Bye for now

Trump won and is in the process of losing it big time, Europe is fucked, the world is becoming a toxic and fascist nightmare, the whole of Africa is reverting to corrupt tribalism, China must remember that repressing millions is ultimately futile and Putin is running a once proud population into the ground, making friends with and giving sanctuary to other "leaders" of disrepute, not forgetting Israel who seem to be brewing a regional war for themselves whilst Trump, as pathologically eager as ever to keep himself in the headline, has joined in. He and his cronies are beyond words.

You get my drift. I'm going back to reading books and listening to music in a fairly simple, isolated life. Bye for now. 

Word of the day - SMUG

The word today is Smug

Smug is an adjective and from my research means the following:

- To be too pleased or satisfied about your knowledge or achievements

- To attempt to belittle others by your dress or demeaner

- To be scrupulously clean, neat, or overly correct in chosen attire

Smug by nature and attire?

Smug is a word with dual uses, regarding personal behaviour or attire

If someone says you are smug, or being smug it is not a compliment

To act smugly or exhibit smugness is not generally a desirable trait

Smugness and gloating are interchangeable in use.

Your appearance may be smug (overly smart) but you may not be smug

If you need more start here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Word of the day - MORES

The word today is Mores

Mores a collective plural noun and means the following:

- The accepted or traditionally held belief(s) of a country or population

- The traditional ways of behaving, typical of a society or parts thereof 

- The manners, ways and moral attitudes most common in a population

Collective sets of characteristics, actions or beliefs identify social mores of a group. E.G. Americans are loud and proud, Canadians not so.

Mores may be nothing other than a mutual understanding that moderates behaviour of individuals and countries. E.G. In the UK we queue respectfully, in Japan they bow a lot.

Think of mores as "this is the way we do things".

If you need more start here or here or here.

There is an index of words of the day.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

Dump Trump 'cos he's a chump (with Bohemian Trumpsody)

Let me say this please, Trump's desire to make America great again is akin to masturbation: It feels great for a while but ultimately you are left on your own. He is still hands-on the phallus of the USA but it is slowing going down. The rest of the world, much to his apparent surprise and eventual recognition, are prepared to also play hardball and basically give him the finger. Sure, his trade is good to have but his hubris is proving unacceptably hard to swallow. As the rest of the world adjusts, the USA might just need new friends, whilst Trump's actions at home, with removal of food aid and health assistance, may lead to intolerance by the masses, making me think he wants to actually break the USA; indeed, many ask when does friendship become a traitor's action.

TRUMP WON, ALLOWED TO DO SO BY A JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE AND AN AMERICAN VOTING POPULATION THAT DEFIES (my) UNDERSTANDING. GOOD LUCK USA! TRUMP LOVES TRUMP and his ego knows no bounds - he and his coterie will ruin America, your reputation, your economy and your former friends' desire to care about you. Why did you do this to yourselves America?

Just weeks in the job and the despotic bullying began.

Trump is open about his America comes first policy and his nationalistic desires are well documented. 

Trump's desire is to interfere in the social rights (and wrongs) he perceives in American society and those of other countries.

Trump is open about protecting American jobs, thereby portraying his party as a party for "legal" workers, whilst those he deems to be "illegals" are identified and arrested or camped.

Trump is using populist actions to thereby build-up his party and his base of avid supporters who swear by him. Their allegiance seems absolute.

To any reader with an understanding of recent (1930s) history you may be aware of what I am alluding to. Trump's party trust their leader implicitly to make their nation great again and the rest of the world must just hope things don't get out of hand, again. Trump will make America great again in their eyes, in their terms, but will undermine global goodwill toward them. The bias Trump exhibits toward the  Russians gives rise to a question: Is Trump a soviet agent and does his willingness to use the forces of the state against his own citizens suggest is he not a patriot, but a dictator (to the world)?

---- Original Article ----

Attention USA! Wake up for God's sake and get your leaders in order, or better still retire some of them, especially Trump AND Biden, who have had their time. Why not even elect a woman because what you are offered is seriously flawed?

We Europeans, for the most part, regard Donald Trump to be a dangerously smug narcissistic idiot criminal (along with others!), whose diktats to "make America great again" (as it was up to the 70's), will probably precipitate some sort of social implosion there; you have enough explosive factions, such as Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, Illegals and of course, good old Whitey: all chomping at their bits to aggravate each other, but "you", sane electorate, must sort out this mess.

