So, was it just Seattle that got a re-run of last year's Simpsons Halloween of Horror episode, or was it West Coast-wide? Thanks, Trump.

You mean for being a 21st century Stephen Fetchit? Eh — I don't watch SNL enough to really have an opinion about her comedy. Being bullied, hacked and driven to despair by hours of vile, racist slurs isn't something I would wish upon anyone, regardless of how much of a regressive hack they may or may not be.

The Muppets turned into Meet the Feebles so gradually, I didn't even notice …

That's, like, a Jaundice filter.

Don't do it! It's not worth it!

the persistent, angry throb of America’s ruptured gonad …

I way prefer "A Thousand Years" and "Desert Rose" to "Brand New Day". Then again, my favourite post-Sting song is "Bestill My Beating Heart", so perhaps I should not be trusted on this.

I respect that she tried, fairly hard, to rein in Kaine and Pence (and just how do you get two grown men talking over each other — politicians no less — to shut up, short of yelling or cutting off their mics?). That said, some of the questions were meh to atrocious. Two questions about debt, no question about Wall…

That really seems more like a Grissom sort of activity.

But sunrise never came!

2.5 weeks of drinking red wine, and it's getting easier. Switched from 'table wine' to cab, just a couple ounces a night. Still don't really like the stuff, though - my new nightly habit of a cup of pu erh tea makes me happier.

What happened to Teti?

The cold open made me gasp very loudly. Well done, that. Nihilist bomber for hire by capitalist was an interesting twist. Also, I miss Clyde, but who doesn't?

I loved my mother's fried chicken, but it's a lot of work for just two people. She also had this very simple summer stew recipe that I love to have - especially when it's over 90 degrees and the tomatoes are perfectly ripe. Which means I missed it this year and it may be a while until I do have it.

Will you share with Thomasina, Jr.?

Happy birthday!

I hit the gym last week more than this week thus far. However, I'm getting earlier buses so that I can get off earlier and walk 1/4-1/3 of a mile to work in the morning. Doing the same with the evening commute bus by getting off at the stop 1/3 of a mile away and walking back.

So, I think I've lost … 16 lbs? Maybe 18. Or maybe only 14. But still. I've lost over 10 lbs.

L'chaim!

Happy Nearly Birthday!