I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES— the Corita Art Center in Los Angeles, California re-opens this weekend on March 8th (National Women's Day) with the 29 prints that the woman whom the center is dedicated to (Corita Kent, 1918-1986) produced called Heroes and Sheroes— reflecting the social movements of the 60’s (labor, civil rights, nuclear disarmament).
YOUR WEEKEND READ #1 is this essay by Prof. Robert Reich with the self-explanatory title Trump-Vance-Musk-Putin manosphere.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #2 is this essay by Amanda Marcotte, positing that conservative women are finding out … that voting for you-know-who … won’t result in better treatment for them, than for lefties.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Mischief the Cat— an English kitteh who has a home yet makes the entire city of Plymouth his own: visiting pubs, supermarkets, newsstands, bookmakers, schools and even the city's naval base.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #3 is this essay by an Indiana University adjunct professor (cited in a diary earlier) who teaches negotiations… and how our-man-in-Washington Krasnov is finding that his win/lose strategy might work when dealing with small contractors … yet far more difficult internationally.
A NOTE on TODAY’s POLL– I’m using a different format of “Worst MAGA Actions” because – while many disagree – I see very little evidence of this mob “losing” so far. Even the recent Supreme Court decision limiting the US Aid cuts was only 5-4, a narrow ruling, Alito mocking it and we do not know if it will be obeyed.
So I’ve listed the maximum (20) worst actions for your consideration. There are easily 50 more, I know. If you want to cite more than one in the comments: have-at-it. And certainly write-in the other 50-100 there was no room for.
Normal polling will resume next week.
FRIDAY's CHILD is one of NYC’s Bodega Cats— who not only provide rodent control but also an attraction for customers — and for whom a new proposal would establish a certification program (requiring neutering, vaccinations, annual vet care, etc.) in exchange for a relaxation from food safety regulations/fines.
It would also coordinate community grants going to convenience store owners to cover expensive emergency care above their means.
BRAIN TEASER— try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with an explanation of a weekly part of my compendium, Separated at Birth— how I first encountered this feature, some early sources for me and how I choose which ones to use (some of which are reader suggestions).
OLDER-YOUNGER BROTHERS?— two musicians: the late drummer of The Band, Levon Helm— and singer-songwriter Jackson Browne.
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… hectic week, so just time for two favorite songs from the 1969 Doors album Soft Parade— which the critics mostly disdain, but not myself. One is the more exotic Shaman’s Blues… plus the more sweet-sounding Wishful Sinful.