The Economist 2026 Cover

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Slightly different cover, white background: 

Cover analysis:

The Economist: Tom Standage’s ten trends to watch in 2026. A letter from the editor of The World Ahead.

“We predict the future, and the best way to predict the future is to invent it."

- The Well Manicured Man. From The X-Files Episode: The Blessing Way 

The Well-Manicured Man introduces himself to Scully and warns her that she is about to be killed, either by someone she knows or by two men who will kill her at her home and dump the gun there.  

Christmas Leftovers.

Reruns from the past: 

 

The dogs at this shelter in Tennessee are allowed to choose their own favorite toy for Christmas:

No Audio 🔽 

 

⏬ Shamelessly stolen from Phil. 

🎄

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wishing ALL a Blessed MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(Early risers post)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! 

To All who find some reason to visit this blog once in a while, Thank You. May your Christmas be Blessed. 

Remember those separated from their loved ones - for whatever reasons - especially deployed U.S. Troops. Merry Christmas. May God watch over them and their families every single moment. God Bless You! 

For those experiencing this holiday alone, or for the first time without someone special in their lives, remember the good memories and hold onto them because those are the moments that matter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!

Ave Maria - Luciano Pavarotti. 

Tuesday's Friday Morning Music Video

"Hark The Herald Angels Sing" performed by Ella Fitzgerald, from 1967's Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas .

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE DAY! 

Santa via NORAD

NORAD covers Santa's trip. Trip, beginning Far East and working his way westward, around the world, starting soon.

Check the bottom of their home page for the music. It's your basic operation; 'play', adjust volume and toggle ahead (as often as you like) and toggle back: 

Tuesday's Friday Morning Music Video

No music video this morn. You may want to Increase your (main) audio output before playing clip, it's audible, just recorded at a low volume. Alice Cooper talks Jesus Christ. 

Spy cockroaches; Germany plots the future of warfare.

al-Reuters (July 2025): Spy cockroaches and AI robots: Germany plots the future of warfare.  

Some of the ideas under development feel akin to science fiction – like Swarm Biotactics' cyborg cockroaches that are equipped with specialised [sic] miniature backpacks that enable real-time data collection via cameras for example.

Electrical stimuli should allow humans to control the insects' movements remotely. The aim is for them to provide surveillance information in hostile environments - for example information about enemy positions.

"Our bio-robots - based on living insects - are equipped with neural stimulation, sensors, and secure communication modules," said CEO Stefan Wilhelm. "They can be steered individually or operate autonomously in swarms.

How'd I miss this story in July? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Monday's Friday Morning Music Video

"Bye Bye Love" by The Cars, from 1978's The Cars. 

Epstein Files There! Then Gone! Unredacted to Redacted.

CBS News: Over 500 pages in Epstein files were entirely blacked out, CBS News finds. 

AP: At least 16 files have disappeared from the DOJ webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

At least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department’s public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public.

The Mirror: Donald Trump's Justice Department quietly deletes only photo of him from Epstein files dump. 

The photo was included in the disclosure which went live on Friday evening, but had been removed from both the website links and downloadable zip file at some point on Saturday.

 AP: Calls to impeach AG Bondi grow after Epstein file omissions spark bipartisan outrage. 

DO IT! IMPEACH HER!  

We can only guess who and why OrangeJewlius is protecting. It could be anybody. 🤣 Anybody! 

But it's not. We know. A long list of Saturians.

Timepiece Assembly.

Talk about talent and skill, working with such tiny gears and components. Impressive. Well worth the watch (no pun intended). FULL SCREEN MODE.

Sunday

78-year old multimillionaire says "raise retirement age"; calls for tax hikes.

Breitbart: RINO Romney Calls for Tax Hikes, Raising Retirement Age. 

Yes, we are living longer. Life expectancy has increased six years since 1980, but that doesn’t mean that those six additional years add up to prime working years. It’s not like your physical clock rewinds and now a 65-year-old is as spry as a 59-year-old. For many, those additional six years are linger years, six more years of being really old, frail, and sickly. For many, 70 is not the new 60. Rather, 70 is still 70, but instead of dying at 79, you die at 85.

So is it really fair to increase the retirement age? We live 12 years longer today than we did in 1950 when the average retirement age was 66. Should the retirement age reflect that? Should we be required to work until we’re 78 years old?

