Spontaneous Musings

1.Could not manage to drag myself to my church today. It was cold and drizzling outside. The trees outside my window still have their leaves though. Did watch the sermon on my television set via You Tube. Once I figured out that I can still watch you tube videos on the big television set - I got hooked. They are free. There's ads. But still free. My tolerance for ads however is not high. But at least the ads don't interrupt church services - because that would be tacky?

The sermon was long and weirdly about combating racism, homophobia and xenophobia in Iowa. ( Read more... )

2. Watching Down Cemetery Road - the other series by Mick Herron, it's not as good as Slow Horses, although in a similar vein? It's British satire/mystery/thriller about the inept British Secret Service. (See people are the same everywhere - they are just as inept in Britain as they are in the US, and well everywhere else, national pride be damned. And British writers make fun of them.)

Emma Thompson is playing a private detective - who is sort of in the Gary Oldman role? With Ruth Wilson in the Jake Lowdon role, an art conservationist in over her head.

The set-up? Sarah (Ruth Wilson), after a building blows up near her house from an alleged gas explosion - she hunts for the little girl who survived the blast. When she gets a private investigator involved - things go a bit south, and she stumbles into more than she anticipated.

3. Inside with Michael Rosenbloom Podcasts (one of the better actor podcasters) interviewed Alison Mack, his former cast mate from Smallville, and former NXIUM cultist. She'd become the second in command. I watched it on Youtube on my television - and damn, it was moving. I cried during it.
( Read more... )

Alison Mack Interview with Michael Rosenbloom

Mack and Rosenbloom reiterate something I've long espoused - which is that people are more than one thing, and people for the most part aren't bad or good, they just do bad or good things? Our society has a tendency to demonize people not their actions. And Mack is right - our society is punitive and based on fear, and manipulates people with fear. I remember a prisoner at Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary telling me once that prison was about punishment not rehabilitation. And freeing folks from it - doesn't help, because we don't prep them for the outside world, and we don't provide them with employment.

That's not to say that there aren't people out there that are evil, and have a brain make up that is different than ours - sociopaths and psychopaths...are hard to understand. But even those are capable of good and bad things...it's never simple.

At any rate - it's an interesting podcast, and worth the watch.

[I've not watched the NXUIM documentary (but I know what it entailed), although I think I may have seen the Spieldberg one "Why We Hate".]

***

It's been a quiet day. Did some watercoloring - didn't like the first painting, discarded it, working on another one. I don't know if I'll ever do anything with my paintings at the moment? Right now, just doing them for me.

Dinner was salmon, aspergus, celery and carrots - baked. Yesterday I made chili. This morning, a spinach, onion and feta cheese omelete with grits.
The grits took up the blood sugar.

End of November Mememage

30. Do you have any special plans for December?

Not really? I plan on taking some time off. And getting a PT evaluation next week. Also, maybe getting tickets to Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Light Show.

I don't do much for Xmas - so it's not that stressful for me. I have minimal decorations, and only a few gifts to buy.

Humid overcast day, with sunlight filtering through - and a bit on the hazy side. In the mid to upper seventies, although felt warmer due to the humidity. I put on the A/C and installed the new reverse and inverse air window fan in the bedroom - which I'm hoping will help when it gets colder and they start blasting the heat. Now, it's not an issue. ( Read more... )

Also cleaned out the chemistry experiments in the fridge - basically transferred them to the compost bin, and the plastic to the recycling bin.
Didn't do a deep clean - I hurt enough, and that would kill my back.
Had lunch, which consisted of gluten free cheddar and chive "American Southern" biscuits (think American scones but puffy?) by way of Capulla's (an Italian Gluten Free Baking company). The biscuits are excellent by the way. Can't tell they are gluten free at all. (Turns out I didn't like biscuits previously because they had gluten - and made me sick.) Added proscuitto, cheddar cheese, and some English mustard, and it was a decent lunch.

