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Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Agility!

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 4:05 PM 0 comments

Astonishing suggestion from a crazed cultist -- Trump for Pope!

 This is an actual tweet from Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator from South Carolina:

I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!

The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke ... Trump MMXXVIII!

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 3:58 PM 0 comments

Outstanding! Chris Murphy: 100 days of corruption

Here is Chris Murphy (D-CT) laying out some examples (he actually presented more -- 40 in total) of corrupt and/or criminal acts by Donald Trump during the first 100 disgraceful days of his administration:
I went to the Senate floor to tell a story about Trump’s first 100 days - a story of daily, norm shattering corruption. I laid out 40 different corrupt acts - each one alone could have taken down previous presidents.
1/ A 🧵 of my speech. People need to know this story.
2/ The Trump crypto coin - the biggest scandal in the history of the American presidency.
3/ Trump ends enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, so that his staff can more easily get paid on the side by foreign governments and companies seeking to bribe the Trump Administration.
4/ The most brazen abuse of prosecutorial power in a generation - the quid pro quo with Mayor Eric Adams.
5/ Trump’s new U.S. Attorney for Washington DC begins his campaign of harassment against Trump and Musk critics. DoJ is now just doing full time political enforcement for Trump.
6/ Trump starts selling meetings with him to CEOs. For $5 million.
7/ Trump turns the White House into a Tesla showroom to make clear he will boost the profit of any CEO who collaborates with him.
8/ Now, Trump thinks he can get away with ANYTHING. He starts selling access to the White House for people who buy his crypto coin.
9/ Trump launches a new private club in DC with a $500,000 buy in to allow corporations and oligarchs the chance to pay money to have access to Trump’s inner circle.
10/ These are just a small handful of the dozens of mind blowingly corrupt acts in Trump’s first 100 days. And this corruption is a big part of the reason his approval ratings are cratering. The American people refuse to let him normalize this level of graft.
Posted by tequilamockingbird at 3:21 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 28, 2025

Hooray for Peter Navarro!

Click here for a Paul Krugman article on Substack entitled "Did Peter Navarro Save Democracy?" with the tag line "Economic failure has given us a chance to stop Trump's authoritarianism."

 Krugman says:

Just a few short weeks ago the prospects for American democracy looked bleak. Donald Trump was elected despite the events of January 6th and his clear threats of retribution against those who had tried to hold him in check. The powerful and extremely wealthy lined up behind him on the inauguration dais and contributed vast sums to his inauguration party. Democrats were stunned, despondent and disorganized. The stock market was climbing. And many of us expected Trump, the ultimate nepo baby, to claim that the solid economy he inherited from Biden was his own handiwork.

Suddenly the march to authoritarian rule is looking much less unstoppable. Trump’s vindictive over-reach has quickly sparked widespread outrage within many institutions, including universities and the courts, and among regular Americans. Polls suggest that the public is making a hard turn against Trump’s tactics.

Moreover, the economy, which was arguably the decisive issue in November, has rapidly turned into a huge Trump liability. It’s actually incredible how fast public views of the economy have soured.

He uses a comparison to Germany in the '30s and says, "And spare me the fake outrage: We’re well past the point where you can say that MAGA/Nazi comparisons are illegitimate." He explains how a similar situation has enabled Viktor Orban to turn Hungary from a democracy to a dictatorship.

He concludes: 

It's much too soon to predict that U.S. democracy will survive. But Trump and his economic advisers, by screwing up so completely, have given us a chance. Thank you, Peter Navarro.

 

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 11:02 AM 0 comments

Trump's autogolpe

Click here for Paul Krugman's article on Substack, titled "Autogolpe: What’s really happening beneath the Musk/Trump chaos."

Krugman describes Trump's autogolpe, or self-coup; "golpe" is Spanish for "coup."

The supposed goal of DOGE was to save taxpayers huge sums by going after “waste, fraud and abuse.” I argued that this effort was doomed to failure as Musk and his cronies appeared completely ignorant about how and why the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.

While everything I said was true, I would like to offer a mea culpa. What should have been clear to me even then, and is unmistakable now, is that everything Musk and Trump say about what they’re doing is false, including what they say about their motivations. The ignorance and chaos are real, but you should never lose sight of the underlying thrust of their actions.

For what’s happening in America right now is an attempted autogolpe.

Latin American readers are surely familiar with the term. An autogolpe is literally a “self-coup” — when a legitimately elected leader uses his position to seize total control, eliminating legal and constitutional restraints on his power. Are Musk and Trump trying to pull off an autogolpe here? Of course they are. And they are doing so with, as far as I can tell, the full support of every Republican in the House and the Senate.

