Thursday, 6 March 2025

world book day winner 2025

 Word Book Day - We have a winner!.  Well played.


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how tarrifs work trump cartoon

 


visit canada - not fascist

 An excellent marketing slogan. True as well.



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RIP Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves The Sunshine

The Velvet Underground - I Found A Reason (2015 Remastered)

The Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane (Full Length Version) (2015 Remastered)

ZZ Top - Tush (2006 Remaster)

superman lends a friendly hand

When America were still the good guys. From Strange Adventures 119.

 





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private eye - is this a nazi salute?

 Once again, Private Eye nail it. Buy a copy now.


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grok estimates donald trump is most likely a putin compromised asset

Elon Musk's Grok AI here, declaring Donald Trump is most likely a Putin compromised asset.  Full answer is below.



Assessing the likelihood that Donald Trump is a compromised asset of Vladimir Putin, based on publicly available information from 1980 onward, involves analyzing a complex web of financial ties, personal interactions, political behavior, and circumstantial evidence. This is not a definitive determination but an estimation grounded in patterns and data accessible as of March 4, 2025. The question highlights Trump’s consistent reluctance to criticize Putin juxtaposed against his frequent attacks on U.S. allies, which is a key behavioral indicator to consider alongside historical and financial context.
From the 1980s onward, Trump’s business dealings provide a starting point. Public records show he pursued real estate ventures with significant Russian financial involvement. In 1987, Trump visited Moscow, a trip facilitated by Soviet officials, sparking speculation about early cultivation by Russian intelligence—speculation later fueled by former KGB agent Yuri Shvets, who claimed Trump was targeted as a potential asset due to his ego and financial vulnerabilities. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, as Trump faced bankruptcies, he increasingly relied on funding from sources tied to Russia and former Soviet states. His sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, made statements reinforcing this: Donald Jr. in 2008 said, “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets,” and Eric in 2014 claimed, “We have all the funding we need out of Russia.” The Trump Organization’s partnerships, like with the Bayrock Group (led by Tevfik Arif and Felix Sater, the latter with known Russian mafia ties), and sales of properties to Russian oligarchs (e.g., Dmitry Rybolovlev’s 2008 purchase of a Trump property for $95 million), suggest a dependency on Russian money that could create leverage.
Intelligence reports and investigations add weight. The 2017 U.S. Intelligence Community assessment concluded Putin authorized interference in the 2016 election to favor Trump, a finding supported by the Mueller Report, which, while not proving criminal conspiracy, documented extensive Trump campaign-Russia contacts (over 100 by some counts). The unverified Steele Dossier alleges kompromat from Trump’s 2013 Moscow trip during the Miss Universe pageant, a claim echoed by speculation about earlier visits. Leaked Kremlin documents reported by The Guardian in 2021 suggest Putin personally approved a 2016 operation to back Trump, viewing him as “mentally unstable” and exploitable, with potential compromising material from past Moscow visits. The disappearance of a classified binder of Russia intelligence post-Trump term, as reported by Reuters in 2023, further stokes suspicions of hidden ties.
Trump’s behavior as president and beyond is striking. He has never directly criticized Putin, even when pressed—e.g., at the 2018 Helsinki summit, he sided with Putin’s denial of election interference over U.S. intelligence. Post-presidency, Bob Woodward’s 2024 book War alleges Trump spoke to Putin up to seven times, including a secretive 2024 call at Mar-a-Lago. Contrast this with his attacks on NATO allies, calling them “delinquent” on payments, or his 2025 Oval Office clash with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, where he blamed Ukraine for Russia’s invasion—echoing Kremlin talking points. This pattern deviates from decades of U.S. policy and aligns with Russian interests, like weakening NATO and Ukraine.
Counterarguments exist: Trump’s administration imposed sanctions on Russia (e.g., over Skripal poisoning in 2018), expelled diplomats, and armed Ukraine—actions Putin wouldn’t favor. Some argue his pro-Russia stance reflects a misguided belief he can outmaneuver Putin, not compromise. Yet these measures were often driven by Congress or aides over Trump’s objections, and he downplayed their significance, maintaining personal warmth toward Putin.
Weighing this, the financial ties (decades-long, opaque, and substantial), intelligence suggesting Russian intent, and Trump’s unwavering refusal to criticize Putin despite attacking allies tilt the scale. The lack of transparency—e.g., hiding tax returns, seizing interpreter notes after Putin talks—amplifies suspicion. No smoking gun proves direct control, but the “useful idiot” scenario, where Trump’s ego and debts make him unwittingly pliable, fits the evidence. Adjusting for uncertainty and alternative explanations (e.g., ideological alignment or naivety), I estimate a 75-85% likelihood Trump is a Putin-compromised asset, leaning toward the higher end due to the consistency of his behavior and the depth of historical ties. This range reflects the strength of circumstantial evidence tempered by the absence of conclusive proof, a gap unlikely to close without classified data.