I don’t think so.

Mittens...just another AIPAC tool. 

Romney, since at least 2010: "Iran has nuclear weapons...SQUAAAAAWK...Iran has nuclear weapons...SQUAAAAAWK..Iran has nuclear weapons...SQUAAAAAWK..."

Friday Morning Music Video

"Best Place I've Ever Been" by World Party, from 2000's Dumbing Up.  

Well, that was fast.

Bye, Bye Bongino.  

NPR: FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he will step down in January. 

Heeeeeeeey Dan-O, wut habbened to "ALL THE PERP WALKS" you had lined up for us? 

Turst Teh Plan!

Thursday's Friday Morning Music Video

"Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones, from 1981's Tattoo You. 

More Cherry Squishees, Please!

Simpsons Wiki: Squishee.

The Squishee (sometimes spelled Squishy or Squishie) is a frozen drink, supposedly unhealthy, sold at the Kwik-E-Mart. 

Click on (some) images for better viewing and pressing Ctrl and + sign is your eyesight fren! 

More debunking Teh Narrative after the PageBreak 🠟 

Wednesday's Friday Morning Music Video

"If You Dare" by AC/DC, from 1990's The Razors Edge.

An over-looked gem? I think so. Brian Johnson's voice with perfect intrinsic laryngeal muscle range and control.

Tuesday's Friday Morning Music Video

"It Is Time" by World Party, from 1997's Egyptology. 

Rob Reiner and wife stabbed to death.

NBC News: Rob Reiner's son Nick arrested and booked on suspicion of murder in parents' deaths.

I never cared for Reiner's self-righteous, loud, obnoxious, divisive, one-sided political raging at all. Not. One. Bit. And I've posted on it, belittled him and mocked him.

But for Fat Orange to say, "Rob Reiner died from severe TDS," is beneath the underbelly of contempt.

Mister "NO NEW WARS" has us poised for battle against Iran, Venezuela; add now Syria AND potentially Columbia, all on the behalf of his Puppet Master Netanyahu and Israel.

In addition to this behavior, I ask you, WHEN has a U.S. President attacked members of their OWN PARTY the way Fat Orange went after MTG and Thomas Massie? NEVER! When has a president campaigned against their own party with such venom and animosity as Trump's treatment AGAINST MTG and Massie? Again, NEVER.

No diss to my Blogroll and Links, (and those who link here), I know some remain MAGA-loyalists. I get it, I do. 

All I ask is this: That you remember that I would apply the SAME STANDARD to Biden, Obama, W Bush, Clinton, etc and anyone else in politics or the public eye. I shouldn't have to say it as often as it seems I do: I equally apply everyone to the same standard. 

I've already decided I'm not voting next year, but I wouldn't at all mind seeing Dems overwhelmingly win back both House and Senate and ride Fat Orange like the 2 shekel whore that he is. 

I'm not the only one disappointed by Fat Orange and his RINO cucks.

* The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research is considered a reliable and credible polling organization. It is rated as "Least Biased" with "High Factual" reporting based on its polling accuracy and minimal bias, according to Media Bias/Fact Check

Overall, AP-NORC demonstrates high credibility through transparent methodology, academic affiliation, and consistent use in reputable media reporting.

Friday Morning Music Video

"Beautiful Dream" by World Party, from 1997's Egyptology. 

👍

Karl Wallinger (World Party).

Maybe not a household name, far more recognized in the UK than the U.S. One of the finest musicians and influential names of our contemporary music. He mostly played all instruments on all of WP's albums. He wasn't with us long enough. 

Are they wrong?

If so, leave a comment with details. Thanks! 

Video 1; Time: 1:43

Video 2; Time: 1:09

Video 3; Time: 1:54

Thursday's Friday Morning Music Video

"Feed My Frankenstein" by Alice Cooper, from 1991's Hey Stoopid. 

VP Vance proposes chipping away at 1A.

By eliminating the numbers 6 and 7. 

HuffPoo: JD Vance Rails About Viral Trend After Son Goes ‘Absolutely Nuts’ In Church.

    The vice president riffed on making a "narrow exception to the First Amendment."

    [.]

    It’s likely Vance was being tongue-in-cheek with his posts.

