SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026
Lake Ontario Days: Inevitably, the week's events occasioned memories of our own Lake Ontario Days.
We refer to our days, basically in the 1990s, in the comedy room at the Lake Ontario Playhouse, way up there in unobtrusive Sackets Harbor, New York.
Sackets Harbor (1990 population: 1,313) may be the smallest locale ever to have had a weekend comedy room. Its spirit seemed to come from its cheerful young founder, NAME WITHHELD.
The room has closed, but a commenter at TripAdvisor once started her comment like this:
I love this place
Not only is it a comedy club but it has an amazing little bar...
"I love this place," the lady said. "It has an amazing bar."
Inexplicably, it surely did! In that inexplicably unusual waiting room / bar, we heard a story once, from a young patron, which remains in our head as the definition of what it means to have an extremely kind heart.
Also, we first listened to the lyrics of "In My Life" on the jukebox there. We can't remember why, but we'd play it after every show, even after the bad ones.
It's a remarkably simple song. Two (2) verses only, producing this pair of conclusions:
In my life I've loved them all.
In my life I love you more...
The lyrics were by John Lennon. Based on reported chronology, the song couldn't have been about Yoko Ono.
Was the song about any actual person? We have no way of knowing, but an unusual spirit did seem to obtain inside that "amazing little bar."
The lake was right down the street. Inside the room, we heard someone describe an ambition which has stuck in our head, decades later, as the essence of a very good, decent kind heart.
Then again, also this: This report in today's New York Times has several direct references to "mental illness" and to the unfortunate state of being "mentally ill," if only in one particular way.
It seems to us that, as a nation, we'd gain from learning more about the nature of mental illness. For today, we'll stick to the eternal need for us the people to emulate those who arrived on the planet in possession of decent kind hearts.
ReplyDeleteWe would say: words "we, as a nation" represent one of the most meaningless rhetorical turns of phrase.
The less we, as a nation, hear the phrase "we, as a nation", the better we, as a nation, are.
Hmm. I agree with this.
DeleteWe, as a nation, love the Beatles.
DeleteStyle over substance is a prevalent circumstance in the US.
DeleteAgree, diversity is our strength.
DeleteSorry I don't care for the Beatles and nobody I know does either, but sure they were big in the 60s and a significant amount of Boomers still cling to the Beatles as a way to recapture a youthful feeling, which is fine but their music was not very good.
We sometimes may be told that we, as individuals, have no authority to declare war, but we, as a nation, do. Etc.
DeleteSorry you’re too ignorant to not appreciate the Beatles. I don’t think you understand completely unprecedented and unique period to live through
Delete“Failure to love the Beatles” isn’t in the DSM, but it should be.
DeleteYou don’t have to love the Beatles, but you silly not to appreciate the unique period of history that was, and there will never be another experience like it. That’s my opinion
Delete2:17. Speculating with conviction about why other people like certain music is sophomoric.So you don't like the Beatles? So what. Using your opinion about them as a springboard to construct a bullshit narrative about others says more about you than them.
DeleteEven during that time period, I preferred the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, the Loving Sponful, the Yardbirds, and The Beach Boys. I was a big fan of traditional folk music (still am, Irish style) and I resent Somerby's attempts to co-opts the artists to his own cause. Bob Dylan sold out very quickly, got religion and lost his talent (or his drive, not sure which). Then a whole lot of other talented people came along. Leonard Cohen, Randy Newman, Warren Zevon.
DeleteI don't think Somerby likes music much. Like Trump (who dances to his favorites, steals other people's work, and only cares about nostalgia and what the songs mean to him, not to others) this may be the result of Somerby's own narcissism.
If the Beatles had been great in any way other than musically, they would have worked out their problems and stayed together. The one I dislike most is John Lennon because of his self-preoccupation, drug abuse, and the kind of smug self-satisfaction Somerby accuses us blues of showing, when we don't. George Harrison, too, but diving into pseudo-spiritualism and abandoning his wife to Eric Clapton. That was the ugly side of the Beatles.
