From Pine View Farm

And Now for a Musical Interlude 0

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War and Mongers of War 0

Robert Reich considers Donald Trump’s war of choice with Iran and asks

So what has been accomplished?

Follow the link for his answer.

Finish reading this post »

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Patriot Gamers 0

It appears that the Trump maladministration now wants to militarize our national park rangers (and, according to the report, retired park rangers do not take kindly to the idea).

Honest to Betsy, we are governed by ten-year olds using government personnel paid with our tax money in order to play toy soldiers.

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American Stasi 0

We are again reminded that “suffer the children” is not scripture.

Rather, it’s a Republican family value.

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Legacy 0

Title:  Trump Monuments.  Frame One:  Ballroom, $600 million.  Frame Two:  Arch de Trump, $100+ million.  Frame Three:  Algae Collection Tub (aka Reflecting Pool), $14 million.  Frame Four:  Iran War suurender flag, $300+ billion.

Click for the original image.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Yet another “responsible gun owner” feels compelled to expose his portable phallus.

We are a society of stupid.

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Rhyme Time 0

Driftglass offers an ode to the enablers.

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QOTD 0

Jack Palance:

The only two things you can truly depend upon are gravity and greed.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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It’s All about the Algorithm 0

At the Psychology Today website, Rosanna E. Guadagno argues that “social” media is by design, er, antisocial.

She makes three main points:

  • Outrage drives engagement, so social media platforms amplify it by design.
  • Reordering social media feeds alone shifted partisan warmth by more than 2 points in a 2025 field study.
  • Disagreement is healthy, but contempt is what social media algorithms actually produce and reward.

Follow the link for some hints to avoid the artificially augmented algorithmic anger.

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Cancel Culture, Republican Style 0

Thom looks at how and why today’s Republican Party is trying to cancel voters. (Short commercial at the end.)

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Yet another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” discharges his responsibility. From the police press release:

This morning, while Bus Line 108 was stopped at Slauson and Fairfax (in Ladera Heights, CA–ed.), a rider accidently (sic) discharged a firearm, injuring himself.

Get out of Jail free cardAnd yet again we are reninded that “accidentally” and “negligently” are not synonyms.

“Negligently” refers to failing to exercise due care and responsibility, as implied by the phrase “responsible gun owner.”

“Accidentally” is a “Get Out of Jail Free” card for oxymoronic (emphasis on the “moronic”) “responsible gun owners.”

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This New Gilded Age 0

Couple watching television showing a picture of Elon Musk headlined,

Via Job’s Anger.

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Indoctrination Nation 0

Apparently, the Republican thought police are ready to follow you wherever you go, even into the movie theatre.

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Desecration Nation, Reprise 0

SFgate’s Drew Magary visits the Reflection Pool in Washington, D. C., to see how Donald Trump’s “renovation” of it has turned out.

He was not impressed. He says that, thanks to Trump

. . . the Reflecting Pool is now a swamp

Follow the link to learn why.

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QOTD 0

T. S. Eliot:

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.

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The Artifice of the Deal, Once Again 0

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Dangers on the Disinformation Superhighway 0

At the Psychology Today website, Taylor Neff points out that “(s)ocial media is a prominent source of mental health misinformation*.

Follow the link for some pointers to protect yourself from the prevaricators.

And remember, “social” media isn’t.

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American Exceptionalism 0

PoliticalProf notices something exceptional.

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Still Rising Again after All These Years 0

An excerpt:

A society moving forward doesn’t need to erase its history. It needs to understand it . . . .

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