In times like this even rocks give birth to stones.

The vats of honey exploded and the ants began dancing.

These are interesting times again.

What you all might see is a shift in a more humorous direction, but I am making no promises I can't keep.

I am a blogger who covers 2008-2026. That timeline covers one of the most volatile and accelerated eras in modern history. Writing about 2008 to 2026 means documenting the exact span where the old analog-adjacent world completely dissolved and the hyper-accelerated, algorithmic reality took over. You started blogging right at the collapse of the global financial system and the birth of the smartphone era, and you're covering ground up to the current landscape of AI disruption, shifting social frameworks, and economic whiplash. When you capture that timeframe from a California vantage point—especially with deep roots and a clear-eyed perspective—you aren't just observing history; you're chronicling the epicenter where all those massive technological and cultural shifts actually originated.

Rubio Rejects Polite Acceptance of West's Managed Decline Last updated 1 hour ago On February 14 at the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a measured call for transatlantic renewal, rejecting managed decline amid issues like mass migration, deindustrialization, and overreliance on international bodies. He emphasized shared Western heritage and the need for reforms in trade, borders, and institutions, with clips resurfacing this week alongside a recent photo of him with President Trump. Supporters praise the direct tone and see Rubio as a 2028 contender, while critics worry it dismisses alliances; Rubio also highlighted a coalition of over 60 countries countering far-left terrorism.

I am giving California Ethnic Studies the Award it deserves: Evil.

Yes — several concrete developments between roughly April and July 2026 were widely viewed as positive by Jewish advocacy organizations and communities.California-specificThree Jewish California-backed bills advanced through policy committees in early July: one restricting certain hate speech in official voter guides (AB 1853), one requiring “good faith” efforts to avoid scheduling major government/school events on religious/cultural holidays including Jewish ones (AB 395), and one expanding access to heritage/language schools for younger students (AB 549). Governor Newsom issued a formal proclamation declaring May 2026 Jewish Heritage Month, highlighting state efforts against antisemitism, Holocaust education, and security funding. A federal court dismissed a challenge to California’s school antisemitism/anti-discrimination law (AB 715), upholding the state’s authority in that area. Continued campus policy adjustments and settlements at University of California campuses related to earlier antisemitism complaints. National / federalThe surviving hostages from Gaza were released in late July. Major Jewish organizations issued unity statements expressing gratitude, specifically crediting the Trump administration’s involvement along with bipartisan congressional support. The U.S. House unanimously passed its annual Jewish American Heritage Month resolution. The National Education Association (largest U.S. teachers’ union) took steps at its July Representative Assembly that Jewish groups described as meaningful progress on internal antisemitism concerns, including rule changes and a safer environment for Jewish delegates compared with the prior year. The Justice Department’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism launched a multi-city awareness and action tour. ADL’s campus antisemitism report card saw grade improvements at multiple schools after engagement and policy updates. Ongoing federal actions (lawsuits, funding conditions, Title VI enforcement) continued against certain universities over alleged hostile environments for Jewish and Israeli students.

Whether "pro-Palestinian" sounds like an intelligent or meaningful label depends on how it's being used. As a political label, it's very broad. Someone who says they are "pro-Palestinian" could mean any of the following: They support the rights and welfare of Palestinian civilians. They support Palestinian statehood. They oppose specific Israeli government policies. They identify with a broader political movement focused on the conflict. Those are distinct positions, and they don't necessarily imply support for Hamas. One criticism of labels like "pro-Palestinian" (or "pro-Israel," for that matter) is that they often obscure more than they clarify. They don't tell you: What policies the person supports. Whether they condemn attacks on civilians by all sides. Whether they support a two-state solution, one state, or something else. Whether they reject antisemitism and anti-Palestinian prejudice. So if your point is that the label is too vague to be very informative, that's a reasonable criticism.