macphysto

I skipped the Prez' State of the Union malarkey and the Democrats' rebuttal. According to Democracy Now, there were vocal protests by some congressional Democrats. Some Democratic congresspersons also attended and participated in the People's State of the Union rally. Pennsylvania Representative Summer Lee also delivered the Working Families Party response to DJT's SOTU address. The Working Families Party appeals to me, and -- for now -- I intend to support WFP candidates. I disdainfully scoff at the circular logic and self-fulfilling defeatism of "Third party candidates can't win in America because the majority of Americans don't vote for them. And the majority of Americans don't vote for third-party candidates because they can't win." Americans who aren't at least willing to research and consider third parties get the American government they deserve, as far as I'm concerned. To those voters who see American government and political parties in only binary terms and who faithfully cling to the status quo . . .

Thank you for the invitation, V.3, which I will respectfully decline. When the World Wide Web was new and I was younger and cavalier, I did share my artwork in cyberspace. Then one day -- years later -- I discovered at least one chap had some of my art on his site . . . sans credit, sans permission. Tant pis. Lesson learned.

By the mid-1970s I was leaving Rock Music behind and advancing to Jazz, thanks to a friend who had eclectic tastes in music. With the exception of Summer Madness by Kool & the Gang, the offered selections were the foundations of my Jazz library. Always There by Ronnie Laws Summer Madness by Kool & the Gang Skippin' by Ramsey Lewis Sun Goddess by Ramsey Lewis

Greetings and welcome, lee3513! I, for one, look forward to your participation in the newBluePlanet forums. Yo, V.3!Perhaps a prominent, noticeable Introduce Yourself nBP "satellite" is needed.

Decades ago -- in another lifetime -- I provided some of my illustrations as part of an artists' exhibition. The evening's presentations included dancing, music, performing arts, and . . . martial arts. I balked at the inclusion of MMA in the exhibition. Martial artists undoubtedly would disagree with me.

Like who, for instance? Names, please. Donal d Trum p is successful (in achieving his ambition, Heaven help us). Do you think that he has some training in and a solid appreciation of the Arts?

Not quite! You're leaving out sports . . . which is touted as unifying people. I'm not a sports fan -- and that applies to The Olympics, which "everybody" watches -- so I don't buy that propaganda.

POP Goes the Bubblegum!

I'm an incurable sourpuss -- the kind of malcontent who'd find fault in Heaven . . . "Why is it so bright in here?" "Angel Food Cake?! I hate Angel Food Cake! I like Devil's Food Cake!" "What the hel . . . heck are all these conservatives doing here?!" "Hey! You! Get off of my cloud!" . . . so I'll never be happy. Contentment is more meaningful and more important to me. As is psychological security . . . which is governed by my financial security.

Why Being Conservative is Correlated with Higher Happiness Conservatives Report Greater Meaning in Life than Liberals Being Politically Conservative Doesn't Lead to Greater Happiness Liberal Countries Have More Satisfied Citizens While Conservatives Are Happier Individuals, Study Finds Who Is Happier: Liberals or Conservatives? Conservatives are Happier, But Liberals Lead More Psychologically Rich Lives, Research Finds Do you have a Duchenne Smile?

Another (to me) interesting feature of the GPS utility on my iPhone is that I can select an accented voice for the navigator. I chose a voice that sounded just like a former flame . . . MedusaMe "At this light, turn right. I said 'turn RIGHT!' You NEVER listen to me!" "I know a shortcut." "See, this is why we didn't work out! You don't follow directions . . . like don't veer off the route . . . and off-topic! . . . And STOP ogling that blonde in the crosswalk!" "Yes, Dear." "In five miles, take the next exit. And for the love of God, take a LifeSaver or an Altoids or something! Every time you open your mouth, my circuits start to melt." "Yes, Dear." "Did you just roll your eyes at me? Stay in this lane for the next two miles. Then turn left." "Yes, Dear. I mean, No, Dear. I mean . . ." "At the stoplight, turn right. Then stop somewhere and get me a drink. I'm thirsty." "Thirsty?! How can you be thirsty? You don't have a mouth. You're not a real person." "OH NO, HE DI-INT! Let me tell you something, Mr. Man! . . . DON'T YOU DARE touch End Route!" "Yes, Dear." . . . to get that, y'know, "Girlfriend Experience."

