Friday Music

The second album of the Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session – was recorded inside Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity on November 27, 1987, with the band circled around a single microphone.  The band was unable to rehearse with most of the guest musicians before the day of the six hour session.

Considering the method of recording and time constraints, this could have been disastrous for the numbers which required seven or more musicians, but after paying a security guard twenty-five dollars for an extra two hours of recording time, the band was able to finish, recording the final song of the session, Misguided Angel, in a single take.  The album was a unparalleled success.

Nice live performance recorded at the Church Of The Holy Trinity, December 25, 2023 from the album and film Cowboy Junkies Trinity Revisited, featuring Margo Timmins, Michael Timmins, Peter Timmins, and Alan Anton, with special guests Ran Adams, Vic Chesnutt, Natalie Merchant and Jeff Bird.  Sweet Jane.....

The New Normal

Sixteen hours after the tragedy, and in the midst of a recovery effort, it comes as an enormous comfort to the families of the deceased to learn that a likely causal factor of the crash was FAA hiring practices. 

President Trump's remarks, suggesting that diversity requirements and other policies caused the collision of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter near Washington, reflect his neediness and instinct to reclaim the media spotlight from this tragic event and redirect everyone's deference to him.

The man has no empathy.

Welcome to the new normal....

New Year Night Sky

Last, but not least, night sky post for this month.  

Shortly after sunset tonight and tomorrow make a point to cast your gaze to the southwest horizon.

With the unaided eye you should be able spot a very thin waxing crescent moon low above the horizon.  If conditions are good you should be able to view the glow of the shaded portion of the moon in the glow of earthshine.    Much higher in the sky you cannot miss Venus as the brightest object in the sky.  Saturn is nearby. 

New Year Night Sky

Second-last post of this month's New Year night sky opportunities.

New Moon this evening with our own natural satellite betwixt the earth and the sun.  Without reflected sunlight the moon is unobservable from earth.

And the night skies will be especially dark.

And with the cold winter temps lower humidity and clearer skies.

If we don't have any overcast conditions should be optimal for viewing.

Fingers-crossed....

Seduction

I stumbled-across this blast from the past - sixty years ago to be exact. 

Growing-up my pop had a tube of this stuff on hand.  And I got to use a dab on school picture day!

According to this ad - Brylcreem can get men wanted, or unwanted, harassment from young ladies. If you do not follow directions, and you use TWO dabs of Brylcreem, the young ladies will ATTACK you.

If you're looking to seduce the town librarian two dabs will be just the ticket...

Winter Sunrise

Thirty minutes of sunrise unfolding.

Good morning, Monday….

 

 

 

Got Venison?

Yesterday I was thinking about what to cook for Sunday, game day.  Taking stock of what we had on hand all I needed was a package of fresh mushrooms to whip-up a pot-full of venison stroganoff.  As near as I can figure it has been more than a few years since I made this dish.  And, again, as it turns-out I shouldn't let so many years pass as this is one of the best comfort foods on the planet. 

This also happens to be one of those meals that impresses with its complex taste profile under the guise of thriftiness.  Doesn't matter if you're feeding your family tribe, throwing a dinner party, or like us - cooking for two and don't mind leftovers; this happens to be a recipe that stretches your valuable grocery dollars.

VENISON STROGANOFF 

Directions- 

Fetch a couple of packages of venison steaks or a roast from the freezer.  Because this is a low and slow stove-top braise you needn't use your best venison; a roast works really well. Thaw and cut into strips, cubes or chunks – you pick.  Be sure to trim every last vestige of silver skin and tallow from your cuts.  Season generously with fresh cracked pepper and cracked sea salt.  Dredge in flour and set aside.

 

 

Assemble a couple cups of beef base, half of a chopped onion and chopped garlic.  

 

In a cast-iron Dutch oven heat olive oil to screaming hot and brown your venison in shifts so that the oil stays hot. 

 

 

Remove the browned venison and set aside.  Add the chopped onion and sweat for a minute or two.  Add the chopped garlic.  

 

 

Deglaze your kettle with a bunch of red wine (I prefer Merlot) to get all the browned bits of goodness off from the bottom of the pot. This step is critical. 

Return the venison to the pot along with enough beef base to cover the meat.  Cover, and simmer 2 -3 hours.  Check periodically and taste for seasoning.  

 

 

Add the sliced mushrooms, cover and simmer a couple more hours.  Add more red wine as needed. 

