King of Pain

A few days ago I was listening to the 'radio', or, Pandora, actually. Pandora had created a playlist of early 1980's songs for me and I was jamming and having a blast. Nikko and I were dancing, yes, he dances. Then a Police/Sting song came on: 'King of Pain'. I'd not heard it in a long, long time.

The Police, King of Pain

Napalm Sticks

I paid almost no attention to the recent elections in the USA. Both 'major' candidates make me ill, and I will do my best to pay NO attention to Trump, just as I did in the past, ohh, 30 years. As for the Dems, and Kamala, they'll get no real support from me, just a shrug of 'eh' about whatever they do. Yes, they might do some 'good' things, I guess. It'll be by accident, or as a way to manipulate people or give their donors something they wanted that the populace likes too. With the Dem leadership as it stands now, they surely won't do anything good for the working class. Sounds kinda like they were before FDR took over and read the writing on the wall.

A couple of weeks or so ago I read this poem, called McGenocide, by Caitlin Johnstone (Snoopydawg also posted the poem here, on this site). It really hit me hard, maybe because of reading the book, Bringing Mulligan Home, about the man trying to find out why his father (who fought on Okinawa in WWII) was like he was.

Something good: A rose from our garden. Yes, it's flowering NOW, the pic was taken a few days ago. Admittedly, we haven't gotten below freezing this fall, yet. And usually we do that in mid September. A couple nights ago we hit 33 as the low, but... that ain't below freezing yet!

Halloween!

It's Thursday and Halloween! Halloween, as celebrated in the USA, is my favorite holiday for several reasons: 1. pumpkins and haunted houses 2. costumes and decorations 3. parties and/or trick or treat and candy! 4. It's often a great time of the year, season-wise, not too cold, not hot, colorful...

Yep, Halloween!

Sleeping in the Headlines

I came across this headline the other day, ''Such low energy': Trump relentlessly mocked for once again falling asleep during trial'. It made me laugh. I can think of several reasons for him to fall asleep: the trial is boring, he's old, he's on the campaign trail and is tired, he's old, boring, old, tired... Ohh wait, that describes his arch enemy, Biden, as well.

For example, 'Joe Biden Appears To Fall Asleep On The First Day Of COP26' (from 2021). Biden gets excuses from the press, which Trump basically doesn't get, because the press likes Biden; here's an example about the COP26 meeting, a video that the BBC ran with this headline 'COP26: Was US President Biden asleep or just resting his eyes?' To me, it looks like he's falling asleep and an aide woke him. But what do I know? Maybe he was just resting his eyes.

Like this? Image from here on pinterest.es.

CityRocks and Privateers

I think the stress of the last few weeks has finally caught up with me. My thoughts and mind are completely blank it seems, and I can't get around that right now. So, let's do some fun music and this open thread is OPEN!

In Hungary there is/was this 'thing' called CityRocks (youtube channel). It's basically a flash mob, 500 musicians or so, that get together and play songs. They started in 2017. And... they rock .

Here they are playing some Queen - 'We Will Rock You!' And all I got to say is DRUMS!

Dance and Sing in Russian!

I was gonna write a bit about the economy. But, there were some minor panics in the family arena: nothing major (parents' tax return from the accountant was late, one of their car's wouldn't run (until my husband touched it, then it ran!)); all hands on deck were needed for a few days. And then the new war (Hamas/Israel) started and I'm... yea. I just want to get my comfy-est blanket wrapped around me, put it over my head and mumble once in a while. Maybe I'll eat a gallon of ice cream too. Or this great apple tart Hubby made me. I'll peek out when something good happens, like, Halloween or something.

I think I'm getting too old, or I just don't watch enough current thought-manipulation, err, main stream media. All I could think when the Hamas/Israel thing started was, 'Ahh, now 'they' have another war! And we can all forget about the Ukraine thing which wasn't going so well! Just in time. Imagine that!' And, 'How did this Hamas stuff happen without the intel in the USA, Nato, Israel, not knowing?' I mean, apparently Egypt knew, and tried to tell them. So, were those poor people who died so awfully just sacrifices to gin up enthusiasm for a new war, which is really horrible, frankly? Am I too cynical?

A Music Rabbit Hole

When I started writing this open thread post I decided it would be about a rabbit hole into old music from my youth. But I forgot how, for me at least, much of the music I listened to when I was young was about or related to politics and social questions. Much of it... But not always all of it! Maybe that was true for all of us?

The rabbit hole started when I read about the death of Toto Cutugno. I don't remember where I learned of his passing, perhaps it was here? I had to go find the song... the song he was famous for, because parts of it suddenly sprung into my mind after 40 years or so. How? I dunno, but apparently I remember stuff from when I was young even if I only heard it when I was traveling in Europe so long ago (it was released in 1983).

Here's the song by Toto Cutugno: 'L'Italiano'. Sing or hum along if you suddenly remember it, dance around the house, the kitchen, where-ever.

When Johnny:

I believe Memorial Day is a good thing, honoring those who have fallen in our endless and often stupid wars. It's not their fault they fought, they died and they should be honored for doing so. Of course, there should be a day for honoring protesters too, those who fought, got hurt, died. Heh, I'm dreaming.

A few weeks ago, I was listening to some songs off old cds and vinyl I'd moved to my computer. I came across Steve Earle and the Pogues singing 'Johnny Come Lately' back in the late 80's.

Here's a good video featuring the song. And here's a link to a video about how Earle and the Pogues recorded the song.

Lyrics' Meanings Grow as We Do: A Recent Example

A few days ago I was in the kitchen dancing around as I cooked dinner, Pandora radio blaring through my cellphone which was linked by Bluetooth to a speaker set. How things have changed, eh?

Sima goes on an Anti-War Rant:

War! Why do we have to go through this all over again? And over, and over, and over?