Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Helen Date: 01 Sep 23 - 12:39 AM Two Proud Boys leaders sentenced to prison for their role in January 6 US Capitol riots * Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl are the first Proud Boys to be sent to prison * Both apologised for their actions, with Biggs claiming "I'm not a terrorist" * The judge handed a far lower sentence than prosecutors sought ... "Two other Proud Boys — Ethan Nordean and Dominic Pezzola — will face sentencing before Justice Kelly on Friday, while the group's former chairman Enrique Tarrio will be sentenced on September 5. "Prosecutors are seeking a 33-year prison term for Tarrio and a 27-year term for Nordean, both of whom were also convicted of seditious conspiracy. "They are requesting a 20-year term for Pezzola, who was acquitted of seditious conspiracy, but convicted of other serious felonies." |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Dave the Gnome Date: 31 Aug 23 - 11:44 AM The best result would be that he runs for president and loses by an absolute landslide but I can't see that happening. |
Subject: RE: IF TRUMP WINS AGAIN... From: Donuel Date: 31 Aug 23 - 10:30 AM If Trump does win again his lifelong dream of making his Golf courses a tax-free religion may come to pass. Sunday is their best day. Worshippers already pray before each shot. The rules of Golf will become commandments. Saudi Arabia LIV Golf will be the ultimate benefactor. Instead of wine and wafers, there will be club sandwiches and Arnold Palmer cocktails. Instead of making the courses restricted, it will simply be a Jew-free zone. Blacks will be allowed to Caddy and be servants. There will also be a few changes in the Justice Dept. and Constitution. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 31 Aug 23 - 09:37 AM He was a bitter man raved as fast as he can and owned guns just for fun In his nights and days His heart did fade As his mind grew more unkind. I wish that enlightenment shine, on the dumb and depraved I wish that enlightenment shine, on the dumb and depraved before they do the damn crime I wish that enlightenment shine, on the dumb and depraved I wish that enlightenment shine, on the dumb and depraved before they do the damn crime He watched FOX news and began to snooze and dreamed of sweet revenge Now he's lost beyond all cost he pulled an epic fail so now he's in jail I wish that enlightenment shine on the dumb and depraved I wish that enlightenment shine, on the dumb and depraved before they do the damn crime |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Helen Date: 31 Aug 23 - 05:33 AM As an ex-librarian, I think that is totally wrong. I never read Ray Bradbury's book Fahrenheit 451, probably because the thought of burning books for ideological purposes upset me too much. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 31 Aug 23 - 05:27 AM Stealing music is one thing but stealing books and libraries is what the right thinks is a war on woke. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/13/us/texas-houston-schools-libraries-takeover.html |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Helen Date: 31 Aug 23 - 03:25 AM Relating this topic to music. Ten times musicians told politicians to quit playing their music The article lists ten instances where politicians have used music without permission and then there is this at the end: "Former US president Donald Trump is a serial offender when it comes to using artists' music without their permission. "In fact, the list of musicians who've condemned him for doing so is now so long it has its own Wikipedia page, with the tracks in question serving as a pretty impressive playlist in their own right. "Trump's refusal to even attempt to find artists whose opinions align with his own means his rally attendees have so far rocked out to a long list of liberal icons, including Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, the White Stripes and — inexplicably — the Village People. 'R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe perhaps put it most succinctly in 2015, when he criticised the Trump campaign for playing the band's music. " 'Go f*** yourselves, the lot of you — you sad, attention-grabbing, power-hungry little men. Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign,' Stipe said. ' |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 30 Aug 23 - 05:53 PM I just imagined that all the runner up, wanna bes for the nomination are just the Son of Godzilla. Then Trump starts considering Trump Jr. for Vice President. The double Trump ticket is a hit. Oh well, The Bushs did a slower version. Guilliani is liable for defaming Georgia election workers. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Aug 23 - 03:01 PM Old MOAB is way ahead, but you can only see it piecemeal when you do a search on a person and see any of their posts to open individually. Trump seems to have been knocked off of the front page by Idalia. And another blip on the political news radar is that CNN has a new leader after the pro-Trump Chris Licht was fired in June. Licht alienated and fired a lot of people before he was done, but now hopefully CNN can do more real news again. David Zaslav Says Mark Thompson Will Bring “Transformational Leadership” to CNN. Not like Trump ever liked CNN, but a network going from relatively neutral into the Trump Swamp was problematic. FAUX News is bad enough, along with a couple of the lesser stars (New Max, OAN) in the conservative news constellation. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 30 Aug 23 - 12:15 PM This thread needs 11,780 more posts which is one more than we need to beat MOM. Fellas give me a break. Just say you recalculated. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Backwoodsman Date: 30 Aug 23 - 07:41 AM Dare I say it? Yeah, course I dare - 1,000! :-) |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 30 Aug 23 - 06:06 AM … Hurricane' for my suitcase Tryin' to find a warm place to spend the night Heavy rain's fallin' Seems I hear the news callin' "get out now" … A rainy night in Georgia A rainy night in Georgia Lord, I believe it's rainin' all over the world I feel like it's rainin' all over the world … Neon signs are blacked out Big waves and storm surge passin' through the night A distant moanin' of the wind Seems to play a sad refrain to the night … But it's a rainy night in Georgia Such a rainy night in Georgia Lord, I believe it's rainin' all over the world I feel like it's rainin' all over the world … How many times I wondered It still comes out the same No matter how you look at it or think of it It's life and you just got to play the game … Find me a place in a box car So I take my guitar to pass some time Late at night when it's hard to rest I hold your picture to my chest and I feel fine, I feel fine … But it's a rainy night in Georgia Baby, it's a rainy night in Georgia Lord, I believe it's rainin' all over the world Kinda lonely now and it's rainin' all over the world |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Aug 23 - 09:49 AM Let's see if that old song slips into the news of the night. :) |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Dave the Gnome Date: 29 Aug 23 - 04:12 AM I think I said it further up the thread but can't resist repeating it Is Wednesday going to be arraigning night in Georgia then? |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Aug 23 - 11:36 PM Trump's Chief of Staff Meadows spent several hours testifying today, trying to get his trial moved to federal court. His version of things is now etched in stone - under oath, anything he said can and will be used against him. One of the group has filed to waive the arraignment hearing in Atlanta, filing a "not guilty" plea. I think it may have been discussed on MSNBC, I don't see it in the Google News stories I just pulled up. Trump, other defendants to be arraigned next week in Georgia election interference case. The rest will be arraigned next week on Wednesday. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 28 Aug 23 - 08:35 AM > It probably takes someone like Trump to normalize the unthinkable. Normalising the unthinkable is the standard MO of antisocial meeja, and TV and newspapers before that, and all for the same reason: outrage drives income. The Orange Buffoon is, after all, at least partly the product of (un)reality TV .... *how* long did he spend in Makeup before that mugshot? |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 27 Aug 23 - 06:22 PM I believe Americans AND Europeans are equally educated that a high cultured society like Germany or even the US can go from a reasoned society to one where it is socially acceptable to shoot, hang, and gas women and children to death on a Saturday and go to church Sunday over just 10 short years of cultural change. Replacement theory does not veil its genocidal final solution. Participation in such a killing society varies from a simple hatred of certain neighbors to the actual murderers. The change is done incrementally. I think it is a small step to go from mass shootings to organized mass shootings nationwide. It probably takes someone like Trump to normalize the unthinkable. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Helen Date: 27 Aug 23 - 03:09 PM SRS, a lot of things surprised me about Trump, but the one thing which surprised me about the whole saga was how Putin was playing him like a violin. Surprising and very scary. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Aug 23 - 09:47 AM Confirmation that Prigozhin was killed in that plane explosion last week. Putin is a bad example for Trump; should the orange one end up in office again I fear he wouldn't put any parts of the Putin playbook off limits. Another reason to not even let him run. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Helen Date: 26 Aug 23 - 11:18 PM Maybe MaJoC, or maybe it is all that volcanic verbal lava trying to bubble up and out of his mouth and he, for once in his life, thinking that maybe it would be a better strategic, self-preservation plan not to let it out. If I was a betting person, I'd bet that the primal urge to talk will overtake even the urge for self preservation. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 26 Aug 23 - 10:33 PM > If it is Trump, he doesn't ever know he has done wrong He doesn't ever *admit* he's done wrong, Helen. I'm no shrink, but methinks that smacked-bottom face is his subconscious trying to get through to him. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 26 Aug 23 - 10:18 PM > As long as they keep supporting Trump, they are irrelevant. *Agree*, Stilly: the Eight Dwarves are not so much leading as following from the front. But they (and Trump, for that matter) have a tiger-by-the-tail problem: once you're at the head of a zombie army, it's unwise to stumble. Hm: four metaphors in one paragraph. Is this a record? |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Aug 23 - 09:26 PM The GOP candidates are rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. As long as they keep supporting Trump, they are irrelevant. The issues that will get people to the polls don't have to do with Trump; it has to do with the Supreme Court. You need to go to a more granular level. The state issues to do with access to abortion and birth control and LGBTQ-rights are where pissed off American women and families and their allies are making the difference. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Steve Shaw Date: 26 Aug 23 - 07:27 PM Going back to the substantive, here's a Brit view of recent Republican shenanigans from the Guardian: Donald Trump stayed away from Wednesday’s Republican candidates’ debate in Milwaukee. Yet he remained the evening’s dominant presence. The former president’s poll lead among Republican supporters for the 2024 US presidential contest is so strong that he could afford to do this. His absence deliberately belittled both the televised event, as he simultaneously gave an imperiously misleading social media interview to Tucker Carlson, and his eight challengers, who were left vying to impress in a fantasy “What if?” contest over the choice for a party not in fact dominated by Mr Trump. Absence also allowed Mr Trump, on the eve of his latest court appearance in Atlanta and now facing 91 felony counts in four separate criminal cases, to avoid offering himself as a target to his eight rivals. Not that he need have worried about that. Most of them went out of their way all evening to pay him repeated homage. No one did this more shamelessly than the Ohio entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who told the audience both that Mr Trump was the best Republican president of the 21st century and that, if elected, Mr Ramaswamy would instantly pardon him for whatever he may have been convicted of in the meantime. By identifying deliberately with Mr Trump’s outsider status, Mr Ramaswamy did two things. He made a bid to be Mr Trump’s running-mate next year and he also separated himself from the platform’s professional politicians. These seven all see themselves, with varying degrees of credibility, as the alternative candidate to Mr Trump. Their shared problem is that the party shows little sign of being interested in such a person. Certainly not in the former vice-president Mike Pence, whose certification of Joe Biden’s victory in January 2021 was supported by most of his fellow candidates but remains heretical to Trump supporters. And probably not in the Florida governor Ron DeSantis either, who entered the debate as the nominal chief rival to Mr Trump but who once again did relatively little to cement that claim. Maybe you yanks don't see it in quite the same way, or maybe (as has been expressed here more than once) you think that we Brits don't get it because we don't live over there (and presumably don't get our info from Fox News). Thing is, we see Trump as a world issue, not just a US domestic issue, and we're worried. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 26 Aug 23 - 01:04 PM Sports betting is taking bets on Trump's trial outcomes https://sportsbetting.legal/news/what-are-donald-trumps-odds-of-serving-jail-time-before-2026/ |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 26 Aug 23 - 11:10 AM Trump thirsts for racist revenge, personal revenge, and financial revenge. Its his SOP. We all know some vengeful maniacs like that. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 26 Aug 23 - 09:59 AM Trump no longer lives a charmed life as his bad acts are catching up. He's hemorrhaging cash. It won't be pretty and it may not be entirely satisfactory for his enemies, but he's going down. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 26 Aug 23 - 06:53 AM In advertising, there's no such thing as negative publicity. Far too many years ago, I heard it said that an advertiser doesn't care whether you love the product or hate the product: what he's really afraid of is the possibility that you've never heard of the product. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Steve Shaw Date: 26 Aug 23 - 04:15 AM He's the arch-populist and he does know exactly what he's doing. Why do you think his standing improves with every move he makes? But it's a long run-in to the next election and I suspect that his current extremely high profile will turn into a pall of negativity over time that will wear the electorate down. We can but hope. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Aug 23 - 09:55 PM One of those indicted is still in jail and another is complaining that she can't afford representation. On MSNBC this evening that talked about those being low-hanging fruit as far as making a deal to make some of their problems go away. That Trump would do well to see that all of them have lawyers so they don't turn against him. But he's too cheap, he will cut off his own nose to spite his face regarding the fees. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 25 Aug 23 - 06:34 PM When you lie and steal for a lifetime you too would think it is entirely unfair to suddenly be told "No you may not lie and steal any longer and you will be punished for doing what you have always done". He may be clever at lying and stealing but he is ill-equipped to truly see who he is. In a way, he does not understand what he has done. He thinks in terms of his normal operating procedures. Pathological narcissism presents some unique abnormalities. Fortunatly... Ignorance is no defense. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Steve Shaw Date: 25 Aug 23 - 06:10 PM Sorry, but he knows exactly what he's doing. Be very afraid. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Helen Date: 25 Aug 23 - 06:05 PM MaJoC, are you referring to the orange one for the toddler face or the Aussie pollie? If it is Trump, he doesn't ever know he has done wrong so he wouldn't pull that face, not for that reason anyway. It's more likely that he is desperately trying not to shoot his mouth off and dig a deeper hole for himself. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 25 Aug 23 - 05:47 PM Second thoughts (once I could bear to look at said ugly mug): That's the face of a toddler who knows he's done wrong, and has just been Told Off. *Now* I know what Sir Pterry meant by someone having "a face like a smacked bottom". |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 25 Aug 23 - 04:47 PM Oooohhh, don't be so hard on Animal, Helen. .... I'd better reread 1984 for revision. What I thought when I first saw the offending mugshot is left as an exercise for the reader. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Helen Date: 25 Aug 23 - 04:14 PM Talking about mugshots, look at this Oz politician who has loudly and publicly quit the racist, hate-based One Nation political party. (BTW he didn't quit because it is racist and hate-based. He knew that before he joined them.) Look at his photo on that page. Mark Latham quits One Nation, accuses party of 'defrauding NSW electoral funds' The photo reminds me not only of Trump's not-happy mugshot but also of the Muppet character Animal. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 25 Aug 23 - 03:25 PM English Philosopher’s Dressed-Up Skeleton Goes on View in New Glass Display When utilitarian thinker Jeremy Bentham died in 1832, he requested his preserved remains be displayed in “an appropriate box or case” Don't give Trump ideas! He won't want to be buried beside a green at his New Jersey golf club. So all 19 have turned themselves in, and one is still in jail (or was last I heard, I think there's a hearing today about that.) He didn't have the collateral or cash for bail, or it may be he had a previous charge that made this one more complicated to sort out? |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: robomatic Date: 25 Aug 23 - 02:56 PM In response to those of the UK persuasion who constantly opine about the incredible wastefulness of US political behavior: One of my favorite news anchors of the 70s was Howard K. Smith, who not only reported the news in the era of 3 network prime time, but could talk intelligently about it. Every few years he indulged himself in telling us his fellow countrymen some of the benefits of the UK parliamentary system, particularly in time and cost of preparing and administering political campaigns and elections. I am often tempted to start a thread in the name of Jeremy Bentham, the English philosopher, jurist, and social reformer regarded as the founder of modern utilitarianism. He was and remains ahead of his time. His "Short Review of the Declaration" should be read more than once by every U.S. citizen who tears up at the words of Thomas Jefferson (of which I are one). |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 25 Aug 23 - 02:21 PM Remarkably he has grown one