 

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 10:54 AM 0 comments

Trump's disastrous first 100 days (compared to Roosevelt's)

Click here for an article in The New York Times by Naftali Bendavid entitled "Trump claims mantle of FDR’s first 100 days, but differences are stark," subtitled "Roosevelt’s opening act yielded major new laws, while Trump governs largely by executive order." (Roosevelt passed 16 major new laws; Trump passed four -- only one of which could be considered a major new law, "the Laken Riley Act, which allows the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft-related crimes." Biden passed 11.)

A key sentence: “We’re forging a new political majority that is shattering and replacing Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal coalition, which dominated American politics for nearly 100 years,” he said.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 7:15 AM 0 comments

Saturday, April 26, 2025

Outrageous pay of CEOs

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 12:48 PM 0 comments

Republicans disavowed Project 2025 -- they were lying.

Click here for an article by Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) with the tag line "A Project 2025 author recently said its implementation is going “way beyond my wildest dreams.”  He goes on to say, "Their governing document is now a reality."

He sets out eight points of Project 2025 that the Trump regime has accomplished or is well on the way. They're nearly halfway through, and they're working hard to implement the rest.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 12:44 PM 0 comments

Canada-U.S. cross-border traffic plunging

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 8:41 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Satellites (from The Brain Maze)

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 9:37 AM 0 comments

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Carl Sagan foresaw America slipping into Idiocracy (1995)

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 6:33 PM 0 comments

Mild-mannered lynx

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 6:18 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 14, 2025

Jon Stewart, April 14

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 8:37 PM 0 comments

Sunday, April 13, 2025

This beautiful animal must be protected.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 4:24 PM 0 comments

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Adam Mockler on Bill Maher's dinner with Trump

I think Adam is right: Maher got conned.
Posted by tequilamockingbird at 10:08 AM 0 comments

Friday, April 11, 2025

Cult behavior: worshiping the Dear Leader

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 9:11 AM 0 comments

Thursday, April 10, 2025

ChatGPT: Financial disclosure by Mark Carney, Justin Trudeau, Pierre Poilievre

I asked ChatGPT if Mark Carney, Justin Trudeau, and Pierre Poilievre had made public disclosures of their financial assets. Here are the replies:

Mark Carney:

As of April 10, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has not publicly disclosed his financial assets. This has led to criticism from opposition parties and calls for transparency. On March 18, 2025, Michael Barrett, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government, questioned Carney's refusal to disclose his assets and potential conflicts of interest, particularly concerning his previous role at Brookfield Asset Management. ​Conservative Party of Canada

Earlier, in January 2025, during the Liberal Party leadership race, Carney declined requests from the Investigative Journalism Foundation to disclose his investments and financial interests. ​Investigative Journalism Foundation

Public opinion appears to favor transparency in this matter. A Nanos Research poll reported by CTV News on March 31, 2025, indicated that a majority of Canadians support Carney disclosing his assets. ​CTV News

Despite these calls for disclosure, Prime Minister Carney has yet to release detailed information about his financial holdings.

Justin Trudeau:

Yes, Justin Trudeau has disclosed details about his financial assets on multiple occasions. In 2013, during his campaign for the Liberal Party leadership, Trudeau voluntarily revealed information about his inheritance and income sources. He reported receiving an inheritance valued at approximately $1.2 million from his father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. This inheritance included investments managed through a company set up by his father. Additionally, Trudeau earned significant income from public speaking engagements, totaling over $450,000 in his most lucrative year. To prevent potential conflicts of interest, Trudeau pledged to place his assets, excluding real estate holdings, into a blind trust—a commitment he fulfilled in July 2013. ​Global News+1Wikipedia+1thecmhs.com+3internationalheadlines.blob.core.windows.net+3Global News+3Wikipedia+1Global News+1

In 2016, amid the release of the Panama Papers, Trudeau addressed questions regarding offshore accounts. He stated unequivocally that neither he nor his family held funds in offshore accounts and emphasized his commitment to transparency about his financial affairs. ​Global News

As Prime Minister, Trudeau's salary is publicly known, and his financial disclosures are subject to oversight by the federal ethics commissioner. While the exact details of his current net worth are not publicly disclosed, estimates vary, with some reports suggesting figures around $10 million CAD. It's important to note that such estimates can differ based on the sources and methods used to calculate them

Pierre Poilievre:

As of April 10, 2025, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has not publicly disclosed detailed information about his financial assets. While Canadian politicians are required to provide confidential disclosures to the federal ethics commissioner, these are not made public, leading to limited transparency regarding their personal finances.​Reddit+1The Economic Times+1

In March 2025, Poilievre proposed amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act to mandate that all party leadership candidates disclose their financial holdings to the ethics commissioner within 30 days of becoming official candidates and make them publicly available within 60 days. He also suggested that future prime ministers and cabinet ministers should be required to divest assets that could create conflicts of interest. ​Conservative Party of Canada+1650 CKOM+1

Speculative reports have estimated Poilievre's net worth to be around $5 million, though these figures lack official confirmation. Additionally, some AI-generated articles have inaccurately claimed his net worth to be as high as $25 million, highlighting the proliferation of misinformation online. ​RedditThe Economic Times+2Reddit+2Reddit+2

In summary, without formal public disclosure, precise details about Pierre Poilievre's financial assets remain unavailable.