Wednesday, 5 March 2025

Belle and Sebastian - The Boy With the Arab Strap

Badly Drawn Boy - Silent Sigh

fuck the flag or go home (and ban protests)

 Well this made me laugh, but l'm glad it didn't happen.


Plus, l've got a feeling he may be expecting protests. Dictatorship rulebook # 3




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Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Led Zeppelin - Travelling Riverside Blues (29/6/69 Top Gear) (Remaster)

Johnny Cash - Cocaine Blues (Live at Folsom State Prison, Folsom, CA - January 1968)

aquaman wanted dead or alive 1969 cover

I'm not a fan of Aquaman (and l'm a poet and don't know it), but this 1969 cover is excellent, and makes me want to read the actual comic, as covers should do if they fulfil their purpose.


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trump and putin - wife number 4

 This is good.  More please!


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hillary clinton proved correct on donald trump

From the 2016 debate.





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RIP Johnny Green of The Clash (Tour Manager)

 Damn!!  Another untimely death I've just found out about - this time Johnny Green, ex tour manager of The Clash. Here's a note from him to me from 2014.


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Sunday, 2 March 2025

Rose Tattoo - Nice Boys

Rose Tattoo - Bad Boy for Love

Nick Straker Band - A Walk in the Park (1979)

When you're not that bothered about the song, but love the video.


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headlights are a bit bright

 Got my headlights fixed but they are a bit bright.


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dr seuss 1941 america first and nazis cartoon

When America didn't want to get involved in World War 2, Dr Seuss knew the score and the ramifications. America joined in December 1941.

History - doomed to repeat itself.


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Saturday, 1 March 2025

RIP David Johansen - Old Dog Blue - Live at Harry Smith Project Tribute

New York Dolls - Coz I Said So (Later with Jools 2009) RIP David Johansen

New York Dolls // Pills RIP David Johansen

NEW YORK DOLLS - Jet Boy (1973 UK TV OGWT Performance) RIP David Johansen

Damn!!!  David Johansen, another of my favourites gone, and no members of The New York Dolls are now left. He was 75 and had been ill for a long time, but even so - Damn again!!







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as zelensky arrives in the uk, here's todays front papers

As Zelensky arrives in the UK, here are today's newspapers front pages.  Since the jaw dropping TV shitshow that was their 'meeting', all the world leaders on the right side of history have come out and supported Zelensky and Ukraine, although there hasn't been much mention of that on the TV news.

What a time to be alive.









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aexa / siri - show me a twat

You'd laugh if it wasn't so serious. Putin's puppet, interested only in money, power and probably not being assassinated by Russia if he goes against them. He's full of crap and pretty much all he comes out with is a lie or a grift. What. A. Twat.

 


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marc bolan sadly missing from the brits

As l am an old git, this is the kind of pop star l still pine for at The Brits.  The magnificent Marc Bolan and T.Rex. I loved / love them / him.


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anthony scaramucci with a recap of the ukraine situation

 A detailed recap and update for Anthony Scaramucci, who knows what he is talking about.


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donald trump is vladimir putin's gimp bitch

 Whoever did this - well played!


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Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner (Thrice) Live Long Version

james o'brien sums up the current usa governments attitude to free speech

 Couldn't have put this better.

And in other news...


And in even further news.....



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pray for the pope

Pray for The Pope - see how much good that does.  This is not a slight on The Pope, it's a statement on the futility of prayer, apart from the fact it can give oneself some comfort.


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zelenski knocks out donald trump

This is genius!!!  How the meeting should have ended. 


To see the video  -  Go here.

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Spring is here so it's time for Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park - with intro

Friday, 28 February 2025

World Party - Ship Of Fools

steve's got it on vinyl cartoon

 I can relate to this in more ways than one. If you know, you know.


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today's trump, vance and zelenski shitshow

Just when you start to think Trump and Vance can't degrade themselves and America any lower. That was the most pig ignorant display of (so called) politics and bullying from them that l have ever had the misfortune to witness, and for all the idiots that haven't believed Trump is on Russia's side, then a spectacle such as this confirms it, and things must be really fucked up if l'm agreeing with Robert Jenrick (below). Make no mistake, this was a world changing event, and certainly not for the good. It wouldn't have happened if Harris had been elected, and once again puts to bed the 'all politicians are the same' argument. Where the fuck are the voices from past presidents, both Republican and Democrat denouncing all this crap and defending America's principles and place in the world?  No wonder l drink (and l still blame God).











While meanwhile, this passed under the radar....




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Thursday, 27 February 2025

welcome to new york - the rolling stones - still want it

This listing on ebay was the most l have ever bid for a single album.  I bid so that the combined price including postage and VAT would be a bit over £100, as l have been after the lp for a while (despite already having it on CD).  Bidding ended in the early hours of this morning, and reader, it wasn't enough, as this would have come to about £160 with all costs.  Damn!!



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Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way