Dunno why, but I’ve been thinking a lot recently of Dylan’s “Masters of War”.
He wrote it over 1962-63 and
has gone on the record as saying that the vehemence of the song surprised him.
But it’s every bit as relevant in 2026 as it was 64 years ago. Particularly the final verse.
You’d think we might have
learnt something in the intervening time. But no.
Here’s Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam singing it at the Bob Dylan 30th anniversary concert in 1992.
©2026 Bas Bleu
I had occasion to desire a geographical dictionary for reasons. And I wanted an older one, pre-90s, because I like chancing on the names that existed during the 70 years of the USSR, but changed back to the tsarist times.
So I went to ABE books, which
I’ve patronized for 25 years at least. Found one at a place called Gulf Coast
books, in Texas, and ordered it.
But I was really annoyed to
find that someone put one on of those inventory stickers that doesn’t peel off
easily or cleanly. On a book. And that there was a price tag of $3.00 for it.
Gulf Coast listed the book on ABE at
$5.22.
You’d think they’d at least
have removed that sucker before shipping the book.
©2026 Bas Bleu
As you can see, there’s been a changing of the guard for vacuum cleaning chez moi.
My Kenmore cannister vac, which I bought about 25 years ago when the previous, 30-year-old Kenmore vac died, finally gave up the ghost.
I took it to the local vacuum
repair and sales shop, where the proprietor told me that while it was manufactured
in the US, its heirs are made in China, as are all parts. He said that replacing
the motor wouldn’t be a good investment. I went home to do some research.
Turns out a whole lot of
vacuum cleaners are manufactured in China, with somewhat middling reviews. The
best ones come from Germany, but they are also pricey.
Well, after mulling it over, I
bit the bullet and bought the SEBO from the local guy. With an extra box of
bags, it was over $1000.
It’s smaller than the old one,
and lighter. But it better outlast me.
©2026 Bas Bleu
Two cars parked next to each other at the People’s Republic library branch last week has Things to Say:
The driver of the red car came
out while I was taking pix; she looked like Republicans’ core Democratic enemy
trope—middle aged, grey hair (not blue, tho), dressed for her own comfort.
She’s someone I would
personally not want to piss off.
Didn’t see the other car’s
driver.
©2026 Bas Bleu
Seems like I post annually about how much I love crape myrtles. Because they are truly something I rejoice in; have done ever since I was a child.
So today my gratitude is for this beauty that looks like it’s swaddled by a shrub. Just popping out of the sea of green like a breaching orca in an excess of joy.
©2026 Bas Bleu
