Deborah La Torre

My mom got them a few years ago and it has made a huge difference

Gulf allies complain US didn't notify them of Iran attacks and ignored their warnings, sources say Officials say Iran’s retaliatory attacks in the Middle East over strikes from Israel and the U.S. have left some of America’s partners in the Gulf frustrated over a lack of notice or adequate defense.

The federal government didn’t even warn their allies in the Middle East about the war.

apnews.com/article/iran...

This is not good.

Also, we have a different blend of fuel in California that is more expensive but it saves lives by reducing emissions. When I was a kid we had smog days where we couldn’t be outside. It was awful.

But none of that changes that sudden price increases lower affordability fir everyone.

This doesn’t give you metros, but AAA does track state averages.

AAA also report an average increase of 27 cents nationally, which means we are all being gouged at a time when food and other things are not affordable for so many people.

gasprices.aaa.com/todays-state...

Living in a county of 10 million people doesn’t matter. Paying $3 more per tank is a lot for many people.

Also, we have buses, subways, and trains. Coverage just isn’t great everywhere.

I had to share this with one of my friends in Canada!

If you are a Costco customer, Trump stole your money and won’t give it back.

The Glitter and the Gold

London Rules

What I currently have checked out from the Los Angeles Public Library! #WorldBookDay

Prices increased 30 cents in a week in my Los Angeles neighborhood. I assume it’s preemptive gouging, but $4.30 cash / $4.40 credit still hurts.

Great!

I don’t live in the Central Valley but I used to go for work periodically.

I tried to drive in the tule fog in California. I seriously thought I was going to die that day, since I could only see the truck on front of me and nothing else.

Two people actually died in that fog that day.

Now I own a car with fog lights.

How I arrived on Blue Sky 💙
Steely Dan - Peg 🦄

youtu.be/LI7NDDQLvbo?...

I had a large credit in my American Airlines account and so I just purchased tickets to spend 3.5 weeks in Italy in September!

Now to figure out whether I’ll also visit any of my ancestral hometowns or just stick with Rome and the north.

My calico cat in a box with her toys just outside the box

Chloe would like to claim the title of Queen of the Calicos and Calibies

YouTube video by The White Stripes - Topic Little Ghost

My second option is Little Ghost from the White Stripes, which I have on CD.
#LookAndSee #MusicChallenge #MusicSky

youtu.be/Mt-XfZowFbU?...

I grew up going to Disneyland every year, so #LookAndSee the soundtrack to the Haunted Mansion ride.
#MusicChallenge
#MusicSky

youtu.be/L2QLjmJsGhQ?...

My mom’s dad was a mechanic and clockmaker. Her step dad fenced in the movies (Zorro), was a deputy sheriff, and later a machinist.

My dad’s dad worked briefly at the family fireworks factory, sold fuller brushes, had a bicycle shop, then owned a nursery. During WW2 he worked for a ship builder.

I saw Conrad Tao do a recital of Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated in 2020 in Los Angeles. It was just before the shutdown and was a magical evening.

Bill is two months younger than Trump. Hilary is one year younger than Trump.

I’ve been reading more of my friend Jonathan’s older articles on Italy as I plan a vacation there later this year, but I also love when he digs into the history of the places he’s been.

Spanish PM Sánchez responds to Trump:

"Spain is against this disaster... Govts are here to improve people's lives... It is absolutely unacceptable that those leaders who are unable to fulfill that mission use the smoke of war to hide their failure, and in the process, fill the pockets of a few."

By the way, Democrats have now flipped 27 legislative seats in Trump 2.0.

Republicans are still stuck at zero.

Even in 2017-18, the GOP managed to flip a few. This time, just a goose egg, despite several good chances.

Breaking: Arkansas Democrats just flipped a Republican seat It's the ninth red-to-blue pickup in a special election in Trump's second term

JUST IN: Democrat Alex Holladay has flipped a GOP-held seat in *Arkansas*.

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried hard to delay this race and wanted the seat to stay vacant for 8+ months, but the courts told her to hold it today. If she was worried, she was right to be.

Our full recap:

A picture of Joe Biden and Jill Biden on stage amongst people standing at the rally.

This came up in my memories today. A photo that I took of Joe Biden on Super Tuesday 2020 in Los Angeles.

I’d early voted for Warren but had a feeling and went to the rally. He was very kind to all of us.

#LookAndSee Yo-Yo Ma playing The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns (my favorite classical composer)
#MusicChallenge
#MysicSky

youtu.be/3qrKjywjo7Q?...

My parents set the example, but my dad worked for the FAA and could do work flights, and my mom became a travel agent after retiring from teaching. They traveled five continents together.

Every episode of Freeman After Dark (on YouTube) ends with historian Joanne Freeman showing her can of Chutzpah and her whistle.

So I bought a bag of whistles to hand out next time I go protest!

If you aren’t following her on Bluesky, you should! @jbf1755.bsky.social

George R.R. Martin was inspired by the War of the Roses, so enjoy!