Start by retiring Biden (just about dead) and dump Trump because he's a chump. Of those two, Trump will screw you because Trump loves Trump alone and his history is nothing to be proud about, so pleaseUSA , US ,, Donald Trump , Trump , Biden , Biden and Trump , Trump and Biden

Dump Trump 'cos he's a chump

(Pass it on!)

Here's a thought about old leaders

Bohemian Trumpsody

When Brits put their minds to anything they can produce brilliance combined with wit and erudition, such as this withering condemnation of Donald Trump, by the Marsh Family. Please be kind to the whole world and vote for anyone other than a Trump.

---- Later Additions To This Article ----

Trump has around him his "yes men" (and women) who gain empowerment solely by his patronage, without which many would be socially and politically irrelevant and truly respected by few. Their decisions and actions, however bizarre or spiteful go unquestioned only because of Trump, but to start firing members of their military, merely because of a feeling of being undermined is bullying of the highest order. A good example of this came as fall-out following Vice-President JD Vance's visit to Greenland. He and Trump want Greenland! - an independent sovereign state who do not want, nor need them.

Trump loves pulling the gear levers of state, but  God help us all.

Final thought: Trump's replacement of former president Joe Biden's portrait in the White House shows gross disrespect for his own office of state and how his petty childish mind is prone to work. Let us hope Trump's portrait is quickly replaced with that of a horse's butt (That's my childish mind!)

Truism (to preserve a perspective on race)

Racism and tribalism are both faces of the same coin.

Imagine a world without this tribe

Personal thought - I prefer the term tribalism to racism as the "natural" response to each other is recognition and respect until incursion of tribal lands and mores occurs. Imagine there were no white people at all in the world, racism would still exist: Blacks vs Asians, Tutsi vs Hutus - you get my drift.

Remove racism from our language to substitute tribalism and we all get closer to the historical root of hatred of some by others?

Truism (or may be not)

 RULE: "I before E, except after C" - Tell that to a scientist!

Personal thought - Rules cover most situations but there are always exceptions to what was conceived.

Meaningful songs - INDEX OF SONGS

Ostensibly a list of songs that remain meaningful to me, because of memories or emotions that were expected to fade with age (when in fact they do not); this is my personal time machine, for I play these songs and I'm off to another time. I don't know why music does this, but I'm glad it does for me and perhaps you also. 

For those born into the golden age of vinyl (you know if you were), "vinyl" was readily available, relatively cheap and almost defined who you and friends where, providing sanctuary from the real world, emotional support and true happiness; who does not remember girlfriend/boyfriend tapes of selected vinyl tracks recorded and swapped to express all sorts of feelings way beyond our own expression?

Anyway, getting to my point, "vinyl" was destined for the bin of history but oldies, zealots, fashionistas, musicologists, old-tech geeks and newbies (to the joy of this music delivery format) have made its resurgence economically viable and thus readily available for collection and permanent ownership, as opposed to renting your download until it is no longer yours. 

In my formative years I would get back to my freezing bedroom, put on my latest vinyl and avidly pore over its sleeve art and notes as it played, so in a similar vein you may like to read through these articles as you listen.

These are the songs in the "Meaningful songs" series.

 Click on each to hear it.

#1 BLUE MINK - Melting Pot                                                     Read article

#2 NORMAN GREENBAUM - Spirit In The Sky                    Read article

#3 MUNGO JERRY - In The Summertime                              Read article

#4 THE KINKS - Lola                                                                   Read article

#5 LOU REED - Walk On The Wild Side                                  Read article

#6 RALPH McTELL - Streets Of London                                 Read article

#7 ELVIS COSTELLO - Alison                                                    Read article

#8 DORY PREVIN - Lemon Haired Ladies                              Read article

# 9 BILLY PAUL - Me And Mrs Jones                                       Read article

#10 CHARLES AZNAVOUR - She                                              Read article

#11 THE ROLLING STONES - Angie                                         Read article

#12 HELEN REDDY - Angie Baby                                              Read article

#13 INSTANT AUTOMATONS - Harriot's Nurse                    Read article

#14 SINEAD O'CONNOR - Nothing Compares To You          Read article

#15 CARLY SIMON - You're So Vain                                          Read article

#16 PETULA CLARK - Downtown                                              Read article

#17 CHARLES AZNAVOUR - Yesterday when I was young  Read article

#18 THE BEATLES - She's Leaving Home                                Read article

#19 DAVID BOWIE - Letter To Hermione                                Read article

#20 THE SPECIALS - Ghost Town                                             Read article

