What amazing leaves!

This makes me nostalgic for Mood Rings.

My apologies. Formosa was derived from Portuguese in the 1500s and was used by western countries until mid 1900s. Japan called it Taiwan. Indigenous Taiwanese people are the source of South Pacific peoples and culture, including Polynesians. They are unfortunately only 3% of Taiwan's population now.

Taiwan was China's for centuries. Japan seized the island in 1895, calling it Formosa. The US took over in the 1945 defeat of Japan, turning Taiwan into a refuge for China's defeated capitalist-nationalist govt. Defending Taiwan as not-China is as doomed as defending Northern Ireland as not-Ireland.

I am going to get pho today. Thank you. I am saved.

Go on boy play your little solo...

I should mention 95% of my electronic entertainment is audiobooks downloaded from the library. My streaming video consumption averaged 2-4 hours a month total when I canceled services. In short: I know nothing.

Kanopy app and local public library. I killed my Netflix and Amazon streaming. Signed up for both in 1999. Keeping my BritBox subscription for now.

Just dealt with a chatbot that did not know what a web browser is. I told it a web browser was where it currently existed in its interface with customers. It thanked me for the information and said it would pass the feedback along.

Then next quarter they hire everyone back -- except for older folks with higher salaries, anyone "not their sort," the people with children who won't work unpaid overtime, anyone the boss sexually harassed and wants gone...

Since I began working in the 80s, every tech boom is followed by layoffs to fund the tech as well as provide the temporary illusion the tech increased profits. Layoffs is how the average capitalist increases profits in the short term. They do not have the skill or wisdom to do it any other way.

Nixon was prepared to sacrifice the FBI and the CIA to "protect the Presidency." Hate to think what Trump would sacrifice.

Alas, it seems doubtful Trump will ever attract an opportunistic amoral backstabber like John Dean.

I didn't go on a 2nd date once because the dude laughed at my LotR fan club card.

It was my Treebeard action figure that gave it away.

This looks like a fountain grass.

Clinton had "drug planes" shot down in the 1990s. 💩

This is how airplanes turn.

Waiting for them to say they don't see color.

I need this outfit for the Modern Evil Queen activities in my schedule.