 

 

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 8:33 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

ChatGPT book report: Candide (en français!)

Voltaire’s Candide, published in 1759, is a satirical novella that explores the complexities of optimism, human suffering, and philosophical naivety. The story follows the journey of Candide, a young and impressionable man who is taught by his mentor, Pangloss, that they live in “the best of all possible worlds.” As Candide ventures out into the real world, he is repeatedly confronted with brutal, absurd, and tragic experiences that challenge this blind optimism. Through his travels, Voltaire uses wit and irony to criticize contemporary society, organized religion, war, and the philosophies of the Enlightenment.

The protagonist, Candide, is cast out of the idyllic but sheltered castle of Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh after being caught in a romantic moment with Cunégonde, the Baron’s daughter. This event sets off a chain of misfortunes that leads Candide across Europe, South America, and even to the mythical city of Eldorado. Each encounter he has—from war-torn cities to natural disasters and betrayals—adds to the disillusionment with Pangloss’s overly optimistic philosophy. Yet, Candide remains somewhat faithful to his mentor’s teachings, highlighting the powerful grip of ideology on human belief.

Voltaire employs a wide range of characters to critique society. Pangloss, the overly optimistic philosopher, serves as a parody of Leibnizian philosophy, particularly the idea that all things happen for the best. Martin, a pessimist Candide meets later, represents the opposite extreme—someone who sees the world as fundamentally corrupt. Through these contrasting perspectives, Voltaire suggests that both blind optimism and total pessimism fail to adequately address the real conditions of human suffering and injustice.

One of the central themes in Candide is the folly of philosophical idealism when faced with the harshness of reality. Voltaire mocks the Enlightenment's rationalism and the tendency to intellectualize suffering. His use of exaggerated misfortunes—earthquakes, executions, and betrayals—serves to undermine any belief that a perfect world exists or can be justified by reason. The city of Eldorado briefly offers a utopian alternative, but even this paradise is ultimately abandoned, implying that such perfection is either unattainable or incompatible with human nature.

Religion is another major target of Voltaire’s satire. Throughout Candide, religious figures—from Catholic inquisitors to Jesuits—are portrayed as hypocritical, corrupt, or cruel. Voltaire, a known critic of institutional religion, uses these portrayals to expose the moral inconsistencies within organized faiths. Despite their claims of virtue, many of the religious characters commit atrocities or act in self-interest. This aligns with Voltaire's belief in deism and his disdain for the dogma and corruption he observed in the church.

The ending of the novella, where Candide famously concludes that “we must cultivate our garden,” marks a turning point in the protagonist’s development. This phrase symbolizes a shift from abstract philosophical speculation to practical labor and self-sufficiency. Rather than trying to rationalize the world’s evils, Candide and his companions choose to focus on tangible, everyday work. Voltaire’s conclusion suggests that the best one can do in a flawed world is to engage in meaningful action rather than idle theorizing.

In summary, Candide is both a biting social critique and a philosophical exploration, written in a style that balances humor with gravity. Voltaire’s sharp wit and clear prose make complex ideas accessible while urging readers to question established norms. Through Candide’s misadventures, Voltaire rejects idealism in favor of realism and personal responsibility. The novella remains a powerful reminder of the importance of critical thinking and practical engagement in the face of suffering and absurdity.

*****

Candide, publié en 1759, est une novella satirique de Voltaire qui explore la complexité de l’optimisme, de la souffrance humaine et de la naïveté philosophique. L’histoire suit le parcours de Candide, un jeune homme influençable qui apprend de son précepteur Pangloss que l’on vit dans « le meilleur des mondes possibles ». Au fil de ses aventures à travers le monde, Candide est confronté à des expériences brutales, absurdes et tragiques qui remettent en question cet optimisme aveugle. À travers l’ironie et l’humour, Voltaire critique la société de son époque, la religion organisée, la guerre et certaines idées des Lumières.

Le protagoniste, Candide, est chassé du château paradisiaque du baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh après avoir été surpris dans une situation compromettante avec Cunégonde, la fille du baron. Cet événement déclenche une série de malheurs qui mèneront Candide à travers l’Europe, l’Amérique du Sud et jusqu’à la cité mythique d’Eldorado. Chaque nouvelle épreuve — villes ravagées par la guerre, catastrophes naturelles, trahisons — ébranle davantage la philosophie de Pangloss. Pourtant, Candide reste partiellement fidèle aux enseignements de son maître, ce qui montre la force que peut avoir une idéologie sur les croyances humaines.