#21 THE STRANGLERS - Golden Brown                                 Read article

#22 GARBAGE - Stupid Girl                                                        Read article

       With Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go To My Lovely

        And The Monkeys - I'm Not Your Stepping Stone

#23 STAN RIDGEWAY - Camouflage                                        Read article

#24 BLACK SABBATH - War Pigs                                              Read article

#25 ARGENT - Hold Your Head Up                                           Read article

#26 TRACEY THORN - Too Happy.                                         Read article

#27 GEORGE MICHAEL - A Different Corner                        Read Article

#28 THE CHI-LITES - Have You Seen Her?                            Read Article

#29 THE ROLLING STONES - Sympathy For The Devil      Read article

#30 BADFINGER - Baby Blue                          Read Article and backstory

#31 TIR NA NOG - Our Love Will Not Decay                          Read Article

#31 BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD - For What It's Worth           Read Article

# GLEN CAMPBELL - Wichita Lineman

# THE ARCHIES - Sugar Sugar

# GLEN CAMPBELL - By The Time I Get To Phoenix

# THE CARPENTERS - Rainy Days And Mondays

# GARRY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP

# FUN BOY THREE - Our Lips Sealed

# TOM TOM CLUB - Wordy Rappinghood

# GORDEN LIGHTFOOT - If You Could Read My Mind

Four-on-the-floor American rarities - Northern Soul hits

FRANK WILSON - Do I Love you (Indeed I Do)

THE TAMS - Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy

CURTIS MAYFIELD's - Move On Up (cover by The Northers Souls)

AL WILSON - The Snake

FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS -The Night-

GLORIA JONES - Tainted Love 1964 and 80s smash hit by SOFT CELL

CHARLIE RICH - Don't Tear Me Down

DUKE BROWNER - Crying Over You

OTIS CLAY - The Only Way Is Up  Joyous steps and later YAZZ version

JUDY STREET - What

THE VIBRATIONS - 'Cause You're Mine

THE 5 ROYALES - Catch That Teardrop

KELLY GARRETT - Love's The Only Answer

JASON KNIGHT - Our Love Is Getting Stronger

TURLEY RICHARDS - I Feel Alright

DEAN PARRISH - Tell Her and 1974 pop hit by Hello

GENE CHANDLER - There Was A Time

BRENDA HOLLOWAY - Look What You've Done What You

SANDI SHELDON - Your Gonna Make Me Love You

YOUNGHEARTS - A Little Togetherness

LAURA MICHELE - You Always Hurt The One You Love

SAM DEES - Lonely For You Baby

HERB JOHNSON AND THE IMPACTS - I'm So Glad

TERRIBLE TOM - We Were Made For Each Other

THE SHIRELLES - Last Minute Mira

THE VEL-VETS - I Got To Find Me Somebody

DON GARDNER - Cheatin' Kind

JAMES CARR - That's What I Want To Know

JIMMY RUFFIN - What Becomes Of The Broken-hearted

RAM JAM - Black Betty

Dancing in the spirit if Norther Soul -  ROLY PLATT AND JUSTIN FORESLY - Shuffle The Deck (great video) and these girls also deserve a mention.

SKA from Jamaica, was multi-ethnic in the UK

PRINCE BUSTER - They Call It Madness

THE SPECIALS - Gangsters (cover of Al Capone?)

DANDY LIVINGSTONE - Rudy A Message To You (orig)

THE SPECIALS - Rudy A Message To You (copy)

BAD MANNERS - Wooly Bully

THE SELECTER - On My Radio

THE SPECIALS - Too Much Too Young

DESMOND DEKKER AND THE ACES - The Isrealites

THE SPECIALS - Nelson Mandela

PRINCE BUSTER - Enjoy Yourself

BAD MANNERS - My Girl Lollipop

THE SPECIALS - Ghost Town

THE BEAT - Hands Off She's Mine

BAD MANNERS -Lip Up Fatty

SYMARIP - Skinhead Moonstomp

SYMARIP -Teenage Girl

DAVE AND ANSELL COLLINS - Double Barrel

THE BEAT - Mirror In The Bathroom

THE SPECIALS - Do Nothing

BAD MANNERS - Inner London

DENNIS BROWN - Money In My Pocket

THE HARRY JAY ALL STARS - Liquidator (no vocal)

THE UPSETTERS - Return Of Django (no vocal)

UPTOWN TOP RANKING - Althea And Donna

THE BEAT - Rough Rider

DESMOND DEKKER - Baby Come Back

LORD CREATOR - Hurry Up

MUSICAL YOUTH - Pass The Dutchie

MADNESS - One Step Beyond

PRINCE BUSTER - Al Capone

THE PIONEERS - Long Shot Kick De Bucket

JUNIOR REID - Banana Boat Man

THE BEAT - Rankin Full Stop

Copy Cats (song covers)

Other music on this site

Word of the day - INDEX OF WORDS

These are the words in the "Word of the day" series.

