Bloggin' On: Update for Monday, October 28, 2019

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Hi, there, Constant Reader, and welcome to another edition of Bloggin' On, my "random thoughts" corner of A Certain Point of View. It's Monday, October 28, 2019, and my morning is about to make the transition into noon here in my little bit of the Sunshine State.

Currently, the weather here is still summery. Outside, it's hot; the temperature is 85℉ (29℃), but a limp easterly breeze and humidity levels at 80% makes it feel like it's 96℉ (35℃). With Halloween only three days away, these high temperatures certainly do not feel seasonal at all, not even for Florida.

So, last night Donald Trump and his entourage, including his trophy wife Melania, attended Game 5 of the World Series at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. Ordinarily, this would not be newsworthy since most modern Presidents often attend pro sports games if they take place in Washington or adjacent cities.

What makes it worth mentioning here, folks, is that Trump received a decidedly mixed reaction from baseball fans attending the game. While the President did get cheers from his supporters in the stands when the stadium showed his fake-tanned visage on the Jumbotron, other baseball fans booed loudly and chanted "Lock him up!" There were even a few "Impeach Trump" banners displayed, and although Trump did not seem too bothered by the dissenting voices, it is not usual for a President to be booed in such a public venue, especially during a widely-televised event such as a World Series game.

As far as I'm concerned, Trump deserves every boo and shout of "Lock him up" aimed in his direction. He's obnoxious, self-aggrandizing, corrupt, admires authoritarian rulers such as Putin of Russia and Duterte of the Philippines, and his ineptness as President is only made worse by the Republican Party's refusal to curb his impulses. Now, thanks to his abuse of Presidential powers and his bid to ask foreign powers (such as Ukraine) for political dirt on his Democratic opponents for the 2020 Presidential election, Trump is going to be the first Chief Executive to run for re-election under the cloud of an impeachment inquiry.

As for me...

© 2002 New American Library

Yesterday I didn't feel like writing, so I took most of the day off to either watch the last four episodes of 24's fifth season or read a bit from Ruled Britannia, Harry Turtledove's 2002 alternative history novel set in 1590s England. In this story, the Spanish Armada was successful in its invasion of England and Queen Elizabeth is imprisoned in the Tower of London, as a Spanish-installed Queen Isabella reigns in her stead. Now, William Shakespeare, poet, playwright, and sometimes actor, is pulled into a web of intrigue and rebellion in a plot to spark a revolt and restore Elizabeth to the throne.

I've only read a couple of chapters, but what I have read is pretty damn good stuff. I like how Turtledove creates a believable alternate version of late 16th Century Britain under the rule of a distant (and dying) Philip II of Spain. It works because along with various fictitious characters, Turtledove populates his story with historical figures such as Christopher "Kit" Marlowe, Will Kempe, Nicholas Skere, Ingram Frizer, and Spanish soldier/playwright Lope de Vega. There are allusions to Shakespeare's works throughout the novel, and the story is full of intrigue and espionage, along with some interesting interplay between Marlowe and the Bard of Avon.

©2018 Fury Software/Matrix Games and Slitherine Ltd. 

While I'm on the topic of entertainment, I did not play Strategic Command WWII: World at War yesterday; I thought about it, and even started the game once or even twice. But then I realized that I spend way too much time in one room, seated at this very desk in front of my Lenovo All-in-One PC, and decided to take the day off. So, if you're still waiting for my review of WAW, you'll have to hang tight and wait a little longer.