DeleteWhich top Democrats want to end the wars in in Ukraine and Gaza?
ReplyDeleteUkraine was handled by Trump, Day One.
DeleteYeah, and Trump also said about a year ago, we have peace in the Middle East. 10:27 just doesn't keep up.
DeleteDo any top Democrats want to end the wars in in Ukraine and Gaza?
DeleteAOC.
DeleteAmericans generally want to end wars, except for most of the elected Republicans who tend to be hawks and neocons.
DeleteHistorically Pubs have tried to frame Dems as sissies and the like for wanting to avoid or end wars, but culture has shifted and now the social norm is in agreement with Dems.
"Do any top Democrats want to end the wars in in Ukraine and Gaza?"
DeleteYes.
Which top Democrats want to end the wars in in Ukraine and Gaza?
DeleteRussia invaded Ukraine. Israel invaded Gaza. Some fucking idiot invaded Iran and lost on day one. What a fucking idiot. Pay attention for Chris sake nimrod.
DeleteWhich top Democrat wants to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza?
DeleteJoe Mamma.
DeleteAll of them. They disagree on methods not the objectives of ending the wars.
DeleteRemember, it’s a media blog.
ReplyDeleteHas Somerby ever heard the phrase “nice guys finish last?”
ReplyDeleteI have a constructive suggestion. There are two continents here in the western hemisphere. Let’s call them North America and South America.
ReplyDeleteHa! You stole my comment! Good job.
DeleteOf course Sackets Harbor has an amazing bar. Jerry Thomas, the father of American mixology, was born there.
ReplyDeleteIs ignoring reality a form of mental illness? We closed the insane asylums, thinking that local people would make sure the mentally ill got their meds. In reality, many are just living on the street and not getting their meds. Our political leaders in both parties ignore this reality. Does that mean that our political leaders are mentally ill?
ReplyDeleteTrump is mentally ill.
DeleteIt means your pals on the right would have a shit-fit if taxes were raised to fund the re-opening of the asylums.
DeleteThanks for reminding us how the right, let by Reagan, started on the path to destroying our social support system, such as it was.
DeleteIlya - I know it's common practice to blame Reagan for closing the insane asylums, but the claim is baloney.
DeleteMental institutions in the U.S. began closing in the mid-1950s and the process accelerated through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, driven by new antipsychotic drugs, civil rights litigation, and federal legislation like the Community Mental Health Act of 1963. The state hospital population dropped from roughly 560,000 in 1955 to under 40,000 today, but the community care system meant to replace institutions was never fully built. That gap between promise and reality still shapes how mental illness gets treated, policed, and misunderstood in America.
https://neurolaunch.com/when-did-mental-institutions-close/
Insane asylums were notoriously poorly run and often simply overcrowded warehouses where the mentally ill were neglected or poorly treated. Now show us that you are not mentally ill by saying you support increased federal funding for mental health programs, DiC.
DeleteI support federal funding for Dumbocrat ass-wiping.
DeleteThere is no B in Dum retardo.
Delete“Is ignoring reality a form of mental illness?”
DeleteJesus Christ! Irony must have dropped dead just this side of David’s doorstep.
“We closed the insane asylums, thinking that local people would make sure the mentally ill got their meds.”
No sane person would think this.
“In reality, many are just living on the street and not getting their meds.”
Duh. Or a meal or clothing or…
“Our political leaders in both parties ignore this reality.”
And virtually everything else mentally ill or mentally healthy people need.
“Does that mean that our political leaders are mentally ill?”
No. It means they are self-serving and sleazy. In other words, the kind of people you enthusiastically vote for election after election and perform apologetics for daily on this blog.
Speaking of which:
DeleteRFK Jr complains that people in hospice aren't dying quick enough and therefore cost too much money
Fuck you, David.