If you are brave or foolish enough to dig into the different types of words in English, try this.

A few word entries indicate how it would be pronounced in England, (i.e. how I would say it), but as this talented voice coach proves, geographic origin is the dominant influencer of pronunciation.

Click on each to read about it.

#1 ENNUI

#2 MELANCHOLY

#3 ONOMATOPOEIA

#4 PUSILLANIMOUS

#5 SANCTIMONY

#6 SAPPHIC

#7 DUPLICITUS

#8 SUPERCILIOUS

#9 PEDANTIC

#10 MALLEABLE

#11 FEBRILE

#12 LICKSPITTLE

#13 FENDERSMITH

#14 FRIPPERY

#15 CURMUDGEON

#16 NIGGARD

#17 FLUMMOX

#18 CORNUCOPIA

#19 DISPASSIONATELY

#20 DISCOMBOBULATION

#21 SCHADENFREUDE

#22 INCONTROVERTIBLE

#23 FECUNDITY

#24 DISSOLUTION

#25 GALLIMAUFRY

#26 OBFUSCATION

#27 POLYSEMY

#28 FACETIOUS

#30 OBSEQUIOUS

#31 CIRCUMSPECTION

#32 GAWPING

#33 FULMINATING

#34 ENCOMIUM

#35 MALEFICENCE

#36 CORUSCATE

#37 TEMERITY

#38 HUBRIS

#39 TRUCULENCE

#40 RIGMAROLE

#41 PERNICIOUS

#42 ACCRETION

#43 NITHERED

#44 NARCISSISM

#45 FESTOON

#46 GOBSMACKED

#47 FUGUE

#48 ERUDITE

#49 ELOCUTION

#50 MACHINATIONS

#51 ABROGATE

#52 SOUPÇON

#53 ACERBIC

#54 BLIMEY

#55 CRIKEY

#56 MISANTHROPIC

#57 AVUNCULAR

#58 FRITTER

#59 SHENANIGANS

#60 SARDONIC

#61 GINORMOUS

#62 INSIDIOUS

#63 LASCIVIOUS

#64 FRISSON

#65 MESSIANIC

#66 COTERIE

#67 JITTERY

#68 OMNIPOTENCE

#69 MAELSTROM

#70 GIGIL

#71 ANTIPATHY

#72 GOBBLEDYGOOK

#73 LUMMOX

#74 MOPE

#75 MORES

#76 SMUG

Clickbait

This is clickbait: an image (or text) intended to deceive you into supposing a specific story or topic is behind it, when in reality it turns out not to be so. In the most banal pieces the content is rubbish, deceiving or insulting (to you) and should be called out as such if you are invited to comment. 

Clickbait is becoming a scourge of social media and I am fed up of it, especially so on Racebook where opportunistic click-chasers will post up very contentious statements (Rage-baiting) or open ended questions, then sit back as people argue about it, or comment endlessly about its stupidity; whether it be bootube, racebook, blugger, ticcock, smelegraph, shyspace, pastagram, breaditt, bumsnet, or any other dumping ground for some duckwitt's ego (such as mine in this I imagine you saying), I am sick of wasting my life being enticed and then shafted by the greed for click payments by people not deserving of their algorithm-driven (supposed) popularity. If you agree pass this crap on.

Rant over; now enlarge the picture to reveal this persons breasts. Told you - clickbait!

More learned pieces on clickbait below. Click on each of them - you know you want to ......

Click 1

Click 2

Click 3

Click 4

Final thought: Online newspapers are surely becoming the worst global perpetrators of clickbait and even the BBC is not immune from a desperate desire to have their output read. This item from them is NOT about the hottest (single) day ever recorded. 

See subtle BBC clickbait here ... and the BBC being not so subtle.

Another BBC clickbait conspiring to publicise a new film, on the back of a baby birth.

The BBC being good here ...

FINALLY - Don't get me started on Rage Bait.