So I just saw somebody saying that Mike Johnson doesn’t wanna call the house into session until January.

I haven’t found anything confirming it so it sounds an awful lot like either misinformation or rumor, but we’ll see.

I’m just putting it out there but in Canada and in the UK it’s a government cannot arrive at a budget, it’s conditions for an immediate election. The government is put into caretaker state and elections are called..

The MAGA Disinfo Machine Takes New Aim at Jack Smith

talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-…

#gop #maga #republicans #press

The MAGA Disinfo Machine Takes New Aim at Jack Smith

Republicans on the Hill and right-wing media in tandem with the Trump administration are creating a MAGA feedback loop to gin up an “Arctic Fox” scandal.

^{David Kurtz (TPM - Talking Points Memo)}

One of the Most Dangerous Interviews Ever in MAGA Media

thebulwark.com/p/one-of-the-mo…

#gop #maga #republicans #press

One of the Most Dangerous Interviews Ever in MAGA Media

Why Tucker Carlson platformed white supremacist Nick Fuentes.

^{Will Sommer (The Bulwark)}

Japan’s beloved Puyo Puyo and the famous Tetris game franchise have teamed up again to deliver even more fun in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2.

On sale now: tinyurl.com/PuyoPuyoTetris2-1U…

#Gaming #PCGaming #Steam #Tetris #Sonic #SEGA #Puzzles #Games #TV #Computing #News #Artist #SocialMedia

The Shutdown Is Pushing Federal Workers to Food Banks—Just as SNAP Is Set to Expire

motherjones.com/politics/2025/…

#gop #maga #republicans #trump #press

The shutdown is pushing federal workers to food banks—just as SNAP is set to expire

"There's absolutely more need, but less food. It's bad."

^{Mother Jones}

SCOTUS holds off ruling on Trump’s Nat’l Guard request, leaving troops blocked from Illinois for now

lawdork.com/p/scotus-holds-off…

#gop #maga #republicans #trump #press

SCOTUS holds off ruling on Trump's Nat'l Guard request, leaving troops blocked from Illinois for now

Court orders briefing about a part of the law the Trump admin is using to federalize National Guard troops. Also in Illinois: Protesters indicted and an attempt to protect Bovino.

^{Chris Geidner (Law Dork)}

Republicans urge Trump administration to back Falun Gong lawsuit against Cisco

fastcompany.com/91432547/cisco…

#gop #maga #republicans #trump #press

G.M. Will Cut 1,750 Jobs in Electric Vehicle Business. The layoffs at factories in Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee follow the elimination of a $7,500 federal tax credit for electric cars. Via @nytimes #Politics 🇺🇸 🗳️ #EVs #ElectricCars #ElectricVehicles #EV #KillGasCars ⚡🚘🔌🚗🔋

G.M. Will Cut 1,750 Jobs in El...

Residents of Roseland, Louisiana, deal with the aftermath of a chemical explosion that has polluted their air and water.
#Pollution #environment

progressive.org/latest/disaste…

Disaster Recovery Doesn’t End with Soil Cleaning and Water Testing

^{Jason Kerzinski (Progressive.org)}

Roku beats expectations with Q3 net income of $24.8M, vs. a net loss of $35.8M a year ago, and revenue of $1.21B, up 14% YoY; total streaming hours rose 12% YoY (Todd Spangler/Variety)

variety.com/2025/digital/news/…
techmeme.com/251030/p47#a25103…

Roku Q3 Earnings: Revenue Rises 14%, Operating Income Turns Positive For First Time Since 2021

Roku delivered Q3 2025 financial results that outperformed analyst expectations and marked the streaming company's first quarter with positive operating income since 2021.

^{Todd Spangler (Variety)}

Japan trip 2025.

It is close now.
We will be flying out of Australia on the 11th November.

Spending our first night at an airport hotel in Tokyo before beginning our anti-clockwise route, staying in Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Hakone before closing the loop back in Tokyo. Trip time: 25 days.

Here is a map of our route.
Japan trip 2025.
Just in case you are really interested (which would only probably be my mum) here is a link to our full travel itinerary.

We are pretty much ready to go. My biggest stress right now is whether or not to take 2 prime lenses for my camera. I know, 1st world problems.

Here are some random things that may be of interst from my planning brainstorms:

ICE (in case of emergency) sheet:

Today I made each of us a medical sheet that incudes:

• Personal details.
• Emergency contacts.
• Travel insurance details.
• Medical history and current medications.
• Allergies.
• List of advance care directives (in case of catastrophic scenario).

Using Google translate I formatted these one page info sheets in English AND Japanese.

eSim:

Having reliable internet connectivity whilst in Japan is a happiness multiplier. Using google maps to navigate the big cities, booking tickets in advance for popular activities…and of course uploading my photos and travel stories to share with you.