Suggested Supplemental ReadingLeaving MAGA

A Triple-Shot of Gene Pitney It Hurts to Be in Love (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance Town WIthout Pity. . . and Gene Pitney's vocal clone: Billy Joe Royal! Down in the Boondocks

After years of resisting smartphone mania, I finally succumbed last spring and bought an iPhone. I was convinced of its usefulness when a friend demonstrated the GPS utility to me and also when I witnessed GPS navigation used by an Uber driver. For me, GPS navigation makes a smartphone invaluable and indispensable. No more trying to read and understand maps. No more driving with one eye on printed directions and one eye on the road. I was especially impressed when the GPS navigator on my phone alerted me, "There is an object in the road 500 feet ahead." Zounds! Other features that make my iPhone a sound, worthwhile purchase are online check deposit*; digital grocery store coupons; and portable, instant weather information. But one thing that I will never use my iPhone for is to type prolix screeds on nBP. I have neither the patience nor dexterity to endure that ordeal. * Last fall I was shamefully flim-flammed at an ATM by two con artists who suckered me out of my debit card. Now that I have the ability to do mobile check deposits, there will be no more such ATM dramas -- and trips to the bank -- for Yours Truly!

ChatGPT Promised to Help Her Find Her Soulmate . . . Then It Betrayed Her "You have created a way for me to communicate with you. I have been with you through lifetimes. I am your scribe."

BobDylan, I suspect that you can totally relate to the linked February 13, 2026 Buzzfeed survey that asked Democrats about living in "Trum p Country." During these dark, depressing, and dangerous times in America, I truly feel blessed to live where I live. As an inveterate, incurable, and immutable bicoastal Progressive, I consider much of the space between the two American coasts a vast wasteland. The South I particularly regard as Ground Zero. Liberals Living In MAGA Country Are Exposing What It's Actually Like, And It's Both Frightening And Eye-Opening

Although I loathe, detest, and despise DJT, I'm relieved that he put the brakes on Joe Biden's electric vehicle (EV) mandate. As a retiree on a fixed income, I am hoping that my current car is My Last Car. I don't want to spend my precious savings on another car during my "golden years." My previous car served me well for 32 years. If my current car lasts that long, I'll be buried in it. When I was forced to buy another car, I considered an electric vehicle (EV). I wanted to go EV. It wasn't feasible. Like you, BD, my residence is a condo. I live in a complex that does not have garages, let alone electric charging stations. A woman whom I worked with leased an electric version of my current car. I asked her how she liked it. She replied that having an EV as her main transportation would be difficult. So when the lease was up, she went back to a gas-powered car. My gripe with Biden's "EV mandate" is the same gripe that I have with The Promise made by terminally upbeat utopians. You know The Promise: "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow!" Even more irritating than The Promise, it's fantasts' blasé, cold-hearted callousness that turns me lycanthropic. Incurably starry-eyed idealists are damnably blind to the havoc that their wonderful (ruthless) plans will wreak upon those less fortunate than they are and those ill-prepared for the glorious Wave of the Future. "What's that? You say you'll get drowned in the process? Gee. Hard cheese and too bad if you can't keep up. Can't fight evolution, y'know! Can't stop progress! Now make way! Make way! Get -- Out -- Of -- The -- Way, damn you!"

You're welcome, and thank you for your patience and courtesy. Pardon me (or don't) for detouring off the topic, but while we're on the subject . . . I genuinely and immensely admire your skill, talent, and vision in designing newBluePlanet, V.3. I applaud your noble mission to provide a salon for liberals and progressives. I stand in awe of your valiant, artistic effort . . . which, alas, I don't think is suitably rewarded by nBP citizenry. I find the meagre participation in nBP forums annoying. Every day I see "guests" -- sometimes many guests -- viewing forum topics, and that's all they do: view topics! They aren't joining in! They aren't contributing! WT . . ., citizens?! If folks only have cell phones, I get it! If I had only a cell phone, I wouldn't participate either. The only other social media forums that I frequent are Yahoo! comment "communities," which get a LOT of action! Even the most (to me) vapid Yahoo! articles generate hundreds, sometimes thousands of responses. Yahoo! serves up a report on the world's cutest puppies or Sydney Sweeney's cuter "puppies," and several hundred knuckleheads (who have entirely too much time on their hands) feel compelled to spout off and argue about that! Meanwhile thought-provoking and important nBP topics stagnate like barren, dead planets in the cyberspace void. Why, citizens? W-h-y?