Democrats have not been ignoring the needs of the mentally ill. For one thing, Democrats fought to have mental illinesses be given parity with physical illnesses in treatment and funding. Democrats also called for training of police and other public service employees in how to deal with mentally ill people without escalating conflict. Democrats have supported food service organization to feed homeless and clinical services from hospitals to reduce emergency room overcrowding and recidivism due to inability to follow treatment plans. And so on. It is tiresome when David tells these huge lies.
DeleteI prefer to get my life philosophy from fortune cookie platitudes and random pop songs.
ReplyDelete“But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow."
DeleteI wish you would fuck off.
DeleteSee, this is the problem with the Beatles. In their hurry to appeal to the wider audience, they abandoned the young people who were their original base. And the generalization doesn't apply to most young people in that time. The little red book was sold in college bookstores and people had Mao's picture on their t-shirts, but the temerity of someone like the Beatles telling us that "no one will like you if you are interested in Chairman Mao."
DeleteThis is ironic because now it is MAGA and Trump supporters who can't find dates on dating apps.
The Beatles were great. Mao was an asshole.
DeleteI see that we have some world class music critics in our midst here.
DeleteThe Beatles, at least Lennon and McCartney, were liberal. McCartney is a vegan and animal rights activist and was opposed to the Vietnam war. He seems to honor his marriage commitments. Apropos of nothing, really, but finding a philosophy of life, much less a political philosophy, from “in my life” or any of their songs, would strike both of them as silly.
DeleteI guess you had to be there.
DeleteAll we are saying, is give peace a chance.
Re finding a philosophy of life in a Beatles lyric being silly, here’s mine:
DeleteA working class hero is something to be.
Of course, that’s not a Beatles lyric, but close enough.
Deletename one working class beatles song
DeleteIt is very anti-war to buy an expensive NYC apartment, become a heroin addict and stop writing music.
DeleteI was at his last concert at MSG. One to One. It was a benefit concert for Willowbrook State School and raised more than $1.5 million for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities. John Lennon never claimed to be a god.
Delete"It is very anti-war to buy an expensive NYC apartment, become a heroin addict and stop writing music."
DeleteAnd to oppose the Vietnam War. You left that part out.
It’s important to have a good heart while the bully is stealing your lunch money.
ReplyDeleteSpot on.
DeleteMilo Yiannopoulos has been deported.
ReplyDeleteHe was starting to out too many Republicans.
DeleteLaura Loomer brought him to ICE’s attention.
DeleteI SAW that.
DeleteFor years on X, Yiannopoulos has been dropping not so subtle allegations as to Loomer’s behavior with young men. Though she’s dodgy (so is he) and as stable as a pipe bomb, I never saw a response from her. She gotten revenge now.
DeleteWhat a fucking country you maggots have turned this place into
DeleteAnonymouse 6:48pm, you can’t be more disappointed than the Brits.
DeleteBehavior with young men? She’s only thirty-three.
Delete"Milo Yiannopoulos claimed that Laura Loomer engaged in predatory behavior by forcing herself on young male campaign volunteers.
DeleteIn video clips shared on platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram, Yiannopoulos detailed the reasons behind his public fallout with Loomer. He alleged that while they were working in close proximity, he witnessed disturbing behavioral patterns that went far beyond mere political differences. Specifically, Yiannopoulos made the following claims regarding her interactions with young men:
Targeting young volunteers: He alleged that Loomer would target young male campaign volunteers who were around 20 or 21 years old.
Late-night encounters: He claimed that she would routinely "force herself" onto these individuals, entering their spaces in the middle of the night."
Yes, the young men are of age and not jailbait, but targeting campaign workers is an ethical violation that several politicians have been charged with in Congress. Tolerating a predator on a campaign staff is compromising to the candidates, not jut Loomer.
Milo is right to speak up about this, in my opinion. How can young people participate more actively in politics if they are treated this way at the beginning of their careers?
