And Suddenly, Just Like That, As If By Magic...

...he was sixty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Best wishes to my readers on this holiday.

Brian Laundrie...

...committed suicide, according to a forensic anthropologist.

This goes a little way to redeeming him in my eyes. No, the suicide doesn't bring Gabby Petito back, but it allows her family closure, and sooner rather than later. It also saves the State and the taxpayers from paying for a trial and the expense of imprisoning him. He salvages some small amount of dignity by doing the right thing. All else is between himself and his God.

Congratulations To...

...Kyle Rittenhouse and his defense team.

Thoughts

I've said this many times: we need people to bell the cat. People willing to step up. Nathan Hales. And a 17-year-old boy did just that. If he avoids prison, or even if he doesn't, you'll know he's coming by the CLANG CLANG CLANG of his giant brass 'nads as he walks. He has nothing to prove to anyone.

Thoughts and Prayers...

...for Kyle Rittenhouse. The verdict should be announced sometime on Wednesday. If there's any justice left in this increasingly fascistic country, he should be acquitted.

Some Thoughts On Kyle Rittenhouse

I wonder how many of you have thought about the remainder of Kyle Rittenhouse's life. He's only 18 - - has all of his life before him. If he's found guilty, he will be branded a felon, with all the negative consequences that come with that - - prison worst of all, but loss of civil rights for an extended period and the likelihood of never having a good career. Even if he is acquitted of all charges, who will hire him, with the baggage that he carries? Employers will worry that Rittenhouse will be targeted by enemies, and some will worry that he's not inherently trustworthy to begin with because he intentionally went in harm's way and ended up killing two people and maiming a third.

There are plenty of people who view him as a hero, though, and would be willing to take him on - - but like others who have become national figures unintentionally - - Bernhard Goetz and George Zimmerman - - Rittenhouse will carry the Mark of Cain the rest of his days.

The Movie Appears Cursed By G-d.

‘Rust’ Crew Member Hospitalized, May Lose Arm After Spider Bite."

Brown Recluse.

The UK's Finest Actors Recite WWI Poetry

I remember trading emails with the late Christopher Hitchens about the War Poets on the occasion of Siegfried Sassoon's Military Cross being found in the poet's attic.

School Administrator Admits CRT Is Being Taught In Schools...

...and that teachers are instructed to lie about it if asked by parents.

You can bookmark the link so that if some communist asshole tries to deny it, the evidence is immediately available to refute him/her.

I Am Quite Happy...

...to have my prediction about the outcome of the Virginia Governor's election proven wrong.

It was dangerously close, however. I read a joke on the internet that the votes to put McAuliffe over the top, which had been printed in China, were stuck on a container ship outside the port of Los Angeles.

Virginia Governor's Race Prediction

I posted this on my Facebook page, and I wanted it here as well:

I'll go on record with my prediction for the Virginia Governor's race next Tuesday:

I believe Youngkin will lose to McAuliffe. Although Youngkin is leading and is beating the "margin of error," he isn't beating the margin of fraud. At one time I would have said the margin of fraud (that is, the margin required to defeat Democrat cheating) was 5%. After the 2020 presidential election, I think the margin of fraud is now 10%, or even 15%.

And I have heard no stories out of Virginia that election laws have been tightened up to prevent cheating. Just the opposite, in fact.

I'm Lucky To Not Be At Work

Apparently American Airlines has had 1000 flights cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. My hotel takes distressed passengers in a limited way - - we have no airport shuttle, so everyone arriving from and returning to the airport has to take cabs (the airline vouchers the cab companies for payment). Because of the lack of a shuttle we only take a limited number of distressed passenger rooms - - typically ten per night. We've taken as many as 30 per night, but there just aren't enough cabs to service all those passengers, and the passengers tend to take out their frustrations on hotel staff for the lack of cabs.

Music That Makes Me Sob

Some music is so beautiful that it makes me weep. Mike Oldfield has written several pieces that can have me in tears, most recently this one, which is from his album Music Of the Spheres, and features the angelic voice of New Zealand's Hayley Westenra:

Rittenhouse Hearing Update

Story.

Judge ruled that Rittenhouse's attackers may not be described as victims by the prosecution, but that they could be described as arsonists, rioters and looters by the defense. Pretty cool!

If You're A Fan of the Brother Cadfael Mystery Books...

...you might wish to check out this long YouTube video on the background history of England at the time, called "The Anarchy." It's a fun telling with some good animation of battles and skirmishes. To summarize it, Henry I, son of William the Conqueror, was predeceased by his legitimate son (Henry had numerous bastards, but they couldn't inherit). So Henry secured promises from his vassals to acknowledge his daughter Matilda as queen of England after he died. One of them, Stephen of Blois, usurped the throne after Henry's death, and a civil war ensued that lasted over ten years, with the issue only being settled when Stephen agreed to adopt Henry's grandson Henry Plantagenet as his heir (Stephen's own son Eustace had predeceased him). This was acceptable to all parties, and when Stephen died, Henry Plantagenet became Henry II.

Rittenhouse Use of Force Hearing

Story.

Basically the prosecution wants all mitigating factors to be ruled inadmissable as evidence. They don't want the riot called a riot or the people Rittenhouse shot described as rioters, criminals or arsonists, and they particularly don't want the criminal records of the men Rittenhouse shot admitted as evidence.

How Is Usurper Biden Handling This Situation?

2,000 Migrants Continue Walk Through Southern Mexico.

The caravan was confronted by Mexican police and just pushed them aside. How will Usurper Biden and his people handle it?

Maher Speaks Truth On National Divorce/Civil War

"You want a real war, liberals? Really? You think you're going to win the 'I want you dead!' war? You're not. You're gonna lose. They have way more guns and they know how to use them. And with all due respect, no one can do hate like a right-wing conservative."

Took You Long Enough

Shelley’s eagle-owl shows its face in Atewa forest, Ghana, after 150 years.