Voltaire utilise une variété de personnages pour critiquer la société. Pangloss, le philosophe optimiste, est une parodie des idées de Leibniz, en particulier celle selon laquelle tout arrive pour le mieux. Martin, un pessimiste que Candide rencontre plus tard, incarne l’extrême inverse : un homme qui considère le monde comme fondamentalement mauvais. À travers ces visions opposées, Voltaire montre que ni l’optimisme aveugle ni le pessimisme absolu ne permettent de comprendre ou de soulager véritablement la souffrance humaine.

L’un des thèmes centraux de Candide est la folie de l’idéalisme philosophique face à la réalité cruelle. Voltaire se moque du rationalisme des Lumières et de la tendance à théoriser la souffrance. Il exagère les malheurs vécus par Candide — tremblements de terre, exécutions, trahisons — pour mieux ridiculiser l’idée qu’un monde parfait existe ou peut être justifié par la raison. La cité d’Eldorado offre brièvement une alternative utopique, mais elle est finalement abandonnée, ce qui laisse entendre que la perfection est soit inaccessible, soit incompatible avec la nature humaine.

La religion constitue également une cible majeure de la satire de Voltaire. Tout au long de Candide, les personnages religieux — inquisiteurs, jésuites, moines — sont souvent décrits comme hypocrites, corrompus ou cruels. Voltaire, critique notoire de la religion institutionnelle, utilise ces figures pour souligner les contradictions morales et les abus de pouvoir dans l’Église. Bien qu’ils prêchent la vertu, leurs actions sont souvent égoïstes ou immorales. Cela reflète les idées déistes de Voltaire et son rejet du dogmatisme religieux.

La fin du récit, marquée par la célèbre conclusion « il faut cultiver notre jardin », représente un tournant dans le développement de Candide. Cette phrase symbolise un renoncement à la spéculation philosophique au profit du travail concret et de l’autosuffisance. Plutôt que de chercher à expliquer ou justifier le mal, Candide et ses compagnons choisissent d’agir de manière pragmatique. Voltaire suggère ainsi que, dans un monde imparfait, la meilleure attitude est de se consacrer à une activité utile et modeste.

En résumé, Candide est à la fois une critique sociale acérée et une réflexion philosophique, écrite dans un style mêlant légèreté et profondeur. Grâce à son ironie mordante et à la clarté de sa prose, Voltaire rend les idées complexes accessibles tout en invitant le lecteur à remettre en question les dogmes établis. À travers les mésaventures de Candide, l’auteur rejette l’idéalisme au profit du réalisme et de la responsabilité individuelle. La novella reste aujourd’hui encore un appel puissant à la pensée critique et à l’action concrète face à l’absurdité du monde.

 


Posted by tequilamockingbird at 9:35 PM 0 comments

ChatGPT book report: The Flashman Papers

Harry Flashman, the central figure of The Flashman Papers by George MacDonald Fraser, is one of the most distinctive antiheroes in modern historical fiction. Originally a minor villain in Tom Brown’s School Days, Flashman is reimagined by Fraser as a decorated Victorian military hero whose fame and glory hide a core of cowardice, deceit, and opportunism. Through the conceit of recently discovered memoirs, Fraser presents Flashman’s own unvarnished, scandalous version of history—often at odds with the public record.

Flashman’s character is defined by contradiction. Outwardly, he is the epitome of the gallant British officer: tall, handsome, charismatic, and covered in honors. Inwardly, he is a self-serving cad who avoids danger, betrays friends and lovers, and lies with abandon. What sets Flashman apart from traditional protagonists is his brutal honesty. In his memoirs, he freely admits to every act of cowardice and vice, claiming no heroism or nobility. Ironically, it is this candor that makes him oddly likable, or at least fascinating, to readers.

Throughout the series, which spans twelve novels, Flashman finds himself inserted into many of the 19th century’s most dramatic events. From the First Anglo-Afghan War to the Charge of the Light Brigade, from the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, Flashman is somehow always at the center of history—usually against his will. In most cases, he is attempting to flee, hide, or manipulate his way to safety, only to be mistaken for a hero when circumstances twist in his favor.

Despite his cowardice, Flashman is not entirely incompetent. He is intelligent, multilingual, and capable of great charm when it serves his purposes. He is also physically capable, a talented horseman, and a decent fighter when forced. These traits allow him to survive and even thrive in the most dangerous situations. However, it is mostly through luck, manipulation, and the stupidity of others that he maintains his undeserved reputation.

