The Mouse Who Found It's Balls

 

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"Censorship it the child of fear, and the father of ignorance."

~Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak

On May 23rd, 2007, Rosie O'Donnell, and Elizabeth Hasselbeck, engaged in an argument so profound, that it ended up being Rosie's last day as moderator of ABC'S, The View. It was tough, and embarrassing to watch as the viewer, but it was hard to look away from. It was about more than politics, it was about respect in the workplace, friendship, and yes, changing political behaviors, beginning, in my opinion, with the Bush administration, when right-wing media reveled in the brutalities of opinion, and the ignorance of the voter/viewer. Back when politics encouraged division at all cost, and that is what has gotten us to this point. I have often said that you can lay the blame on Sarah Palin, and her ridiculous Tea Party Patriots, for the state of our nation, but in looking back at this old clip, I see a lot more was involved. And thank goodness we had that show that day, and thank god we have it now to refer back to, because at the time, we had no idea how lucky we were in that moment. We got to watch the argument happen, and decide for ourselves what was at the core.

Fast forward, and it's suddenly, June 16th, 2015, and Donald Trump, seizing on the dangerous political rise of fuck you politics, rides down a fake golden escalator, and into American political history, as the first gameshow host in history to become president, in his first term, and the first convicted felon, to be elected to a second term. America, it seems, has quite the sense of humor! All joking aside, Donald Trump has been sticking his big nose into just about every area of our lives, including popular culture. He's sued the networks, accepted bribes in order to insure the successful merging of Paramount with Warner Bros/Discovery. David Ellison's wet dream is to  have eventual control of, Paramount, CNN, HBO, Warner Brother's, Discovery, and CBS. To that end, CBS has been kissing Donald Trump's ample butt! He waves a wand and David Ellison, and his minions, such as Bari Weiss, give him whatever he wants within the network, including the firings of Steven Colbert and Scott Pelley. It's embarrassing for them, and depressing for us. Gone are two important and powerful voices who spoke truth to power! CBS is dying, they just haven't pulled the plug yet.

ABC, who is also under constant threat from Donald Trump, hasn't been so easy to be kicked around. Jimmy Kimmel was yanked off the air last year, for one night, as the weak willed network caved to Trump's demands, not only with Kimmel, but with settling a multi-million dollar lawsuit, which most legal experts said the network could have won easily due to a lack of merit. They capitulated to him as they would a school yard bully, and in true bully fashion he keeps coming back for more. But wait... not so fast! ABC, which is owned by Disney, is now saying, ENOUGH! And what did it take? It took the insistence that, The View, change it's content to suit his liking, or face investigations by Trump's FCC, putting licensing of company owned stations on the line. Well, the network, and The View, is having none of it! They are fighting back, and it will more than likely play out over the summer. 

I suppose that saying the mouse has found his balls is a bit harsh. After all, the mouse found himself in uncharted waters, just like the rest of us, and they seem to be taking a stand now... finally... I just hope when all is said and done, they will never cave to the bully again. I don't know, maybe they see that everything has been failing for Trump, hard. In the last few weeks, his vanity projects. His hillbilly smackdown on the east lawn of the White House, and to a devastating effect, the war by choice in Iran. 13 lives... gone. A girls school in Iran bombed, and yes, he is trying to not take responsibility for, and last year the illegal tariffs, that threatened to bring down the world economy. Did I mention the reflecting pond? If the Democrats manage to take both the senate and the congress, impeachment and possibly removal, will be in his future. Please, God, Please. Of course that's assuming he won't try another coup on November 3rd.

Be brave Micky, be brave!

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... The Thin Man

 

"The murderer is right in this room. Sitting right at this table. 

You may serve the fish."

