A Public Execution

During my month working in Saudi Arabia, back in 1989, I was invited to witness some public punishments (hand amputations) and executions (beheadings).

The offer came from the chief pathologist at a hospital. He explained that the accused wouldn’t feel anything, because they’d be doped up on morphine ahead of time.

I declined to be a part of such barbarism. As I will do again, now that the Federal Government of the United States has lowered itself to indulging the spectacle of public blood sport.

Pentagon says firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter will be livestreamed

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/latest-news-organizations-banned-white-122209493.html

Thanks, But No Thanks

I half expected that Trump would make Scott Bessent find a way to deny his stupid $90 rebate to those of us who are Medicare recipients in true-blue states like Massachusetts. But here it is.

A direct deposit was credited to your account
Amount $90.00
Account PERSONAL CHECKING/SAVINGS ACCOUNT
Date October 08, 2026
From SSA TREAS 310 XXSOC SEC

Medicare Part B went up by about $17/month in 2026, so this sorry attempt at buying votes is doing nothing more than returning five months worth of premiums.

Disney’s Stereoland

The New York Times, January 31, 1959

Multichannel Television Sound (MTS) became a technical standard in the mid-80s. Ten years earlier, TV show concerts were sometimes simulcast over an FM stereo station. The brilliant, forward-thinking innovator Walt Disney had experimented with stereo for TV way back in 1959, only one year after stereo records were introduced.

In addition to stereo, Walt gave letterboxed presentations a try on standard television sets. He promoted Technirama 70, which is explained here.