David J. Zappelli

Jane Goodall, pioneering conservationist and primatologist, dies at 91 Jane Goodall, the conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking chimpanzee field research and globe-spanning environmental advocacy, has died. She was 91.

apnews.com/video/jane-g...

Home bakers donate fresh bread to food banks thanks to this Seattle nonprofit A Seattle-area nonprofit group called Community Loaves donates home-baked bread and cookies to food banks in four states.

apnews.com/article/food...

More Polite & Less Rude Alternatives:
— Self-absorbed/Self-centered.
— Oblivious/Out of touch:
— In denial.
— Living in a bubble.
— Unrealistic.
— Being stubborn/inflexible.

But, frankly, “full of shit” is most appropriate.

I suppose that a nicer way to say that America has its head up their ass is to describe them as being self-absorbed, oblivious, or in denial, using phrases like "They're very out of touch," "They're living in their own world," or "They're incredibly self-centered"….

What a new poll shows about where Americans think the country is heading A new poll shows Republicans’ outlook on the direction of the country has soured dramatically. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll was conducted shortly after last week's...

This last year, I’ve gotten the sense of the daily news in less than five minutes. But, it astounds me how long it takes the so-called average American to weigh through all the MAGA bullshit, social media, and performative news statements. I’m done with it… wasted time.

apnews.com/article/poll...

AKA Charlie Sheen review – he shows no genuine remorse for all the terrifying things he’s done This flimsy tell-all about the actor’s decades-long addiction to pills, alcohol and crack-cocaine is far too light on contrition or self-reflection. You pity everyone around him

AKA Charlie Sheen review – he shows no genuine remorse for all the terrifying things he’s done

Government papers found in an Alaskan hotel reveal new details of Trump-Putin summit Documents with sensitive details about the meeting between President Trump and Russian President Putin were left behind on a public hotel printer.

Just another example of their sloppy #incompetence. That, plus the post-event TV interview with Fox was probably more important to #Trump than any negotiations with #Putin.

Trump-Putin documents left on hotel printer

www.npr.org/2025/08/16/n...

The brazen lies! Sitting under a sign that says “Pursuing #Peace” when it’s exactly the opposite. #Putin and #Trump are two of the world’s greatest aggressors, nationalists, and imperialists. #Tyrants with an outdated creed.
Complete #failure, #fraud #kakistocracy.

apnews.com/photo-galler...

These, plus apricots and cherries in our area. Walnuts were also typical.

The #California French Improved #Plums — a traditional orchard crop of old #SanJose, California, developed her in the city, generations ago.

They offer a richer, more complex jammy flavor than simpler, sweeter varieties, and are the ideal for making prunes, or baking.

Eat some honey!

a drawing of winnie the pooh with a blue butterfly on his nose ALT: a drawing of winnie the pooh with a blue butterfly on his nose

Lately I feel like I’m standing on the threshold. A mundane eye sees decay, hollowness, obsolescence. A spiritual eye sees an emerging rapture, inner domain, and a living presence of love. Tension between these two eyes is what keeps me oriented as the axis mundi turns. The energy of love prevails.

How SpaceX's rocket diplomacy backfired in the Bahamas When SpaceX was negotiating a deal with the Bahamas last year to allow its Falcon 9 rocket boosters to land within the island nation's territory, Elon Musk's company offered a sweetener: complimentary Starlink internet terminals for the country's defense vessels, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Call me sadistic, if need be, but I just love to see Elon #Musk get his “just deserts”. It’s repeat irony, amusement, & indignation. As if to say, “Ain’t it rich?”

#SpaceX rocket diplomacy backfires in the Bahamas — and #Mexico

- www.reuters.com/science/how-...

A man is halted climbing the US-Mexico border wall. Under new Trump rules, US troops sound the alarm U.S. troops are sharing command stations and vehicles with civilian immigration authorities at the southern U.S. border under an emergency declaration from President Donald Trump.

As a #Californian & generational land owner near the #Nogales border, #SantaCruzCounty, #Arizona, I think this is very overblown & costly to taxpayers. Poor use of military personnel, & apparatus. As a generational #food supplier, it’s also bad for #trade and #culture.

apnews.com/article/mexi...

I’ve read the #news, #features, & in-depth #essays every morning for decades, and I’ve seen the decline of #newspapers and staffed #reporting. But, I’m convinced that American journalism & writing fell off the cliff with the advent of #SocialMedia, and especially the rise of #Trump & #MAGA.

Bay Area sees mildest summer in decades While much of the country bakes under record-breaking summer heat, the Bay Area is experiencing a different kind of summer, one that hasn’t felt this mild in decades.

Yup… it’s a mild #NorCal #Summer

“… #SanJose, a city that typically sees plenty of sunshine and warm #weather by mid-July, 38 out of the first 45 days of summer were cooler than the same dates in 2024.” #SFBA

www.ktvu.com/weather/bay-...

1. Don’t care relative to everything else in the news.
2. I seldom ever drink soda.
3. Growing numbers of people want sugar free, or no soda at all.
4. Coke already occasionally featured its original cane sugar version relative to other varieties as novelty / nostalgia.
5. More MAGA B.S.

