Grateful Dead

The only good Bunny is ...Bad Bunny!

....slated for October 18th.
I highly advise that everyone attend their local group. Amazon sells phone protectors made by Faraday that blocks RFID signals and jams signals btw for under twenty bucks.
Turn out here in June was impressive. I expect double the attendance.
MAGA mad because Bad Bunny cancelled his US tour due to ICE raids and military in the streets. Dude has a lot of fans and is Puerto Rican. AKA American. Reminds me of Taylor Swift. Who also has a lot of fans, is American and pissed off MAGA because trump said they should.

Goodall was one of my heros, compassion and sensitivity across species. 10/18 No Kings on my lips enjoin many friends.As if we need more, 2+2=5 movie is about to drop, Bad Bunny at half time. Lutnick spills the beans on Epstein, oops.

Hey PF, I saw Jane Goodall speak at Bumbershoot, '99 at McCaw Hall, it fucking was awesome, life changing. You there by chance?

...."President Donald Trump said he would meet Thursday with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought—one of the authors of the conservative Project 2025 plan to radically reshape the government—to decide where to make cuts as he seeks to take advantage of the federal government shutdown.

Trump, posting to Truth Social, said the Vought meeting will "determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent."
I would say I told you so, but I'm tired boss and I'm sick of trying to explain the obvious to stupid people.

The twins were 2 yo, so I was preoccupied

We are ALREADY IN a Post-Constitutional 'order'

No Kings

Be there

Show that muthurphuqr we reject him and his bullshit

Looks like they are going to take another wrecking ball to the Government during the shutdown. What could possibly go wrong? They are openly discussing targeting blue states for job cuts and projects to gut. Congress, not the Executive Branch, is granted the power to make these changes. Unless, as Mel Brooks famously once said, it's good to be the king. Now where is that piss boy when you need him - And don't forget to wait for the shake.

______________________________

Do a search on Schoolhouse Rock No More Kings. It turned 50 a few days ago. This little video from ABC certainly did age well. Remember when we cared, remember when we tried to do the right thing? It wasn't that long ago. I blame Gordon Gekko.

Can be a sign of high intelligence

Can be the mark of a fool.

Maybe it depends how serious it is. My neighbour always makes me smile when he kicks off if someone parks their car outside his house. He was born in that house you know - and now he can't park outside his own front door ! T'ain't right at all.
Always dangerous to crack a smile at a funeral.

Yes, a person can be smart in some ways and "dumb" in others because intelligence isn't a single, monolithic trait. People can have deep expertise in one field while lacking common sense or knowledge in another, and even the smartest individuals can make mistakes or act foolishly when under stress, lacking experience, or making assumptions.

I've spent my life warning people that this day was coming. I was meet with mountains of ignorance that still goes on too this day, and it's just like any other day... I have been pretty serious about things.

PS, most if not all those people voted fo....

How many beans make three. 🤔

Megachurch founder Robert Morris pleaded guilty for child sex abuse. In another video I saw a very pationate religious young man said he will do everything in his power to defeat the democrats who are bringing our country too hell.

....It wasn't a drag queen but another usual suspect? I'm shocked.
Watching videos from Portland and Chicago. Very troubling.

Once that's established, we can return to our regularly scheduled futures.

So, October 18 my friends.

I am taking some pleasure in seeing the crew returning to this forum. And I had been exercising my paranoia figuring that TPTB had Jimmy Kimmel'd this place.

Wrong again, on that particular point. But it's good to remember that, in terms of the "externalities," shall we say, you're not paranoid if it's true.

That said, it ain't over til the fat lady sings, so I'm marching, voting, speaking my mind.

Greetings all, HF

P.S. So I have to add that I'm all in favor of the military getting involved to combat the "enemy within." I look forward to a seige of the White House and the arrest and trial of the Traitor-in-Chief. I hope using caps on that title means I'm being respectful, marye. My thanks to our faithful and tolerant moderator...