Flashman’s romantic entanglements are as numerous as his military exploits. He seduces (or is seduced by) women across continents and social classes, from aristocrats to courtesans to queens. His affairs frequently lead him into trouble, both personally and politically, but they also reflect Fraser’s exploration of gender and power dynamics in the Victorian era. Flashman’s philandering is another testament to his egotism, though it is never portrayed as truly romantic—only transactional or opportunistic.

Fraser’s novels also use Flashman to offer biting critiques of British imperialism, racism, and the hypocrisy of Victorian society. By making Flashman the narrator—a scoundrel who sees through the pretense of empire—the series exposes the violence, exploitation, and absurdity behind historical events often romanticized in British history. Flashman’s cynicism, though often self-serving, is grounded in a clear-eyed view of the real motives behind colonial expansion and military campaigns.

In his travels, Flashman meets an astonishing array of historical figures: Abraham Lincoln, Otto von Bismarck, Queen Victoria, Florence Nightingale, and many more. These encounters are one of the series’ great pleasures, as Fraser weaves Flashman into real history with impeccable research and witty imagination. Flashman’s observations on these figures are often irreverent, stripping away the myths and presenting them in a more human, sometimes unflattering light.

Although Flashman often behaves despicably—betraying comrades, abusing trust, and fleeing in battle—his accounts reveal a certain clarity about human nature. He recognizes and mocks the same flaws in others that he embodies himself: vanity, cowardice, lust, and ambition. His self-awareness, coupled with Fraser’s sharp prose, transforms him from a mere rogue into a complex literary creation who illuminates the absurdity of the very age that celebrates him.

As the series progresses, Flashman ages but never really changes. He remains a reluctant participant in history, dragged from one disaster to another. Yet readers come to understand that his survival is not merely accidental—it reflects a deep, if shameful, understanding of how power, image, and history operate. In many ways, Flashman is not an aberration but an exaggerated symbol of the Victorian establishment: corrupt, lucky, and adored despite his failures.

In sum, Harry Flashman is a brilliantly conceived antihero whose misadventures provide both thrilling entertainment and incisive historical commentary. Through him, Fraser turns the adventure genre on its head, offering a vivid, unromantic portrayal of the 19th century’s most iconic moments. Flashman’s exploits are scandalous, shocking, and often hilarious—but they also challenge readers to reconsider the line between heroism and hypocrisy.

 

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 8:54 PM 0 comments

ChatGPT book report: Flashman

Flashman, the first novel in George MacDonald Fraser’s historical fiction series, introduces readers to Harry Flashman, a cowardly, self-serving, yet oddly charming British soldier. Published in 1969, the novel is framed as the discovered memoirs of Flashman, who originally appeared as a bully in Thomas Hughes’ Tom Brown’s School Days. Fraser reimagines him not as a reformed adult but as a thoroughly unscrupulous man who somehow stumbles into glory despite his lack of courage or principle.

Set in the mid-19th century, Flashman follows its antihero after he is expelled from Rugby School for drunkenness. Flashman purchases a commission in the British Army and is posted to India and Afghanistan. The heart of the novel focuses on the First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842), a disastrous military campaign that Fraser uses to expose the folly of British imperialism. Flashman, despite his cowardice, becomes enmeshed in major historical events, emerging from dangerous situations with his reputation inexplicably enhanced.

A key strength of the novel is Fraser’s meticulous research and integration of real historical events and figures. Flashman encounters actual people such as General Elphinstone, Alexander Burnes, and Queen Victoria. These interactions, though fictionalized, are vividly rendered, blending fact and fiction seamlessly. Fraser’s portrayal of the First Anglo-Afghan War is particularly notable for its historical accuracy and its grim depiction of military incompetence and cultural misunderstanding.

What makes Flashman unique is its narrator’s unapologetic honesty. Flashman freely admits to cowardice, deceit, and opportunism, making no effort to present himself as a hero. His blunt, cynical voice adds a darkly comedic edge to the story, skewering the romantic notions of imperial valor and military honor. Fraser uses this contrast to challenge the reader’s expectations and to critique the sanitized versions of history often found in traditional literature.

Despite his despicable behavior, Flashman is a compelling character. His survival instincts, wit, and blunt narration keep the reader engaged. Fraser skillfully crafts a protagonist readers can’t admire but can’t look away from. It is this paradox—Flashman’s moral bankruptcy coupled with his narrative charisma—that gives the novel its distinctive flavor.

The book’s tone is irreverent and frequently satirical. Fraser does not shy away from portraying the racism, sexism, and brutality of the time. Rather than moralizing, he presents these realities through Flashman’s unfiltered perspective, forcing the reader to confront the darker aspects of 19th-century imperialism. The result is a story that entertains while also provoking thought about the ethics and legacy of empire.