Worked it off by going to the health food stores on Courteylou. Flatbush Coop and Frontier Health Food Store. I had an unexpected and somewhat toxic interaction at Frontier with an old guy that shelves things and advises people where to find stuff (he's always in my way, and I get a really bad vibe off of him every time I see him). ( Read more... )

The whole interaction left a bad taste in my mouth and rage in my heart at old farts, Turkish restaurants, people who are desperate enough to carry guns and gun manufacturers.

**

Spoke to mother, earlier, who regaled me with the story of a snake. They have poisonous snakes in Hilton Head, SC. She's also concerned about a Tropical Storm that is barreling in her general direction, but so far they are just sheltering in place.

Apparently one of her neighbors was watering plants in her garden and got bitten by a copperhead.
( the evils of gardening and snakes )

Apparently the neighbor tried to drive herself to the emergency room, got woozy, and ambulance came to her. It had bitten her foot. They couldn't give her the anti-venom because she was on blood thinners. But they monitored her, and it was okay - since it was a more mature snake (younger ones release it all at once apparently), and it was her foot. She also got fined by security - for pulling over, even though it was an emergency. At least they didn't tow her.

***

Dinner was mixed greens, feta, black pitted kalmata olives, falafal, tahini sauce, glazed pecans, apple cider vinegar/lemon juice. With iced unsweetened black tea (and lemon juice) for beverage. And gluten free vegan chocolate chip cookie for desert. ( Read more... )

The photo was obviously not taken today but several weeks ago, I just never got around to posting it until now.

A little Good News from the American Resistance and it's Global Allies.

It's been a stressful "news" week for some of us, so I think we deserve it? Honestly, our media is annoyingly negative at times, isn't it?

Disclaimer: As always, mileage may vary on the good news listed below, and good news along with everything else is often in the eye of the beholder.

To the tune of ... All I Really Need is a Little Good News

1. The Miccosukee Tribe partners with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to protect environmentally significant lands.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/15/miccosukee-tribe-florida-wildlife-corridor-foundation

2.A coalition of civil rights groups plan “Good Trouble Lives On” demonstrations on July 17 honoring John Lewis’s legacy and opposing authoritarian rule.

https://www.citizen.org/news/good-trouble-lives-on-national-day-of-action-builds-on-momentum-against-authoritarianism-fight-for-civil-rights/

3.Citing “irreparable deprivation of…First Amendment rights”, a federal appeals court upholds a previous ruling that Louisiana public schools will no longer display the 10 Commandments in classrooms.

https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/federal-appeals-court-rules-against-louisiana-law-requiring-public-schools-to-display-ten-commandments-in-every-classroom

( 4 - 8 are basically courts striking down Federal actions that are considered unlawful )

9.The U.S. Navy will no longer perform research testing on cats or dogs
[I didn't know they were doing it? At least they stopped.]

https://www.military.com/daily-news

10.In honor of pride month, elected officials host a “Love Is Love” concert at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to oppose the administration’s agenda to change the venue’s programming. [That's kind of ballsy, considering how Trump took over the Kennedy Center.]

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/23/nx-s1-5442561/kennedy-center-pride

11. DE, MD, and NJ join a multi-state lawsuit against the presidential administration over its plan to redistribute firearm devices previously seized by the government due to their dangerous nature.

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/maryland-new-jersey-delaware-federal-firearm-case-gun/?intcid=CNR-01-0623

12. ID: A federal court extends a temporary restraining order preventing local law enforcement from arresting or detaining anyone based on their immigration status.

https://www.acluidaho.org/en/press-releases/judge-extends-block-on-anti-immigrant-law-in-idaho-preventing-enforcement-statewide

13.Japanese researchers, led by Prof. Hiromi Sakai, at Nara Medical University have developed a universal artificial blood—a hemoglobin-based oxygen‑carrier encapsulated in a protective shell, derived from expired donor blood.

