work of Louise Nevelson, thus furthering her legacy and place in American Art History. Maria Nevelson lectures widely on her grandmother at museums and provides research services.[citation needed]
Nevelson's work was included in the 2021 exhibition Women in Abstraction at the Centre Pompidou.[56]
Monday, May 26, 2025
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Wow--airlines re-routing to avoid USA--American tourism will go into a tailspin.
Europe Freezes US Travel as Lufthansa, British , Air France, KLM and More Slash Routes to Major Cities Including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago to Tap Soaring Demand Across Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Caribbean
https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/europe-freezes-us-travel-as-lufthansa-british-air-france-klm-and-more-slash-routes-to-major-cities-including-new-york-miami-los-angeles-and-chicago-to-tap-soaring-demand-across-canada-mexico/
Friday, May 23, 2025
Aw--STFU--it's bc we grew up deprived in 4th world countries--
https://theamericanscholar.org/maximalisma/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Chinese were like that until the economic growth of Deng Xioping's reforms.
The wife of a Burmese friend, Rosemary was worse than me-shehad walnut sized bits of food wrapped in aluminum foil in her freezer.
I also resent it when my kids come and take what they like and throw away original paintings--they threw away my original RFA tapes and minidiscs.
One man said at a Memorial Day Concert on the Mall,"Mr Bush, if my son dies I will not forgive you." This was during the Iraq War.
For visual artists and writers, what they make ARE their children.
One relative is phobically neat and tidy, he still had a fire in his house.
One friend had her house burn down twice! to the ground, not in CA.
Christmas candles.
I think in her case it was an anti-house complex.
Enuf said.
Tired.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Ex-priest Ray accused of pedophilia says future Pope Leo authorized his move to a Chicago South Side building--whereas records show it was someone else in charge then--
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/05/20/pope-leo-xiv-robert-prevost-james-ray-cardinal-francis-george-south-side-monastery-chicago
Retracted court records of "backrubs" of 3 boys aged 10-18 "that went lower" and "went on for years" are in the article.
But Ray said he "never met the man." (Prevost)
Ray was disrobed by the Church--
Trump fast tracks white South African refugees, but not everyone wants to leave--
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/21/africa/trump-resettling-south-africas-afrikaners-intl
Another article see below says white farmers comprise only 7 % of total but own 75% of land.
The "refugees" certainly did not look traumatized, came as a group waving American flags through Dulles Airport, DC.
Met by State Dept officials.
Yet another source says Lutheran Church has declined to help settle them.
Explosive WH confrontation between Trump and South African President--with Trump alleging anti-white genocide.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-showed-videos-crosses-context-south-africa-genocide/story?id=122056100
Musk was at the press conference, standing behind sofa on the R.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Cardinal Paglia replaced by Pope Leo XIV.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264217/pope-leo-xiv-replaces-archbishop-paglia-as-chancellor-of-john-paul-ii-marriage-and-family-institute-in-rome
Maybe there will be no radical reform after all.
A few days ago Pope Leo also affirmed that"marriage is between a man and a woman."
Stay tuned.
"There's white smoke."--A little boy aged 7 who liked to play priest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXOGP9pr-Ik
Did I know at age 7 what I wanted to be? I wanted to either be a ballerina or to write.
I wanted tobe Peter Pan.
Excellent--Pope Leo XIV's "cabinet"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C34G0M3QcjI
Much better than the goons of MAGA.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
AI generated--Popes who attempted to reconcile with Protestants.
AI Overview
Learn more
Chapter 6: Reformations – Western Civilization: A Concise ...
Several Popes made efforts to reconcile with Protestants, often during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation periods. Pope Paul III, for instance, initiated the Council of Trent. This council, while primarily focused on internal reform, also aimed to address the Protestant Reformation. Pope Leo X also attempted reconciliation with Martin Luther, though his efforts ultimately failed. Later, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II also engaged in dialogues and expressed a desire for renewed sense of brotherhood with Protestant churches.
Here's a more detailed look at these efforts:
Pope Paul III (1534-1549):
While the Council of Trent was not solely about reconciliation, it was a significant attempt to address the issues raised by the Reformation. Paul III also initiated internal reforms within the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo X (1513-1521):
Pope Leo X attempted to persuade Martin Luther to retract his views, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
Pope John Paul II (1978-2005):
John Paul II was known for his strong ecumenical efforts, including his dialogue with Orthodox Christians and his emphasis on the need for unity among Christians.
Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013):
Pope Benedict XVI, in his speech during his trip to Cologne, emphasized the need for a renewed sense of brotherhood and a more open and trusting climate between different Christian denominations. He also engaged in dialogues with leaders from Anglican Communion and other Protestant churches.
Council of Trent (1545-1563):
This council, convened by Paul III, was a key event in the Counter-Reformation and aimed to clarify Catholic doctrine and address the challenges posed by Protestantism. While not a direct reconciliation effort, it aimed to solidify Catholic beliefs and practices.
Pope John Paul II and Ecumenism:
John Paul II's ecumenical efforts were significant in promoting dialogue and understanding between different Christian denominations.
The Peace of Augsburg (1555):
This treaty recognized the right of individual rulers in the Holy Roman Empire to choose the religion of their territories, either Catholic or Lutheran. This marked a significant step towards religious tolerance in Europe, although it was not the result of papal efforts at reconciliation.