DUDE! Long time no see. Hope all is well. Great to hear from you again.

....I haven't capitalized trumps name in years.
Saw a video of ICE in Chicago rappelling down from a Blackhawk helicopter and kidnapping and zip-tying kids in an apartment building, some not clothed, and thrown into vans.
Now, I'm not much of a tin foil wearing type of person, but disappearing naked children?
Makes me wonder.

Everything under the Sun is in tune.... Everyone be careful out there!

Time warped into the future with the new website. It's so refreshing to be greeted with a more relaxed where are you. Scrolling is so much fun! ....but how much fun can I have knowing what's going on in this cuntry? Vguy72 I'm sick to my stomach. The blood curdling screams are haunting. Retreating to the good 'ole Grateful Dead has been a grate mental crutch for me in these dark times. Wedged in with Brent these days. It's been good. I haven't posted in ages. However I do read all of your comments, and I check in often. I appreciate you more than you know. Be well all.

Is to continue to pursue a positive mental attitude in the midst of the horror. This is a challenge. It might sound trite, but music is one force that helps me. Specifically, I just started drumming lessons and got a 5-piece kit, adding to my pursuit of guitar skills. Just working out on the rudiments helps get me an hour or two of peace. Like tripping, the key for me is to take the strength and peace from the experience and bring it to help others or just to maintain that PMA as we figure out how to end or at least badly hobble the madness.
Just thought I'd share what positivity I have to offer this rascally gang of ours. Just reconnecting with y'all here is a positive thing. Thanks again, marye!
Paz, HF

Oh Donnie, please believe me
I'll never do you no harm
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm
Oh Donnie, if you leave me
I'll never make it alone
Believe me when I beg you
Don't ever leave me alone
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well, you know I nearly broke down and cried

Oh Donnie, When you told me you didn't need me anymore
Well, you know I nearly fell down and died

....cliff notes version You can be detained for even thinking about doing something they don't approve of.
Thats the textbook definition of fascism.
And it was sharpied on Sept 25th.
My avatar is doing some heavy lifting people.

Orwell just got the date wrong by 41 years > These guys fit right in with what he wrote in '1984'. It's sickening, to say the least ...

....if you asked 30 year old me, "Vince. Will measles ever make a comeback in the US?", I would have laughed at you and asked what you were smoking.
Apparently, you were totally sober.
Face it. This is up vs down. Not left vs right.

On September 14, 2001 P. Bush stood with a bullhorn at the WTC Site, and declared "If you're not with us your against us" I new what he meant! They been at war since then! It was "Democrat policy" and Liberal idiology was responsible for 9/11...

First, Never underestimate the power of humor. Why do you think they are targeting the joke makers first?

Second, on the Senator's comments about South Carolina, I would like to commend the residents and leadership of SC for embracing diversity and welcoming all the new kids with freckles to their schools this fall. It warms my heart to see people embrace diversity with such open arms and genuine affection. A friendly tip of the hat. (sorry, more satire)

Protest the release of the Epstein files?

It's the one that really makes them sweat!

....to stressful situations for certain people.
I've been leaning into it more lately.

Next he'll ban toys?

This guy never got unconditional love... which he demands from everyone else though force if needed.

He is the Burgermeister. Too Funny.

or perhaps Baron Bomburst in the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And except for that full head of hair, Steven Miller would make an excellent, sinister child catcher. Replace that covered jail on a wagon used in the movie with the makeshift cages they build to house children separated from their parents inside the border detention facilities during the first administration. An Abominable action that will not age well, another dark moment in our past.

In the movie, Baron Bomburst was played by German actor Gert Fröbe who also played Gold Finger in the James Bond film. Too weird, they are both inflatulated with gold. We can turn this whole unfortunate affair into a great Disney movie when (and importantly if) this nightmare ever ends.

He just dubbed himself the peace president?? :-0

It can also be a natural response to the inherent absurdity in...everything.

