Well, tomorrow brings another birthday. My 76th go around the big orb that makes everything grow, and then go away.
I've watched a lot of happenings in those long years. Some good, some bad. Much change.

Bombs Away

Trump is wasting lots of bombs hitting Yemen again and again...killing mainly civilians, many women and children. Israel is still bombing Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon...that is on our dime too. The European chihuahuas want to build more bombs and weapons so they can get in on the action... thinking that will save their economies. Those who object are being silenced one way or another. France eliminated Le Pen this week much like Romania eliminated their anti-war leading candidate. UK citizens are being arrested for retweeting memes that are unapproved by TPTB. Here in the US we deport those critical of the Gaza genocide without due process. Will they eventually target citizens critical of the Zionists? In some ways they already have. The tariff wars have begun, and how that evolves has yet to be seen. These stories and more below the fold...

Afternoon folks!

This week we're starting off with some blue deliciousness from Johnny Copeland, Robert Cray and Albert Collins together on a great album, followed by a 1940's era album from saxophonist Eddie Vinson and a mid 70's B.B. King album to mellow you out. A fine album of blues-rock follows from John Mayall with some notable sidemen and then how about some bluegrass? - It's the Kentucky Colonels (featuring Clarence White who would later be the guitarist for The Byrds). After that there's some live goodness from the David Bromberg Band and we finish up with an album from British folk rockers The Oyster Band.

Enjoy the tunes and have a great weekend!

Good morning, good people!

I want to add an aspect to the democracy thread of yesterday. This is info from a few weeks ago, and once seen, never forgotten.

From 2019 to 2024, wealth of some elected officials:

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez $15k to $23.6 million
• Ilhan Omar $62k to $26. 6 million
• Rashida Tlaib $62k to $17. 2 million
• Ayanna Pressley $3k to $41.3 million

Now, that is democracy with a capital D!

Democracy really works (for some.)!

If they would tell me which stocks to buy ahead of a government contract, I, like them, would buy just the same stocks as they did. I would promise I would donate/vote for them if they did! (pinky swear)

Has democracy failed? More specifically has Western democracy failed?

I've written before about political pendulum swings and how, in the last several election cycles, the swings have become more extreme, especially the last two cycles. Are these wild swings back and forth organic or are they manufactured?

The hatred and the vitriol in today's political zeitgeist, on both sides, certainly seems to be an astro turf phenomenon, blown up by the media and the two political parties themselves, for the most part. But, the question is, to what end?

Attribution: PixaBay