Here in my little corner of suburban America businesses are folding and closing up shop in an ever-increasing rate and the retail landscape is beginning to look like a moonscape.
The recent announcement that Subway was thinning their Washington state footprint has meant no more Vancouver stores and Oregon stores are few and far between.

As of this morning:

Donald Trump
312 electoral votes
Republican Party
74,686,551 votes (50.5%)

Kamala Harris
226 electoral votes
Democratic Party
70,964,692 votes (48%)

Total:
145.6 million
=============================================================
2020:

Biden -- 81.2 million

Trump -- 74.2 million

Total -- 155.4 million

2024 as of Wednesday:

Hope, Despair, Ambivalence?

Thankfully the election is over with results so overwhelming that no one seems to be challenging the outcome. That was my hope. Prior to the election there were all kinds of predictions of violence, riots, and protests which fortunately didn't come to fruition. So now we wait to see how the administration evolves. Many are hopeful. Some are in despair. Others are simply ambivalent. Is it possible for the nation to heal the divide? Vivek thinks we can? (1.2 min)

Afternoon folks!

This week, as seems appropriate, we have some serious blues. Starting off, there's a really great live album from Etta James, followed by a compilation from New Orleans blues artist Tommy Ridgely. After that is an album of fancy pickin' instrumentals from the Rev. Gary Davis. Moving into blues-rock, we've got John Hammond's early 60's second album, followed by an album of some hard-to-peg music from Old Crow Medicine Show. Little Feat follows that and then there's some 70's blues/jazz/rock fusion from Mandrill (remember them?) Finishing up is an album from Malo a latin jazz/rock band.

Enjoy the tunes and have a great weekend!

All kinds of things -- most specifically telling the Muslims to go away:

Well, it was a fairly odd week, imho. The country did not erupt in riots. The losing candidate conceded like a grown up. The immigrants didn't come through for Harris. The DNC isn't as good as cheating as they once were. The propaganda we were battered with is revealed for what it is.

Oddly, the pols and MSM are back to the grind, into their usual and customary routines, as though, in the end, it really never mattered anyway. They had two Plan "A"s, no need for a Plan "B".

What we 99%ers never get is any significant positive changes to our lives.

We can get it with a song.

Welcome to Friday Night Photos everyone. Your once a week break from the daily madness of the crazy world we live in. Post any photos, memes, music, or whatever else you find of interest that helps you escape the madness.

One of my stops while traveling was at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose. The museum is sometimes referred to as the mummy museum since it is devoted to ancient Egypt. Items on display are a mix of ancient Egyptian artifacts and more modern art depicting Egyptian rulers, deities, and Egyptian life.

North side of the building and meditation garden. The museum was constructed in ancient Egyptian architectural style.