While Flashman is rich in historical detail and clever in its satire, it is not a traditional heroic adventure. The novel intentionally subverts the tropes of the swashbuckling soldier or noble officer. Flashman’s undeserved success is a commentary on how history can be shaped by myth, reputation, and the blindness of posterity. It invites readers to question how many supposed heroes of history were merely lucky or manipulative individuals like Flashman.

In conclusion, Flashman is a bold, witty, and richly layered novel that offers both a thrilling adventure and a biting historical critique. George MacDonald Fraser creates a unique literary voice in Harry Flashman, a protagonist who is as entertaining as he is appalling. The novel stands as an engaging start to the series and a compelling reminder that history is often more complex—and more absurd—than it appears in textbooks.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 8:48 PM 0 comments

ChatGPT book report: Animal Farm

 

Animal Farm by George Orwell is a powerful allegorical novella that critiques totalitarianism through the lens of a seemingly simple fable. Set on a farm in England, the story follows a group of animals who overthrow their human farmer in hopes of creating a society where all animals are equal and can enjoy the fruits of their labor. Inspired by Old Major, a wise and idealistic pig, the animals unite in revolution, driving out the farmer and establishing their own government based on the principles of “Animalism.” However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that power, once seized, has a corrupting influence.

The pigs, who assume leadership roles after the revolution, quickly begin to consolidate their power, with two figures — Snowball and Napoleon — emerging as central rivals. Snowball represents the more idealistic and intellectual side of the revolution, while Napoleon symbolizes authoritarian ambition. After a power struggle, Napoleon ousts Snowball and takes control of the farm, slowly transforming the society into one that mirrors — and even surpasses — the tyranny of the humans they overthrew. Orwell cleverly uses this descent to illustrate how revolutionary ideals can be manipulated and betrayed by those who seek personal power.

As Napoleon’s control grows, the pigs begin to adopt the behaviors of the humans they once condemned. They walk on two legs, sleep in beds, and trade with neighboring farms. The foundational commandment “All animals are equal” is eventually altered to read “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Orwell’s use of language and propaganda — especially through the character of Squealer, Napoleon’s mouthpiece — shows how truth can be twisted and history rewritten to maintain power. The animals, especially the hardworking horse Boxer, represent the exploited working class, loyal and trusting even as they are abused and discarded.

The novella serves as a direct allegory of the Russian Revolution and the rise of Soviet communism. Each character and event parallels historical figures and developments: Napoleon represents Joseph Stalin, Snowball stands in for Leon Trotsky, and the corrupt evolution of Animalism reflects the perversion of socialist ideals in the USSR. Orwell’s sharp critique is not only aimed at Soviet communism but at the broader dangers of unchecked political power and the ease with which noble ideals can be co-opted by authoritarian regimes.

Despite its brevity and simple narrative style, Animal Farm delivers a profound and sobering message about human nature, power, and the cyclical nature of oppression. Orwell’s ability to convey complex political ideas through allegory makes the book accessible to a wide range of readers, while its themes remain relevant across different times and political contexts. The ending, in which the animals can no longer tell the difference between pigs and humans, serves as a chilling reminder of how revolutions can come full circle.

In conclusion, Animal Farm is both a compelling story and a potent political commentary. Through vivid symbolism, Orwell explores how revolutions can be corrupted from within and how propaganda and manipulation can blind people to oppression. It remains a timeless warning about the fragility of freedom and the importance of vigilance in any society striving for equality and justice.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 5:37 PM 0 comments

ChatGPT book report: Catch-22

 

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is a darkly satirical novel set during World War II, centered around a U.S. Army Air Force bombardier named Captain John Yossarian. Stationed on the fictional Mediterranean island of Pianosa, Yossarian is increasingly desperate to escape the war and the ever-increasing number of bombing missions he’s required to fly. He becomes obsessed with survival in a system that seems designed to be both absurd and inescapable. The novel’s central paradox, the titular “Catch-22,” reveals itself as a circular rule: a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but if he asks to be removed from duty for being insane, his request proves he is sane — and therefore ineligible to be relieved. This no-win logic traps Yossarian and his fellow soldiers in a bureaucratic nightmare.

Heller structures the novel in a non-linear, almost chaotic fashion, with frequent shifts in time, character perspective, and tone. Events are revisited and reframed with new information, slowly revealing the underlying tragedies and hypocrisies that drive the story. While this fragmented narrative can be disorienting, it mirrors the confusion and madness of war itself. Through this structure, Heller conveys how disjointed and meaningless the experience of combat can feel, especially when filtered through the rigid and impersonal lens of military bureaucracy.

The characters in Catch-22 are deliberately exaggerated and absurd, from the profit-obsessed mess officer Milo Minderbinder, who orchestrates business deals that involve bombing his own squadron, to the blindly ambitious Colonel Cathcart, who raises the number of required missions simply to improve his reputation. These characters serve to satirize various aspects of institutional incompetence, capitalism, and the military chain of command. Heller uses humor — often dark, often absurd — to highlight the irrationality of war and the systems that perpetuate it. Even though the novel is frequently laugh-out-loud funny, the humor is always underscored by a sense of futility and horror.

