47 got his UFC fight, disgracing the White House. Bully for him. I’m not a UFC fan but my understanding is that many of the fighters were old. You know, for professional fighters. They put an old guy against a young buck and let them go. According to ‘The Guardian,’ “Every bout on the seven-fight card ended by knockout or technical knockout, the first time that has happened in the UFC’s 33-year history.”

The main event ended with an upset. 37 year old Justin Gaethje beat up previously unbeaten Ilia Topuria who many regard as the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighter. Yeah, the old American beat up the younger “feriner,” currently considered the best in the game. EVERY fight ended with a KO or TKO with the final match being an unlikely upset by an old guy? It feels like, perhaps, the fix was in. Look, I don’t have any evidence to that effect, so it must be true, right?

Yeah, I know, 47 has stolen billions of dollars so he’s rich, but that dude is as white trash as they come. I kind of expect to see broken down cars on the South Lawn any day now. I’m not sure he can surprise me with his debasements any more. If I found out his next planned event was a wet T-shirt contest or he was cooking Meth in the Lincoln Bedroom, I’d just shrug and file it under ‘More of the same.’ What more could anybody possibly expect from this guy?

The White Trash White House, brought to you by Donald Trump and Team Evil. I remember when the US was respected and behaved with dignity. I do…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Say, we have a deal with Iran! Well, we have a deal to make a deal. Um, it’s more of a framework to consider details of a possible deal to make a deal down the road. Apparently, the shooting is going to stop for awhile, though. That’s good. The US and Iran have agreed to talk about the things they’ve been killing each other over for the last three months. It’s less of a final peace agreement and more of an extension of the cease fire.

That is good, don’t get me wrong. But the sticking points still to be discussed include the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s enriched uranium. Oh, AND, Israel is still going to kill Palestinians. No, they haven’t said it that way. But Israel made clear they’re staying in Lebanon and that, likely, means more killing. The price of a barrel of oil started falling right away. I wouldn’t expect any concurrent savings at the pump, if I were you, though. Price increases pass on to us quickly. Price decreases are always in less of a hurry, because Capitalism works for the Capitalist, not the consumer.

Last night, 47 posted, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade. Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” But then an hour passed and he acknowledged that, no, it’s not open yet. First they have to sign a deal – scheduled for this Friday – and even that is about mine removal. Oh, AND the “toll free” part of his claim is not settled, either.

Iran says the deal getting done includes the the phrase, “Iranian arrangements,” which, Iran maintains, means they still get to charge ships to pass through the strait. So, to review, the war-that’s-not-a-war started over enriched uranium (still not settled), Israel attacking Palestinians (still not settled), and free travel in the Strait of Hormuz (still not settled).

It seems to be an awfully big splash over an awfully uncertain conclusion, but at least some of the killing might stop for a while…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I saw a meme that read, “While you were so worried that Socialism would take your freedoms, Capitalism stole your pension, took your savings, destroyed the climate, shipped your job overseas, robbed you of health care, dismantled the educational system, and shackled you with debt, leaving you only your racism, xenophobia, patriarchy, and guns.”

It’s a good meme except it left one out: Capitalism has taken your freedoms, too…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’re sporting a certain amount of grey in your hair, you’ve met somebody in your lifetime – or possibly BEEN somebody in your lifetime – who has known Polio. It’s a pretty horrifying illness, leaving it’s victims paralyzed or dead. People who survive often have lifelong physical struggles as a result. It was a tremendous blessing when a vaccine was introduced to combat Polio. It allowed for peace of mind, knowing your child was protected. Polio in the US, became something of a thing of the past.

It turns out, that’s bad news. It made Polio rather abstract. For years, young mothers didn’t have to worry baby might contract Polio. The reality of Polio was less in-your-face. That created a luxury space where people could pretend it wasn’t so bad and that vaccines are the real enemy. Young mothers who make that mistake run an extremely high risk of learning exactly how bad Polio is via their own children. By then, it’s too late.

I mention it because there was a news story that Mitch, the bitch, McConnell is in the hospital with some ailment likely related to his age. The story included the fact that McConnell had contracted Polio as a child and walks with difficulty to this day because of it. McConnell voted against the RFK, Jr nomination, largely because of RFK’s moronic, wrong-headed stance on vaccines.

I don’t like McConnell but he did the right thing, there. He did it because he KNOWS Polio. Those of us who remember the scourge – whether it touched us directly or not – embraced the vaccine. I’m not looking forward to the reality of life without vaccines – by choice…