Here is the original cropped photo I have. Even this copy has been enhanced in Photoshop. The one on the internet has been reconstructed by AI. You can see differences in the background and it reconstructed their missing bodies. what is most important is the spirit of the photo/Lugosi's intentions.

While reading the news from Budapest, take a moment to look at this photo of Hungarian-American Bela Lugosi at an antifascist rally in Los Angeles during the war.

Hey, has anyone else in MN had trouble finding decaf coffee beans in stores lately? What’s going on? Does all decaf ship through the Strait of Hormuz or something?

Fantastic work, Artemis II.

I’m a man, and at this point, I’m thinking maybe men shouldn’t run for any political office for a while.

Did you know that 80s hair metal star Kip Winger has had a second career as a composer of classical music? He released an album today (on venerable classical label Naxos) of a symphony and violin concerto recorded with the Nashville Symphony. It’s… well, I like it better than his old band.

Reading up on the Avignon Papacy, as one does after reading that the US President’s administration has threatened to kill the Pope and imprison his successors.

One Battle After Another is a weird movie, but man, for a Twin Cities resident, at least, it feels too close to home. It’s easy to see Sean Penn’s character as Greg Bovino.

I’ve never seen Catholicism described this way before, but it makes sense …

On “The Pitt,” the characters always refer to their workplace as “the ED” for “emergency department.” The show’s ancestor, “ER,” was short for “emergency room.” Funny thing: “ER” was based on a Michael Crichton screenplay called “EW,” for “emergency ward.”

Seen in British Columbia.

This Artemis mission is exciting. Science. International cooperation. Exploration. Humanity. The future. These are concepts are much bigger than a billionaire's ego. We don't hear about very often these days. And we need them in our lives.

Happy 1 PM on the First Wednesday of the Month to all who celebrate

I finally watched “Sinners” and, oddly enough, had a feeling similar to what I had watching “Pluribus”: Maybe we should hear them out. Maybe these vampires have a point.

Now playing this song on repeat. The chorus is magic. youtu.be/KbECFrGIiHk?...

My wife says I’m going to be run out of the state for this.

I haven’t seen most of the movies this year, so watching the Oscars is kinda boring, but it was worth it to hear Lionel Richie say the nominees for best song included Nick Cave and K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Devil Wears Prada 2 commercial followed by commercial for a revival of Malcolm in the Middle, followed by commercial for a revival of of Scrubs.

Just thinking about how the O in the LA band Love’s logo combined the male and female symbols more than a decade before Prince’s similar “Love Symbol.”

Oh yeah? Well, my Morrissey tribute band, Hairdresser on Fire, has canceled every gig we’ve ever got.

Since I’m seeing a lot of Douglas Adams quotes to honor the late author’s birthday, I’d like to share this one, from “The Long, Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.” TBH I can remember very little about this book, but these opening lines pop in my head every time I travel.

No draft for Trump’s war. Hell no.

Cafesjian Art Trust, Shoreview, MN. Small little museum with a lot of works in glass. Mr. Cafesjian was apparently friends with Chihuly. I don’t particularly care for Chihuly’s work, but I liked some of the pieces.

Happy First Wednesday of the Month Tornado Siren Test to those who celebrate!

When I read about Iran, I remember Iraq, and I feel like a reverse Cassandra: I’m cursed to tell people the past but they will not believe me.

The older I get the more I think “Party on, dudes. Be excellent to each other” is actually really good advice and a pretty good ethos on which to build a society.

This guy would burn the whole world to the ground if he thought it would save his own skin.

Pete finds Laura Palmer’s body after dawn on Feb. 24. This time of year, dawn in Northern Washington state is at about 7 a.m. Cooper enters town at 11:30 a.m. that day. Where was he coming from? Did he fly in from DC? Even accounting for the 3-hour time difference, he made awfully good time.

Thinking of making my Bluesky into an Alyssa Liu fan account.

I feel like a stupid old man because I get frustrated with Signal and all the security precautions they take in my neighborhood Signal groups. Like, how do I DM a person to verify my ID if I don’t already have them in my contacts?

Inside you there are two wolves.

I was just looking at reactions to Pam Bondi’s testimony on Epstein and remembered who Trump originally wanted for her job. Imagine Matt Gaetz answering those questions.

I like this a lot but I feel the need to point out that the photo was taken at maybe the St. Pauliest intersection in St. Paul.

While we’re (rightly) criticizing Pam Bondi’s performance at today’s House Judiciary Committee Epstein hearing, let’s spare a thought for the pedophile protector and subpoena-defier who chairs the committee, Gym Jordan. The whole party treats the voters and the law with contempt

Post a banger that isn’t in English. I’ve recently been obsessed with Bleu Berline, who is sort of the French Billie Eilish. youtu.be/pyVup5gd8EM?...

Bay Area guys who married Minnesota women wear the Rebel Loon. (Billie Joe and me, today.)

SPORTS! www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

My 14-year-old: "You know, that guy ..." Me: "No idea who you're talking about. Is he an actor?" 14 y.o.: "I think so ..." Me: "Any other clues ...?" 14 y.o.: "He looks like the evolved form of Neil DeGrasse Tyson." Me: ... (long pause) "You don't mean Morgan Freeman?" 14 y.o.: "Yeah, that's it!"

Five classes I took in college: 1. The Gothic Imagination in Film and Fiction 2. The Bible as Literature 3. European Intellectual History 4. Writing 64, Journalism (instructor Conn Hallinan, my late friend) 5. Introduction to the Universe (astronomy class to fulfill a science requirement)

I hope people share funny Catherine O’Hara clips all day, but I keep thinking of how she and Eugene Levy melted our hearts in this scene from “A Mighty Wind.” Damn, I just love everyone in that cast. Everyone in this scene. youtu.be/3eflj2EWZzg?...

Abolish ICE. This agency cannot be redeemed. These killers must face justice.

We all have our issues with the Star Tribune, but it deserves Pulitzers for its work during this ICE occupation

Amazing story. www.startribune.com/detained-by-...

I didn’t make it to downtown Minneapolis, but I joined a few hundred people for an ICE protest on Selby Avenue in St Paul. Too cold to take any photos and too cold for me to stay long. I’m in awe of the thousands and thousands of people in Minneapolis who turned out in this weather.

What the fuck are we doing? bringmethenews.com/minnesota-ne...

Saw a message that they needed legal observers at the St Paul preschool where my kids went when they were little. Grabbed my coat and raced over. Turned out, thankfully, there was no ICE raid. They just have volunteers constantly guarding the parking lot in case ICE shows up. It’s 5 degrees F.

Imagine threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act on us and we’re just on a frozen lake like this …

Minneapolis’ Jeremy Messersmith sums up the current mood. They played an edited version on the radio this morning and I couldn’t stop laughing. I have never heard so many bleeps. jeremymessersmith.bandcamp.com/track/fuck-t...