Trump threatens to hold up stadium deal if Washington Commanders don't switch back to Redskins President Donald Trump is threatening to hold up a stadium deal for Washington's football team if it doesn't restore its old name.

#Trump Org. operated #WollmanRink with NYC gov. until 1995 & again from 2001 until 2021, when control was given to Wollman Park Partners, a joint venture formed between #HarrisBlitzer Sports & Entertainment, The Related Companies, and Equinox Group. #Redskins #Guardians

apnews.com/article/trum...

Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after noticing swollen legs and bruised hand The White House says President Donald Trump had a recent medical checkup after he noticed “mild swelling” in his legs and "minor bruising" on his hand.

#Trump #angiology #vascular #cardiology #edema #neurolgy #ecchymosis #VascularFragility

apnews.com/video/trump-...

Trump diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency after noticing swollen legs and bruised hand The White House says President Donald Trump had a recent medical checkup after he noticed “mild swelling” in his legs and "minor bruising" on his hand.

apnews.com/video/trump-...

As a #caregiver for a #stroke victim, I’m highly skeptical of the #WhiteHouse brief on #Trump and his “chronic venous insufficiency”. Ironically, we just visited a doctor for an annual consultation & ultrasound. Vascular conditions (#angiology), cardiology, and neurology should never be downplayed.

Trump mired in Epstein controversy as Wall Street Journal reports on 2003 letter The controversy over President Donald Trump’s handling of records from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation entered a new dimension Thursday as his administration struggles to make good on its promises t...

#Trump talked about “draining the swamp” for many years. Now more evidence implies his own involvement in such muck. The #EpsteinFiles are certainly a hot mess that runs at least 40 years deep, and the more he tries to tread away from it, the more it pulls him into it.

apnews.com/article/trum...

Meta investors, Zuckerberg reach settlement to end $8 billion trial over Facebook privacy litigation Mark Zuckerberg and current and former directors and officers of Meta Platforms agreed on Thursday to settle claims seeking $8 billion for the damage they allegedly caused the company by allowing repeated violations of Facebook users' privacy, a lawyer for the shareholders told a Delaware judge on Thursday.

It’s a long, troubled history. Don’t be gaslighted by the #Facebook algorithmic nonsense, and all their billionaire associates. I’m so glad to be rid of the #Meta apps once and for all… never going back to that shit show!

www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

Trump administration says it won't publish major climate change reports on NASA website as promised The Trump administration has made it harder for people, local and state governments to find critical climate change reports.

“They simply don’t want the public to see the meticulously assembled and scientifically validated information about what #ClimateChange is already doing to our #farms, #forests, and #fisheries, as well as to #storms, #floods, #wildfires, and coast property ..”

apnews.com/article/clim...

Rosie O’Donnell Reveals Real Reason She Gets Under Trump’s Skin The president claimed on Saturday he was giving “serious consideration” to revoking the comedian’s citizenship.

“It’s because we grew up in the same area. I think I remind him of all the kids at school who never liked him… I’m a tough New York tomboy girl—and I think his crap never flew with me or New Yorkers.”

Bingo! It runs deep… decades!

www.thedailybeast.com/rosie-odonne...

“It’s because we grew up in the same area. I think I remind him of all the kids at school who never liked him… I’m a tough NY tomboy girl—and I think his crap never flew with me or New Yorkers.”
Bingo! They disliked him long before the first POTUS term. It goes back to the ‘80s tabloids or earlier!

Wildfire destroys a historic Grand Canyon lodge and other structures Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keeble said the Grand Canyon Lodge, the only lodging at the North Rim, was consumed by the flames.

All these dismal responses to #wildfire & #floods are a result of #Trump, #MAGA, #DOGE, and denial of the #Climate#Crisis, its impact on every U.S. state, & the world. #Arizona #Texas #California #Colorado, etc. Plus #measles #plague #AvianInfluenza #GunViolence etc.

apnews.com/article/gran...

I also don’t like when it starts using internet slang or terms to create headers in different sections of the dialogue or summary. Then, it also starts using other abbreviations for names or concepts as if it’s trying to be (overly) casual and chatty.
But it’s just sloppy, dumbed-down nonsense

The biggest problems I have are the constant flattery or ingratiation, but it’s also these very long replies for even basic questions or back and forth chat. The AI is not discerning when short replies are sufficient, and doesn’t ask if I want long answers. It just takes up lots of time & space.

State Department says it will fire more than 1,350 workers in Trump's shake-up of diplomatic corps The U.S. State Department will start firing more than 1,350 U.S-based employees on Friday as the administration of President Donald Trump presses ahead with an unprecedented overhaul of its U.S. diplomatic corps, a move critics say will undermine U.S. interest abroad.

The abhorrant part of #StateDepartment layoffs is that this could be a forced early retirement for countless people who proudly and efficiently served for years, then to be sent off with not just dismissiveness but hostility. The harm in that is unforgivable.

www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...