Remove the lid and continue to simmer over medium heat while the sauce reduces.  Start another large pot with salted water to boil.  This is for the noodles. 

 

 

After the stock has reduced to your satisfaction stir-in sour cream slowly to create a silky-smooth result.  Sour cream is totally personal.  When it is right for you, turn down the heat allowing it to continue to thicken. The flour used to dredge the venison should be sufficient; however, If needed you can thicken it further with slurry of corn starch and water.   

When the pot of water reaches a boil add your noodles of choice – we chose egg noodles.  Following the package directions cook your noodles until done.  

 

 

Serve your venison stroganoff over a bed of noodles in a bowl along with dinner rolls, unsalted sweet cream butter, maybe some garden peas on the side.  Red wine or an Oktoberfest beer is a terrific pairing to wash it down.  Throw your low-carb diet out the window and dig-in.  This is damn good chow if you can get it.  And it won't cost you a king's ransom.

Pro-Tip -  If you're feeling ambitious or you have an extra hand in the kitchen, substitute mashed taters or German spaetzle for the noodles.  No venison?  Substitute stewing beef.

Military Filmography

Way back in September of 2010 the staff here at The Platz posted our Top-Ten picks of movies about Hollywood Goes To War with my personal Top Ten War Movies.  We thought we rather nailed it.  Nevertheless, staff recognizes that moods, politics, tolerance for warfare and Hollywood tastes change over time.

A pause for a partial revisit.

From the all-knowing Internet Movie Database is the Top 25 Greatest War Movies of All Time (The Ultimate List).  

Compiled 11 years ago and updated 7 years ago the war movies on this list are ranked according to their success (awards and nominations), Their popularity and cinematic greatness from a perspective of directing and writing.  Accuracy is important too.   

There was considerable overlap between this list (albeit larger and casing a wider historic net) than my original Top Ten list; including some releases to hit the big screen or streaming services in recent years.

Significantly, I've seen all of these movies; many of them multiple times.  Over the course of a decade and a half it is interesting to note the commonalities in film genre that persist in popular culture.  There is a great deal of over-lap in taste.

In any event, one of my go-to YouTube channels for geopolitical events and affairs is hosted by Ward Carroll.  Carroll flew F-14 Tomcats for fifteen years after graduating from the US Naval Academy.  Named Naval Institute Press Author of the Year in 2001 he is host of the Ward Carrol YouTube Channel.

Several months ago Carroll pubished a short list of All-Time 12 Most Badass Military Movie Characters I thought to myself:  I've seen all of these movies.  More overlap.  Fascinating.  

I've embedded the video below.

So, with winter upon us if you're looking to curl-up by the fire and watch some military history, war drama, the tragedy of violent conflict or the futility of war in general; enjoy surfing the IMDb and YouTube accounts for titles you can stream directly or watch on your own streaming services. 

If you are motivated you know where to find the content......

You'll Get A Charge Out Of This

Last year Ford Motor added the Tesla network of Super Chargers to their existing charging network.  As an EV owner this is pretty cool as it expands significantly the chargers available thru Ford's Blue Oval charging network.

On back order since last autumn this showed-up on the porch last week.

A free adapter so I can hook-up to a Tesla fast charger while traveling.

Since I already use a Level Two Tesla Universal Charging Station at home this is an easy-peasy adaptation (pun intended).....

Stirring the Pot

Wok, not pot.

Shrimp stir fry this evening.

One more reason America has been Great for about as long as I can remember.

mise en place

 Raising a toast to the Calphalon wok,

An embarrassment of vegetables,

And a Big Ass gas flame on the new GE Profile cook top!

Friday Music

 Composed by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of the Canadian band The Guess Who exists in two versions.  The first recording was was featured on The Guess Who's Canned Wheat album while the second was featured on the album, American Woman.

The second version was released as a single in 1969 and is likely the version you remember.  The tempo is faster, a couple of verses transposed and the single was shortened by cutting Bachman's guitar solo.

It rose to to Number 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, first place in Canada and one of three million-selling singles for The Guess Who - American Woman/No Sugar Tonight, Laughing/Undun and No Time.

Excellent cover featuring Ringo Starr, Burton Cummings, Joe Walsh, Todd Rundgren, Nils Lofgren, Dave Edmunds and Timmy B. Schmit at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

No Time...

Road Muscle

Behold the 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z28; and all its performance attributes.  

Darn nice ride.

And the 2024 Mustang Mach-E.  

A darn better ride. 