( Read more... )

14. VA’s election for lieutenant governor demonstrates how ranked-choice voting can strengthen voters’ voices in our electoral system.

https://fairvote.org/virginia-elections-show-value-of-ranked-choice-voting/

15. ME extends ranked-choice voting to gubernatorial and state legislative elections.

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/06/18/ranked-choice-voting-expansion-in-maine-sent-to-gov-mills/

16. Maryland's 2026 budget includes bills that will increase green energy, lower prescription drug costs, and prevent federal immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations.

https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-new-laws-2026-budget-taxes/

17.Communities across the U.S.—from Port Arthur and Austin, TX to Lake County, IL and Boston, MA—celebrated Juneteenth, commemorating the end of U.S. slavery.

[We even had signs celebrating it in my apartment building, and workplace takes it off as a State Holiday.]

https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/port-arthur-s-juneteenth-sunrise-service-20383530.php

https://www.lakecountystar.com/news/article/lake-county-sheriff-celebrates-juneteenth-baldwin-20391414.php

https://www.celticsblog.com/2025/6/20/24451593/jaylen-brown-boston-celtics-community-741-performance-dorchester-boys-and-girls-club

18.Conservative advocates for AI guardrails won, revealing the influence of a segment of the GOP that has come to distrust Big Tech. They want states to remain free to protect citizens against potential big tech harms, whether from AI, social media or emerging technologies. [Keep in mind that conservatives traditionally are State rights advocates and do not want big government. AI would annoy most conservatives - more so than liberals, actually.]

https://www.mississippifreepress.org/how-a-gop-rift-over-tech-regulation-doomed-a-ban-on-state-ai-laws-in-trumps-tax-bill/

19.Chris Kluwe is running for the state legislature in California.

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2025-06-18/huntington-beach-activist-chris-kluwe-planning-state-assembly-district-72-run

[More and more social justice activists are running for elected positions.]

20. Flutes for Fido: Volunteers play music to soothe shelter animals. A 12-year-old keyboard player founded a nonprofit that recruits other musicians to give live performances in animal shelters.

https://apnews.com/article/animal-shelters-music-therapy-dogs-cats-badd87be4e39500e77c9230ad28ab9d4
( the rest of the thirty behind the cut )

Hopefully you all found something in that list that cheered you? If not? Here's a flower:

1. I feel I need to explain in detail how a Bill becomes a Law in the United States. Since a lot of people think now that the Senate passed the Big Beautiful (more like Butt-Ugly) Bill - it will now go to the House and voila, signed into Law. Uh, no, this is not how it works, folks.

But wait, another lawyer did it for me! To the tune of I'm only a Bill, just a little old bill...via School House Rock, which oversimplified it.

How A Bill Becomes a Law by Anne P. Mitchell

First and foremost: In order for a bill to be sent to the president to be signed into law the House and the Senate MUST pass *identical* versions of the bill!  This is what we are seeing happen right now with the budget bill, the House originally passed their version and sent it to the Senate. The Senate made massive changes to it, then voted on that changed version just now, so now it goes back to the House. If the House makes ANY changes, then it goes back to the Senate for them to either vote on or make additional changes.

( Here is How a Bill Becomes a Law )

The process gives me hope. It did have a lot gutted from it. Also the Senate added 800 billion to the national debt. Meanwhile various States are in the process of passing laws to withhold federal taxes, since the federal government is not representing them in a fair and reasonable manner.

2. What is in the Big Butt-Ugly Bill aka the Big Beautiful Bill that the Senate Passed? (Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder apparently?)

Here's What got in and What got cut from the Big Butt-Ugly Bill

It went from 1000 pages to 940 pages.

In the bill: ( what stayed in the Bill )

On the Medicaid Cuts, what got in and got cut out of the bill:
( Read more... )

What is left out of the bill or was cut:

Public land sales
( what they were trying to do and why it was cut )

Excise tax on wind and solar, State AI provisions (The Senate stripped a provision barring states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI). )

For a more precise and total breakdown? Go HERE - The link is NY Times article via remove pay wall.

