Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles overnight, killing at least four people in Kyiv. The attacks came after Russia warned NATO at the UN against taking sterner action in response to suspected incursions into airspace covered by the military alliance.
Here's Why He Didn't Mention the U.S. Trump railed against migrant crime abroad but skipped U.S. stats -- because immigrants here are locked up far less often than native-born Americans.
Three people were killed and at least eight others injured on Saturday after a boat briefly stopped near the American Fish Company restaurant in North Carolina and opened fire, according to the Southport Police Department.
While Republican voters remain his strongest source of support, they are also growing increasingly pessimistic about the country's trajectory. read more
Graham Templeton: It's become trendy to compare the current rush of investment in AI to the "dot com" bubble of the past, but the comparison just keeps getting more apt. There's obviously the almost absurd level of investment that's hitting tech, with the broad tech sector now accounting for 34% of the S&P 500's market cap, but there's more as well. read more
OK, a different view from the 80's ...
Men Without Hats - Safety Dance (1983)
www.youtube.com
The Safety Dance
en.wikipedia.org
... Meaning of the song
The writer/lead singer Ivan Doroschuk has explained that "The Safety Dance" is a protest against bouncers prohibiting dancers from pogoing to 1980s new wave music in clubs when disco was declining and new wave was beginning its popularity.
Unlike disco dancing, which is done with partners, new wave dancing is done individually and involves holding the torso rigid while thrashing about; pogoing involves jumping up and down (the more deliberately violent evolution of pogoing is slamdancing).
Clubgoers doing the newer pogo dance were perceived as posing a danger to disco dancers on the dance floor, and so club bouncers would tell pogoers to stop or be kicked out of the club. Thus, the song is a protest and a call for freedom of expression.[11] ...
Another from the 80's ...
Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick (1985)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
The fourth track on Brothers in Arms and a turning point for the album. The songs up to this point are poppy and this song ushers in a much more gritty phase of the album.
[Verse 1]
All the late night bargains have been struck
Between the satin beaus and their belles
Prehistoric garbage trucks
Have the city to themselves
Echoes and roars of dinosaurs
They're all doing the monster mash
And most of the taxis and most of the whores
Are only taking calls for cash, mmm
[Chorus]
I don't know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick
[Verse 2]
Well now, my door was standing open
Security was laid back and lax
But it was only my heart got-a broken
You must have had a pass key made out of wax
You played robbery with insolence
And I played the blues in twelve bars down on Lovers' Lane
And you never did have the intelligence to use
The twelve keys hanging off of my chain
[Chorus]
I don't know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick
...
Zebra - Who's Behind the Door (1983)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
We sailed away
We walked two thousand miles and then we slipped away
We looked so hard
But couldn't seem to find just what the world was for
Now we know
Just what the journey's for
[Chorus 1]
Looking out to the stars
Think about what you are
What do they think of you
Animals in their zoo
They haven't got the time
Landing is not on their minds
How do we have the nerve?
We're animals in preserve!
[Verse 2]
They watch us all
They're only making sure that we don't trip and fall
And they looked so hard
But they can't tell us why we're here and just what for
'Cause they don't know
Who opened up the door!
[Chorus 2]
How can we find out more
Who owns the keyless door
Where does the cycle end
Who are the unwatched men
Where do we go from here
Faith is a fading fear
Life is a waiting room
I hope they don't call me soon
...
Smiths - How Soon Is Now? (1984)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Sire Records chief Seymour Stein called it "the Stairway to Heaven' of the Eighties", while co-writer Johnny Marr described it as "possibly our most enduring record. It's most people's favourite, I think." Despite its prominent place in The Smiths' repertoire, however, it is not generally considered to be representative of the band's style.
Although a club favourite, "How Soon Is Now?" did not chart as well as writers Morrissey and Marr had expected. [so, not a "pop" tune ...]
Most commentators put this down to the fact that the song had been out on vinyl in a number of forms before being released as a single in its own right. The original track runs for nearly seven minutes; however, the 7" single edit cut the length down to under four minutes. The complete version is generally used on compilations. The song has been widely praised for the artistry of its lyrics. ...
[Verse]
I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
[Chorus]
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
[Verse]
I am the son and the heir
Of a shyness that was criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular
[Chorus]
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
There's a club if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home and you cry
And you want to die
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
When you say, "It's gonna happen now"
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus]
You shut your mouth, how can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does
...
Related ,,,
Suspect held after allegedly firing from boat into waterfront bar in North Carolina
www.npr.org
... Officials said they believe the alleged gunman acted alone and that there is no ongoing safety threat. David said Edge was "known to law enforcement," but that there was "nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror." State voter registration records list Edge as 41 years old.
