It's not easy coming back from the recent trauma of losing a son.
I've successfully navigated the first three stages of grief and have reached four. The need to return to doing the things I used to do. Hosting this Open Thread is one of them.

10/16 is World Food Day

~~ Red Potatoes

Unprovoked Attacks...
or
A Heaping Helping of Hypocrisy

Unprovoked attacks by Russia on Ukraine and now Hamas on Israel....kinda like Native Americans unprovoked attacks on white European settlers. The judge asked Dr. Mearsheimer this week about current western leadership and he replied that the young today lack empathy and a sense of history. Sadly people analyze these conflicts emotionally rather than rationally. In retrospect, was the US provoked to invade Iraq...or Libya...or Syria...or...

So let's see, rents and real estate prices out of sight and going further ever upward. Eight percent inflation over a year's time and the wages barely go up if at all.

Don't forget education and health care -- already unaffordable for many.

AI will take your job.

People clearing out of California because they can't afford to live there. It's actually like that in major big cities across the country -- anywhere big capital has bought up the real estate.

Afternoon folks!

Well, things have slowly improved with my daily limit on youtube, so there's more this week than last. Starting off there's an album by the great Otis Spann accompanied by Robert Jr. Lockwood, followed by a compilation of singles from the ridiculously obscure Young Jessie - make sure you listen through at least to hear his original version of "Mary Lou," which became a hit for the Steve Miller Band and also Ronnie Hawkins. There's a bunch of blues rock this week with albums by Mike Bloomfield and Dr. Feelgood and some country rock from The Flying Burrito Bros. There's an album by the harder-to-classify Spirit and we finish off with some UK electric folk from the Albion Country Band.

Enjoy!

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

My journey into early American history keeps circling back to global wars. This time exploring areas claimed and settled by Virginian residents.

Surprise - George Washington fired the first shots leading to the French-American war and the global 7 year war.

Thomas Lee, Stratford Hall and the Ohio Company (1:24:50)(starts at 55 to subject ends 58:44 min) 2022

The current bond market crash (the one that no one is talking about) is the worst in American history, and one of the worst financial crashes in history.

Happy Friday the 13th everyone. I hope everybody is doing well. Post any photos, memes, or music you like.

I had family in town visiting this week. On Tuesday we went to the Maritime Museum of San Diego. It was a beautiful sunny day with temps in the low 70s. The last time I was at the museum was four years ago. Since that time the boats are looking a little worse for wear and the Russian submarine they used to have is no longer there. I don't know if that has anything to do with the war in Ukraine or not. I also noticed the HMS Surprise is now tied up on its starboard side. Last time I was there it was tied up on the port side. All in all it was a fun day and week.

https://sdmaritime.org/visit/the-ships/

The first five shots are the Star of India, the second five are HMS Surprise, the ship used for the movie Master and Commander.