I have binged 2 1/2 men episodes watched some many times since January it gets me through. Of course so does the dead phish and billy strings. VOTE VOTE VOTE

Bullseye! The only thing I can't joke about is ... The Grateful Dead. Nothing absurd going on there? That's some serious chitty chitty bang bang!? I watch a lot of sitcoms they have been all over the absurdities for years.

Fourwinds - for the first time I have just started watching that Long Strange Trip film. I have just seen the first 3 episodes, and there is a sense of foreboding as 1972 draws to a close. But one off the things Jerry repeatedly emphasises at the beginning is that having fun was one of the main reason for starting and carrying on with The Dead

I think there's a great Jerry quote in there somewhere that I cannot remember word for word. Jerry was sitting around with I think either Weir or Phil (or both) laughing hysterically at themselves and Jerry said something to the effect of, "No, this Rock and Roll is not the thing, we are here for the comedy. The band is just a ruse until the comedy thing starts paying"
__________________________________

One thought about American Philanthropy.
___

Embedded in the current administrations bumbling tariff policy that infuriates all and helps few, China has decided to buy Soybeans from Brazil and Argentina. Thanks to a $20 billion dollar stabilization fund for Argentina (because, well, why shouldn't we support every last wannabe, DOGE supporting, chainsaw yielding, completely insane dictator with giangantic Dictator-worthy sideburns) Argentina temporarily suspended it's export tax on soybeans to China. You see where this is going, this allowed them to compete on price and undercut our exports. You see, Argentina used financial aid to temporily at least freeze taxes on soybeans and secure a large export deal with China freeing up their need to buy Soy from the US. Make sense?

So my point, we are likely about to pay farms to plow their crops under because, well, some dictators love tariffs. Why not pay the farmers not to plow them under but to harvest the soybeans and fill up some of those USAid warehouses and feed some of the poor in Gaza and Africa. Or on Earth 2, we could just plow them under the ground and pay farmers not to produce. Your call.

Edit: I could have tripped over DaveRocks comment. I'm not sure where I saw that Jerry comedy statement, could have been long strange trip, could have been something around the Dead Ahead film, it all rolls into one. In any case, good discussions.

First the Good. The gift that keeps on giving, NASA. Estimates vary, one conservative estimate states that for every dollar spent on NASA and space technology, we get a $3 return in the form of economic growth. How? Spinoff technologies like scratch resistant lenses, cordless tools, solar cells LEDs, cochlear implants, water filtration technology, anti-fog lenses, memory foam, GPS, etc. The list is long.

The Bad.

The current administration is recommending a 47% budget cut to NASA. This as China has planned an aggressive expansion in it's space efforts. They are going crazy.. (one country gathers what another one spills). Nothing wrong with that I guess, but this is not good for democratic nations (well, us). It's just stupid. I can think of one person, an oligarch, one of the richest people on earth perhaps, that will benefit greatly. One of the few that thinks a cyber truck looks sporty.

There's an old adage, never outsource something of stragic significance to your well being.

And the Ugly. Well.. Stephen Miller has already been mentioned in previous threads. The Darth Vader of modern politics.

It seemed to me a lot the experience of weed and psychedelics was absurd. I used to find it hard to stop laughing when I first had a toke, in my mid teens, going out into the outside world. The simplest question used to have me in hysterics. And the more seriously people presented themselves, the more comical they appeared.

I think absurdity showed itself up in the early days of The Dead most. Bob Weir suggesting they record heavy air during the Anthem sessions.
It's never occurred to me before, but quite a few bands I have liked most over the years didn't always take themselves too seriously. Thinking of Hawkwind, Gong and The Cramps for example.

Interesting comment, the bands you mentioned are all good and there's a creative thread that runs through them.

There's one thing I have learned in my 60 trips around the sun.. never take yourself too seriously. Sometimes the more I tried for something the further away it became. But enough about women.. back to music and telling the hippies to get off my grass.

