President Trump recently said, "To get gravitas, you have to be a controversial and in many cases a horrible human being." Trump has being horrible down: he admits it, his supporters revel in it. But being horrible doesn’t confer gravitas, only bravado, of which Trump has more than he needs.

Latest, and last, in my series of soundworks – call the style "musique concrète" or "ambient remix" – based on the music of my favorite jazz singer, Shirley Horn. (I've done all I can with this concept: time for new horizons.)

soundcloud.com/erling/ambie...

Strange things happening in the land
Strange things happening in the land
No need to be surprised, the end is drawing nigh
Strange things happening in the land

youtu.be/fuQ2ifelaYw?...

A poll shows that a majority British Gen Z are disengaging from democracy and coming to accept authoritarianism. "They are media savvy, switched on and smart, but have been exposed to the full force of the polarising, confusing and misleading nature of social media since they were born."

Trying to remind myself in this arctic freeze that just this past July, the world was this warm, this green, this lush ...

Hegseth has the right to believe what he believes; still, his affiliation with religious extremists is one more reason why he doesn't deserve a cabinet position. Hope this makes the U.S. news, also.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

I introduce myself, who have been many things: editor, composer, poet, actor, husband, father, owner of too many books (never counted, but perhaps two thousand), too many cats (three, which is many more than two), Facebook émigré/refugee, and fellow sojourner on the earth in a dark time.