 

My daily drive is a Mustang Mach-E Premium AWD with an extended range battery

Engine:  Two permanent magnet, synchronous electric motors, with a single speed automatic transmission

Power: 346 HP

Weight: 4,759 LB

Top Speed: Factory limited to 120 MPH

0-60 mph: 3.8 sec

Max Torque:  428 LB FT

Automotive engineering has moved light years since 1968.  

And there is no such thing as a green sports car.

Vrooom!

 

Getting Away From It all

 

 

Got together for a Sibling Day with Jill's side of the family last week.  Consequently, Doggo scored a day at the spa.  Doggie Day Care between you and me.

There's hardly nothing she doesn't like more than running with her pack of canine homies.

Red River K9 offers boarding, grooming, training and daycare.  And because our red bundle of energy is in her formative years an opportunity to be away from us, socialize with other dogs and run with her pack is good.  She burns-off some energy, learns to make new doggie friends, get along with others and we catch a break for a day to spend with family  

Dropped her-off on the way out of town.  Picked her up on the way home before COB.

That dog with the curly white coat is Mick.  Ruby and Mick first met last spring during puppy class.  They've become fast friends and seek each other out at every day care opportunity.  Thick as thieves they are.... 

*Photos from the kennel's Face Book page

Polar Vortex

As per usual I rose before sunrise, turned-up the heat, turned on the coffee, checked the indoor/outdoor temperatures (65/-14F), checked the Indoor/attached garage temperatures (64/34F), fed the dog and went out on the porch to check the sunrise.

I sure hope the worst of this polar vortex is going to be behind us in the 24 hours.

It's not fit for man nor beast out there.

Noteable Quoteable

Just a few months ago in a beautiful Pennsylvania field an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.

- President Donald J. Trump

Highway Patrol

There's an old saying in law enforcement - You cannot out run Motorola.  

It may also be you might find it difficult to outrun the 1969 Dodge Polara Pursuit.  Like these  Royal Canadian Mounties showing-off their RCMP four wheel Polara mounts.

The 1969 Dodge Polara has long been considered the pinnacle of police car performance boasting a 375hp 440 lurking under the hood, heavy-duty suspension and ginormous brakes.

That's more muscle than plenty of peer muscle cars back in the day.  For good reason.

How'd you like to have this California Highway Patrol (CHP) restoration in the spare stall of your garage?

 

Vroom!

Polar Vortex

 

Perfectly tropical -9F this morning.

Thankful for the sunshine streaming thru the windows as this passive solar does make a difference.

The Grift

Last Friday evening president-elect Trump and his family started selling a block chain crypto meme token featuring an image of him lifted from the July assassination attempt.  

Added to a long line of steaks, burgers, foot long wieners, chocolate, water, ice, beer, vitamins, wine, vodka, board games, video games, more than a half-dozen books, hats, mugs, key chains, travel booking, energy drinks, office furniture, women and menswear, flags, bar ware, life size cardboard cutouts, watches, perfumes, colognes, sneakers, bibles, digital trading cards and unsigned guitars. 

The Trump meme coin is his latest merch push and really raises the bar.

Disclosed mere days before his second inauguration this venture is the latest in a long line of hustles to monetize his followers and enrich his family.  It is yet another sign that the Trumps will take every opportunity in his second term to push the edge of the self-dealing envelope.

The $Trump token is being sold thru CIC Digital LLC an affiliate of the Trump Organization pitching the slogan: Join the Trump community!  This is history in the making!

Accompanied by multiple disclaimers disavowing anything to do with any political campaign, political office or government agency the website says that the Trump meme tokens are for entertainment purposes only, are not intended to be seen as an investment opportunity, investment contract, or security of any type. They are expected to function as an expression of support for and engagement with the ideals and beliefs embodied by the symbol $TRUMP.  In a pitch promoting the meme token, Trump told his supporters to; Have Fun!

Eric Trump had this to say; I am extremely proud of what we continue to accomplish in crypto.  $Trump is currently the hottest digital meme on earth.  This is just the beginning.

Trump tokens are not currency, they are not backed by anything tangible, they have no intrinsic value.  Unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum Tesla won't accept them for the purchase of a vehicle and cartels and crime syndicates won't take them in trade either.  Commonly, these coin tokens have been created as a joke inspired by internet memes and animal cartoons.  Next to worthless, they're  traded as a hobby.  In this instance, 80% of the coin tokens are controlled by the Trump organization while 20% have been offered for sale to the public.  You tell me who is The House and who is The Mark?

