I did a simple thing but it made me happy: I transcribed my latest song so I have a lyric and lead sheet. It took about 30 minutes so I shall do this with some of the other songs I have recorded with the intent of torturing people at OMs and Folk singarounds. I have suffered for my art and so should you… A small thing but a step forward.

Noon January 20, 1961. In his inaugural address, JFK spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.” He asked the nations of the world to join to fight what he called the “common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.”He added:

“All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.” In closing, he expanded on his desire for greater internationalism: “Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you.”

Or

” They were farmers and soldiers, cowboys and factory workers, steelworkers and coal miners, police officers and pioneers who pushed onward, marched forward, and let no obstacle defeat their spirit or their pride. Together, they laid down the railroads, raised up the skyscrapers, built great highways, won two world wars, defeated fascism and communism, and triumphed over every single challenge that they faced.”

Yet what we see Trump doing with the ICE thugs is clearly fascism. I really don’t understand how US politics works. My greatest fear is that the wannabes (Farage and his unspeakables) in this country might get into power at some point in my lifetime.

What a contrast. Obviously JFK was far from perfect, if he had lived would we still have a man like Trump eventually come to power. I guess the answer is yes because ‘Mostly Old White Men’ and a few of their young rich disciples seem pretty much unstoppable.

Everything is fucked now.

A thought at reaching 69: I don’t seek death but I am aware of its presence at least in the mirror in the distance. Something glimpsed in the shadows. I am not an optimist. All we ever have at best within reason is another day if we are spared. I find it easy to live that way as I have gotten older. Your welcome.

I think at times perhaps I am like a cat scratching at the door that demands to be let out then immediately wishes to come indoors again 😂 My no plan, plan seems to be the best way to engage with 2026 to be honest.

No cows were harmed in the making of this movie 🙂
It’s hard work, I just have zero motivation again now. Its wet so it’s an indoor play day I think.

Here are a few tunes to check out.

• Tell Me What Did I Do To You
  Slow rock ballad
• No More Excuse
  No More Excuses because you are bad. Slightly Gospel Blues feel song
• Mostly Grey Or Gray
  Mostly Grey Or Gray by Diana Stone
• A Place You Will Never Find
  A peaceful violin and electronica instrumental vibe.
• Feeling The Fear
  A song about feeling the fear and running away, but its not far enough.
• Still Fire Inside
  A song about feeling the blood rushing and the spirit still rises with that special person.
• Show Me Something I Can Believe In
  Pop world vibe
• I Know You Will Bite Me
  A song about when you know somebody is dangerous no matter what they say.
• Christmas Jingle Thing No1
  Electronica Christmas Music
• I See You For What You Are
  I See You For What You Are by Diana Stone
• Drifting on a gentle wind
  Impressionistic Solo Piano
• Slow Sunday Winter
  Thinking on a winter's day about what's gone wrong.
• Wasted Life
  Looking back on life and its highs and lows and what was worth it and what wasn't

I have not got much else to say today to be honest. So take it easy wherever you are and try and stay safe.

A few hiccups’ and we are off ploding slowly down the lane in the winter sunshine and as usual chaos reigns in world affairs. The usual aches and pains kick off which is of course no surprise.
It’s tiring though at a very tiring time of year. I ordered some new glasses as my prescription has changed very slightly but managed to mess it up. Fortunately the online checking system caught the error. I had put a plus instead of minus sign next to one figure, but all is well now we hope. I was able to correct the error via an online advisor. I will find out in a week or so if all is well.. amazingly a day later they have arrived and are fine.

And here is this week’s musical offering 🎶

I have been thinking I should get more into video to help promote my music, a few little experiments with AI have been fun but I think I need a green screen and have now ordered one. It was not expensive so a low risk experiment really. A friend has one and uses it to great advantage so that might be the way to go to make things a bit more interesting.
I have got into a dreadful mood today for no particular reason at all. Winter crap kicking in I suppose to be honest. Its always a fight this time of year for me. I just need to avoid getting a little unhinged from too much of my own company which seems to be the problem at the time of writing. I have just finished a recording. It might be complete crap. Who knows? I have let it loose upon the unsuspecting world to do its worst.

Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old US citizen, was killed when an ICE agent shot into her vehicle during an encounter Wednesday morning.

The shooting took place on a snow-lined street where an ICE vehicle had gotten stuck, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. A “mob of agitators that were harassing them,” blocked them in and attempted to impede their efforts, Noem said.

One of those vehicles was being driven by the victim, who proceeded to “weaponize her vehicle” in an attempt to run over an officer before he opened fire, Noem said.

While Noem defended the agent’s actions, state and local officials strongly disputed claims that the shooting – which was caught on video – was done in self-defense.

The shooting has spiked already-heightened tensions in Minneapolis, where around 2,000 federal agents were deployed this week as part of the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown. The deployment came on the heels of accusations of welfare fraud in the Somali immigrant community raised by a conservative content creator on YouTube.

Good lived in the Twin Cities with her partner, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported citing her mother, Donna Ganger.

“Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Ganger told the newspaper. “She was extremely compassionate.”

“She’s taken care of people all her life,” Ganger added. “She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.”

Good was a mother to a 6-year-old child whose father died in 2023, according to the Star Tribune. “There’s nobody else in his life,” the child’s grandfather told the newspaper.

Good spent most of her life in Colorado and briefly moved to Kansas to live with her parents for a time after her husband – a military veteran – died, her father Tim Ganger told The Washington Post.

“She had a good life, but a hard life,” Tim Ganger told the Post. “She was a wonderful person.”

Speaking to CNN affiliate KMGH, Good’s uncle Robert Ganger, said news of his niece’s passing was especially difficult for the family since Good’s older sister was celebrating her birthday on Wednesday.

Born in Colorado, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, was a mother of three who had recently moved to Minnesota, according to the Associated Press.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for friends.

John 15:13