So weird, so wacky, but also so groovy, and jaw-dropping wonderment at the lead singer:

The Newbeats Bread & Butter

YouTube video by Goodeez Oldeez

youtube.com

My only ancient Greek joke: A guy walks into a tailor shop and hands the tailor a pair of ripped trousers. "Euripedes? the tailor asks the customer. "Yeah," says the customer. "Eumenedes?" Told to me by my brother-in-law, who grew up on W. 22nd St. in Manhattan, the Greek District. Figures.

Please be aware of this addition to my substack post at the end of each month: jeffcox120.substack.com/p/to-my-subs...

To My Subscribers:

Since the President has shown his middle finger to those around the world who admired this country, as well as seriously damaged the institutions that have made America a source of scientific, medical...

jeffcox120.substack.com

The Rule of Law is worth a lot more than the paper it's written on. check it out: jeffcox120.substack.com/p/the-rule-o...

THE RULE OF LAW

A Reminder of Why We Submit To Words on Paper

jeffcox120.substack.com

As a lifelong Yankees fan, I have no love for the Dodgers--as a team. But I am pleased that MLB has banned the Angels' first baseman from the league forever because of a dirty hit on Shohei Ohtani that caused him to hit the ground hard. Beat the Dodgers on the scoreboard, not with dirty play.

Quote of the Day: A.I. is made in the image of man, but man is made in the image of God. --Bret Stephens, NY Times

A story in the NY Times says "Yuppies" was a term applied to young, urban professionals in the 1980s. Sorry to disagree, but the real genesis of the term is simple. Hippies--Yippies --Yuppies. From the 1960s into the 70s.

So the majority of Virginians who voted last week for the legislature to be able to redistrict for fair elections have just been told by a Virginia Supreme Court that their vote doesn't count, and the Supreme Court will say what's what. That ain't democracy my friends. That's partisan autocracy.

The only way our government works is if both parties agree on our founding principles and then argue to details of left and right policies. But without agreement on these principles, our country will fall apart: the rule of law, equal opportunity, due process, and free, unfettered speech.

MAGA Republicans have abandoned our founding principles. They support a man who ignores our rule of law (the Constitution), who uses our government's powers for self-aggrandizement and to attack his enemies, funnels tax breaks to his friends, and sics his police state goons on ordinary citizens.

Katie Porter is not only by far the best candidate for governor, she represents how opposing views should represent the same goal: a living wage for all. Folks can disagree on tactics, but the patriotic strategy of both parties should be a wholesome, working America!

"The church that stays silent, when children die, to protect its image has no image worth protecting." Pope Leo XIV

Headline in today's NY Times: "Trump Attacks Pope Leo as Too Liberal and ‘Weak on Crime’" Yay! Trump asserts moral superiority over the Pope. Hey Donald, that Jesus guy was pretty skanky, too. Now tell all the Catholics they can go to hell. Hahahahaha.

What's authentic anymore? Here's an idea:

AUTHENTICITY

Why Are Great Things Authentic?

jeffcox120.substack.com

Trump's family and friends have made billions of dollars from corrupt practices. Why haven't they been stopped? Because all three branches of the Federal Goverment have failed us. Trump's branch has neutered the Dept. of Justice and FBI. Congress refuses to act. And Court orders are ignored.

I was born in 1940 and heard rock n roll come in. Some people think today's songs are nutty, but they have no idea of just how nutty rock was when it was invented. How about this little ditty from the mid-1950s: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIoD...

VEE-JAY~306 - Sheriff & The Ravels - Shombalor

YouTube video by rockaboprecords

youtube.com

In the midst of all this crazy shit, let's not forget that there was once among us an exceptional talent named Amy Winehouse. One like her comes along very very rarely.

I see that the Trump Fed is paying like $120 million for warehouses worth $15 million to use as ICE prisons. So who are the sellers? And are they kicking back huge overpayments to Trump? I wouldn't bet against it.

In my latest substack post I consider gratitude and what it does for us and to us. Check it out: jeffcox120.substack.com/p/gratitude

What pisses me off about the Trump administration and its boxcar full of half-wits is its utter contempt for the intelligence of the American people. They brazenly lie, cover up and commit crimes, and befoul the Constitution and expect us to eat this shit sandwich and think it's chocolate pudding..

‪It's a shame Sinners didn't win best picture because it was without a doubt the best picture. In fact, one of the best pictures I've ever seen. It has the verisimilitudes of real life: pain, history, context, humor, art, meaning, authenticity, humanity, and unpredictable creativity.

Trump treats our srongest allies (Canada, Denmark, France, etc.) like he's their overlord and now can't figure out why they aren't joining his call to arms in Iran. It's because they are returning your "fuck you," Donald. Plus a big helping of "up yours."

No matter whether you think the March 28th protest against Trump is too soft or not strong enough or whatever, GO! Go anyway. The bigger the crowds, the more community is formed. GO! The more non-violent, the more distance we put between Trump's cruelty and us. We the People are disgusted. GO!

"Personal meanings usually die with us unless they have enough universal importance to cross the line into the culture. And for that to happen, our personal meanings and their importance need a vehicle to make the crossing. That’s the role of art." From my substack post at jeffcox120.substack.com

Here's the Big Picture on Iran-US history and the sources and future of the conflict.

Opinion | What Trump Didn’t Know About Iran

nytimes.com

From today's NY Times: "Brendan Carr, the chairman of the FCC, threatened Saturday to revoke broadcasters’ licenses over their coverage of the war with Iran, his latest move in a campaign to stomp out what he sees as liberal bias in broadcasts." So toe the Trump line or lose your license? Egad!

War is death and destruction and deserving of the utmost seriousness of purpose because of it. Trump's "Watch-'Em-Die-Ha-Ha-Ha" approach is only surpassed in lack of humanity by Pete Hegseth's portrayal of a prepubescent boy's imitation of an abusive father. They are a disgrace to this country.

Wars are won by those with the most stone in their baloney. Like most bullies, Trump sounds less like a Commander-in-Chief than a timid weakling who starts crying when his opponent gives him a bloody nose. Work smart with our allies, Donald--oh, that's right, you told them all to get fucked.

There's an unanswered question at the heart of quantum physics: Why do particles only become definitely entangled when they're observed? Maybe because consciousness creates reality, connecting everything to everything else. Particles very far apart are known simultaneously by this consciousness.

Why does Trump act on his own whim instead of following the law? He's told us many times: He's convinced himself he has the most brilliant mind on earth. Only he can fix it, whatever it is. His decisions are not to be gainsaid. He's the best, the most, the deepest thinker, he can do "the weave."