Nick Charles

The Thin Man

By Dashiell Hammett

I usually wait until December to watch this movie, but I was having a little fun with the AI photo editing features on my new phone, and I found myself playing with Joey's recent photos. As you see, I managed to turn him into William Powell. Well, The Thin Man, just happens to be one of my favorite films, so this week's movie of the week kinda chose itself. It also fits that we are pretty much at the half way point of the year, so if you are already longing for cold weather, delicious holiday foods, and sparkling Christmas trees, this movie fills those needs as well, and on top of delivering all that, it's an awesome murder mystery. But goodness, was there ever better banter in film, then that of Nice and Nora Charles? Even Asta, their dog, seemed to know it was true! This is also a love story. I am not giving you anything beyond that regarding the storyline, because it's great to just let it unfold.

PS... Read the book. 

Honestly, Myrna Loy might just have been who I looked to for style,

 had I lived in that era!

Taco

Puttin' On The Ritz

Written by, Irving Berlin

Dreams Of Summers Past

"Let us dance in the sun, wearing wildflowers in our hair... "

~Susan Polis Schutz

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice, and the longest day of the year, but today is the first full day of summer, and the time is now moving back toward those dark autumn days I love so much! Despite the sun, and the hot temperature, it was beautiful along Desmond road, at the Cosumnes River Preserve, and it gave me the chance to pick up the photos for this post! I was only out a little while, but it was enough to tire of the hot summer sun, and to pray that autumn will come early, as it did last year. I felt like I was melting, and it made me homesick for rides along the coastline, in summer, when the sky is clear, and the air is filled with the smells of the wildflowers and the ocean. I am trying to find what's special about the here and now. I live here after all, and this will be my 11th summer, so I can look back all I want, but it will just make me heartsick, and that's no way to live. The summer always makes me feel this way, it must be the temperature or something. I know that as I ease into summer, I will be right again. I always am.

Anyway...

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Cockalorum

"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small parcel."

~John Ruskin

This past week, Donald Trump shared, that he is the most powerful person whose ever walked the planet. I would say that counts as him being a cockalorum;

Ellipsis Weekend Cooking... Sweet Potato Cornread

 

Sweet Potato Cornbread - New York Times - Recipe

Doesn't this sound amazing? I think it could be very good with ribs, which I pan to make, for the first game of the coming football season! Yes, I am already planning football season! But this could also be tasty with chicken, and most autumn dishes. Chili anyone?

Scully Columbo... Detective

 

"Oh, I didn't come to ask you anymore questions, I came to arrest you."

~Columbo

Okay, we all made it to another Friday. That's a good thing, however I'm tired, so it's another adventure with Scully for this blog post. In this installment Scully is a detective just like Columbo. Will he solve the case? Just wait and see. This is one of the shorter videos, but it's lovely, so just enjoy a few minutes off from being an adult. Turn off the gloom and doom. It will all be there later, I promise.

Everything Is Going Fine, Thanks For Asking

 

"Donald Trump is a practical joke that got out of hand."

~George Conway

So much has gone wrong so fast that it makes my head spin some times. The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool being turned green by the algae growth Trump was told would happen, but that's the least of it, the scary as shit Iran deal is the big bad, but I can't think about it right now. Perhaps in the coming days I will come to terms with what he's done. But for right now, I am thinking in pictures, comics, and headlines.

Trump At The G7 Summit

France 2026

John F. Kennedy got the last laugh...

New York Times

Some good things are happening today. The Knicks ticker tape parade in Manhattan, and the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. So I have hope for this day, it seems to be the respite we all need.

Trump has no value, and doesn't matter today.

Meanwhile

 

"Once upon a time, there were three little girls who went to the police academy... "

~Charlie Townsend (John Forsythe)

Charlie's Angels

Opening credits all 5 seasons

Who didn't watch Charlie's Angels when they were kids? I was 14 or so when this movie first aired, and it was good by 1976 standards, but it wasn't what made the biggest hit with friends and me, it was the way Farrah Fawcett-Majors wore her hair! We all returned to school the next September with variations on her famous haircut! Farrah brought a certain quirky glamour to her character, Jill Monroe, that was more playful then her fellow angels. The TV movie pilot for the show premiered on March 21st, 1976, and it was an instant hit with, America! It didn't hurt that one of the actors who appeared in the pilot was Tommy Lee Jones, of whom I was already a fan of, from his days on One Life To Live! Yep it was television magic for a while, but with the departure of Farrah Fawcett-Majors some of the sparkle disappeared and was never quite found again. The 5th, and final season, was unwatchable in my opinion. By the way, fun fact, the address of the Townsend Agency was, 8619 Sunset blvd, Los Angeles, California.