This tells you exactly what the Senate removed from the bill, changed, altered and left in and why.

Note they removed everything that wasn't budgetary related and broke the rules.

Example?

Measure to limit court contempt powers

The parliamentarian rejected a measure in the bill that would have made it harder for courts to enforce lawsuits against the Trump administration. The measure targeted preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders issued by federal judges against Trump’s executive orders and other directives. MacDonough argued that limiting courts’ ability to hold Trump in contempt violates Senate rules.

Go HERE for complete list of no-gos that can't be in the Bill at all

Note, it's still a controversial bill.

3. Want a way to help either in the US or out of the US?

We The People Defend provides information on how.

It's a non-profit site that provides emails with contact information, and instructions on how to go about contacting Senators, White House, Congress, Etc.

You don't have to do everything or anything at all. There's no pressure. But it helps explain how the law works and how to help change what is going on in a pro-active way.

So far, folks have managed to change a lot of things by doing this, so it is working.

If however, you are too pissed off like myself to rationally call and explain in a calm manner, you might want to hang back for a bit or do something else?

4. [ETA: Folks? Be mindful of my blood pressure and please knock off the defeatist talk or keep it out of my journal. I get we're all worried, scared and angry. But it does nobody any good, including you. And I honestly have enough troubles sleeping as it is. I'm on medication for anxiety. So be mindful and keep it to yourselves?]

Actually, Jay Kuo states all of this better than I can - so I'm reposting his words below:

"Folks, some real talk.
( Read more... )

What he said.

1. Feeling much better - the sickness is gone, finally. No cough, no runny nose. Still feel a bit wiped, but for the first time in a week - I ate something other than chicken vegetable soup or chicken broth.
( photo of chicken soup )
As you can see it was homemade. The store bought variety has things like yeast, corn starch, etc in it.

Although I did buy the broth - I've never the energy or time to make my own broth.

Had eggs this morning and a gluten free english muffin. It should sustain me until noon. I'm hoping to vote in the primary this mayoral primary this weekend.

2. Wales apologized. I explained my issues regarding what she said about COVID, by laying out my experience with it and how it had affected my life, and she apologized and thanked me for taking the time to explain.

I think people forget that everyone's body is different, and illnesses affect all of us differently.

3. Even though our mass media is attempting to downplay the number of people who protested during No Kings Day to roughly 5-6 million as opposed to 12-13 million as Alt National Parks (the coalition of 5051) stated, I'm going with Alt National Parks number for the following reasons:
( Read more... )

4. Buffy Rewatch...S3 so far has no duds, I've not skipped or groaned through an episode.

And damn, by episode 7, I really wish someone would kill off Xander. ( ugh Xander )

Oh, I've been paying attention to the credits here and there, and discovered something interesting? There are about five to six producers who are not writers. Also various people involved who don't write for the show and are editors. The credits are lengthy. Sandy Gallin and Gail Berman produced, along with the Kuzuies, Gareth, and David Solomon, and then Whedon and Greenwalt as show-runners. This was in S3. David Solomon was a director - not really a writer. And did a lot of the second unit directing for the series. Gallin was with Sand Dollar - which is Dolly Parton's production outfit. Gail Berman was with Fox and the WB.

If you think Buffy was just a Whedon show? You aren't paying attention to the credits. It really wasn't just Whedon's or Mutant Enemy's. Also ME and Whedon didn't own the rights to it. Fox, the Kazuis and Dolly Parton did.
Whedon had to ask their permission to continue with it. Fox's rights are now Disney's, Disney bought all of Fox's entertainment properties.

Also, here's the writing process as of 2003, per Jane Espenson, who was in the writer's room at the time:
( the Writing Process by Jane Espenson )

Note that was in 2003. In 1997-1999, the head writers were David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon, and the studio and network had more of a say and Berman was more involved. When the show jumped over to UPN, Fox still had a say (that's the studio), but the network didn't care. So, what Espenson is leaving out - is the network and studio notes, which may or may not have existed on Whedon shows. The writing team was continuously changing, with various writers jumping from one Whedon Show to another one.

