Obviously, there's bigger news happening right now, but Senate Republicans just voted against releasing the Epstein files. Every Democrat voted to release them. Susan Collins was the deciding vote to protect Trump and others named in the files.
Practicing pianist - recovering engineer - pro-democracy - pro rule of law - I just want to treat people with respect and to learn something
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Obviously, there's bigger news happening right now, but Senate Republicans just voted against releasing the Epstein files. Every Democrat voted to release them. Susan Collins was the deciding vote to protect Trump and others named in the files.
More synchronicity - we just heard the James Taylor All Star Band in May - but with Chad Wackerman on drums. What a band - Jimmy Johnson was phenomenal on bass - but no one around us heard that š. They would have if he stopped playing though. What a pocket!!
On another thread - you should follow Carol Kaye on FB. She was one of Wrecking Crew - LA studio musicians that played on everything during the 60s. Here post on Good Vibrations is really good.
Context
My high school band played Soul Sacrifice and Evil Waysā¦ we had a great drummer - I played the screaming organ solos (lol). Actually Santana/Tower of Power was the first concert I attended. Welcome was great - with Tom Coster on keyboards. Radical departure from Santana III
My better angels have their work cut out for them today.
ā¦ we both bowed and in unison said reverently āthe Prestige recordingsā ā Iāll add, with Ahmad Jamal acolyte, Red Garland. Great memory - the weather was much better the next day.
ā¦ I told the waiter that was one of our friendās favorite record. He barely spoke English but said the manager selected the music. As the night went on - late Stan Getz with Kenny Barron ā¦ then Miles I commented to the manager when we were leavingā¦ Milesā¦
We were in Japan a few years ago - typhoon season and it was terrible outside. We went to one of the hotel restaurants that was an āAmericanā hamburger joint with white subway tiles. (We ate at the Japanese restaurant the previous night). The music on the sound system was the Ella and Louis ā¦
The MSNBC commentator saying that most political violence has historically come from the left just once again showed how we suffer from failing to learn history. Lynching, pogroms, race riots, the political violence that ended Reconstruction, and against the Civil Rights Movement. Come on.
ā¦ some transcriptions to work on those block chords and that harmony.
My wife used to work with a woman whose partner was a waiter in Nashville. Winwood frequented that restaurant- and was the nicest person ever. The Traffic song āHeaven is in Your Mindā blew me away way back when. Thanks for the George Shearing memory jog. When we get back Iām going to dig out ā¦
Neville Trumperlain - peace in our time?
Thanks for posting these excerpts. I will be honest with you. In 2020, I was worried after James Clyburn pushed for Harrisā VP nomination- because I was worried about how she would āsell herselfā in a national campaign. Iāve voted for Harris in her AG and Senate races. Soft spoken woman? Winnable?
probably worth thinking about what it would mean to pursue accountability for what increasingly looks like murder www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/u...
His side unfortunately?
Iām waiting for the US president to make a strong statement condemning Russian aggression in Poland - reaffirming US commitment to NATO and article 5. US putting its assets on alert to support Polandā¦ Did I miss it?
Iām still waiting for the official US statement about Russian aggression in Poland. You know - the one supporting NATO and reiterating article 5ā¦ maybe even putting US forces on alert there as opposed to off of Venezuela
"Harvard can't use race as a factor in admissions, but ICE can use race as a factor in detentions" is a retrenchment essentially to a pre-Civil War understanding of the Constitution. It's vanishingly few steps removed from "Latinos have no rights which the white man is bound to respect."
Bone spurs, ya know
Impeach these guys
150 powerful people sent happy birthday notes to Epstein in his birthday book, and of all those people still alive, Trumpās the only one who denies the birthday note is his. Huh? The only fraudulent note in that entire book? That makes no sense. Trump is lying. That makes sense.
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Very harsh statement about SCOTUS ruling today from @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social, and appropriately so:
Itās too fucking lateā¦ Do they have an accent? Is that now probable cause? (People in college made fun of me because of my south side of Chicago accent). Whatās probable cause now ā¦ listening to Cuban jazz in my car with the windows down? Tacos al pastor?
But itās too fucking late. Do they have an accent? Shit - I have an accent (Chicago). Is that āprobable causeā?
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The New Yorker asked me āhow badā todayās Supreme Court ruling was. I boiled it down to one paragraph: link.newyorker.com/view/5bda429...
Auto-pen?
