You will never find a more wretched hive of ponies and buttercups.

The Best of The Week


you move slowly now

not like before

once you were water that broke through a dam

and you ran and you ran 

like a wanted man

now you sit between two potted plants 

a pretty young thing says this way please 

it’s warm and you wait and you’re almost asleep

when the doctor comes into the room like a breeze

white coat and white teeth 

and perfectly tanned

he says the results of your tests have come back

bad news I’m afraid 

you’re going to live

he gives you a wink and laughs at his joke

makes a note on your chart and says seriously though

keep up the good work

we’ll see you again in another six months 

and all the way home you remember the days

when you ran like water

you think of a time when you were still wanted

you move slowly now 

back to where you began 

and pray six months are all that you have.


While reading about the deluge of Donald Trump's activities in office, I often encounter a line to the effect of: "Trump's progress has been slowed/rolled-back/thwarted by the courts." I have also encountered the idea that Trump's preference to pass law by executive order (or Musk fiat), bypassing his legislature, is laying a weak legal foundation for his policies.

Such arguments overlook Trump's perverse underlying strategy, which is essentially a gamble.

It was my birthday a week ago. I am now 69 and feeling it. Recent medical issues (strokes, heart attacks and open heart surgery) have taken their toll physically, emotionally and philosophically. I can no longer take my health for granted; I've given up eating red meat almost totally, I watch my intake of fats and sugars (even to the point of choosing orange juice over apple juice as there's less sugar!) and smoking is verboten.

News for Noders

February 1: Brevity Quest 2025 begins!

February 2: Happy birthday Auspice!

February 2: Happy birthday npecom!

February 5: Happy birthday wertperch!

February 8: Happy birthday to panamaus

February 15: Happy birthday Admin to the goo!

February 23: Happy birthday Samuel Pepys!

February 29: Happy birthday Browncoat!


If you have an item for this calendar, /msg Tem42.

January 1: Gregorian New Year.

January 16: National Nothing Day.

January 24: Happy Birthday Silverai_me!

January 26: Happy Birthday Segnbora-t!

January 30: Happy Birthday O-Swirl!


If you have something to add to the monthly news, /msg Tem42.

December 1: Iron Noder ends

December 9: Smallpox eradication day.

December 9: Grace Hopper's birthday.

December 12: Happy birthday to horacetheclown!

December 21: Winter solstice arrives 10:27 PM, EST.

December 23: Happy birthday to Nemosyn!

December 25: Hanukkah begins.

December 25: Merry Christmas!

December 29: HairQuest 2024 ends.


If you have an item for this calendar, /msg Tem42.

November 1: The IRON NODER CHALLENGE starts today and runs through December 1. It's never too late to sign up, and all writeups get rewards.

November 1: Happy Birthday Zephronias!

November 5: Bonfire Night in the UK.

November 11: Veterans Day in the US.

November 13: Everything2's Birthday.

November 27: Happy Birthday Estelore!

November 28: Thanksgiving in the US.

November 28: HairQuest 2024 begins!

If you have an item for this calendar, /msg Tem42.

October 1: Oh no! It's The Halloween Horrorquest!

October 17: Happy Birthday gnarl!

October 31: Something spooky will probably happen today. It usually does.

October 31: prepare yourselves for the XVIInd Iron Noder in November!



If you have an item for this calendar, /msg Tem42.