@enhydra lutris @QMS ...is an exercise in frustration to me.

figuring out what has to stay is going to be a bear so I keep putting it off.

It has spilled into the realm of keep 'em confused.

Exactly!

Thanks for coming by today. We're up to the 80's F today. Warmest so far this year.

Y'all have a good one!

.

for way too complicated. Who needs all these add-ons?
In simpler times, devices worked new, out of the box without
endlessly confusing configurations. Not so much now. Your watch
takes pictures in many time zones while your confuser is stuck in
Cupinera. Plain menu's no longer exist. I used to think these systems
were designed to elevate IT geeks to near god-like status. It has spilled
into the realm of keep 'em confused. Then change it in a couple months.
Sheesh.

Couldn't help but notice the TOI clip. Funny how often one needs to turn to non-US media to find reporting on current events, Asia Times, South China Morning Post, Al Jazeera, Sputnik, Russia Today, Hindustan Times, Times of India, etc. It takes a lot of time to simply skim them to see if anything big is being missed/concealed by the US/UK/ etc. That's without turning to blogs, too.

I love "Barbarians visit the Palace" - classic phraseology, could come from the I Ching.

Beyond that, it is all crazy making. Meanwhile, I keep losing prodigious amounts of stuff here in a small room inside a small house, which is extra crazy making and, of course files and apps on my devices. When I replaced my phone it came with a mountain of pre-installed stuff which I need to selectively remove, but figuring out what has to stay is going to be a bear so I keep putting it off.

be well and have a good one

.

for way too complicated. Who needs all these add-ons?
In simpler times, devices worked new, out of the box without
endlessly confusing configurations. Not so much now. Your watch
takes pictures in many time zones while your confuser is stuck in
Cupinera. Plain menu's no longer exist. I used to think these systems
were designed to elevate IT geeks to near god-like status. It has spilled
into the realm of keep 'em confused. Then change it in a couple months.
Sheesh.

@Cassiodorus My definition of fascism is very simplistic. It is government doing the bidding of corporations. The tactics used vary. Capitalism has gone past its' sell by date.
I stay mentally and emotionally disengaged from politics. Let's see how a new and shiny left looks.
Keep us briefed on it, ok?

"Leftists keep telling you Democrats are right-wing fascism enablers, and here they are attacking progressives at a time when the country is literally collapsing into 1930s Germany."

But we are not collapsing into 1930s Germany! If it were 1930s Germany, the US economy would be in a lot better shape than it is fact is. What we have now is not "fascism," nor is it "1930s Germany," although there is some mimicry of the fascism of the inter-war period going on now. Rather, there are two economic models for capitalism at this very late date. The one that looks somewhat like fascism is actually on the decline, whereas 1930s Germany was expanding. This model therefore looks more like rule by home-invasion burglars, or like parasites devouring a host organism, than like the tyranny of Mussolini, Hitler, or Franco. There is no concept of society anymore, unlike with the last century; rather, what enslaves the mind under today's "fascism" are brutal notions of "self-interest," which explains why our society's most apathetic frogs have not noticed that they are being boiled.

Sure, the Trump regime was originally "MAGA," but it is obvious at this point that this was a ruse to get elected, Trump does not care about America at all, and the point of policy is the opportunities it presents for inside traders. Get what you can, before the global carcass is picked clean.

The other model on display is that of the Chinese, whose main flaw appears to be overproduction. This is why the Chinese do not yet appear to be on the road to replacing capitalism with the world of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Neither the American nor the Chinese models of capitalism appear to be in any serious transition to postcapitalism, and this is more generally the problem.

@Anya age progressed? Lol!
Trump came down hard on Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and, sure enough, Cassidy was beaten in the primary yesterday. Trump still pulls his immense weight. I was surprised by that election result.
And I read a headline that Trump said it out loud in an interview that we are in this conflict with Iran for Israel's benefit. Our soldiers need to know that they are fighting and dying for Israel.

#5.1.1 Yes I guess so (bless her heart?). I go along with what you’re saying. Maybe a bit less emphasis on “oldster” as she’s six years younger than me.

@enhydra lutris
the Cosmos and the Matilija Poppy, I'm going with the Matilija Poppy.

#1.1.1

picture on the screen and it told me it was a Matilija Poppy, aka Fried Egg Flower, native to SoCal and North Baja; largest flower of any plant native to CA with blooms measuring 4 to 8 inches in diameter. If SP can confirm size, I'd go with that since his companions came up with fried egg glower too.

BTW, we have over a dozen native poppies here plus literally hundreds of cultivated ones

be well and have a good one

.

Interesting accumulation of breaking news today.
Almost too much to stay abreast with. A couple things
that popped up in the news. Apparently, someone posted a satellite image of
one of the US aircraft carriers steaming full speed toward the Gulf of Oman,
soon to enter Iran's missile range. Sounds like a suicide mission.

Another alarming report came from Israel of a large explosion at an ammunitions
plant just east of a major population center. The incident is being censored. Emergency
responders are being prevented from entering the area. Authorities are saying it was only
a test. I think an accident would be a better description.

A fine spring day here. The maples have leafed-out with that light green tint. The air is
aromatic carrying the flavor of sweet lilacs and other blossoming bushes.

Thanks for the Weekly Watch!

@on the cusp Yes I guess so (bless her heart?). I go along with what you’re saying. Maybe a bit less emphasis on “oldster” as she’s six years younger than me.

#5.1 I have only brought up the subject with some 40ish folks who are hip to the trip of social media, not oldsters who sit and watch Fox News all day, every day.
You are a good person and even better neighbor to help this indoctrinated woman who will never know the truth about the world in which she she exists. That is just sad, isn't it?
Enjoy your weekend, chica, and help this poor old lady when you can. She is still a human, and a neighbor, after all.

@Anya I have only brought up the subject with some 40ish folks who are hip to the trip of social media, not oldsters who sit and watch Fox News all day, every day.
You are a good person and even better neighbor to help this indoctrinated woman who will never know the truth about the world in which she she exists. That is just sad, isn't it?
Enjoy your weekend, chica, and help this poor old lady when you can. She is still a human, and a neighbor, after all.

#5 Believe it or not, I know such a loyal Trumper. She’s a former neighbor, stroke victim whose garbage and kitty litter I take out every 3 weeks or so. We’ve agreed to disagree but still manage to touch on the subject each visit. I can tell how Fox News is projecting by what she says. Soon after the bombing of the Iranian schoolgirls, she informed me that Iranians are the ones who’re killing innocent civilians. I also heard that every word that comes from their mouths are lies. At last visit, she said Trump would never quit fighting until Iran agreed to give up nuclear bombs. When I explained why they’ve never tried to build one, she shouted “That’s not true!” Fox News will never tell her that Trump doesn’t care about our finances, and if they haven’t said it she won’t believe it. She can’t be too mean to me because there’s no one else to remove her trash. And I’d worry about her cats if anything happened to her. In the end it doesn’t matter because she doesn’t socialize enough to influence anyone and Oregon votes blue no matter who. But I find myself arguing w/her too much in my mind.

Thanks for Billy Boy. I loved the Muddy Waters - After Hours live album you posted recently. Thank you for the treats.