Itās written all over your postsš. I call this photo Sunset With Waymo Self-Driving Car and Compost Bin
Iām so flipping angry with Roberts et al right now š”
Hmmm - not sure. Iāve talked to lots of people in California. Some hate Mamdaniās pro-Palestinian views. Some hate the DSA label. It could easily become toxic with Jewish pro-Zionist, libertarian VCs. Itās not votes - itās dollars Jeffries has to watch which mast heās tied to.
The Munich auto show was long ruled by German manufacturers. These days, youād be forgiven for thinking the event is taking place in China.
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Iāll take your word for it Iāve been marinating in WWII history. Hitler was doing well until the US and its arsenal got involved. Iām thinking NATO relies on the US. Ukraine relies on NATO.
Jeffries was just here in California doing a fund raiser. He travels all over the U.S. campaigning all the time.
For me - 47 is an existential threat. I wish *all* Democrats and independents would just focus on that. This morning I woke up thinking Mutually Assured Destruction is what we count on to deter nuclear attack. If Putin launched at the U.S. - can I count in 47 to launch back? Hegseth? Not sure.
ā¦ grocery stores sound pretty socialist in Coloradoā¦ Mamdani is becoming a national symbol - AOC is using that. So Iām wondering if Mamdani endorses a primary challenger to Jeffries to payback for lack of endorsement. Interesting dilemma as NYC is pitched to represent the Democratic Party.
ā¦ I ask whatās the upside for an endorsement? Mamdaniās likely to win, Jeffries wonāt make a difference. Whatās the downside? Jeffries has to campaign across the country in 2026. Mamdani has advocated defending the police - heās got strong Gaza positions - city owned ā¦
I canāt find a post 2021 primary Jeffries endorsement I live on the west coast so I donāt know NYC politics. The Mamdani race is getting a lot of attention (media wanting to position the Dems as socialists?) I hear my lefty friends here criticizing Jeffries non-endorsementā¦
Now we get AOC weighing in. Seems like Jeffries might get a primary challenger from the left in his newly redrawn district thehill.com/homenews/cam...
Maya Wiley www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
I just see him getting asked that question on national media - and he seems to waffle. Not a good look. This morning I tried to find out if he endorsed Adams last time. Couldnāt find anything But absence of evidence is not evidence of absence
My point was not that itās āimperativeā for Jeffries to endorse anyone. Itās imperative to have a strong clear answer. Like I donāt have a record of endorsing in mayoral elections and Iām not going to start now.
Thatās good to know. There are a lot of Brooklynās - I donāt know the details Thanks
Now thatās an interesting answer. I would have actually loved to have heard Jeffries say that. It would have seemed strong and principled. You should be Jeffries press advisor- seriously. He seems to need help. (I canāt find a record of Jeffries endorsing a mayoral candidate 4 years ago either)
ā¦ seriously Jeffries seems like heās been caught flat footed on this. Iām curious how Pelosi would have dealt with a similar situation. She had to cajole AOC and Ilan Omar.
š No - the term retail politics means getting out in unscripted groups of voters - shaking hands, kissing babies and telling stories. Mamdani seems to be a star doing this - like Bill Clinton. As Iāve said - Iām not a Mamdani fan - I disagree with his economics. Politically heās a phenomena.
Iām not a Mamdani fan - I think heās got thin qualifications at best. That said, none of the candidates seem any good. NYC deserves better choices. Jeffries non-endorsement might be a big political risk come 2026. Seems like his backers wanted Cuomo - but the voters? Retail politics
ā¦ Iām really looking at it from a political risk standpoint for Jeffries. He should at least have a good answer to the endorsement question. But there are no options I donāt know enough about NYC politics- but if Jeffries district votes heavily for Mamdani, it seems like he risks being primaried
1st - I donāt live anywhere near NYC, but 2nd Jeffries lives in NYC and gets asked whether or not he endorses Mamdani all the time 3rd Jeffries doesnāt have a good answer 4th Jeffries said vote Blue no matter who during 2024 - he looks confused now for not having thought out an endorsement answer
My wife and I are off to the Cotswolds next week - my dream is to run into Steve Winwood. My formative years listening to Spencer Davis Group and Traffic. That voice - great organist and guitarist.
Jerry - how I learned mixolydian mode and chromatics. Duane taught me Dorian mode. I played guitar more for a while - now mainly piano Now Iām more of a jazzer. My rig this summer
I remember this particular show. What a band with Hiram Bullock and Don Alias. I loved that Rundgren album - especially Parallel Lines. A friend of mine was the editor of Drum magazine - we got really great complementary seats to hear that Pat Metheny band and hang out a bit after the show.
youtu.be/KiXcqxms3Bs?...
