Musical Sunday

My new favorite musical group is the Piedmont Raging Grannies, who have a great collection of funny and satirical songs. If you haven't heard "Hey, Mr Tangerine Man," head right over to You Tube and check it out. In the meantime, their twist on the old tune "Button Up Your Overcoat" speaks directly to us old fogies ...

Have a good day, enjoy the rest of your weekend, and listen to the grannies ... they've been around the block a few times.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Cartoon Saturday

Well, if you thought February would be better than January, the joke's on you ...

In a monolog on a conservative podcast this week, Der Furor advocated the unconstitutional nationalization of elections, and Republicans taking control of elections in at least 15 unnamed states; Der Furor announced that he will close the Kennedy Center for two years to "renovate" the facility, possibly a reaction to tanking ticket sales following his takeover of the once-prestigious cultural location; billionaire owner of the Washington Post Jeff Bezos has gutted the once-great national paper, firing more than 300 reporters and staff members; Der Furor told Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he would be willing to unfreeze $16 billion in funding for a major infrastructure project in New York if Schumer would agree to rename New York's Penn Station and Washington's Dulles Airport after him; and in Stoughton, Wisconsin, police used a drone to capture a serial defecator in the act ... the perpetrator, a 46-year-old woman, was charged with indecent conduct and offered a position as manager of Der Furor's social media accounts.

This week, a collection of cartoons about GPS and direction apps ... the salvation (mostly) of those of us who are directionally challenged.

I have one of those ...

I wish I'd had one of those back in the day ...

It must be in downtown Pittsburgh ...

Uh, oh ... should have been more specific ...

GPS in the pioneer days ...

X marks the spot, usually ...

I think this model is going to be sold in the US this year ...

This one's a little dated, but still funny ...

Yep ...

It makes you one with the road ...

And that's it for this week's GPS-themed Cartoon Saturday - hope I didn't lead you astray.

Have a good day and a great weekend, and stay as warm as you can. Come back tomorrow for Musical Sunday and a visit to the Piedmont Raging Grannies ... see you then.

Bilbo

The Right-Cheek Ass Clown for February, 2026

Earlier this week we presented an out-of-cycle Ass Clown Special Award - the first of 2026 - to the Arc de Trump. Today, we present the first regularly-scheduled Ass Clown Award for February to an individual who has, somehow, flown under our radar before now. Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, with the traditional flatulent blare of trumpets and shower of confetti made from shredded evidence, we present the award for 

The Right-Cheek Ass Clown for February, 2026

to

White House Deputy Chief of Staff

Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller is probably the most powerful and influential unelected individual in a position with responsibility for shaping national policy. He is the driving force behind implementation of many of the administration's most extreme actions, in particular its extremely aggressive and violent anti-immigrant program. 

He described the president in a CNN interview as having "plenary authority" under the law ... "plenary authority," or "plenary power," in case you didn't know, refers to the absolute, unchecked power of a king or dictator. 

As Der Furor grows increasingly incoherent and emotionally unstable, Miller exerts more and more authority through him, a Rasputin providing the brain and intellectual discipline his tsar lacks. As journalist Judith Levine has commented, "Where [Der Furor] has no guiding principles, Miller is a resolute ideologue of white, western supremacy and a tactician of final solutions."

The disastrous, violent federal overreach in Minnesota is a direct result of Miller's demand that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials make a minimum of 3,000 immigration arrests a day, nearly ten times the daily number in the previous year. He demands daily updates on the hiring of new ICE agents, on detention capacity, the numbers of deportation flights, and the number of border crossings. He has described the Democratic Party as a “domestic extremist organization,” and told CNN's Jake Tapper that “We are a superpower, and under [Der Furor], we are going to conduct ourselves as a superpower.” 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, the Right-Cheek Ass Clown for February, 2026, is White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, a man whose actions and philosophies make him easy to lampoon

but dangerous to ignore in a nation supposedly guided by the Constitution and the rule of law.

Have a good day, and come back tomorrow for a Cartoon Saturday look at the world of GPS. More thoughts then.

Bilbo

Ass Clown Special Award

In a year like this one (it's only February, for gawd's sake), in which ass clowns are springing up like mushrooms after a warm rain, I'm surprised that I haven't yet felt the need to present an out-of-cycle Ass Clown Special Award. Well, that ends today ... and with a somewhat unusual awardee.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, today we present an

Ass Clown Special Award

to

The Arc de Trump

Not satisfied with adding his name to the Kennedy Center ahead of that of President John F. Kennedy, to whom the Center is a memorial, razing the East Wing of the White House to build a gigantic ballroom, and gilding the Oval Office into a Wal-Mart Versailles, Der Furor has announced plans to erect a gigantic triumphal arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. 