For Cecelia, from Tiedrich:
Delete"Jason Selvig of the Good Liars: “what’s Donald Trump’s greatest accomplishment in his first year and a half?”
cultist: “Trump’s done a lot of things. number one, a lot of people don’t realize, he got our country back — because we’ve been under the reign of Great Britain the last 125 years. they destroyed the evidence.”
Selvig: “what? wait, we’ve been under the reign of Great Britain?”
cultist: “that’s why King Charles came here, he thought he was going to manipulate Donald Trump. and Trump went along with him, cause that’s who he is. but that’s what the 250 years was really about, was we got our country back.”
Selvig: “where did you see this?”
cultist: “you just gonna have to research, just like I did. it’s true.”
Tiedrich continues:
"this woman had every opportunity in the world to give a perfectly normal MAGA-pilled answer. ‘he got rid of the illegals.’ ‘he stopped the transgender.’ ‘he made America great again.’
but no, she couldn’t do that. she had to shit out her own one-person fever-swamp hallucination about 125 years of secret British oppression. she’s that fucking out there where the buses don’t run.
where do they find these people?
I have a question: if Donny’s so amazing, how come he couldn’t end this British treachery during his first term?"
“ …but no, she couldn’t do that. she had to shit out her own one-person fever-swamp hallucination about 125 years of secret British oppression. she’s that fucking out there where the buses don’t run.”
DeleteAnonymous 8:50pm, you characterize support for Trump as “MAGA-pilled”. What’s the logic of then asking me to explain someone who really is “out there”. There’s no point to it other than you being chronically pissed off. You’ll be no less pissed off if JD Vance or Marco Rubio is elected after Trump. Stuff the dumb self-referential pretend questions.
Reading for comprehension is not your strong suit. No one asked you "to explain" this nutcase. The answer to the question might be "At Trump rallys." So quit feeling imposed upon here. Nobody gives a shit about your take on these people.
DeleteYeah, that's true: retarded Dumbocrat cat-ladies are permanently outraged.
DeleteTriggering Dumbocrats is like shooting fish in a barrel.
"There's no point to it other than you being chronically pissed off." Try looking in the mirror.
Delete5:37. Your parents will have to lock up that gun and put you on 24 h suicide watch in about 9 weeks.
DeleteCecelia is a paid troll.
DeleteThus spoke Dumbocrat.
Delete“Dumbocrat” is really the best these trolls can come up with.
DeleteDeath is scary as fuck.
ReplyDeleteThe song Glory Days might fit well to this post but Hey You is probably the most apt:
Hey, you
Out there in the cold, getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me?....
Hey, you
With your ear against the wall, waiting for someone to call out, would you touch me?
...
Hey, you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home
...
But it was only fantasy
The wall was too high, as you can see
No matter how he tried, he could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain
So it's about RFK Jr's brain worm?
DeleteThere's no one for death to be scary af to.
DeleteA ton of people have rediscovered their fear of death after covid. Prior to covid there were studies showing that Republicans/conservatives have a greater fear of death than Democrats/progressives/liberals. That's partly why the right has always used fear to motivate its voters.
DeleteThere is a lot to fear right now. Ironically, change is needed to prevent the tragedies coming at us. That's why it is so important that Democrats win the next several elections, until we can deal with the threats and tolerate some more Republicans (never again someone like Trump though).
They think they are afraid of death. They are not afraid of death. There is no them to be afraid of it.
DeleteDeath is afraid of me.
DeleteThere isn't a you for it to be afraid of. There's just an appearance of one.
DeleteExplain that to death.
DeleteIn order for there to be death, there has to be something to die.
DeleteThe Beatles also said “all you need is love.” That’s what defeated the Nazis.
ReplyDeleteThey were born during the war. Even as infants they had super powers.
