“This was a very very bad vote”

Millie with her stuffed hedgehog, Lucille. This is Millie's sixth or seventh hedgehog, since she tends to destroy them. It makes me think of B.B. King, who had many guitars over the years, but called each one "Lucille." So I call Millie's hedgehogs "Lucille," too. No one else does, though.

Yesterday, Drumpf said "Groceries are down." Barb and I bought groceries yesterday, and I promise you they are f#&%ing NOT.

14 October 1774: The First Continental Congress adopted its "Declaration and Resolves" that the Colonies were "entitled to life, liberty, and property" and that "they have never ceded to any sovereign power whatever a right to dispose of either without their consent." NO KINGS was on the horizon.

A moment of doggie goofiness to help bolster you for the coming week. Odds are you're gonna need it.

Barb (who was with Chester, who likes to dawdle) took this shot of Millie and me as we headed home on the morning walk a few days ago. We'll be out there again tomorrow.

B.B. King (1925-2015) was born 100 years ago today. He and his guitar, Lucille, made a joyful noise for the world. And if Lucille broke a string onstage, B.B. would change it himself as he sang. They spread unity and love, never division or hate. How I miss them. www.youtube.com/watch?v=P27t...

At a profound level, MAGA's immigration policies are simply a way to transfer taxpayer dollars to private contractors whose job is to terrorize the American people. Fundamentally, leaders are using our own money to destroy our democracy.

Browsing during chemo, I've found two Bland Lemon Denton songs swiped by Russian pirates for Blues compilations, along with tunes by the likes of Muddy Waters and Sue Foley. Feeling ripped-off and proud! muson.ucoz.com/news/melodie... muson.ucoz.com/news/blues_f...

Chester and Millie compete for the title of Klassiest Dog of 2025.

I've lived in Texas long enough that I can remember back when we had a goddamn -great- governor who refused to kowtow to bullies. I mean, a fair, fierce, truth-and-justice, no-voter-left-behind badass. Man, those were the days. Don't believe me? Look her up. Her name was Ann Richards.

Today, August 1, is "Bandcamp Friday," when Bandcamp waives its share of artists' sales for 24 hours. So if you feel like spending a few bucks on independent music and having all the bucks go to the musicians, today's your day. Any kind of music. Even Blues. Even mine: blandlemondenton.bandcamp.com

This of course being the same guy who pardoned the violent January 6th insurrectionists who tried to overthrow an election in his name? That guy? Huh. 2/2

So, Congress is going to give convicted child sex trafficker Jizzlaine Maxwell, a known liar and perjurer, immunity to testify about the only guy who can grant her a pardon? 1/

You can listen to all of the tracks from AT THE EARTH'S CORE on YouTube. To paraphrase Mad Magazine: "$0.00 -- Cheap!" www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

We have a number of squirrels. This one is a jerk.

We're still here. Just upside-down.

Well, I wasn't gonna buy any Tesla stock anyway. But I'm sure 'nuff buying some popcorn.

On 9 May 1800, the abolitionist John Brown was born. He would be convicted of treason against Virginia for his October 1859 raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, and hanged on 2 December. His final words asserted that "the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood."

Millie (right) found a nice big stick. After a brief tug-of-war, she decided to share it with Chester (left). She is a generous soul.

8 April 1945, noon: A secret transmitter sends -- To the army of General Patton. This is the Buchenwald concentration camp. SOS . . . The SS wants to destroy us. The reply: KZ Bu. Hold out. Rushing to your aid. Staff of Third Army. 11 April 1945, 3:15 PM: The Third Army liberates Buchenwald.

Zonk-thirty.

On 2 April 1931, Virne "Jackie" Mitchell - a 17-year-old who was just the second woman to play professional baseball - struck out both Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth in an exhibition game between her AA team, the Chattanooga Lookouts, and the New York Yankees. Commissioner Landis then voided her contract.

Chester has questions.

