I hate to hear this. He was great in so many things.

Probably not, because when one piece gets replaced the ghosts in the surrounding pieces inhabit the new piece before another piece can be replaced.

And exactly what will this same company that fucked it up the first time do differently this time?

“This too shall pass”

You’ll be surprised when you find out how much cognitive dissonance people can tolerate.

I’d like it to be slow, agonizing, public, and humiliating.

Exercising isn’t a sport.

You have to live with all the mistakes you’ve made your entire life.

I wouldn’t be surprised if China might also be supplying weapons to Cuba.

What’s up with the down votes? I’m hoping they’re armed to the teeth if the US tries any shit.

Such a great album!

Of course this changes over time but right now it’s probably a toss up between Marquee Moon by Television and 154 by Wire.

Let’s be clear. The primary reason people have lost pride in America and democracy is Donald Trump and his administration. You can say other administrations have had their faults, certainly, but what’s happening now is far, far worse. And let’s not forget the constant drumbeat of propaganda from Fox News and other right wing outlets telling us our country is a shit hole. And again, we have our problems, but this is how propaganda works. You mix in some truth about something while wildly exaggerating or making up other things about it.

It does seem like a daily assault on our well being, doesn’t it? But there is something that helps with this - read history broadly. It helps give you a deeper understanding of current events that lessens the impact of the current moment. And consider the quote “this too shall pass”. It’s attributed to Sufi poets about impermanence. If times are bad it gives you hope that those times will one day, eventually but certainly, be gone. If times are good it makes you relish the moment deeply and do what you can to make it last.

My wife and I have been binging a show called The Last Ship. Supposedly came out a number of years ago. It’s a Michael Bay production and kind of a post apocalyptic scenario but well worth a watch.

And of course there’s Always Sunny.

Gary Marcus has a Substack everyone should read. It’s sobering.

It’s been known for some time that many of those from outside the US are unfamiliar with our tipping culture. I was a waiter in a nice restaurant in '96 when the Olympics were in Atlanta. We had lots of large parties that we added a 20% gratuity to, and clearly indicated on the check and no one complained. But normally the only place you encountered tipping then was in a sit-down restaurant with waiters. Now there’s a thousand and one places where you’re encouraged to tip. Even places where it’s only counter service and you’re supposed to put money in a tip jar when you pay the cashier. It’s all over the place and it’s completely ridiculous and out of hand. Americans hate it. It’s no wonder our guests are confused and pissed off.

Wait, people were driving on the reflecting pool just after the bottom was painted blue?

Not at all, actually.

$40.

I can’t say this is completely baseless because there’s too much out there about it but it will be disclosed that aliens do exist, they’re not from other planets but other dimensions, and they’ve been manipulating mankind for thousands of years.