Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Andrew Tobias: Winning
Mostly what we need is for our folks who generally sit out mid-terms not to sit out this mid-term. The daily outrages, corruption, and incompetence just might impel them to show up. But there's something else this year, too: our candidates. We have great ones!
Paul Waldman: Democrats do have an agenda, and even some big ideas. Here's one of them. (Washington Post)
On Wednesday the New York Times published the latest in a long line of inane articles chastising Democrats for Doing It Wrong, saying they're "discarding the lessons of successful midterms past and pressing only a bare-bones national agenda." Nobody knows what they want to do! Except that when you read down, you find that the complaint isn't that Democrats don't have an agenda, it's that they don't have a pithy message, because "for at least the past 20 years, whenever a party has won control of the House, it has done so with some kind of unifying message or pitch."
Greg Sargent: "The new GOP litmus test: Defending Trump at his absolute worst" (Washington Post)
As a Democratic operative points out to me, multiple Republican candidates have been placed on the defensive during this cycle for the same thing: failing to support Trump not just in a general sense, but more precisely for failing to support Trump when the "Access Hollywood" tape surfaced.
Tom Danehy: Tom picks a fight with a columnist from the morning daily. (Tucson Weekly)
The Arizona Constitution allows the people to pass common-sense laws when the Legislature refuses to do so. Over the years, the people have implemented Clean Elections, the bipartisan gerrymandering commission, Prop 301 for school funding and (perhaps my favorite) a constitutional amendment that says that the Legislature can't take an axe to something the people legally passed.
Frances Wilson: "The perfect guide to a book everyone should read: Dante's Divine Comedy by Ian Thomson reviewed." (Spectator)
'The Divine Comedy is a book that everyone ought to read,' according to Jorge Luis Borges, and every Italian has read it. Dante's midlife crisis in the dark wood, his journey down the circles of hell, up the ledges of Purgatory and into the arms of Beatrice is mother's milk to Italian schoolchildren. Today lines from La divina commedia are printed on T-shirts; before the war, as Primo Levi recalled, there were 'Dante tournaments' on the streets of Turin, where one boy would recite the start of a canto and his rival would try to complete it.
Tom Ball: The complicated ethics of porn consumption (Spectator)
The adult film industry's relation to women lags a good hundred years behind the rest of society.
Kristen Arnett: BUDDY, THE LIBRARY ISN'T A 7-ELEVEN (LitHub.com)
A RUNNING TALLY OF ITEMS PEOPLE HAVE ASKED FOR AT THE CIRCULATION DESK.
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Presenting
Michael Egan
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
David E Suggests
Fictional Houses
David
Thanks, Dave!
Bonus Links
Jeannie the Teed-Off Temp
Reader Comment
Current Events
Linda >^..^<
We are all only temporarily able bodied.
Thanks, Linda!
from Marc Perkel
Marc's Guide to Curing Cancer
So far so good on beating cancer for now. I'm doing fine. At the end of the month I'll be 16 months into an 8 month mean lifespan. And yesterday I went on a 7 mile hike and managed to keep up with the hiking group I was with. So, doing something right.
Still waiting for future test results and should see things headed in the right direction. I can say that it's not likely that anything dire happens in the short term so that means that I should have time to make several more attempts at this. So even if it doesn't work the first time there are a lot of variations to try. So if there's bad news it will help me pick the next radiation target.
I have written a "how to" guide for oncologists to perform the treatment that I got. I'm convinced that I'm definitely onto something and whether it works for me or not isn't the definitive test. I know if other people tried this that it would work for some of them, and if they improve it that it will work for a lot of them.
The guide is quite detailed and any doctor reading this can understand the procedure at every level. I also go into detail as to how it works, how I figured it out, and variations and improvements that could be tried to enhance it. I also introduce new ways to look at the problem. There is a lot of room for improvement and I think that doctors reading it will see what I'm talking about and want to build on it. And it's written so that if you're not a doctor you can still follow it. It also has a personal story revealing that I'm the class clown of cancer support group. I give great interviews and I look pretty hot in a lab coat.
So, feel free to read this and see what I'm talking about. But if any of you want to help then pass this around to both doctors and cancer patients. I need some media coverage. I'm looking for as many eyeballs as possible to read these ideas. Even if this isn't the solution, it's definitely on the right track. After all, I did hike 7 miles yesterday. And this hiking group wasn't moving slow. So if this isn't working then, why am I still here?
I also see curing cancer as more of an engineering problem that a medical problem. So if you are good at solving problems and most of what you know about medicine was watching the Dr. House MD TV show, then you're at the level I was at when I started. So anyone can jump in and be part of the solution.
Here is a link to my guide: Oncologists Guide to Curing Cancer using Abscopal Effect
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
R.I.P. ARETHA.
FREE THE PRESS AND JAIL DONALD TRUMP!
THE TRAITOR KEEPS DESTROYING OUR GOVERNMENT.