The largest version of the garish arch, the one preferred by Der Furor and immediately nicknamed the "Arc de Trump" by many observers, would dwarf the Lincoln Memorial, being more than twice its height and interrupting the line of sight between Arlington Cemetery and the memorial ... 

According to a White House spokesperson, 

“The Arch is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world. President Trump’s bold vision will be imprinted upon the fabric of America and be felt by generations to come. His successes will continue to give the greatest Nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves.”

As to how the arch will be financed, well, nobody quite knows. Der Furor has suggested that so much money has been donated by his sycophants and rich cronies for his White House ballroom vanity project that the leftover funds would pay for the arch. And if you believe that, I have many acres of prime Florida swamp real estate you may want to buy.

At a time when most Americans are concerned about the cost of groceries, the cost of healthcare, and the out-of-control violence of an unregulated immigration enforcement army, their president's "bold vision" is focused on a new ballroom and a triumphal arch twice as high as the French one*.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Readers, this Ass Clown Special Award is presented to the Arc de Trump, the last thing the nation needs.

Have a good day. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* The Arc de Triomphe is 164 feet high.

 

Poetry Sunday

A warning, however early, is only useful if you pay attention to it.

The Problem with Early Warnings

by Charles Rafferty

People don't like to leave a party 

unless the house is actually 

on fire. Even then, if the flames 

are far enough away 

to be pretty, they'll finish 

their drink, take one more pass 

at the hors d'oeuvres.

How things happen has always been 

unclear. Hurricanes begin 

in a place where no one lives.

Agents of the government start 

to wear masks. Fascism is 

a word my neighbors won't use 

yet. They are following

the law, they say, and the sirens 

are coming for someone else.

Have a good day and pay attention. Those sirens are getting closer.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Cartoon Saturday

Cold enough for you?

Outspoken Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall event by a man who sprayed her with vinegar; Der Furor's FBI raided a secure Georgia warehouse and seized records from the 2020 presidential election - the latest frantic attempt by Der Furor to prove his fever dream that he won that election; Senate Democrats and the White House agreed late Thursday to fund most federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year fund und the Homeland Security Department for two weeks while negotiations continue over DHS reforms demanded by Democrats; the "Justice" Department released about 3 million new pages of redacted Epstein files - including thousands of videos and photos - more than a month after it was legally required to do so; and in France, lawmakers unanimously approved a bill to end the notion of “marital duty,” clarifying that cohabitation does not oblige spouses to have sex.

This week, for no particular reason other than I haven't had a good pun fight on my Facebook page for a while, a collection of cartoons featuring awful puns ... 

So is Der Furor, given his over-gilding of the White House ...

I hope he has good insurance ...

Orange you glad he'll be protected?

Just to clarify terms ...

Ain't that the icing on the cake?

I hear it's got real tsar power behind it ...

Oh, the poe boy ...

You really need to read the packaging carefully ...

Republicans have lost the other one ...

Line 'em up!

Have a good day and a great weekend. Stay warm. More thoughts coming tomorrow, when Poetry Sunday addresses the problem with early warnings. See you then.

Bilbo

Great Moments in Editing and Signage

 

As we slip and slide our frozen way toward the end of an endless month, let's have one last laugh at the expense of the editors and sign painters.

Cause and effect? ...

Oops. Sorry ...

When it's time to stop digging ...

I think that's an excellent response to an emergency ...

Economists get a blinding flash of the obvious ...

Sexual identity issues transcend species ...

Ouch ...

Must have been a cook-off ...

Thanks to Mike for this one ... the sign painter sure has it down ... uh ... pat.

Schrödinger's Dumpster ...

And that's it for the last collection of Great Moments for January - I hope it gave you something to smile at at the end of a month with little to smile about.

Have a good day and come back tomorrow for Cartoon Saturday and a collection of cartoons featuring awful puns. More thoughts them.

Bilbo

Application for a Position on the "Board of Peace"

Der Furor recently established a so-called "Board of Peace," originally intended to oversee the administration, reconstruction and economic recovery of the Gaza Strip, devastated by the latest war between Israel and Hamas. Later, indignant over not being selected for the Nobel Peace Prize and determined to prove that he is "The President of Peace," he published a charter which expanded the concept to envision an organization that would "promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict" (the charter's full text makes no mention of Gaza).

The "Board of Peace" would be chaired for life by Der Furor, who reserves the right to name his own successor and approve all activities. Nations, organizations, or individuals could obtain permanent seats on it in exchange for a $1 billion contribution to a fund managed exclusively by - wait for it - Der Furor. As comedian Stephen Colbert noted, "Paying a billion dollars to obey Donald Trump seems a little steep. After all, CBS got to do it for just 16 million." Cheapskates unwilling to cough up a billion dollars could join for three years, sit along the wall rather than at the table, and receive a spiffy red baseball cap with the "Board of Peace" logo in front, "45-47" embroidered in gold thread on the left side, and "Chairman DJT" embroidered in gold thread on the left side.