Carpenter made it clear during a con - that there's no reason to feel guilty loving Buffy, because of Whedon, since the show was a collaboration and Whedon's involvement, while heavy at times was by far not the main ingredient or the main oversight. It's not a novel, and it's not a series like Andor that is written and directed by one auteur. It's also not like Doctor Who, where the vast majority of episodes are written by one person and to a large part even directed by them.

This is an American Broadcast Television Series - they have about 400 people involved, we have editors, directors, guest directors, stunt coordinators, etc. To say Whedon had limited control over the proceedings, is a gross understatement. No one was purely in control over it.

Actually in my re-watch, I can now tell when they are using stunt doubles.

Methinks I've contracted a chest cold, or a head cold, feels like a chest cold. Lovely, I need to get blood work done on Thursday, and have a virtual appointment on Friday. I'll just wear a mask on Thursday. Also, apparently for most of this week.

I blame Breaking Bad, whose been under the weather of late. Or the subway.
God knows.

I did not go protest in the No Kings Protests yesterday, outside of the fact that I was feeling poorly and not sleeping well, so exhausted, plus digestive issues (one does not march with digestive issues in a huge city with no easily accessible bathrooms - it's just not done), and bum knees, with a sciatic nerve. The people doing it in their walkers, just protested outside of their homes on the sidewalk, not quite the same thing.

Not that I feel guilty or anything. (well maybe a little).

The official count is 12.1 million. Palantir is collecting data for the evil Empire (aka Trump Administration and his Republican cronies), so various sources have put up protections and aren't re-posting videos, photos, or addresses any longer. Things are starting to get heated in the US, and I'm not quite sure where its headed. I most likely have the same news resources that you all have, so we're kind of in it together?

Between the chest congestion, digestive issues, lack of sleep, sciatic nerve, and the news...I've fallen into a malaise of sorts and am finding it difficult to concentrate. As a result, I didn't get any of the things I intended to do - done this weekend. Oh well, I did at least do some exercises, took out the trash, and got a lot of water. (The water went out in my building on Friday night, so I went and picked up some.)

Did finish watching a few things of note:

1. Dept. Q on Netflix. Will it get a second season? Forbes thinks so, since Netflix submitted it for the Emmy's and doesn't tend to do that otherwise - also it got a good reception. But honestly, it's Netflix, so who knows?
It's a mixed bag, and I agree with the critics. Excellent performances, Mathew Good is rather brilliant in it, as is the rest of the cast. But, like most of these mystery series - it spends far too much time on the convoluted sadistic Case of the Arc or Lost Case, and not enough on the other mysteries. ( Read more... )

That said? Compelling characters, and I want to see more of them, and I liked them. Also I want more of the series. So...I was like all of the other critics willing to handwave the Lost Case.

2. Season 2 of My Buffy Re-watch

Take aways? Becoming Part II is a lot better than Becoming Part I, mainly for the Spike, Buffy, and Joyce scenes. Also the Drusilla, Jenny, Angel and Giles scenes. It's a lot more fun, and a little less on the campy/cheesy side.
( See more )

3. Murderbot I'm about five episodes in? Saw the latest at any rate, and kept falling asleep during it. It's a slow series. The books were too.
It's funny, but there's too much time spent on the space opera parody that the Murderbot is a fan of. Yes, yes, I get what the writers are doing there, but a little parody goes a long ways. I kept going to sleep.

4. Andor - it's almost too political for its own good. And convoluted. Reminds me a little of the second of the Star Wars prequels, which was also very political. I'm enjoying it, but my attention kept drifting today during it, which again may be due to an overall lack of focus on my part.