TRUMP IS PROOF POSITIVE THAT THERE IS NO GOD.
THE POLICE STATE.
Visit JD's site - Kitty Litter Music
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Yep. Running late.
Will Remain Fired
James Gunn
James Gunn and Alan Horn, Chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, met face to face just under a month since the filmmaker was fired by the studio, and it turns out Gunn will not be returning to work for Disney. According to an exclusive report from Variety, Disney is remaining committed to Gunn's firing. The "Guardians of the Galaxy" director will not return for the franchise's third installment after Disney severed ties with him over controversial jokes he made on Twitter about rape, pedophilia, etc.
In the weeks since Gunn was fired there has been a groundswell of support for the director. Gunn's "Guardians" cast members published an open letteron July 30 expressing their full support of Gunn and the many fans urging Disney to rehire the director on the next "Guardians" sequel. Dave Bautista, who plays Drax the Destroyer, has been most critical of Disney. The actor said it was "nauseating" to have to return to work for Disney after Gunn's firing, and he said he would ask to be released from his contract should Disney trash Gunn's "Vol. 3" script.
Despite the "Guardians" cast wanting Gunn back, and Marvel reportedly trying to negotiate the director's return to the franchise, Disney is not budging and Gunn will remain fired from the project. Production on the next "Guardians" was set for the start of 2019. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige was out of town and did not attend the meeting between Gunn and Horn. Feige will begin looking for replacement directors when he returns to Los Angeles.
According to Variety, Horn wanted to meet with Gunn in order to clear the air about the situation. Gunn and his representatives at UTA tried their best to get Horn to consider giving the director a second chance. The meeting between the two gentlemen was described as "civil and professional." The studio is expected to keep Gunn's script, although whoever steps in to direct will probably give it a rewrite polish.
James Gunn
40th Anniversary
'Grease'
The summer lovin' is still going strong after 40 years.
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John reunited Wednesday night for a screening of Grease in honor of the iconic 1978 film's 40th anniversary. Director Randal Kleiser and co-stars Didi Conn (Frenchie) and Barry Pearl (Doody) also appeared at the reunion hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In true honorary Pink Lady form, Newton-John wore a Rizzo-approved pale pink jacket over a matching silk camisole for the occasion. The singer and actress - who also starred opposite Travolta in the 1983 rom-com Two of a Kind - will turn 70 on Sept. 26.
Travolta, 64, meanwhile, swapped his T-Birds leather jacket for a checked shirt paired with a V-neck sweater and dark blazer. His blue jeans, however, were pure Danny Zuko.
Not surprisingly, the stars couldn't resist breaking out one of their old dance routines on the red carpet.
'Grease'
Sells At Philadelphia Auction
Liberty Head Nickel
A rare 5˘ coin has sold for $4.56m at a Philadelphia auction.
The nickel is one of five of its kind, and is known as the Eliasberg 1913 Liberty Head nickel. That name comes from the man who bought the coin in 1948, financier Louis E Eliasberg, who eventually amassed one of the greatest coin collections in American history.
The Eliasberg 1913 Liberty Head nickel is considered to be the finest-grade example of its kind.
The new owner "now possesses one of the rarest, most valuable United States coins," Brian Kendrella, the president of Stack's Bowers Galleries, said. He noted that the coin is just one of three examples of the coin in private hands.
Liberty Head Nickel
Wine and Cheese Advent Calendars
Aldi's
Last year, Aldi's Wine Advent Calendars had us ready to book a flight to England just to pick one up. Sure, there were other boozy calendars you could buy, but between Aldi's top-rated wine selection and super-affordable prices, we were still lusting after the British version. Thankfully, the Christmas calendar's popularity means that this holiday season, Aldi is bringing them stateside. We got a sneak peak of both new holiday goodies, as well as the exact date they'll be in stores. Here's what you need to know:
The star of the show here is the festive wine collection. Each $70 box comes with 24 mini bottles of wine in red, white, rosé, and bubbly varieties, so you can cheers the lead-up to Christmas with all your favorite Aldi wines.
This is the first time they'll be available in the U.S., though there is one catch: some states (like New York) have laws against selling alcohol in supermarkets, so whether you can buy one at your local Aldi is dependent on state practices. If you're lucky enough to add Aldi's $8 rosé to your cart on the reg - or whatever your Aldi wine of choice may be - you should be able to find it in stores.
Not a big wine fan? Aldi is also dropping a cheese advent calendar this year, and it only costs $13. The equally festive box comes with 24 imported mini cheeses, including cheddar, gouda, and edam cheese. Of course, you could always double up and grab one of each ... a month of wine and cheese nights sounds like a pretty wonderful way to celebrate the holidays.
One thing's for sure: These fun advent calendars won't last long. Make note of November 7 in your calendar - that's the first day both the wine and cheese calendars will be in grocery stores!
