caucus99percent

free-range politics, organic community

Trumped in China

Trump, as usual, did no planning for his trip to China. Xi plays the game Go, Trump plays golf (which is not a strategic game). Nothing of consequence seems to have been accomplished. Perhaps Trump got some positive PR. He's the first president to visit China in over a decade. So far Trump hasn't rekindled the attacks on Iran. If, or when, that happens expect major economic disruption. All that and more below the fold.

Afternoon folks!

There's a mess of great stuff for you all this week starting with a live album from one of Muddy Waters' former guitarists, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson - well worth a listen. Following that is a mid-70's studio album from Clarence Gatemouth Brown and some older recordings from Chicago blues harmonica player Billy Boy Arnold. After that is an album from Chicago blues mandolin player Johnny Young. We finish off the week in the diversity department with a hard rock album from a Welsh band, Budgie.

Enjoy the tunes and have a great weekend!

Good morning, good people! I hope all of you are doing well.

I am winding down my law practice, and when the wife of a PI attorney called me to get a divorce going, I referred her to an attorney friend, declined it. Why? Well, this was a wife married to a PI attorney. My friend I referred her to specializes in rich folks divorces, whereas I do not have rich folks anywhere in my area.

My attorney pal who only takes rich folks divorce cases replied to my call and said he had just watched a video of an exorcism in a deposition. I told him my poor folks cases usually involve sex with pigs, dogs, cattle, etc... Millionaires are different.

JtC went to town and filled up my car at a Shell station within view of the sheriff's office. Turns out some 39 yr old man stuck the gas nozzle into his truck, got back in his truck, was found dead in his truck at least 4 days later. Nobody noticed. Autopsy is required, nice 39 yr old, nice family. JtC went there, filled up my car for me, and was another customer who did not notice.

Would you tapped on the dark tinted window to check on the guy?

Diesel reached $5.00. Food prices are pretty much holding, but shelves are empty here and there.

As we shopped, we were treated to the same music JtC played while preparing dinner last night.

Happy Friday everyone. Welcome to Friday Night Photos your once a week escape from the day to day insanity of the world we live in. Post any photos, memes, music or whatever else you find of interest that helps tune out the madness.

It was a good week this week. The weather has been pleasant. Mostly sunny and 70s. The price of gas and groceries didn't go up. That's a good thing. And I got out twice with the camera. The bird watching group went to Mission Trails Regional Park on Monday (tonight's photos) and the camera club went to the botanical garden yesterday for their annual spring orchid exhibit of which I have 3 dozen photos I need to edit for future editions of FNP.

Black-headed Grosbeak

Morning

Interesting week in the rise and fall cycles of human civilizations. Was this the week the a pivot point for a new direction became clear? Time will tell.

A President CAN be Arrested!

A week or so ago I went down a rabbit hole about speed limits before motorized vehicles. Laws about reckless driving with horses or horse-drawn vehicles existed, dating from Medieval times at least. Colonial America had such limits as well. For example, what was to become New York city had one on galloping horses pulling carts, wagons, or sleighs in 1652.

These limits, on galloping horses, carts, carriages, etc, in cities, were in effect when Ulysses S. Grant was President (and, before that General). And he broke them, in DC, at least. He was arrested twice before becoming President (when he was still 'just' a lieutenant general of the US Army) in 1866. The first time, he drove off after getting the warrant, but showed up and paid the fine a few days later. He was "exercising his fast gray nag".

General Grant and Robert Bonner racing in a carriage in New York in 1868 - From Wikimedia.