Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Over-Lubricated Point of Friction

Occasionally, while protesting, there are moments of friction. One of these moments occurred on Saturday afternoon, April 25th, at the very end of our protest. A woman present at the protest with her family was using a megaphone to emphasize a theme popular among those of us on the Left: "Fuck Trump, and if you voted for him, fuck you too!" It's a bit of an abrasive message, I'll admit, but it's short and memorable. 

A man approached her and pleasantly said, "I'd like to ask you a question." Then he abruptly started throwing fingers at her, and at all of us nearby. He apparently had no question to ask. Hmmmm.... He appeared to be hoarding anger, apparently not so much for her message, but at her. She was a loud woman. Very loud!  It's hard to ignore a woman with a megaphone.

Given that the protest was ending, several of us immediately formed a squad to escort the woman and her family, with their various signs and belongings, back to their car. I got right in the guy's face as he backed up, flinging fingers at his cheekbones, pushing him at one point, and taking note of the alcohol on his breath. (He vehemently denied having had any alcohol, but the nose does not lie - I doubt he could have passed a breathalyzer test). 

Pushed back by the righteous and sober Left, he eventually drove away in his extended-cab black Toyota Tundra. I placed a call to the California Highway Patrol, to help create a paper trail should he start yelling at more loud women on the way home.

If you ever see this Over-Lubricated guy, throw all your fingers at him. If you are a woman, make sure to yell at him using a megaphone.




Yuja Wang and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra - Mondavi Center, UC Davis - April 27, 2026

Courtesy of, and thanks to, Gabriel and Eleanor McAuliffe, I went on Monday to UC Davis' Mondavi Center. Gabe and Eleanor have good seats. I was able to clearly see Yuja Wang's fingers and just revel in her tactile mastery. (Wikipedia entry on Yuja Wang)

Part of her stagecraft is her dress. On Monday night, in the first half before intermission, she was wearing a white, form-fitting dress with a pronounced sort-of fluffy shoulder strap. She also wore what appeared to be Christian Louboutin red-bottom stilettoes (which the Breaking-Bad fan in me appreciated).




















Gabe sent this example (first video) of Yuja Wang’s extraordinary virtuosity.

 

Mira Loma High School Taiko Club Performs at Sacramento's Buddhist Church - April 25, 2026

Opening Performance of a Music Festival.

 

Prediction Markets Can Be Manipulated So, So Easily

They are a menace:

 
@elenanisonoff The hairdryer that broke polymarket #ai #tech #news ♬ original sound - elenanisonoff

Amusing Rant, Describing Everyone I Know

@vandala_effect Replying to @Dunnphor ♬ original sound - Bella Vandala