Meanwhile...

It's Wednesday, and I am weary, so I feel like jumping into the way-back machine, and ignoring the stupid. Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, The Bionic Woman, Vegas, they were all big hits, and an excellent escape from the stupid of the mid-70's and early 80's. But there are a few current shows that do that for me in the here and now. Your Friends and Neighbors, and Widows Bay come to mind. Both can be found on Apple Tv. Your Friends and Neighbors has concluded it's second season, so let the bingeing begin, and Window's Bay will air it's season finale today. I sure hope it comes back. It's got horror, comedy, drama and intrigue all wrapped into a nifty mystery! It's so much fun to watch! If you haven't seen it, go, right now to Apple TV and binge this season. Trust me, it will hook you right in! It will also make you laugh out loud, scare you, and warm your heart.

Widow's Bay review from then New York Times

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... A Simple Favor

 

"Five days ago, Emily went missing."

~Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick)

A Simple Favor

The title of the movie tells the whole story. This is a fun, elegant, twisty little mystery with Anna Kendrick as a pretty, cool YouTube mom, who has her own successful vlog, and carries a deep secret! And Blake Lively is a cold brash career woman, who not only brings just the right bitchiness to her character of Emily that you find yourself applauding her strength, but you she carries her own secret, and let me tell you, it's a whopper! This film has a sequel, a Prime original, Another Simple Favor, and let me tell you, it might be an even wilder ride then the first one!

 Watch them together if you can.

 The first movie will leave you wondering what came next!

Another Simple Favor 

Late Spring Early Summer

 

"Sunsets prove that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully."

~Kristen Butler

Here are my photos of a gorgeous sunset. Both taken along Franklin blvd the other night while we were birding and batting. But, is it the past spring sunset photos, or the first summer photos of 2026? Summer hasn't officially started yet, but a couple weeks ago, we celebrated Memorial day, which most folks think of as the unofficial beginning of summer! I guess we are closer to summer than spring. Spring is feeling tired and quiet, while summer is raring to go! Okay, I talked myself into it. These photos represent the first sunset photos in my summer folder! 

There will be more to come!

Ellipsis Word Of The Week... Prat

 

"All slang is a metaphor, and all metaphors are poetry."

~Gilbert K. Chesterton

Hey, just sayin! 

;)

Ellipsis Weekend Cooking... Summer Cold Soups

 

Dionysus: Have you e'er be struck by a sudden urge for soup?

Heracles: Yes! Zeus-a-mercy, yes, ten thousand times."

~Aristophanes

The Frogs

Ahh... summer, and summer soups! Above you see the ingredients for my homemade Gazpacho soup. I got so good at making it, that I could do it in my sleep! But that was many moons ago. In fact, I believe it was 2019 give or take. The counter you see was in my old house. It was a galley kitchen, but not like the one I have now. Ugh, I can't deal with how small it is, so hubby does most of the cooking now, which is why I have no idea how I made it! That's a bad thing. Gazpacho is such an easy soup to make, and it can be made to the particular desire of whose making it! Avocado Gazpacho, Watermelon Gazpacho, Traditional Gazpacho, you name it, and there is a version that lift your spirits! But alas, cooking is not always like riding a bicycle. Sometimes you need to refer to the recipes, to remember that culinary magic you once made. So, here are a few recipes for chilled soups I found here and there, and all of them sound terrific! I also found a couple recipes for a cold dessert type soup. They would both be good with some crusty sourdough bread!

Best Gazpacho - New York Times - Recipe

Avocado & Green Apple Gazpacho Soup - Food 52 - Recipe

Cold Cherry Soup - New York Times - Recipe

Chilled Corn Soup - Food Network- Recipe

Chilled Green Apple Soup - Life Beautiful - Recipe

From My Files... So many fresh ingredients, so little time!