Attracted by the lure of easy wealth by means of a  pyramid scheme,  Trump business opportunity, trading of these meme coins on cryptocurrency markets began on Saturday immediately driving up the value of Trump tokens.  

Not surprisingly, the creation of a financial instrument facilitating the transfer money to the president's family in connection with his office has ethics lawyers pulling their hair out.  

It's also caught the attention of the crypto world with some in the crypto industry criticizing the token.  Nick Tomaino, crypto venture capitalist and former executive at Coinbase, wrote on social media; Trump owning 80% and timing launch hours before inauguration is predatory and many will likely get hurt by it.

Just between you and me I think the Trump meme coin could also be a mechanism for special interests and foreign governments to engage in influence peddling with the in-coming president.  But I digress.  

I'd be willing to bet that a few of you reading this post would tell me to my face I'm full of beans and simply meddling in another wildly successful Trump business enterprise.  I disagree about the matter of meddling as I happen to place a high value on free will.  A fool and his money are soon parted after all.

A challenge to my detractors:  If you embrace the veracity of this opportunity you might consider mortgaging your home or cashing-in all your frumpy, dumpy, boring stocks, bonds and mutual funds and purchase as many Trump meme coins as you can get your hands-on.  

What's that you say?  

You want to sit it out?

I thought so.

Polar Vortex

Polar vortex sunrise this morning.  -3F here, halfway between the equator and the North Pole.

This winter weather phenomena is not anything new.  Rather, the term polar vortex has been popularized in recent years bringing attention to weather that has always been there. While we feel the effects on the ground the action is taking place tens of thousands of feet higher in the upper atmosphere.

There is a large area of low pressure and frigid air that persists at both the earth's poles.  It is the counter-clockwise motion of this flow of air that lends its name to vortex.  It is always there and strengthens in the winter while weakening during the summer months. Periodically during winter this air mass will expand, sending cold air southward via the jet stream.  Not confined to North America these cold surges occur in Europe and Asia as well.

While wild critters are better adapted to extremes of weather the only danger to people and their families is prolonged exposure to extremes of cold.  Which is why you should find a spot to bask in the winter sunshine.

 

Is It Only The Economy, Stupid?

A variation on the title of this post was coined by strategist James Carville as a missive to campaign workers leading up to Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign against incumbent George H. W. Bush.  I've written about the subject many times over the years.  Is it only about the economy?  Or is there more?  I would postulate that it is the economy and much  more.

Tomorrow Donald J. Trump will be sworn-in as America's 47th President.  Who, in the lead-up to the festivities, would tell you that he alone can fix our country's hellscape of lawlessness, disorder, economic collapse, inflation, energy dependence, mobocracy, crisis and chaos.

Perhaps you share that view.  Not me; I would submit that by any rational measure of the condition of the United State of America the president-elect will be taking over a country in rather decent condition. Let's take a walk thru the relevant numbers.

Contrary to what the president-elect will tell you drug overdose deaths are down and the manufacturing sector has created more jobs than at any time in the last decade and a half.  Although some prices remain stubbornly high; inflation is down significantly.  Inasmuch as federal largess under both Trump and Biden contributed to the expansion of the money supply Trump now shoulders the burden to reduce the cost of my groceries.  Fair is fair. 

December delivered an overall blowout jobs report and wages are up and continuing to rise, all the while unemployment is at levels before the COVID shitshow hit the fan.  Domestic energy production of crude oil and natural gas are at record levels and we are now the global leader in production and export of crude oil.  Meanwhile, a gallon of regular unleaded, around here anyway, will set you back less than $2.50.  We are awash in an embarrassment of energy and production.

Nevertheless, it goes beyond the economy.  Illegal immigration is belatedly, but at long last down and we've found ourselves with the lowest violent crime rates in fifty years.  No American military forces are in a hot war elsewhere in the world and Trump's go-to Gold Standard for how he's doing - the stock market has set a new record for the past two years.  Finally, Americans have shown signs of coming around to actually recognizing and accepting the reality that conditions on the ground are pretty darn good.   

I'll bet you a steak dinner that in reasonably short order President Trump will take credit for the strong economy he is about to inherit.  That's because as I gaze across my landscape I don't see a hellscape; I see prosperity and the best economy on the planet.  If you think I'm making this up out of thin air; fight me.