***

In the 60sF/10sC, wet and rainy. I've stayed in, since I'm a bit under the weather and tired. I'm supposed to go on a tour of Grand Central tomorrow with the big headhoncho, but I may cancel and just hide in my cubicle.
This chest cold is threatening to be annoying. Maybe it's just allergies?

Good news, is it is a short work week. I have Thursday and Friday off. So just have to somehow get through Monday through Wed.

Yes, it's that time again - for the weekly Good News Report from the American Resistance and it's Global Allies in the War against Fascism, Cancer, Disease, and Climate Change, or just trying to fight for kindness and general well-being overall.

As always, mileage may vary on what is good news, or good news may well be in the eye of beholder. You can also call it the Hope Report if you prefer.
Whatever floats your boat, as my father used to say.

( the Good News Report )

***

Reading: When Leaders Attack Judges as Enemies, the Global Authoritarian Play Book and How to Stop It

1. Daredevil Born Again is bringing back Luke Cage, Iron Fist (who seriously needs to be recast, but whatever), and Jessica Jones to join Daredevil as the Defenders. They are all in S2 Daredevil. (Basically Daredevil is getting the Disney treatment, which works for me - since I liked The Defenders.)

2. Wheel of Time was cancelled by Amazon after the 3rd season. Cancelled due to ratings and a hefty price tag. (Amazon's head honcho got absurdly political and it has cost him.) I haven't made it past S1. I have too many television shows, and the characters didn't grab me for some reason or other. I was thinking of going back to it - but now? Probably not.

3. Finished watching:

* Etoile (on Amazon) while visiting Mother. We both enjoyed it. It's about the Paris and New National Ballet Theaters - trading lead talent in order to booster each others ticket sales. It's in French and English. And has performances by professional ballet dancers, who are also lead actors in the series. Focuses more on the running of the two theaters, and putting together the performances. It's not a relationship drama, so much as a workplace drama or dramedy? It's written by the same people who did Bunheads and Gilmore Girls - so swings towards witty comedic banter and comedic situations.

Etoile was picked up for two seasons by Amazon, so season 2 is being filmed and the entire cast is returning for it.

* The Residence (on Netflix) (finished yesterday) - it's a satirical mystery series, about an unorthodox detective, who is rather brilliant, and prefer to watch birds. ( Read more... )

Other than that - it's fun and hilarious in places, with a farcical humor, touched with light satire.

This works very well as a stand-a-lone. All the plot-threads were satisfyingly closed. I'm not sure I want a second season?

* The Four Seasons - this is a relationship comedy - it is loosely adapted from Alan Alda's 1981 film of the same name, with Tina Fey taking on the Carol Burnett role, and Colman Domingo taking on Jack Weston's role, except as a gay Black man, with his Italian husband (the original was portrayed by Rita Moreno). It's about three couples that vacation together each season. We see them only on their vacations or trips together. The first or main point of view couple is Tina Fey and Will Forte (Katie and Jack), then Danny and Claude (Colman Domingo and an Italian actor), finally Steve Carrol's Nick (and Anne (his wife) and Ginny (the girl-friend, after he divorces his wife). It reminded me vaguely of the original, but I'm not certain how close it is - because I haven't seen the original version since the 1980s. Also, now, I'm the same age as the four couples, when the last time I saw it - I was much younger.

It's okay. I found the other two television series funnier. Wales liked it better than I did. I'm admittedly not a huge fan of relationship comedy.

4. Buffy Reboot

I could be wrong about this? But I'm becoming increasingly convinced that James Marsters is involved in the Reboot, not sure how big his role will be or how he'll be involved. ( Read more... )

Yes, I'm still a fan of Buffy. It was that rare television series which had perfect casting, good writing, and blending of collaborative creative talent in various sections (makeup, stunt craft, writing, directing, production, casting, acting) that just worked and got better as it went. The first season is okay, but the second season ...was leaps and bounds better in all areas. There's a handful of television series that I've been a fan of, and 98% of them are fantasy and science fiction series.
What this says about me, I do not know.