Aldi's
Religious Freedom
Arkansas
Members and supporters of the Satanic Temple wheeled a statue of winged, goat-headed creature Baphomet onto the grounds of the Arkansas state capitol on Thursday to horn in on a battle over religious freedom.
The Baphomet rally protested a Ten Commandments monument installed last year outside the state capitol after lawmakers approved it in 2015. In May, the American Civil Liberties Union sued on behalf of four Arkansas women to remove the monument, saying it violates the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty for all.
Lucien Greaves, spokesman and co-founder of the Satanic Temple, characterized the event as a rally for "all people who hold sacred the founding Constitutional principles of religious freedom and free expression" in a statement to HuffPost.
"What we are asking for is only that the public square ... remain an area where free speech, religious liberty and equality under the law be respected by the holders of public office who swore to uphold those values," Greaves told a crowd at the rally on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Arkansas Republican and state Sen. Jason Rapert, a minister and lead sponsor of the law allowing the Ten Commandments monument, called the Satanic Temple rallygoers "outside extremists" and "pranksters" who "promote the profane."
Arkansas
100-Million-Year-Old Beetle Preserved
Amber
Fossilized tree sap, called amber, is an absolutely amazing substance. It lasts for an incredibly long time, and it has yielded some of the most incredible fossil discoveries of our time. If you need more evidence that amber is a paleontologists' best friend, look no further than the new paper published today in Current Biology.
The study reveals the discovery of an ancient beetle perfectly preserved in tree sap believed to be nearly 100 million years old. 100 million years. It's a length of time that is almost unfathomable, but there the amber sits with the unlucky beetle still stuck inside. Mother Nature sure is neat.
Amazingly, the pristine beetle specimen isn't even the most exciting thing about the discovery. Near the beetle, inside the thick amber casing, are tiny pollen grains. The small specks are easy to overlook at first glance, but they're incredibly important for scientists.
Scientists don't know all that much about the plants that covered the Earth 100 million years ago, and they know even less about the habits of the insects that pollinated them. This tiny beetle and its pollen payload are a fantastic window into the ancient world, and it's providing researchers with a much-needed marking post on the timeline of pollinating insects.
It's long been believed that beetles like this one played a major role in pollinating non-flowering plants for millions of years, and likely preceded the emergence of flowering plants and the flying insects that still help pollinate them today. Catching an ancient beetle "red handed," so to speak, with collections of tiny pollen grains nearby is an incredible stroke of luck, and the fact that the beetle and pollen are so well preserved is just icing on the cake.
Amber
Top 20
Global Concert Tours
The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers. Week of August 15, 2018:
1. Taylor Swift; $12,116,238; $127.09.
2. The Rolling Stones; $8,968,275; $155.26.
3. Jay-Z / Beyoncé; $6,575,209; $111.42.
4. Bruno Mars; $5,473,576; $176.67.
5. Guns N' Roses; $4,127,170; $96.46.
6. U2; $3,617,679; $140.39.
7. Eagles; $3,153,664; $159.10.
8. Pink; $2,773,352; $139.45.
9. Kenny Chesney; $2,756,458; $87.21.
10. Justin Timberlake; $2,756,050; $127.28.
11. Roger Waters; $2,109,517; $99.46.
12. "Springsteen On Broadway"; $2,057,006; $508.66.
13. Dead & Company; $1,851,279; $71.04.
14. Foo Fighters; $1,826,787; $89.70.
15. Iron Maiden; $1,741,417; $82.78.
16. Journey / Def Leppard; $1,558,021; $92.14.
17. Katy Perry; $1,507,964; $78.02.
18. Paul Simon; $1,451,357; $101.41.
19. André Rieu; $1,414,093; $90.57.
20. Luis Miguel; $1,374,832; $114.19.
Global Concert Tours
In Memory
Dave Dave
Dave Dave, a respected Las Vegas artist who was badly scarred as a boy when his father tried to burn him to death in Southern California, has died. He was 42.
Dave, who was born David Rothenberg, died on July 15 at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg said Wednesday.
Dave was 6 years old when his father, Charles Rothenberg, gave him a sleeping pill, doused his bed with kerosene and lit it in a Buena Park motel room near Disneyland during a bitter custody fight. The father fled.
The boy underwent numerous skin grafts and was left disfigured but refused to define himself as a victim.
"There is a lot that happens in people's lives, but that doesn't define them as a human being, it makes them stronger," Dave told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2016.
Dave "grabbed hold of life with a sense of urgency and passion," Mike Watkiss, a family friend, told the Orange County Register . "He put people at peace, he brought people together. A guy who had no reason to trust anyone other than his mother was amazingly trusting."
"To have gone through what he had gone through as a child at the hands of his father, and to lead a life as rich as he did and as creative and as caring and as giving as he did, I think is amazing," Watkiss said, speaking on behalf of his mother, Marie.
Dave Dave
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