Recent Articles
Song of the Day 6/14: Elton John, “The King Must Die”
Political assassination has a long history in human affairs. Bernie Taupin wrote the lyric in 1969, the year after the MLK and RFK murders (John always wrote to Taupin’s lyrics, often paring them down from the original). The political climate obviously put to mind Shakespeare’s “MacBeth” and “Julius Caesar.” It was the closing track on […]
DL Open Thread: Saturday, June 14, 2025
What are you doing today? Going to a No Kings event? Watching the parade? Both? It seems like a momentous day, just hope it’s not too momentous. Protestations to the contrary notwithstanding, Trump views this as his elevation to the post of Supreme Leader. Me? I’m rooting for a deluge and perhaps a well-placed bolt of lightning. […]
Song of the Day 6/13: Brian Wilson, “Caroline, No”
Brian Wilson’s musical genius was not matched by a way with words – he almost always co-wrote with a lyricist. For “Pet Sounds” he wanted to move beyond the teen-oriented tunes he composed with Mike Love, so he chose a new writing partner, a 26-year-old ad-jingle writer named Tony Asher. Stories of how they met […]
DL Open Thread: Friday, June 13, 2025
Fascism On The MARCH! Let’s handcuff a United States Senator Edition: When U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, it was almost as if Donald Trump’s most well-worn talking point came to life: A bad hombre tried to go after a white American. All […]
Song of the Day 6/12: Brian Wilson, “Melt Away”
I won’t rhapsodize about Brian Wilson’s talent – he always maintained it wasn’t genius, it was hard work – because the entire music world has already done that. Even his cousin, collaborator and frequent nemesis Mike Love, chimed in, with a tribute more eloquent than any of his lyrics. He called Brian’s oeuvre “a hundred […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Here is yesterday’s Session Activity Report. Virtually all the action took place in committee meetings. Except for the Speaker’s ongoing stonewalling (see the Open Thread for particulars). Today’s House Agenda features HB 54 (Morrison), which creates and funds an Office Of Suicide Prevention. With plenty of bipartisan sponsorship, the bill will be on its way […]
DL Open Thread: Thursday, June 12, 2025
Mimi Minor-Brown Stonewalls Press On Stell Parker-Selby’s Absence. So Does Staff: https://www.coasttv.com/news/exclusive-house-speaker-refuses-to-answer-coasttvs-questions-on-stell-parker-selby/video_a7d5c11a-8dc0-5efd-9ebf-d09f0ec65f36.html https://www.coasttv.com/news/exclusive-no-votes-no-answers-selby-s-absence-raises-legal-and-ethical-questions/video_2a6837ec-1752-5cff-b19e-a9610eb631cb.html That’s the Mimi Minor-Brown I know first-hand. BTW, the tall gentleman in the second video accompanying her? That’s the Sergeant-At-Arms who got in my face at the County Democratic Convention. Perhaps it’s just me, but what I saw on those videos is, […]
Song of the Day 6/11: Sly and the Family Stone, “Family Affair”
Sly Stone, who died Monday at 82, didn’t invent funk music – that honor goes to James Brown – but he’s the first one who took it beyond the dance floor. Starting with “Dance to the Music” in 1967, Sly and the Family Stone released a string of hit singles that changed the course of […]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
That was a real productive day in Dover on Tuesday. I was very impressed with how Stephanie Hansen floor-managed SB 159, which helps pave the way for a wind renewable energy project. Old-timers (like me) were familiar with the outraged ‘home-rule’ bleats emanating from Suxco’s worst. Longtime former Sussex County Rep Charlie West, who was […]
DL Open Thread: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
The Week That Trump Went Full Fascist. I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say we’re now in a new Civil War. Troops attack blue states under false pretenses, Trump girds for his military parade. Opposition worries about ‘woke’ (Perhaps they’re in late-night session trying to come up with language decrying the waving of Mexican flags). […]
Song of the Day 6/10: Tom Lehrer, “Send the Marines”
Of course Donald Trump sent the marines to Los Angeles. What’s left of his mind was formed by the same John Wayne films Tom Lehrer cited when he wrote this back in 1965, after LBJ used them to intervene in the Dominican civil war. Of course, that was when we only used them in foreign […]
DL Open Thread: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Yep, Trump’s Deporting Folks Without Due Process. Courts be damned: As protests over workplace raids in California’s largest city continued Monday and the Pentagon announced it would be sending 700 Marines to backstop National Guard troops, immigration lawyers, advocates and relatives were scrambling to find information about those detained. Mexico’s foreign minister said four immigrants […]
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