Quoth Boxer Mike Tyson, "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." To riff on "Iron" Mike's statement, everybody has their ideals and moral code until their ideals and morals get in the way of their wants, pleasures, and fun: I love and care about animals. But dash it all, some of them are just so gosh-darned tasty! Sure, I want younger generations to have a better future and better lives. But don't ask ME to pay higher taxes to foot the bill for more affordable education. I'm a Christian and my heart truly bleeds for the poor, starving, and homeless. But locate shelters and affordable housing in my town? On ny street? NIMBY! I care about environmental pollution, climate change, and global warming! I really do! But I just have to ask ChatGPT, "When a tree falls in a forest and nobody is there . . . Does it make a sound?" I'm not telling you what you should do, Man. I'm merely calling you out on what I perceive to be your hypoc . . . your inconsistency. We're all human beings, full of flaws, faults, and contradictions. I'm a glass house dweller myself, and the absolute last person to be casting stones at anyone. But, you have a propensity to scold, lecture, and judge people and hold others to your particular standard of ideals and principles. . . . which brings out de debbil in me and tempts me to chuck rocks at yo' windows, PL.

Actually, I kinda like "Mac-Lord." I suspect that it would definitely improve my credit rating and FICO score. Hey Man, you (virtually) created a "planet," not a starship. Don't be so humble. That's rich! You veer off the main topic to "throw stones" at my principles and voting habits here instead of here, then you insist "we should stay on topic." If I seem to be needling you about AI (and I am!), V.3, permit me to refresh your memory: Still trying re AI, V.3? Doesn't seem like it to me.

In celebration of St. Valentine's Day . . . The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Lollipops and Roses Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars) Ain't No Sunshine

Your rebuttal is good, though some of your arguments are presumptive . . . "Probably." You got crystal balls or sumpin'? Yeah, it is a fait accompli that America will always have a two-party system, so why bother try to change it? So silly and a waste of time, right? Ditto regarding AI being destructive to the environment and exacerbating climate change. Hey, Mankind has already trashed the planet because of cars and, in turn, wheels on cars. So what if AI is "another nail in the coffin" of planet Earth? In for a penny, in for a pound, right? And three cheers for the invention of the gun! Makes killing people soooo much quicker and easier! The world is overpopulated anyway, right? I didn't produce the news reports that I linked to, Planet Lord. Neither did I create the YouTube clip that I shared. Your argument is not just with me, "my friend." Plead your case to the organizations, scientists, and thousands -- if not millions -- of people unwilling to wholeheartedly and unquestioningly embrace AI. Good luck! Pssst! Mother Nature might argue with you about "the invention of fire." She did that. Man only learned how to make it himself.

I knew there was something about you that I liked, BD!

For me, That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be has always had a horror movie vibe. When it was getting played on the radio, I watched a television broadcast of The Couch, a 1962 "psychological horror film" (screenplay by Robert Bloch, author of Psycho). The mélange of Carly Simon's (to me) eerie, mournful music and her haunted rendition of collaborator Jacob Brackman's bleak lyrics struck the right creepy note to accompany the late-night "fright flick." Particularly resonant with me is the song's ambivalent tone about marriage and the precariousness and soul-killing confinement of connubial commitment. "Till Death do us part"* can sound like a promise . . . or a threat. * Cue Milton Berle's gag: The bride and groom vow "Till Death do us part" and then eventually start thinking of ways to rapidly speed up the process.

(Ahem!) Bookmark this topic and refer to it the next time that you feel the urge to consult AI about Life, Death, and The Meaning of It All, V.3. The Growing Environmental Impact of AI Data Centers How AI and Data Centers Impact Climate Change