Who knew back when we were in theaters watching the original Star Wars trilogy, that about 1/3 of the audience was secretly rooting for Palpatine and Vader. Either that, or WTF happened to those people in the succeeding years to warp their world view?

The Chicago apartment raid in the news is terrifying. Let's for argument's sake, concede that the government has the right to capture and deport people in the country illegally. As far as the constitution is concerned, that does not give the government the right to break into apartment complexes, full military-style like breaking down doors in Baghdad c. 2004, grabbing US citizens out of their apartments, trashing their property and detaining them for hours-- for the offense of happening to live in the same apartment building as some people in the country illegally. Every person who has been illegally detained should be suing the government for abuses.

Where are all the 2nd Amendment gun rights nuts, flying their Don't Tread On Me flags, worried about government overreach? This is it, right here, the perfect opportunity to protect the country from that evil government trying to take away rights?

Lastly, when will the media wake up? Alarm should be blaring from every non-propaganda news outlet.

The orange turd cannot have missed all the massive demonstrations against the Israeli genocide of the Palestinians. This will surely enrage him and he will almost certainly be thinking about ways that he can punish these countries for thinking differently from him. More tariffs? What else have you got, Donnie?

Good points. It's hard to remotely spin this to be legal, as for ethical.. I think they had people rappel from black hawk helicopters onto the apartment buildings in question. I think the argument is the building was full of Tren de Aragua gang members. I question full of vs. a more likely reality. We'll see. Still, no due process here. I have not seen the word search warrant mentioned and again they are separating children from parents while they figure things out when there is no clear violation of the law for many doors that were opened and residents removed. This is not who we are, this is different, and it cannot stand.

One turn of events, a Trump appointed judge blocked use of Oregon National Guard for protests. They tried to bring in the California National Guard, and an emergency stay was placed late last night to block that.

Two things seem obvious. 1) they are using the National Guard to block protests, not to reduce violent crime and 2) The aggressive tactics they are using will likely, eventually, lead to an eruption of violence. I believe this is the important part of their strategy as once violence erupts they will again likely use this to expand their footprint and up their game, i.e. violence begets more violence.

So be careful out there folks.. demonstrations are getting to them but do not let things erupt to violence. That would play right into their plans.

Yes.. Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, Emporer Palpatine (aka S. Miller).. lions and tigers and bears, oh my. I bet you could draw many parallels to J. R. R. Tolkien also. It certainly feels like the battle for middle earth has begun. Where is Gandolf, er um Bolo when you need him?

Weed, psychedelics, and The Deads Music and Songs was never absurd to me I always thought if there was a joke there it was on the "real world" hahaha... I was blind all the time I was learning too see! The Dead opened my eyes wide!

I think we are probably saying the same thing, but from a different perspective ! If not it just goes to show how diverse we all are.

...
Beavers never really cared for 'corn dogs' till they saw on the news that they have 'wood' in them....

The Texas National Guard is on the ground in Chicago.

What could possibly go wrong?

It's obvious this is political theater engineered to provoke violence. It's also obvious that this is not legal and anti-democratic, hopefully the courts will strike this down.

This is only a pretext, a mere glimpse into what will likely occur during the next midterm elections unless it is stopped.

This is what authoritarian rule looks like. And it sucks. Be vocal, be safe, follow the law. Stop the steal.

a judge's house (a judge that didn't kiss the ring/suq the dihq) in South Carolina burned down yesterday...cause to be determined

On Capital Hill, the Attorney General testifies. No wrongdoing in Tom Homan's acceptance of $50k in a paper bag by undercover FBI agents, all caught on tape. She wouldn't even answer the question, what happened to the fifty thousand dollars? She said she did not know. Complete BS. She knows or should know.

What was once the Department of Justice has now become the Department of Revenge and Corruption.

Grandstanding, unanswered questions, misleading statements. The entire hearing is a one-sided farce meant to distract and mislead.