[ETA:
Slayers, Every One of Us: How One Girl in All the World Showed Us How to Hold On by Kristin Russo (Author), Jenny Owen Youngs (Author) -

"Read by the authors and hosts of the hit podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, this memoir reflects on heartbreak, perseverance, building community, and life lessons learned from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This audiobook features bonus songs, jingles, and clips from the podcast and live shows, and contributions from fans/committed Scoobies.

Kristin and Jenny’s marriage started with an ultimatum: to further their relationship, Kristin must watch Jenny's favorite show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With the terms set, they began a journey that has led them through seven seasons of the beloved genre show, a podcast rewatching the series with their newly minted listenership of “Scoobies,” unexpected success, and a divorce. Through it all, their love for Buffy and their commitment to their community held them together against the odds."

Sigh, I feel old. Buffering the Vampire Slayer - was a podcast they did to rewatch the show in 2016. I watched the show live between 1997 - 2004, and was on the internet with people discussing as far back as the 1990s. The podcasts I listened to - you can't find now. Nor the sites for that matter. Even my own web site is long gone - although all my essays and fanfic can be found on Ao3, but I didn't write much in the way of fanfic. ]

ETA: Apparently "Slayers" the audio book did amazingly well, too well, and Disney stopped it from doing any more and pulled the rights. (Disney owns the rights to Buffy now, not Fox not Whedon. That's important.) The reason was - they were doing the Buffy Reboot and didn't want Slayers to get in the way of it.

Below is the link to the Q&A where Marsters explains it - it's at the very end of the Q&A. (Marsters Q&A's are highly entertaining, because he clearly loves Conventions and has been going to them since he was thirteen with Star Trek. Most actors at these things are kind of boring. Please note? I have NEVER been to a fan convention, I watch it all on youtube or the internet. I found the American Library Association Conventions and the E-Publishing ones to be headache inducing enough. I hate crowds, claustrophobic convention halls, etc. My idea of hell is a convention. The appeal is lost on me. If I wanted to - I could go to the big one - Comic Con in NYC, but it would kill me.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aj5esoZOi8 ]

5. Also saw two filmed theater performances on PBS (Great Performances). PBS is kind of the US equivalent of the BBC, except it doesn't have quite as much money, and is mostly locally supported by subscribers.

* Next to Normal - I saw the original on Broadway ages ago. This is the West End Revival - in London. Apparently it hadn't made it to the UK, so they revived it. What's remarkable is the entire cast is speaking with an American accent, even though they are all British. I'm surprised they didn't make it British - they could. It's a musical/rock opera about mental illness, grief, and it's devastating effects on the family dynamic- I call it a rock opera, because there's no dancing, and most of the lines are sung, and the band is on stage. It has some truly beautiful music and excellent performances.

* YellowFace - the semi-autobiographical satirical play by David
Henry Kwang about racism in the US. It's hilarious in places and overall rather well done. Danial Dae Kim (Angel, LOST, Hawaii 5-0) portrays Kwang, and Ryan Eggold (Blacklist and New Amsterdam) portrays a Russian actor who can pass as Asian. (Actually I think it's a call out to Yul Brunner and they even reference the King and I.) A lot of the play is actors talking to the audience, and sometimes to each other. It breaks the fourth wall a lot -- in that the actors are directly speaking to the audience or step outside the framework of the play - to do so in monologues. ( Read more... )

Actually, I took the following picture yesterday - on my walk around a section of the financial district. The section that is in front of Trinity Church and towards the Freedom Tower. Didn't go that far yesterday - because my leg was bothering me, and I didn't have a lot of time. At any rate I've been down this cobble stone road before -- it's completely blocked off to traffic - due to the New York Stock Exchange being on the cross street. Security and historic preservation.

The street is in front of The Trump Building (which I have not taking a photo of - because it's an ugly building, and not worth it - it's circa 1930s gothic, but it's ugly). And across from the Trump Building aka 40 Wall Street is...a Caribbean Jerk Chicken Vending Truck - smells delicious. (I'd get some - but my dietary restrictions keep me at bay.)