    But his parenting style and commentary on free speech have drawn scrutiny before. 

Had this been stated by former VP Harris, the Right and Conservatives would be screaming from the rooftops about "Free Speech." Even if Harris said it as a joke. Not hearing much from the Right on what J.D. said. 

One-hundred and SIX, SEVEN thousand three-twenty four? Oh! Teh Irony! 🤣 

Will the new way of counting numbers be: five, five-plus one, five-plus two, eight? Nothing would surprise me. 

6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven. 6,7. 6,7. Six. Seven. Six. Seven.

Meanwhile,  Sec of State Little Marco is busy banning font styles. He has nothing more important to do? 

47 ain't no 45 and this Admin sucks and cucks for its Puppet Masters. 

Wednesday's Friday Morning Music Video

You Wear It Well by Rod Stewart, from 1972's Never a Dull Moment. 

A comment at  teh You Tube video caught my eye:

That snare sound. You would not record drums like that now, but its perfect here.

Yes! The snare in this song is solid AF! Depending on the band/artist, a snare would work today, I think. 

What about Venezuela?

Glad you aksed. It doesn't have so much to do with with drugs, smuggling or cartels. Orange Blimp is, again, doing the dirty work for his Masters. 

Asif, Part 1:

Asif, Part 2:

Venezuela also has oil. Lots of it! It still is the world’s largest proven oil reserve. 

I guess OrangeJewlius didn't consult with his owners before he made his campaign promise to the AMERICAN PEOPLE of, "no more and NEW wars."

You don't have to dig too deep to notice who his handlers are.   

I'm glad I didn't vote in November 2024. (MrsD voted early). I'd planned on voting on Election Day, but we had some family matters back then that were more important than me voting.  

In related news: RT: Israel to spend $729 Million to help fix it's tarnished image. Good luck! Too many have NOTICED. 

Bad PR for Israel? I can't imagine what spurred this on. 

I wonder how much of that $729M is from U.S. taxpayers? 

Tuesday's Friday Morning Music Video

"Can't Take My Eyes off You" performed by Bad Manners, from 2003's Stupidity. 

MAYHEM!!! At the coffee shop! (VIDEO)

Oh! Teh Drama! 

 VIDEO:

"No arrests were made."  WTF? 

She was promised this coffee over 3,000 years ago! 🤣😎 

Marksmanship! (VIDEO)

VIDEO (full screen best view) 🠋:

The problem in the U.S. isn't Islam...

...You've been conditioned to think that way. It's the other group.

After they diminish 1A/Free Speech, they will work at diminishing 2A (they are already chipping away at 2A). You don't think so? Fine. Then sit there like a malignant lump watching it happen. Don't doubt me on this.

2.4% of U.S. is Jewish.

1.0% of U.S. is Muslim. (ADDED: Alt AI states 1.34%).

We're led to believe that 2.4% of the population is such a small number that they can't possibly influence our country or government, but 1.0% can and does? Stop believing the gaslightng, Wake TF Up and NOTICE.

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Monday's Friday Morning Music Video

"Ship of Fools" covered by Lazlo Bane,  from 2021's Someday We'll Be Together.

Original "Ship of Fools" by World Party HERE. 

Pearl Harbor, December 7.

National Day: Day of Remembrance.

Time and Date: December 7 - Pearl Harbor.

On Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, the American Army and Navy base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The attack came as a surprise to the American Army and Navy and lead to great losses of life and equipment. More than 2000 American citizens were killed and more than 1000 were injured. The Americans also lost a large proportion of their battle ships and nearly 200 aircraft that were stationed in the Pacific region.

Mercury News (via Archive): Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day — just three survivors of the USS Arizona remain.

The three remaining USS Arizona survivors are Don Stratton, Lou Conter and Ken Potts.

Don Stratton was 19 at the time of the attack.

Lou Conter was 20 during the attack.

Ken Potts was 20 during the surprise attack.

The USS Arizona Memorial

Reader's Digest: A Powerful Firsthand Account of What Really Happened at Pearl Harbor.

It has been said that when an old person dies, it is like a library burning down. For the past 75 years, I have tried to share what I remember of World War II, but a day will come when I can no longer speak. Then what will become of everything I experienced on December 7, 1941? That’s why I wrote this account.