Edge had changed his name from Sean Debevoise, according to Southport public information officer ChyAnn Ketchum, citing the district attorney's investigation.
The Defense Department confirmed in an email to NPR that Debevoise is a decorated combat veteran who served in Iraq in 2005 and 2006 was awarded a Purple Heart.
A person of the same name is listed as the author of a book about his time serving in the Marines in Iraq, and writes that he was badly wounded -- shot four times, including once in the head, by friendly fire.
So far this year, there have been at least 324 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive -- that is, shootings where at least four people were killed or wounded.
Police described the shooter's weapon as an assault rifle. ...
Billy Bragg - Ideology (1986)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
When one voice rules the nation
Just because they're on top of the pile
Doesn't mean their vision is the clearest
The voices of the people
Are falling on deaf ears
Our politicians all become careerists
They must declare their interests
But not their company cars
Is there more to a seat in parliament
Then sitting on your arse
And the best of all this bad bunch
Are shouting to be heard
Above the sound of ideologies clashing
Outside the patient millions
Who put them into power
Expect a little more back for their taxes
Like school books, beds in hospitals
And peace in our bloody time
All they get is old men grinding axes
Who've built their private fortunes
On the things they can rely
The courts, the secret handshake
The Stock Exchange and the old school tie
For God and Queen and Country
All things they justify
Above the sound of ideologies clashing
...
What evidence has Pres Trump stated to defend his position?
Biding My Time - Pink Floyd (1969)
www.youtube.com
Before Pink Floyd was PINK FLOYD!!!
i.e., before Dark Side of the Moon.
That aside ...
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
[Verse 1]
Wasting my time
Resting my mind
And I'll never pine
For the sad days and the bad days
When we was workin' from nine to five
[Chorus]
And if you don't mind
I'll spend my time
Here by the fire side
In the warm light of the love in her eyes
...
@#6 ... Microsoft announces ...
Yeah, this was a big headline in the tech community when it was announced.
Major kudos to AP News for the investigation and reporting ...
Microsoft reduces Israel's access to cloud and AI products over reports of mass surveillance in Gaza (September 25, 2025)
apnews.com
...WASHINGTON (AP) -- Microsoft said Thursday it had disabled services to a unit within the Israeli military after a company review had determined its artificial intelligence and cloud computing products were being used to help carry out mass surveillance of Palestinians.
The action comes after The Associated Press and The Guardian published reports earlier this year revealing how the Israeli Ministry of Defense had been using Microsoft's Azure platform to aid in the war in Gaza and occupation of the West Bank. Brad Smith, Microsoft's vice chair and president, wrote in a blog post that the company was taking steps to enforce compliance with its terms of service.
An AP investigation in February showed that the Israeli military's use of Microsoft products skyrocketed after a deadly surprise attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023. The AP's report cited internal Microsoft data showing the Israelis were using gigabytes of cloud storage and massive amounts of AI-enabled language translation services.
The AP also reported that Israel's military used Microsoft Azure to compile information gathered through mass surveillance, which it transcribes and translates, including phone calls and text messages. That intelligence is then cross-checked with Israel's in-house AI systems for targeting airstrikes. ...
Fever Tree - Imitation Situation (1968)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
...
Lonely
Why are we all so lonely?
Lonely
Searching for gold that's only...
Imitation Situation
Imitation Situation
Imitation Situation
Where do you go?
Where do you go?
Where do you go when the lights go out?
What do you see?
What do you find?
What's in your mind when the lights go out?
Night after night
Your empty kiss
Night after night it goes on like this, so...
Where do you go?
Where do you go?
Where do you go when the lights go out?
Where do you go?
Where do you go?
Where do you go when the lights go out?
...
One other aspect of the 80's New Wave tunes ...
They seemed to have diverted attention away from the late 70's Disco tunes.
Was that A Good Thing?
Maybe, maybe not.
Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (1978)
www.youtube.com
Lyrics excerpt ...
genius.com
...
This song was given a lucky break when a Studio 54 DJ flipped to the B-side of "Substitute", a Righteous Brothers cover. During a time when most disco hits were heavily produced, this track stood out for it's clean and minimalistic approach.
[Intro]
At first I was afraid, I was petrified
Kept thinkin' I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights thinkin' how you did me wrong
And I grew strong and I learned how to get along
[Verse 1]
And so you're back, from outer space
I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I'd have known for just one second you'd be back to bother me
[Pre-Chorus]
Go on now, go, walk out the door
Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye?
Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
[Chorus]
Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live, and I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive, I will survive, hey hey
...
... So far, Republican leaders have said nothing. ...
Not really a surprise.