The Jerk Chicken Stand is kind of sticking the finger to Trump, it's right across from his Building, is the only vendor stand across from it, and the only vehicle across from the building. And about as diverse and non-white as you can get. Gotta love it. There's all sorts of subtle little protests across the Financial District.

My new work digs, as you may have guessed by now, is a photographer's dream come true. So many new things to take photos of.

Work was better today, aided greatly by sleep - I slept 6 hours and 43 minutes as opposed to 5 hours and twenty-three minutes, and that made a huge difference in my cognitive abilities. ( personal stuff - kind of boring...actually )

Anyhow, need to stop this and make dinner. But before I do? On today's walk, I discovered a little farmer's market, where I picked up gluten-free Irish Soda Bread, and gluten-free biscotti. I've never had either. So was happy with my finds.

It was just across the street from my office building. Insanely convenient.



And not much further, was Battery City Park, and this lovely little walk complete with lots of flowers in full bloom. They are hardy little flowers, and unlike the impatiens around Bowling Green Park, actually survived the dip into the 40s last night. I have no idea what they are called. I take pictures of flowers - I can't grow them or remember their names. I may be many things, but a horticulturist or botanist is not among them. The green thumb jumped over me and landed on my brother.

I feel battered by the news. To date, I've sent cards, subscribed to The Atlantic, New York Magazine, The New Yorker and Vanity Fair (Vanity Fair is by the way the cheapest at $18 a year (it's a special deal), after that it is $30 dollars a year, includes unlimited digital, print, and a tote bag. Everybody gives out tote bags. I now have more tote bags than I know what to do with. Also given to various charitable and non-profit organizations.

So finally a little good news from my sources on other social media platforms that you may not have access to.

As always, the good news may well be in the eye of the beholder, your mileage may vary on some of it.

Good news from the American Resistance and its Global Allies

1. Australia and Canada elected liberal Prime Ministers. ( Read more... )

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/03/australia/australia-election-results-albanese-dutton-intl-hnk?cid=ios_app

***

Trump’s administration is facing more than 200 lawsuits over his immigration policies, his ill-advised tariffs, his revenge against law firms, his attempts to shut down government agencies, and many more actions. Trump appears to be in deep denial. [Honestly, sometimes I think the man is either a frustrated litigator or just likes to be sued? At least we are winning most of them.]

An unprecedented in history legal blitz against the Trump Administration (No President in the History of the US has faced this many lawsuits within their first 100 days.)

The below includes items like political rallies and actors speaking out against the Doofus politically. I didn't number them, because it would require renumbering and that leads to all sorts of issues.

( The Resistance wins lots of legal cases against the Trump Administration, along with a lot of lawsuits and court cases being filed )

Non-Court and Non-Political Related Good News

11. The Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honored the “Six Triple Eight,” an all-Black, predominantly female unit of the Women's Army Corps (WAC) during World War II.

( Read more... )

Learn More About the 6-Triple 8 Here

12.In the “groundbreaking” results of an immunotherapy clinical trial, most cancer patients saw their tumors disappear.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/health/cancer-immunotherapy-solid-tumors.html?unlocked_article_code=1.C08.XEHY.yLYIErw8VKKE&smid=url-share&ck_subscriber_id=2454664808

13. Dozens of miniature horses galloped for a good cause in New Zealand - their own.
( Read more... )

https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2025/apr/23/great-northern-gallop-new-zealand-miniature-horses-race-in-pictures?ck_subscriber_id=2454664808

14.“A City in a Park”: Chattanooga, Tennessee, Is North America’s First National Park City.

( Read more... )

https://nicenews.com/environment/chattanooga-tennessee-first-national-park-city-north-america/

( the rest regarding environmental, the arts, animals, science, etc.. )

I hope you found something in there to smile about? If not, here's a pretty tree?