Do not get the impression I am diminishing the reality that not each and every single last American, shares the same upwardly economic prosperity and living conditions.  Poor people and economically disadvantaged families are real.  Nor am I blind to politics.  It is certainly in Trump's self-interests to paint as bleak a landscape a possible for his base.  Nothing new under the sun there.

As Trump assumes office there are no shortage of challenges ahead.  Russia, China and Iran are failing states.  Russian and North Korean military personnel allegedly execute Korean wounded to erase evidence of North Korean involvement in the war against Ukraine. Ugh.

Here at home, domestic terrorism has, again, reared its head.  There is funding the budget and passage of a reconciliation bill, the DOGE, the debt ceiling, tax policy, Social Security and Medicare.  Will there be a comprehensive immigration policy?   99 cent a dozen eggs?

Placing a higher value on action I try to tune-out the talk.  Consequently, I'm looking forward to detailed policy to materialize.  You know, policies which will improve your and my prosperity and general lot in life.  And maybe make the world a safer place.

Donald Trump has been dealt a solidly good hand and I'm looking forward to being witness to how he plays it.

Bring it on.....

Dump Run

Trip to the dump today.  

Two barrels of mixed recyclables and three tall kitchen bags of garbage.

Unlike city dwellers - who enjoy municipal curbside garbage and recyclables pick-up - in rural America you have to haul your trash and recyclables to the town waste disposal facility (the dump).  Sure, we could pay extra to an outside contractor for end-of-the-driveway pick-up of a couple of carts.  But considering the minimal amount of waste we generate it doesn't seem economical.  Besides, a trip to the dump is something of a social affair on a Saturday morning and I'm almost guaranteed to bump into someone I know and have the opportunity for some idle chit chat and local gossip.  Moreover, I can combine it with a stop at the grocery or general store in town.  

The vehicle in the picture is our first and only pick-up truck - a 1998 Chevy 1500 Silverado 4X4 with a towing package and a matching cap on the back.  We took delivery of it in early autumn of 1997 which means it celebrates its 28th birthday this coming fall.

It has made multiple trips to Canada and the Gulf Coast and everywhere in between, pulled a boat countless times for fishing and recreational cruising and has hauled more dead deer than I can count.

It lives in its own stall in the machine shed, doesn't leak or leave spots on the concrete and started this morning in 14 degree weather on the first crank.  You can tell by looking at it it's pretty clean.  It even has an AM/FM cassette stereo.  In a couple more years I suppose it officially becomes an antique.

At 135,000+ miles it doesn't owe me a thing and at least once a year someone will approach me and ask if it's for sale.  It isn't.  A similarly-equipped Chevy today would cost about what I paid for my first house in 1984.  Scary, eh? 

Ruby

Further evidence of the progress we've made....

Mr. Baseball

 Bob Uecker passed away yesterday at the age of 90.  

He was one of the game's most beloved figures throughout his 70-year career in baseball.  In his six years in his hometown of Milwaukee as well as St. Louis, Philadelphia and Atlanta Bob made many friends among the  baseball stars of the 1960s.  He was a member of the 1964 World Series Champion Cardinals.

Uecker spent 53 years doing what he loved most, calling Brewers games on the radio.  So popularly successful the Baseball Hall of Fame honored him in 2003 with the Ford C. Frick Award; a testament to his ability to elicit smiles and laughter.

Uecker's six seasons as a backup catcher began in 1962 with the Milwaukee Braves and his .200 lifetime batting average supplied plenty of material for decades of his shtick. Nevertheless, of Uecker's 14 career home runs, three were off future Hall of Famers: Sandy Koufax, Fergie Jenkins and Gaylord Perry.

God Speed Mr. Baseball...

Cardinals management fined both Bob Gibson and Bob Uecker for holding hands with big goofy smiles on their faces.  The Team Photo had to be retaken.

 

Friday Music

Badfinger was a British rock band that recorded and released four consecutive hits between 1970 to 1972 - Come and Get It (written and produced by Paul McCartney), No Matter What, Day After Day (produced by George Harrison), and Baby Blue (written by Pete Ham and produced by Todd Rundgren).    

As the tale goes it is said that Ham wrote the song about a woman named Dixie Armstrong, whom he had dated during Badfinger's final US tour.  It was the group's last Top 20 single, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.  Forty years later the song reemerged to new fame and recognition when it was featured in the series finale of AMC's Breaking Bad - a reference to the distinctive blue methamphetamine produced by Walter White.  