If you have a billion dollars lying around, time on your hands, and a desire to rub elbows with your betters, you can apply for a position on the Board of Peace ... just fill out this application*:

Application to Join

the

Donald J. Trump

Board of Peace

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MEMBERSHIP ON THE DONALD J. TRUMP BOARD OF PEACE. PLEASE FILL OUT THIS APPLICATION IN ITS ENTIRETY AND SUBMIT TO THE PERSONNEL OFFICE LOCATED AT 1100 S. OCEAN BLVD, PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 33480.

1. I ____________ (insert your name) hereby request membership on the Donald J. Trump Board of Peace.

2. Select the appropriate title for your present position:

a. President   

b. Prime Minister  

    

c. Ayatollah

d. Sheikh       

 

e. Oligarch

 

f. Supreme Leader

 

g. CEO

 

h. Trump Family Member

 

i. Trump Business Associate

j. Other (specify): _______________

2. Attach documentation of payment in full of your nonrefundable $1 billion application fee, payable to Donald J. Trump. Fee must be paid in US Dollars or acceptable cryptocurrency (list available on request). Your application will not be considered until your check clears.

3. Did Donald J. Trump win the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election?

a. Yes

b. No (stop here; your application is denied)

4. Attach a notarized copy of a letter to the Nobel committee demanding that Donald J. Trump receive the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Your letter should specify that a separate prize must be issued for each war Mr. Trump has settled (list available on request).

5. Provide specific examples of how Donald J. Trump been treated very unfairly by each of the following; attach additional sheets as necessary:

a. The Nobel Committee

b. The United Nations

c. NATO

d. Canada

e. Denmark  

   

f. The Media

 

g. Gavin Newsome

 

h. Jack Smith

 

i. Hillary Clinton 

6. I understand that my continuing membership on the Donald J. Trump Board of Peace is contingent upon remaining in good standing. Maintenance of good standing requires the following (list changes often; check Truth Social for the latest guidelines):

a. Immediate and full payment of all dues and assessments, to include Mar-a-Lago membership (if offered).

b. Demonstration of unwavering loyalty to Donald J. Trump. 

c. Confirmation of ability to exercise cognitive dissonance as needed.

d. Ability to modify opinions on social, political, religious, and moral positions to match those of Donald J. Trump. 

SIGN HERE: _____________________________ 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MEMBERSHIP ON THE DONALD J. TRUMP BOARD OF PEACE, THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS BOARD OF LEADERS EVER ASSEMBLED. WE WILL CONTACT YOU WITH OUR DECISION AFTER YOUR CHECK CLEARS.

DONALD J. TRUMP,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

AND

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF PEACE

AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT

Act now!

Have a good day and stay warm. More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

* I got the idea for this post from comedian Andy Borowitz, who published a similar application. I have used some of his ideas for this post, but it is predominately mine.

Musical Sunday

I've featured this wonderful song on Musical Sunday before, but it never gets old ... and we could surely use the sentiment in these difficult times. Take it away, Judy Collins - 

Have a good day and enjoy the rest of your weekend. Be somebody's rainbow comin' around the bend.

More thoughts coming.

Bilbo

Cartoon Saturday

I just got up ... who has Der Furor threatened today?

Der Furor linked his aggressive stance on Greenland to last year’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norway’s prime minister that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” then delivered an hour-long, insulting speech to foreign leaders gathered for the annual Davos Economic Forum; the birthrate in mainland China has fallen to its lowest level on record, continuing a demographic crisis that has been growing for years; more than 40 people were killed and dozens injured when two high-speed trains collided in Spain; and officials at the Department of Homeland Security have urged disaster response personnel to avoid using the word “ice” in public messaging about the huge winter storm hitting the United States, fearing it would spark confusion with or mockery of the brutal and controversial actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.

This week, a collection of cartoons that promise a whale of a good laugh ... featuring Moby Dick and Captain Ahab ...

Commiserating at the bar ...

Definitely don't allow ...

It's a matter of perspective ...

You just can't hide some things from the neighbors ...

Comma placement is important ...

Aye, 'tis a twisted tale ...

You can't hide on the Internet ...

It's a thing for alpha whales, too ...

Social faux pas in the pod ...

When the barkeep's your friend ...

And that's it for our Cartoon Saturday salute to Ahab and Moby - I hope it helped you get over the news of the week.

Have a good day and a great weekend, and please be careful during the winter storm hitting the nation. Look out for your neighbors, and take care of each other ... we'll be hunkering down under piles of Agnes's nice, warm quilts.

More thoughts tomorrow, when Musical Sunday returns with a much-needed soothing tune from Judy Collins. See you then.

Bilbo