On 25 March 1911, on the 8th to 10th floors of the Asch Building in NYC, the Triangle Shirtwaist factory caught fire. Doors had been locked to prevent workers from taking breaks or stealing (and to keep out union organizers), so many could not escape. 146 people, mostly immigrant women, were killed.

On 21 March 1965, protected by federal troops, 2,000 people led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to march to Montgomery in support of voting rights. Their first two attempts, on 7 March ("Bloody Sunday") and 9 March, had been blocked by state police.

Millie takes pride in her flexibility.

Today, 5 March 2025, is the 255th anniversary of the Boston Massacre. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_...

Chester always offers the same advice when I worry about this troubled world: Pet. The. Belly. Pet it. Petttt iittttt.

This may look, at first glance, like serious conflict. But trust me: What's going on here is the doggie equivalent of professional wrestling.

On 22 February 1943, three young Germans, members of the White Rose Society -- Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl, and Christoph Probst -- were guillotined by the Nazis for distributing leaflets speaking out against the crimes of the Third Reich. Their bravery, and their cause, will not be forgotten.

Chester is blind, but he hears and smells -everything-.

Just heard that on February 13, over in the UK, DJ Steve Yourglivch played a track from AT THE EARTH'S CORE on his "Tracks Across the Ocean" show on markskinradio.com. So now when we say Bland Lemon Denton and the Lemon-Aides are world famous, we aren't lying. Stretching it, perhaps, but not lying.

Lucy and Linus in February 2011, when they were ten years old.

The riddle of Millie the Sphinx: Which creature feeds us breakfast and treats in the morning, more treats in the afternoon, and supper and treats in the evening? "That would be YOU, sucker."

Sometimes, Clarence would let one of the dogs share a bed with him. (Clarence with Linus; Lucy with a bed to herself. Photo 2004 or 2005.)

RAMROD RECORDS: For Valentine's Day, give AT THE EARTH'S CORE, an album of love songs! CYNICAL CRITIC: Huh. One about sin, one about a drummer, and one about being crushed by magma. And one about, I dunno, Pinocchio? RR: Love songs! CC: Even the one about killing fascists? RR: Especially that one.

Our beloved black-and-white cat, Clarence, was almost 15 years old when we adopted Linus and Lucy as puppies in 2001. So even when those pups grew into 70lb. dogs, they still considered Clarence to be the boss. Lucy wouldn't have -dreamed- of shooing Clarence from her bed. (Photo 2005 or 2006.)

SS-Sturmbannführer Wernher von Braun, via his V-2 rockets, was responsible for the deaths of 12,000 slave laborers and 9,000 British citizens. He was a Nazi-saluting opportunist with no conscience. The U.S. should have never tainted our space program with such a man. We shouldn't do it now, either.

Tater knew how to shut the duck up.

A recent article argues that a certain awful man is not a “narcissist,” but a “solipsist." I am neither a psychologist nor a philosopher, so for me, “sack of shit” is more useful than either of those terms. A “sack of shit” is a man whose only value to society occurs when he is used as fertilizer.

Sweet Tater and Chester, December 2022.

Millie the Queen.

Sweet Tater with big Sugar, July 2020. Tater, ever vigilant, heard a prowler on the other side of the house. It was Barb.

I missed this until now -- but there are 8 hours left (until midnight PST): Bandcamp usually takes a cut of artist sales, but they're donating their February 7 share to LA musicians hurting from the fires. Indie musicians get sales, and LA musicians get help. Win-win! bandcamp.com/lafirerelief

Chester's first visit to our longtime veterinarian, back in early 2022. He was dubious. Come to think of it, he still is. Yet he's always well behaved. Even when dubious, he is the best of all possible boys.

Three years ago today, we brought Chester home from PAWS Shelter of Central Texas. But somehow, my brain can't accept that. I mean, hasn't he -always- been our dog?

Tillie and Sweet Tater, 2012.