caucus99percent

free-range politics, organic community

Afternoon folks!

This week we've got some great Chicago blues starting out with an album from harmonica player Snooky Pryor, followed by an album from Hubert Sumlin, Willie Dixon, Sunnyland Slim and Clifton James. After that we've got an album from one of Muddy Waters' guitar players (who also later backed up Magic Slim) John Primer. After that we change gears for a live album from guitar wizard Danny Gatton and then we go way out in left field to finish up with an album of prog rock from Godley & Creme.

Enjoy the tunes and have a great weekend!

Good morning, good people!

I hope you have a nice weekend planned!

I wrote about my neighbor/client/friend who spent her who 86 years of life ropin' and riden', and cattle ranching. Her published obit quoted her saying "The best seat I ever had was my saddle".

I will attend her viewing this afternoon.

But days later, another neighbor/friend/client, age 40, died by suicide. Maybe. She was thrilled about her son overcoming his drugs use and quitting school to run away, only to return home, great positive change, set to graduate 4 days prior to her suicide by hanging. The reformed son, her pride and joy, found her hanging in the closet. Oh, and her daughter's wedding is this week.

Now, if you think that is somehow "off", you start reminding me of me. It is possible her depression from separating from her second husband sent her to the dr. for SSRIs. They have a way of repairing depression by sending you to suicide.

We shall see.

I was her divorce attorney back in the day, and got her custody of her son and daughter. I would never have gone in if I thought she would ever hurt her kids. Yet another justification for me to walk away from family law, which I have this month. Her kids, especially her son, will never be able to forget this. Their lives are forever diminished, if not ruined.

As for good news, the fledgling red headed woodpecker finally figured out that in order to pick at the feeder and get a seed, peck at the holes, not the mesh wire. He is not retarded! I am so proud!

As for Cornyn and Paxton, I hate Paxton, hate Cornyn more. But, I am no fan of Talarico and think he is a nut. Under vote, come November.

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 an uneventful week here in the lower left. Mostly gray overcast skies. We did see the sun for a few hours Wed afternoon and yesterday morning. Also got a little bit of rain overnight three times this week. The price of gas has held steady at $5.79 where I fill up but I have noticed other stations have gone over $6. Some are closing in on $6.50. On the bright side ground beef was $1 a pound less than the last time I was at the grocery store. A small economic victory but I'll take my victories wherever I can get them these days.

Some more sights from the San Diego Botanical Garden.

It's been a while. I hope I remember how to do this.

Ten months ago, on August 4, 2025, I had a large rectal mass discovered during a colonoscopy. At that time the doctor that performed the colonoscopy also took a biopsy. Two days later I got the word, it was malignant.

On August 13, I had an MRI that showed what I was up against. The tumor was 8 centimeters long (3.15 inches), anything over 5 centimeters is considered large. It was classified as as Stage 3c, an advanced cancer. There were also two or three local lymph nodes, right outside of the rectal wall, that were also suspicious looking. But luckily that was the extent of it, it hadn't spread to any organs or any other part of my body.

The first doctor I talked with after the MRI was my surgeon. After viewing the MRI results he told me because of the precarious position it was in that I would have to have surgery to remove the tumor and several lymph nodes and subsequently, a permanent colostomy. He was pretty confident of his analysis.

That was pretty much a bummer prognosis.

Special Relationship 2.0?

No! No new 'special relationship' between the US and Israel. NO. We aren't having it! And get rid of the old 'special relationship'!

We shouldn't be fooled by Netanyahu supposedly calling for an end to US aid to Israel. It's just a bait and switch, as this article on our new special relationship points out. Instead of the huge amount of money the US sends to Israel, TPTB will do this:

What emerges is a plan to continue aid to Israel in a different form. Instead of sending money to Israel, which they have to spend with American corporations, Congress would appropriate money for joint development and production projects instead. This can be presented as an investment in American jobs in partnership with Israel rather than as taxpayer assistance to a foreign government.

Gah! The US's and Israel's actions make me wanna puke at times...

Born yesterday, 100 years ago

The TV political ads are jamming the airwaves. Most obtrusive election season that I have ever experienced. It is profoundly depressing to absorb the noise -- as all the Democratic candidates are running against Trump while the sliver of GOP ads all inform the viewer that the candidate supports Trump and his wars against Iran and the Dumocrats.

So even here in Blue California, Trump is the focus.