Last year we used a different provider. This time we are going to try Saily. It a pretty popular app with global coverage plans.

I will be using their 25 day unlimited GB plan (because I usually use a lot of data) which will cost about 106 bucks AUD. There are cheaper teirs available.

Powerbank:

This will be our first time taking a powerbank whilst travelling. On our last trip to Japan we noticed that we were draining our phones with all the google map, and google translate etc usage. Plus Kelly uses her phone as her primary camera.

Airlines are getting pretty strict with any sort of lithium battery luggage (and rightly so). Powerbanks are strictly carry on only.

We chose a Cygnett power bank 10K (claims to be able to recharge 2 iPhones on a single charge) for no other reason than it was on special.

Rubbish bag:

A small thing. Rubbish bins are notoriously hard to find in many places in Japan. And the plastic container to food content ratio is high when out and about. This trip we will be packing a small re-usable bag specifically to haul out our trash.

Grab bag list:

Just stuff I must remember NOT to forget!

• Spare glasses
• Masks (it is early winter cold and flu season over there).
• Headphones.
• Converter power plugs.
• Journal. And rollerball pen (my felt tip pen of choice invariably leaks on the flight).
• iPad mini.
• Cheat sheet of Japanese phrases I will need. The most important being Sumimasen (excuse me or I’m sorry), because I am socially uber-clumsy, and a faux pas meta-gimboid.
• Camera (God forbid I forget this).
• Cucumber flavoured, fluorescent, low calorie massage oil (is anybody still reading this far down the list?).

Well, if you have made it this far down the page (wow)…..like sorry to disappoint there is no climactic twist at the end.

Just this.

Feeling the stoke for the trip now.
Fair warning, I will be boring you to death with my photos and their backstories.

Unsubscribe if you must. Subscribe if you dare (see below).

#Japan #photography #travel

Featuring enhanced Hall Effect joysticks and up to 20 hours of gameplay, the EasySMX X15 wireless controller ensures a seamless gaming experience.

On sale now: amzn.to/4qugXDa

#Ad #Gaming #PCGaming #Steam #Nintendo #NintendoSwitch #Android #Apple #Games #Computing #Tech #Puzzles #Artist #News #SocialMedia

Marco Predolin: l’uomo dell’amore che Rete 4 non voleva sposare

Il braccio di ferro tra un genio americano e la televisione italiana: come Marco Predolin conquistò Rete 4, ma pagò caro il prezzo della gloria

boomerissimo.it/2025/10/30/mar…

Marco Predolin: l'uomo dell'amore che Rete 4 non voleva sposare - Boomerissimo

^{Antonio Pintér (Boomerissimo)}

**Pentagon admits it doesn't 'positively ID' people before boat strikes kill them: lawmaker** - Raw Story

rawstory.com/pentagon-boat-str…

Pentagon admits it doesn't 'positively ID' people before boat strikes kill them: lawmaker

Officials from the Pentagon reportedly admitted that they were unable to verify who was on alleged drug boats before launching strikes killing everyone aboard the vessels.

^{David Edwards (Raw Story)}

Tips and route for our impending trip to Japan.

#Japan #travel #tips #photography #TravelWriting

shojiwax.com/2025/10/31/japan-…

🍄💻 Researchers at Ohio State University built working computer memory from shiitake mushroom mycelium that switches signals 5,850 times per second.

👉 sciencealert.com/scientists-bu…

#mushrooms #computers #biotech #science #mycelium #research #technology #tech #innovation #neuroscience #OSU

Scientists Built a Working Computer Memory Out of Shiitake Mushrooms : ScienceAlert

A computer that relies on fungal mycelium to store information could one day be a low-cost alternative to the current generation of memory hardware.

^{Michelle Starr (ScienceAlert)}

Pizza Mia in Stoneham, MA is offering free lunches to folks on SNAP starting November 3 until SNAP benefits are restored, no questions asked. Just show up with your SNAP card!

#SNAP #MAPolitics #USPolitics

Apple iPhone Sales Are a 'Little Light': D.A. Davidson's Luria
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-10-30/apple-iphone-sales-a-little-light-d-a-davidson-s-luria-video?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into Profiles @profiles-bloomberg

30 October 1935 | A Jewish boy, Georges Halpern, was born in Vienna. After his mother, Séraphine, was hospitalised and had to separate from her son, Georges was taken to the Izieu children's home.

Deported to #Auschwitz with other children on 13 April 1944, and murdered in a gas chamber.
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A short video showing the ruins of gas chamber and crematorium III: youtube.com/shorts/ipQmBPAlJQ8