Migrant labor force withstands mass deportation push--
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/us-migrant-workforce-trump-deportation-push-ce3dd0f5?utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=gnews&utm_campaign=CDAqDwgAKgcICjDW3MkBMOfLFTDLqP8D&utm_content=rundown&gaa_at=la&gaa_n=AerBZYMkuUnCX8TO-LUtQ2WV5GO7A7WeGUJel4pZOCOcL-c5IkoatS6VkpZsxZWLYWdNJH3CeDwrzuuWCg__bHwdRJqSGq_8iSurxQ%3D%3D&gaa_ts=682c7af7&gaa_sig=FEEs8TR2KPp6wCLvOImO6MmCUAKyVzAAuFnZTBj0v1agDOU-zXfecbG0QXqt0PV15Y8tHQjeKKO1vgQCYVH27w%3D%3D
New York Botanical Garden--van Gogh's Sunflowers--
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/nyregion/new-york-botanical-garden-van-gogh.html
If you can, go. It's a lovely place.
Monday, May 19, 2025
Books on 12 Apostles + 12 Extraordinary Women--
Just follow along with the Amazon prompts--
for me--too many and confusing. https://www.amazon.com/Twelve-Ordinary-Men-Disciples-Greatness/dp/0785288244/ref=pd_sbs_d_sccl_1_8/136-6155691-6110964?pd_rd_w=CGGVE&content-id=amzn1.sym.ad06c767-be16-47a3-89d3-049eb4254aa7&pf_rd_p=ad06c767-be16-47a3-89d3-049eb4254aa7&pf_rd_r=9XDNB5C5G12C3VXVV1WG&pd_rd_wg=SpP1d&pd_rd_r=3b17b858-e041-4c64-b5f4-64e9fc11a46c&pd_rd_i=0785288244&psc=1
Sunday, May 18, 2025
James Comey's books--besides 2 non-fiction books, he has written 3 novels since 2018.
I noticed he wrote well when I read A Higher Loyalty.
I can understand why DJT is out to get him and others like Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor--
they are younger, more good-looking, smarter and in case of Comey, taller than he-more talented, better human beings and overall, much better liked than he is.
Note how ugly his cabinet is, inside and out.
--
Another must see movie--Mark Felt--The Man who brought down the White House--(Nixon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1s-jGFKzfY
A very good Watergate movie--especially for these times.
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Friday, May 16, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Gear and Gear--a married couple who write novels about ancient Americans--I haven't read a single one yet--
Wondering what to read first--https://www.gear-gear.com/news
https://www.gear-gear.com/news
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
From Dante wiki--
New readers often wonder how such a serious work may be called a "comedy". In the classical sense the word comedy refers to works that reflect belief in an ordered universe, in which events tend toward not only a happy or amusing ending but one influenced by a Providential will that orders all things to an ultimate good. By this meaning of the word, as Dante himself allegedly wrote in a letter to Cangrande, the progression of the pilgrimage from Hell to Paradise is the paradigmatic expression of comedy, since the work begins with the pilgrim's moral confusion and ends with the vision of God.[99]
A number of other works are credited to Dante. Convivio ("The Banquet")[100] is a collection of his longest poems with an (unfinished) allegorical commentary. Monarchia ("Monarchy")[101] is a summary treatise of political philosophy in Latin which was condemned and burned after Dante's death[102][103] by the Papal Legate Bertrando del Poggetto; it argues for the necessity of a universal or global monarchy to establish universal peace in this life, and this monarchy's relationship to the Roman Catholic Church as guide to eternal peace.[104]
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
From James Ellroy wiki--
Dialogue and narration in Ellroy novels often consists of a "heightened pastiche of jazz slang, cop patois, creative profanity and drug vernacular" with a particular use of period-appropriate slang.[34] He often employs a sort of telegraphese (stripped-down, staccato-like sentence structures), a style that reaches its apex in The Cold Six Thousand. Ellroy describes it as a "direct, shorter-rather-than-longer sentence style that's declarative and ugly and right there, punching you in the nards."[31] This signature style is not the result of a conscious experimentation but of chance and came about when he was asked by his editor to shorten his novel L.A. Confidential by more than one hundred pages. Rather than removing any subplots, Ellroy abbreviated the novel by cutting every unnecessary word from every sentence, creating a unique style of prose.[28] While each sentence on its own is simple, the cumulative effect is a dense, baroque style.[34]
From Joint Chiefs of Staff wiki--
Following the Goldwater–Nichols Act in 1986, the Joint Chiefs of Staff do not have operational command authority, either individually or collectively, as the chain of command goes from the president to the secretary of defense, and from the secretary to the regional combatant commanders.[7] Goldwater–Nichols also created the office of vice chairman, and the chairman is now designated as the principal military adviser to the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the president.[8]
From Jamal Kashoggi wiki--
On 20 November 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump rejected the CIA's conclusion that Crown Prince bin Salman had ordered the killing. He issued a statement saying "it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn't" and that "In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."[118] Two days later, Trump denied that the CIA had even reached a conclusion.[119] His statements were criticized by Congressional representatives from both parties, who promised to investigate the matter.[120] Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, who was briefed by the CIA on the agency assessment, accused President Trump of lying about the CIA findings.[121]
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