It is heartening to be witness to a third (global) generation paying homage to classic 70s rock 'n roll.  This is a faithful cover of the song by a band from Bangkok, The Drivers.......

New Year Night Sky

Yesterday I posted a video debunking the Face Book memes and misinformation about the Great January Planetary Alignment Hoax of 2025.

Today is guidance about the four planets that you can see with you naked eye (Uranus and Neptune are out there too but without optics they're not easily discerned).

The four brighter planets that you can spot together in the winter night sky include Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn in what is referred-to as a planetary parade.

While the four planets will appear to line-up in the night sky this alignment is nothing new.  If you watched the video yesterday you would recall that this is what planets do in the ordinary scheme of things. 

In any event, for the initial couple of hours after darkness falls you should be able to spot Venus and Saturn in the southwest along with Jupiter situated higher in the sky and Mars in the east.

Fingers-crossed for cold, clear viewing conditions.

And don't believe bullshit posted on Face Book.  They haven't fact-checked much for years....

New Year Night Sky

Not surprisingly Face Book also happens to be a vast cesspool of astronomical information.

Sheesh!

Anyway, here's the straight scoop debunking what you can and cannot see during this month of stargazing.

You're welcome.

A Ray of Sunshine

 

If you rise early enough for breakfast then following a trip to the yard for a potty break you can stretch out on your dog bed and soak-up the morning sunshine.

It's a dog's Life.....

 

Critters In Winter

The doggo and I got a pretty good gig going for us.  Step outta the house and there’s approximately 3.5 miles of trails to walk.  Better yet, the pup doesn’t have to wear a lead and I don’t get dragged along behind one.  All she wears is her hunting e-collar just in case.  Our walks are free range and à la carte.

North of a year and a half-old Ruby has certainly matured.  Of course that’s relative as she’s still stuck somewhere between puppyhood and solid adulthood.  Nevertheless, she follows voice commands and generally sticks close. If I stop to examine something I’m curious about she’ll wait for me to catch-up.  Conversely, if she’s after something of interest, her bell is a good cue as to her whereabouts.  And she returns when summoned.

The other day we checked-out the prairie habitat north of the house. This stuff is absolutely not indigenous peninsula habitat; but it’s good wildlife cover and it’s our property so we plant what we like.

This is excellent pollinator habitat three seasons of the year so it attracts a lot of birds.  In the fourth season of winter it is terrific cover for overwintering birds and other critters.

Those grasses and forbs that have been blown-down in the photo were about six  feet tall at their prime. Tumbled-over they form thousands of hollow cavities and caves at ground level. When covered by snow these become snug animal igloos.

Sure enough - thermal cover for the birds and other critters to hunker down and hide from the wind and snow.  Predators too.

Now play Where’s Waldo and find the dog in the photo…

 

Free Speech

I was witness to a disturbing phenomena over the weekend and I don't believe I am the only person to have made this observation. Moreover, I am not surprised that it has come from the same small group of individuals who six months ago were getting-off on Face Book with vulgar, racist, sexual memes and hate speech focused towards Vice President Kamala Harris.

It took only about 24 hours for these same individuals to go over the top gleeful as Californians suffered the tragic misfortune of losing everything to wildfires.  

Homes, businesses and property lost. Families displaced. 

People still missing and unaccounted-for.  

Lives lost.

Thanks to an abundance of material supplied by Russian and Communist Chinese troll farms my recalcitrant acquaintances have somehow roped forestry policy, the LGBTQ community, pedophilia, diversity, equity and inclusion, a wild smelt, Hollywood personalities, Gavin Newsom, North Carolina and Ukraine all into one big wet dream of joyful, celebratory and triumphal mirth over the loss of life, destruction of neighborhoods and communities reduced to ash.

As a casual observer it is interesting to watch this social psychology at play in real time.

There's a great deal of unresolved grievance and hatred out there. Waiting only for the opportunity to be unleashed on social media from behind the warming glow of a device. Hard to know if it's a character flaw or a pathology. Strikingly, some of these individuals wear their 'Christianity' on their sleeve and remind me of it regularly.  

I wonder what Jesus would have to say about their flagrant expenditure of bandwidth to mock the dead and air their loathing and scorn for the people of Los Angeles?

I just don't get it. I'm grateful I'm not hardwired to be ecstatic and gratified over my fellow countryman's misfortunes.....

*Individual screenshots of Face Book posts, commentary and replies have not been reposted here for privacy reasons and because the content is just sick.