GOP = pedophiles. And Clarence Thomas sucks almost as much as 6 months of darkness and rain. That is all.

Speaking as someone who spends a lot of time in airports, the food for the most part has always been overpriced and underwhelming (there are exceptions, particularly in smaller, regional airports where the establishments tend to be locally owned and not simply ersatz "variations" operated by Host, Gate Gourmet, Sky and the like), so $17 for a burger, fries and a small side salad is actually pretty reasonable, in my experience. But, unless that shot is some 20 year-old Scotch, you're not going to pay $73 for a single drink (and that's not an exceptionally large pour, considering it's on the rocks; airport bars are very stingy in this regard, since they literally squeeze profit out of every drop), so I suspect Mr. Brookes had more than one.

Yeah, I don’t fully understand the Menendez thing. You’d think that after the first indictment he’d make sure his ass was spic and span going forward, but now they’ve found him and his wife hoarding wealth in their basement. I guess I don’t get it because there are plenty of legal ways of accumulating wealth in DC. Many people go into Congress fairly well-to-do (it’s a super rarity for someone lower middle class getting elected to a Federal office because getting elected costs so much money), but after a few terms in the House or a couple of terms in the Senate or indeed upon retirement, they go home very wealthy. This was once considered highly distasteful. Harry Truman once famously derided LBJ by saying that Lyndon went to Washington a pauper and came home a millionaire. It’s become so commonplace now that I think most people just disregard it as part of the system.

So, that’s why I don’t understand the Menendez peccadillo for hiding money like a squirrel gathering nuts for the winter when you can be so open about making bank in DC. Also, let’s not forget that he’s up for election in 2024 in a seat the Republicans would LOVE to have. I’m not so sure the NJ GOP isn’t packing this particular picnic basket. Anyway, not a wise move, Bob.

Last day of summer, yes. The concept of a great summer is almost lost on me now. When I was young, it was vacation from school and a week or two in Florida or the Smokey Mountains. During my working years, it was a lighter workload and maybe a weekend away every now and then. Now, I associate summer with inescapable heat, wildfires, and water depletion. I’m happy to see autumn – football, colors, Thanksgiving, and the sun sets when it’s supposed to.

Goddamn. Even 18 sounds awfully, awfully young to legally enter into what’s supposed to be a lifetime commitment (and of course we all know it won’t be).

Yeah, I guess whatever it takes, but I have to say that it sort of gives me diarrheal cramps realizing some need Taylor Swift’s encouragement in order to register and vote.

I urge everyone who hasn’t seen it to lookup the PBS Frontline on Clar-Clar and Ginny. It will make you run to your bedroom and cry into your pillow.

Someone somewhere said that this habitual problem with spending resolutions makes the United States look like a banana republic to the world.

A $78 meal at the airport sounds like a couple of cheeseburgers with fries and two Cokes. I have a friend who recently was in NYC on business and was staying at a mid-level hotel there. A room service omelet was $40 and a burger with fries was $55. Also, a carafe of coffee was $30. How do people travel anymore?

Have a good weekend, everyone. Happy Fall 2024.

Seriously, I've had a nice BBQ and a tall margarita in San Diego airport for something like $24 total. Brooks drinks like a fish.

Menendez is still a Senator, and not in jail? You would hope the Dems would have learned by now to lay off the corrupt politicians. My cousins from Illinois laugh about the parade of corrupt Governors from there.

Actually, Fall begins tonight - the equinox is at 11:49 PM Pacific time.

typo...Fall 2023. News full of Menendez today. He's gotta go. Purported to be in discussions with the Democratic governor. And get this... according to one source as part of the deal Menendez wants his son appointed to replace. Yeah, that'd work convincing people it ain't corrupt.

David fucking

Brooks's heralding in a
reich wing dystopia
so yeah he's gonna
join the rest of Us
in drowning our
Despair with
alcohol or
Whatever

he's human
too. mostly.

@1 dvs99: +1 for the WIN!!! I have nothing to add. You covered it beautifully.

When will Hell finally claim the Orange Turd, its bootlicking clusterfuck of RepubliKKKans, and their spineless marionette sock puppet, Kevin McKKKarthy? And WHY, after, what--38 CRIMINAL CHARGES---is the Orange Turd still out roaming free?? The rest of us would be rotting in the federal pigpen with no hope for parole or light of day on only 1/10 of the crimes the Orange Turd has proudly committed.

@4 Bauhaus I: Agreed. Not a good move, NJ Senator Bob Menendez. Former Governor Chris Christie and countless RepubliKKKans must be chortling.
And I believe you about the PBS Frontline about Clarence Thomas and its Ginny bitch, without even seeing it.

Farewell, Summer 2023. I will miss you badly and am already looking forward to Spring 2024.
Bundle up, folks----a brutally cold Winter 2024 is forecast.
My beloved VW and I are heading out for a road trip to the San Juans, soon, in early autumn celebration of many years blessed with such a sweet little car before returning to seasonal hibernation. So many precious memories.
Thank you and bless you, kristofarian @9, for sharing a very special Volkswagen book! ;)

Welcome home, at long last, Tokitae! Rest in peace, Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut.
May heartless profiteer, Ted Griffin and his ilk roast for Eternity having to perform Stupid Pet Tricks in captivity.

Menendez sucks
but what Sux worse
is insider trading's taken
over Congress . a few Gold
Bullions lying around that's just

Congress.

toss 'em All
& go thru the
fucking Phonebook
or whatever they Call it

better Yet
ask Children.
their sense of Justice
is much more Keen then ours.

just keep the Fucking
Lawyers out of it.

@11 - da nada
auntie Gee! I'm Glad
it* went to a Very Good Home!

the San Juans (Sucia & Doe
Bay etc)'re Awesome
this time of year

happy Motoring
Safe Travels
& enjoy!

@13 kristofarian: Agreed. Average grade schoolers could do a better job than the overpaid idiots in the House of Misrepresentatives.

@14 kristofarian: Friday Harbor is our destination this time, despite the rainy forecast. But we definitely have Sucia & Doe Bay on our list of San Juan Islands visiting spots. The little town of Olga on the Eastern side of Orcas has the sweetest little combination cafe and artists co-op. The entire archipelago is magic.
Indeed, the year is not complete without a visit to the San Juans.