If I got a superpower I wouldn’t say, oh, I got to get a costume and put on a mask. I would say hey, I can do something better than other people. How can I turn it into a buck?’

RIP Mr. Lee and thanks for all the fun.

Friday Quote tomorrow.

In the MCU, Chris Evans’ Captain America has been my favorite. Even more than Downey’s Iron Man, Evans brings the Captain to life.

Another new discovery on the streamings. It sounds kind of like Amaranthe, but with a slightly harder edge.

Yesterday was the centennial of the Armistice. The great booming guns of World War I fell silent. The great slaughter of men and nations stopped.

However, the vengeance and avarice of the Allies in 1918 ensured that it would not be “The War To End All Wars.” It’s not that I can’t sympathize/empathize/understand why France and Great Britain pushed for such punitive measures against Germany. An entire generation of the best and brightest were almost wiped out – dead or wounded so badly they would never be productive in society again – in just four years. Generations of treasure were evaporated.

I’m not condemning the leaders of 1918. I’m reminding the leaders of today and tomorrow of one of history’s great lessons.

Don’t be fooled by the words “socialism” and “communism”. Once you come to understand what they mean in terms of economic freedom you will know that they are anything but social, and have nothing to do with community. They simply mean “centralization of power in the hands of the people that make up the state, in the hands of the master class.

They are nothing but euphemisms for “slavery”.

On the national front, the Democrats get the House and the Republicans keep the Senate. I mostly agree with Rob’s assessment that the House Republican’s failure to do what it promised kept the base unmotivated to help save it from an aggressive Democrat push.

On the Florida side, Miguel’s correct that we dodged a bullet by DeSantis’s hairbreadth win. More importantly Friend’s defeat for Agriculture. It looks like Scott and Nelson are headed for a recount, which wouldn’t have happened if Scott hadn’t caved after Parkland. Don’t fucking do favors for people who won’t vote for you anyways. I swear that politicos should have that tattooed on their palms.

As for the amendments? It was kind of a mixed bag from my perspective. Probably the most controversial was granting the right to vote to felons, which I voted for because if you’ve served your time and released, then you should have all the rights and responsibilities of a citizen restored. Speaking of the citizenry, they decided we needed to ban offshore drilling, vaping in offices, and greyhound racing. Because when special interests can buy the right legislators, they buy themselves an amendment. And all of these crossed the two-thirds needed for an amendment to pass – which was supposed to stop this bullshit in the first place.

And starts the long slog to 2020.

J.D. Tucille has an insightful piece over st Reason on reducing political violence. One of the big takeaways is that recently people belong to a party not because of what the party stands for but who the party stands against.

Money quote:

If the government can reach into virtually every area of life, can grant or deny permission to make a living or enjoy pastimes, and has a documented history of abusing such authority for petty and vindictive reasons, why wouldn’t you be afraid of your enemies wielding such power? How could you avoid growing fearful and angry over their anticipated conduct once they took their inevitable turn in office? And what would you say—and eventually do—to stop them? Especially, if you were a little unhinged to begin with.

I know for this midterm elections, there were several races where I was not voting for a candidate, but against their opponent.

Okay, so not technically metal. Fuck it, this is my blog. And I have a fondness for this song. Weezer’s cover is one of the better ones I’ve come across.

We’ve been taking the cats to get their shots. We’re down to the last one.

Wife To Be: We need to make an appointment for Colonel.

Receptionist (after a few moments typing): Have we seen him before?

Wife To Be: Yes. Why?

Receptionist: Because I’m not seeing Colonel. (Types a moment) The only one we haven’t seen recently is Kow-Low-Neel (this is she how pronounced the name).

Wife To Be (before I can step in): Yeah, that’s him.

I think I rolled my eyes hard enough to give me a headache.