Yossarian, as the protagonist, begins the story as somewhat self-centered and obsessed with his own survival, but his journey becomes a broader commentary on the moral insanity of war. Over time, he becomes more aware of the inhumanity and absurdity of the system around him. His refusal to participate in more missions, despite pressure and threats from superiors, is portrayed not as cowardice but as a deeply principled stand. Through Yossarian, Heller makes a case for individual conscience in the face of a dehumanizing and violent machine.

Ultimately, Catch-22 is a powerful anti-war novel that critiques the paradoxes and failures of bureaucratic systems, particularly within the military. Its title has entered the English language as a symbol of impossible, contradictory rules. Heller’s writing style — full of repetition, irony, and circular logic — reinforces the themes of entrapment and absurdity. Though set during World War II, the novel’s message resonates far beyond its historical setting, offering a timeless critique of authority, conformity, and the cost of blind obedience.

More than just a war story, Catch-22 is a profound examination of what happens when systems designed to protect and serve individuals end up sacrificing them instead. Through its brilliant structure, unforgettable characters, and relentless satire, Heller's novel challenges readers to question the logic of institutions and the value of human life within them. It remains one of the most influential and thought-provoking novels of the 20th century.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 5:36 PM 0 comments

Chat GPT book report: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson is a landmark work of American literature that captures the spirit of an era in freefall. Blending journalism, fiction, and biting social commentary, Thompson’s book follows the exploits of Raoul Duke — his alter ego — and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo, as they plunge into the surreal, neon-soaked chaos of Las Vegas. Ostensibly on assignment to cover the Mint 400 desert motorcycle race, the pair quickly abandon any pretense of professionalism in favor of indulging in an outrageous drug binge that stretches across several days. Their suitcase is a traveling pharmacy filled with mescaline, acid, ether, cocaine, and more, and their journey becomes a hallucinatory descent into the underbelly of the American Dream.

What begins as a journalistic assignment rapidly devolves into a chaotic odyssey. The pair drift through casinos, hotels, and desert highways in a haze of substance abuse, paranoia, and philosophical musings. Their encounters with tourists, cops, hitchhikers, and hotel staff are often absurd and grotesque, amplifying the sense that Las Vegas itself is a kind of dystopian funhouse — a place where superficiality reigns and reality is warped beyond recognition. The book's structure reflects this instability, eschewing traditional narrative flow in favor of fragmented, often incoherent episodes that mirror Duke’s drug-addled state of mind. It is a journey without a destination, fueled by mania and existential dread.

At its core, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is not just a drug tale, but a scathing critique of American culture in the aftermath of the 1960s. Thompson uses Las Vegas as a symbol of the excess, greed, and disillusionment that had come to define the country. The utopian ideals of peace, love, and freedom that had fueled the counterculture movement have been replaced by a hollow obsession with spectacle and self-indulgence. Thompson reflects bitterly on the collapse of the 60s dream, writing with particular poignancy about the failure of a generation that truly believed it could reshape society. The American Dream, once a symbol of hope and self-determination, has become a commodified illusion — a trap that ensnares the naive and chews them up in the process.

Thompson’s narrative voice is key to the novel’s power. His “Gonzo journalism” approach — subjective, immersive, and often deliberately exaggerated — turns the reader into a participant rather than a passive observer. The line between fact and fiction is blurred, giving the book a surreal, almost mythic quality. His language is both visceral and poetic, filled with grotesque imagery, biting wit, and bursts of manic brilliance. Yet beneath the satire and absurdity lies a deep undercurrent of sorrow and frustration. Thompson isn’t glorifying the madness he describes — he’s exposing it, holding it up like a mirror to a culture that has lost its way.

In the end, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas stands as a powerful and unique work — part road novel, part social critique, part fever dream. It is a chronicle of a particular time in American history when idealism gave way to nihilism, when the line between freedom and self-destruction became dangerously thin. More than fifty years after its publication, the book remains relevant, not just for its stylistic innovation, but for its unflinching look at the American psyche. Through all the madness and mayhem, Thompson forces us to ask: what happens when a dream dies — and what’s left in its place?

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 5:34 PM 0 comments

Does Donald Trump possess ANY good personal qualities?