A totally different thread - do you remember a TV show called Playboy After Dark in the 60s? They had some great live performances: Deep Purple doing Hush, The Grassroots were really good as I remember- the Dead. My high school rock and roll band days š
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It was the Dunning of tymes. It was the Kruger of tymes.
Very cool.
Nice!! Meanwhile here in Silicon Valley - I call this Suburban View With Waymo Self-Driving Car and compost bin.
Exactly - I listened to a Kara Swisher/Scott Galloway podcast a month ago. Both of them had been invited to Epstein parties - neither participated in sex parties. Just being invited might have meant you were camouflage
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Well articulatedā¼ļø
Veronica - Iām in no means advocating for Hakeem Jeffries to lose his job. What Iām going to ask is a politics question. Jeffries hasnāt endorsed Mamdani. Mamdani may win big. Does Jeffries pay a price for non-endorsement? Does Mamdani endorse a primary opponent? Iām not even a Mamdani fan.
If writing one bad check a decade ago is āmoral turpitudeā then I have some deeply troubling news about the President of the United States
Wait isnāt this the war Grandpa Don dodged?
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Actually, your supposition is only true if Gaza is the only issue. Butā it isnāt: - democracy in the U.S. - election integrity - immigration/deportations - climate change - economic/central bank stability - misuse of the military - gutting CDC - gutting NIH, DoE etc Straw man arguments -
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Democrat āleadersā should push this message
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FWIW I had a pretty sore shoulder for ā 24 hours. I was somewhat fatigued but able to practice piano - and took a 4 mile walk. (Iām 70 and retired). My wife was much less affected. Good luck staying healthy and finding Novavax. Off to England this week.
I have risen from poverty and a broken home to a life of wealth and a position directly beneath the president. Hereās why that makes me so angry and aggrieved. by J.D. Vance
When I think about climate change, I see a lot of progress ā except in one sector. Food. The food system is responsible for 22-34% of our greenhouse gas emissions, with no end in sight. And it swims in a sea of greenwashing and disinformation. Hereās how we can fix it. Go.ted.com/jonathanfoley24
Agreed. Since the characters in Apocalypse Now were barking mad - is it any wonder foreign leaders donāt take the Trump administration seriously.
Iād also point out that the characters in Apocalypse Now - were barking mad. No wonder world leaders donāt take Trumpās administration seriously.
I call it āSuburban Scene With WAYMO Car and Compost Binā
FFSā¼ļø
Who actually gave the āshootā command? I canāt believe it was a local U.S. Navy officer
I sent my Congressman an email calling for articles of impeachment for RFK jr a few days ago Still waiting for a response We should all contact out reps
Perfect
They paved paradise and made it a pedo lot.
War time presidentās win re-election. Think Bush and Iraq. Donāt pay attention to the jobs numbers or Epstein I wish I could think otherwise
Maybe ā¦ but whatāll be the outcome? š² š²
We used to be a serious country, although it does seem like that was a long time ago.
Iām not disagreeing that itās a coup attemptā¦ but I think itās going to throw the whole election up for grabs. BTW - when I drop off my mail in ballot - thatās a paper ballot that can be used in a recount. Itās actually all very secure and verifiable- but most people donāt know how it works.
I believe JD Vance will not count votes from - letās say California- because California has violated Trumpās executive orders (like requiring voter ID or saying mail in ballots donāt count). In California, I receive a ballot to the address on my drivers license (Real ID) with a QR code. Itās secure
Totally agree. Voters in the U.S. have been on autopilot assuming things will just keep working. I wish I could teach a quick civics class to everyone that asked me a question So my question for you. Jan 2029 - what happens if VP JD Vance refuses to count electoral votes from certain states?
WTFāļø
Iām not sure about broader longer lasting immunity. Didnāt find any info on that. Could be. Iām traveling very soon so I went with the quickest local appointment. So far sore shoulder and I was tired this morning. Just did a 4 mile walk so side effects werenāt too bad Thanks
Good grief what a cult
ā¦ So when I bring up Medicare for All - I think I approach it differently than Bernie. People are afraid of taxes ā¦ but can you save $10,000 per year per household? Another question I ask is how much does their employer pay of their actual insurance premium. Most people donāt know Data
ā¦ Take my pet issue of healthcare in the U.S. We spend 16% of GDP on healthcare - other industrialized nations spend 10-12% of GDP. (Mitt Romney got me looking at this). That 4% of GDP ends up being about $10,000 per household. Our life expectancies are worse as well ā¦
I try to practice discussing issues with people I donāt agree with (at least initially). Try to persuade. But you can only do it if you signal that you, yourself, are open to being persuaded. Itās a mark of respect. Being kind and patientā¦