Paul J. Bauer

Thanks to Trump's Big Ugly Bill, Amazon saw its corporate income taxes shrink by more than HALF last year, even as its profits climbed.

But instead of investing the savings into their workforce, Amazon just announced thousands of layoffs and plans to spend $200B on AI.

Textbook corporate greed.

In its 60th anniversary catalogue, our friends at The Kent State University Press looked back and chose a few staff picks. Thrilled that Jim Tully's harrowing (and banned) account of circus and carny life was one of them. Thanks Darryl Crosby and, as always, KSUP.

"The last time I refused a drink I didn't understand the question." William Kennedy quoting his old Irish uncle in O Albany!

So good in Curb.

There are approximately 3 million undocumented persons in Texas and Florida, and there are about 100,000 in Minnesota. Ask yourself why ICE has been deployed to MN, but not even close to the same way in FL and TX. This isn't about immigration, it is all about politics and retribution.

It's a Jack Smith fight. And the GOP shitheels showed up with a Jim Jordan.

"On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron." HL Mencken

Liverwort or Moss? Horny Toad or Fence Lizard? Niche Field Guides Can Tell You.

Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/b... I'm an absolute sucker for field guides and am especially fond of regional and niche guides

I respectfully ask the Tigers' Tarik Skubal to give the Cy Young Award to my grandmother's parakeet. Nobody deserves it more than "Pretty Boy." He didn't give up a single run last season or walk a single batter. He did this despite having no arms and having been dead for sixty years.

It's a hope nestled with Cleveland winning a World Series in my lifetime.

I respectfully ask the Tigers' Tarik Skubal to give the Cy Young Award to my grandmother's parakeet. Nobody deserves it more than "Prettty Boy." He didn't give up a single run last season and didn't walk a single batter. He did this despite having no arms and having been dead for sixty years.

I hope his heirs have the decency to return it.

Worth every second

The Richard Wilbur translations are wonderful.

Wonderful book.

Perhaps he keeps reposting because he forgot he posted it in the first place.

bsky.app/profile/back...
A simple concept: three or four people discussing old books. I started with Paul Theroux' Kingdom by the Sea. I read it when it was released in 1983 and am somewhat alarmed that it is considered "old." The shoe, I suppose, fits. Highly recommended.

Months ago the AG said DOJ had fully investigated Epstein and found nothing. Now they find a million more docs. Are they covering up or incompetent? There is no third option.

Joan Didion and Kurt Vonnegut Had Something to Say. We Have It on Tape.

www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/b...
Putting their voice to their words.

All the lists of the best books of 2025 are coming out and I realize I'm still working on the best books of 1925. I'm never going to get caught up at this rate!

YouTube video by PBS SoCal Ken Burns Tries “Yucky” Revolutionary War-Era Food | PBS SoCal

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pqK...

A scene I love from Ron Chernow's new biography of Mark Twain describes him playing with his daughters, They are blowing soap bubbles. His are filled with cigar smoke.

Sending in the National Guard to protect the National Guard is perfect Trump logic.

Just read that Edward Gorey's stepmother played the singer.

True tale: A Baltimore police colonel called a rival at 3 a.m. from a crime scene: "Leon, I got you now. You fucked up. You wrote "POLICE" backwards on the front of the EVU truck."
"Eddie, that's so it reads correctly in a rear view mirror."
Long pause.
"Aw Leon, you got an answer for everything."

YouTube video by MicrobeTV Beyond the Noise #85: See no evil

youtu.be/dxaZsKo7KWw?...
RFK Jr. would like us to ignore the problem of bacterial contamination of unpasteurized milk.

One is reminded of the crowds growing thinner during that legendary, if ill-fated North American tour of Spinal Tap:
"Their appeal has become more selective."

www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

Amazon is helping fund a $300 million build of a ballroom for the White House.

Independent bookstores are donating to food banks and organizations that help with food insecurity.

They are not the same.

What’s Missing From Your Favorite Chocolate Bar? It May Be Chocolate.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/c...