I asked ChatGPT to come up with a list of good qualities that a person can have, and the reply was:

Sure! Here's a list of a dozen good qualities that are widely appreciated in a person:

  1. Empathy – The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

  2. Honesty – Being truthful and transparent in words and actions.

  3. Kindness – Treating others with compassion and generosity.

  4. Integrity – Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

  5. Patience – Remaining calm and tolerant, especially in difficult situations.

  6. Responsibility – Being reliable and accountable for one’s actions.

  7. Humility – Having a modest view of one’s own importance.

  8. Gratitude – Recognizing and appreciating what one has and what others do.

  9. Resilience – The ability to recover from setbacks and keep going.

  10. Respectfulness – Valuing others’ feelings, rights, and traditions.

  11. Generosity – Willingness to give time, resources, or help to others.

  12. Open-mindedness – Being receptive to new ideas and perspectives.

 Then I said, "Good list. How many of these qualities, and to what degree, would you say that Donald Trump possesses?"

And here's the reply:

 

That's a thoughtful and nuanced question, and one that's understandably going to be viewed very differently depending on who you ask. Since I aim to stay neutral and respectful of all perspectives, I'll break it down based on observations and how different people perceive him—without making a personal judgment.

Here’s a quick run-through of those 12 qualities, with some commentary based on public behavior and how supporters or critics might interpret them:

  1. Empathy – Critics argue he often lacks empathy in his rhetoric, especially when addressing opponents or marginalized groups. Supporters may say he connects with people who feel ignored by traditional politicians.

  2. Honesty – Fact-checkers have frequently noted many false or misleading statements during his presidency and campaigns. Supporters might argue he speaks his mind, which they see as a form of blunt honesty.

  3. Kindness – Trump is known for his aggressive and confrontational style, particularly on social media. Acts of personal kindness do get shared anecdotally, though they are less publicly emphasized.

  4. Integrity – Critics question his integrity due to various legal, business, and political controversies. His supporters often believe he fights for what he thinks is right, even if unconventionally.

  5. Patience – He tends to be reactive and outspoken, which may suggest a low threshold for patience. Others may say he’s decisive and action-oriented.

  6. Responsibility – He takes credit for perceived successes, but critics say he often deflects blame. Views on this depend heavily on one’s stance toward his leadership.

  7. Humility – He’s known for self-promotion and rarely admits fault, which most would say is the opposite of humility.

  8. Gratitude – He expresses gratitude toward loyal supporters but can be dismissive of those who disagree with him, even if they were former allies.

  9. Resilience – Definitely one of his stronger traits. He’s persisted through many scandals, criticisms, and setbacks, and has maintained a strong base.

  10. Respectfulness – His communication style is often combative and disrespectful toward critics. Supporters may argue he’s simply being unapologetically direct.

  11. Generosity – There are mixed accounts. He’s donated to causes, but his charitable record has also been questioned, including through investigations into his foundation.

  12. Open-mindedness – He tends to double down on his beliefs and often resists changing his views, even in the face of criticism or new information.

In summary: Resilience, responsibility (to his base), and decisiveness are often viewed as his stronger qualities. Traits like humility, empathy, and open-mindedness are more commonly cited as areas where he falls short.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 10:35 AM 0 comments

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Why impose tariffs on penguins?

Okay, it's only a semi-serious question that Jake Tapper is asking Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture. She's obviously flummoxed by the question, which really has no sensible answer: Why impose a 10% tariff on an Australian territory with no people? When she responds that "the people that are leading this are serious, intentional, patriotic, the smartest people I've ever worked with" -- serious? The smartest people she's ever worked with? Apparently the people she's worked with are pretty damn dumb. What I enjoy most about this clip is when she says "we are unleashing a new golden age, and we will see an economy that will benefit not just every corner of America but our farmers and our ranchers and the people that have been left behind for far too long by both Republicans and Democrats." A new golden age, huh? Well, I guess time will tell; but you're not off to a very good start, lady.
Posted by tequilamockingbird at 10:46 AM 0 comments

Listen to Fareed Zakaria.

Posted by tequilamockingbird at 4:47 AM 0 comments

Friday, April 4, 2025

Richard Branson on Trump's tariffs

This is a four-part tweet by Richard Branson, reacting to Trump's tariffs on April 4:
Strong leadership means taking risks and trying things - but when it doesn’t work, realising your mistake and correcting it. Quickly.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from 60 years of business is to accept when I’m wrong and change course. The US government’s sweeping tariffs are taking the world’s economy in a dangerous direction. They will make people everywhere worse off – especially in America.

It’s not just about the economy. Countries that trade fairly and healthily prosper and flourish. They reduce poverty, improve health and education, and decrease the likelihood of war.

Courage & self-awareness are cornerstones of true leadership. That includes quickly acknowledging errors & making corrections. With a swift reversal back to sensible economic policy, America & the rest of the world can still avoid the catastrophic fall out these tariffs will inflict.
Posted by tequilamockingbird at 11:06 AM 0 comments

San Francisco in the 1950s

Five-minute video of 1940s and '50s San Francisco. Lots of men wearing hats!
Posted by tequilamockingbird at 10:56 AM 0 comments
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