RIP 1A

Well, another Dalíesque week in Kleptolandia. The protestors in “war ravaged” Portland played for keeps, since it seems that ICE thugs are terrified of frogs.

Not to mention a T-Rex with serious moves.

Meanwhile, ICE thugs in Chicago—defending the White Christian supremacy, as ordained by the Orange One—shot a pepper ball point blank into the head of a Presbyterian minister who was <checks notes> doing nothing except urging the ICE snipers on the roof to think about Christian teachings.

And the Kleptocrat said the quiet part out loud:

There is no longer a First Amendment in that dementia-fueled world of his.

Pro Tip: The courts—including an actually non-dysfunctional SCOTUS—have upheld flag burning as protected speech. Of course, with these six clowns, it may be up for grabs, especially as Thomas has declared that precedents are not even really guidelines.

Finally, today Cadet Bonespurs is getting his second “annual” medical checkup of 2025. It’ll turn out that he’s 6’4”, 225lbs of nothing but muscle and once again aced that test. You know, the one no one’s ever aced like he does.

So our earworm for today is the “Imperial March”. Typical of John Williams' oeuvre, it's heavy-handed, bombastic, hollow and overwrought. Like every Republican in office.

 

©2025 Bas Bleu

 

 

Twinkling on

Even as Lowe’s is ready to sell you seasonal yard monsters, do not be concerned that they’re going to short change the Christmas opportunity. Because right next to their Halloween display, they have these:

(For some reason, the twinkling Nativity just gets me.)

©2025 Bas Bleu

 

Spookee!

After my recent Costco run, where I discovered Christmas décor had pushed out Halloween stuff (in September), I made a trip on Monday to Lowe’s, because I knew they’d be doing it right.

They did not let me down.

And of course I pushed all the Try Me buttons. All the buttons.

 

©2025 Bas Bleu

 

Every moment matters

Found this literally in the gutter on my morning walk yesterday, and I have questions.

The seal on the wrapping is still intact; I wonder why the owner (possibly the recipient of a gift?) never even opened it to look at the inspirational sayings for each month?

We’re ten months in to 2025—why ditch it now?

Why dump it in the roadside gutter? Typically, that’s where people toss crap out their car windows—did they drive around the People’s Republic to find exactly the right place for this sad thing?

What a statement about the futility of marking the passing of days, no matter how hopeful the framing, in these times.

At least I recycled it properly.

 

 

©2025 Bas Bleu

 

Gratitude Monday: finding what I can

NGL—after events of the past few days, I’m struggling to find macro things to be grateful for today. Federal government shutdown, which Republicans are flat-out lying by saying it’s the Democrats’ fault (Rs control the House, the Senate and the presidency; Dems said they’d vote for the CR if Rs take out the slashing of ACA subsidies and Medicaid—which exposes millions of Americans to exponentially higher healthcare costs).

Kleptocrat and SecDef in ill-fitting suits engaging in willie waving before the assembled military leadership at Quantico. More willie waving as the Kleptocrat threatens to send US troops to invade US cities. Violations of international law as US forces sink Venezuelan boats in international waters because “drug cartels”. Ordering a full-blown perp walk for James Comey—sending out a call for “the beefiest” FBI agents to show up in full tactical gear for the photo op on a summons to appear, not a warrant.

ICE thugs—they’re a category of their own. Raiding an apartment building in Chicago and disappearing all the residents into unmarked vehicles; entire families. Ziptying toddlers’ hands behind their backs. Getting stuck in traffic and not liking the jeers of onlookers, so they popped a can of tear gas into a residential neighborhood. Assaulting peaceful protesters wherever they encounter them. Pepper spraying a vocal but non-violent protester in the eyes.

Because they can.

These are dark days.

So I’m going to be focusing on the beautiful not-quite-Autumn weather we’ve been having here in the District They Call Columbia. Temperatures in the 60s and 70s, low humidity. Leaves changing color (but to brown, not reds or golds, so no pix), crisp mornings. Pretty soon the mosquitos will die off, and I am here for that.

(I’m reminded of a friend of mine, Uhura, who once said that some days she’s just grateful for her favorite preserves on the morning toast. We find what we can.)

That’s my gratitude

 

©2025 Bas Bleu