inch taller and lost over 20 ibs since his last indictment. He wouldn't lie about his height, weight, and hair color, would he? |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Steve Shaw Date: 25 Aug 23 - 12:39 PM A random selection of what the Daily Mash thinks about Mugshot Man: "Joe Turner said: 'I’ve turned around in Asda and seen this guy staring at me like that because I got between him and the white muffins.'" “He thinks he looks tough? He looks like the morning after the first time a woman told him his impotence is his own fault and a big deal, and he’s going around outraged telling the whole bowls club." “That’s the expression of a man who’s once again watching next door’s cat shit on his bedding plants. Or a poster advising you to get your prostate checked." |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: SPB-Cooperator Date: 25 Aug 23 - 12:35 PM I reckon the turnip is setting himself up as a political martyr to incite and escalate violent insurrections by the right-wing gun nuts. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 25 Aug 23 - 09:14 AM It seems to me that Putin has far more motivation to influence a Trump election than ever. Could he go from Facebook bots to some dire direct action? His desperation has probably never been higher with the Ukraine war, sanctions, economy, and a near coup. If ever there was a time for Putin to go all in, it is our next election depending upon the status of a Trump candidacy. While Trump has defied the odds most of his life I am betting he may not get as far as selecting a running mate like someone of Jim Jordan's ilk. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 25 Aug 23 - 08:59 AM Herself insisted on watching the entire process (I slept through any actual appearance of His Orangeness), and asked wherefore so many cars. My response at the time was "they've got to have at least one decoy car", but 34 vehicles (*ghasp*) .... I've realised now it's because it takes 135 heavies from the Secret Service to protect him from real life. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Steve Shaw Date: 25 Aug 23 - 08:57 AM So Trump has never heard of the term "mugshot." I was immediately reminded of the maverick judge James Pickles in the 1960s who asked the barristers in the courtroom, "Who ARE these 'Beatles'?" (Possibly an apocryphal yarn, but I like it anyway) |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: MaJoC the Filk Date: 25 Aug 23 - 07:11 AM SRS, Bill D: *agree* re NewSpeak*. I'm waiting for a politician to seamlessly change "war against Eurasia" to "war against Eastasia" in mid-speech. * Which treacherously respelt itself in my ear as "News Speak". |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Donuel Date: 25 Aug 23 - 07:01 AM Trump fired his 'best lawyer' imo before his booking. I can surmise/guess that the lawyer suggested that Trump plead out, which is to take a deal to avoid jail time but accept guilt. Trump may want to claim as much victimization and martyrdom as possible. A strategy like that is asking for a life sentence at his age. The 34-vehicle motorcade stopped at the jailhouse only 26 minutes since the process was highly expedited. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Steve Shaw Date: 24 Aug 23 - 07:25 PM Your system is weird. You have elections on fixed dates every four years. You spend nearly half of that four years fighting the next election. The fighting seems to consist of bunches of maniacs who shouldn't be anywhere near politics trying to outdo each other in proving to the country that they can out-lunatic all the others. We have maximum terms of five years, though the PM can call an election whenever he or she wants, subject to that limit. We have just four or five weeks of intense campaigning. No-one's pretending that our politicos don't keep an eye and a half on the next election years ahead, but I have a feeling that your style of campaigning would go down like a lead balloon with our electorate. I haven't got a superiority complex about it, however, as we seem to be able to throw up idiots to run us who are almost as bad as yours. Democracy, eh? |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Lighter Date: 24 Aug 23 - 06:05 PM It's beyond belief but true. A local columnist (a retired physician) this week: "President Trump has now been been indicted by the corrupt justice system for the fourth time with a total of 91 charges ...[and] Biden's Secretary of State Anthony Blinken even has the nerve to criticize Russia for Putin's prosecution of his political enemies." |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Bill D Date: 24 Aug 23 - 06:03 PM I really like " Orwellian reverse-speak slogans: SRS... That's all 99% of their 'platform' is, vague slogans. |
Subject: RE: BS: Trump INDICTED AGAIN x4 (NO new Trmp threads) From: Steve Shaw Date: 24 Aug 23 - 05:54 PM I've seen only snippets of the goings-on and I can hardly believe what I'm seeing. |