DeleteThe idea of love extolled by the Beatles was not Mother Teresa-type love but sit in the grass and navel-gaze while ignoring everyone around you on the glorious drug trip, say "groovy" to everyone, and avoid all engagement with reality. There is nothing to be admired about that. That was one of the messages in that film "Hair".
DeleteSomerby used his own approach to avoiding the draft. Too bad he didn't also become a better teacher.
DeleteThe rise of rock music occurred during the first generation of teens with their own spending money. Also transistor radios and portable record players and car radios that allowed teens to take their music with them to social events. It wasn't anything great about the Beatles that created that audience, but they marketed themselves in concerns at the pre-teens who idolized asexual boys in bands (as their mothers did Frank Sinatra). It was a marketing phenomenon, not something wonderful about the Beatles.
DeleteYou think Frank Sinatra was asexual? The Beatles were asexual?
Delete"It wasn't anything great about the Beatles..." No, it was the invention of the transistor radio and pocket money. Yeah, McCartney/Lennon were average songwriters. Hahahahaha.
Delete"The idea of love extolled by the Beatles...blah blah blah blah...." You certainly are unacquainted with the discography of the Beatles, which is filled with songs about love on a very personal level, some mediocre and some critically acclaimed (they were prodigious), and still admired over half a century since they were written.
DeleteThe Beatles were asexual. Non-threatening to pre-teens. Compare to Mick Jagger.
DeleteThe Beatles did not demonstrate love in their lives or songs. A broad vague love is useless, like saying you love puppies and babies. How loving were She’s got a ticket to ride, or Norwegian wood? “She said” is a bitter song. Nowhere Man is nihilistic (up Somerby’s alley). Lots of love all over the place. The main references to love are in their attempts to be psychedelic where they suggest it is trippy to meld with the universe. Then they refused, likee Somerby, to address any current issues while making money and complaining about the Taxman.
Paul McCartney wrote love songs after the Beatles split up.
“Norwegian Wood” is asexual. And you are amental.
DeleteA compilation of a selection of Beatles love songs containing 25 tracks was released in 1977. Your narrative serves no purpose apart from self - embarrassment.
DeleteThe Beatles were famous for including a clause in their tour contract that each venue provide a silver platter backstage piled high with sanitary napkins for them to affix to their dripping vaginas.
DeleteHow many were written by Paul?
Delete
ReplyDelete"We have seen that the Democratic Party establishment that we have has to be ripped out," said Michael Beyer, a DSA activist and streamer. "We can actually start to grab hold of the ship of state and steer it in our direction, but it's going to be a, you know, violent process."
Interesting times, Bob. But of course you won't find your "stars" reporting this. You may want to start following real media, those that report real news.
'Ol Michael Beyer, leader of the Democratic Party. Also too, DSA is to the right of Dwight Eisenhower.
DeleteMany of the so-called DSA candidates are not actually members of the DSA. AOC, to her credit, rejoined the party, which should help influence its direction. DSA and Democratic Party are far from the same thing.
Delete"Also too, DSA is to the right of Dwight Eisenhower."
DeleteEisenhower opposed nationalized healthcare, and is largely responsible for the piece of shit system we have now. These kinds of talking points are just idiotic.
I like Ike.
DeleteEisenhower was the general who bombed a place that posed no danger to his home country back into the stone age, murdering 2 million (or so) people. Left no house standing.
DeleteIf DSA is anything like Eisenhower, God help us.
Tankies gonna tankie.
Delete12:53, give us some details so we know what bombing you’re referring to.
DeleteMaybe 12:53 thinks that Eisenhower was a general in the 1960s and 1970s, and that he was in command of US forces in Southeast Asia.
DeleteDresden
DeleteDresden
Delete2 million people were killed in Dresden?
DeleteThat number is way off.
Deletetrolls don’t do math
DeleteTrump (or Natalie harp) posted a fake picture of himself arm in arm with Dolly Parton. It was a defilement of her legacy. Trump using a dead person to burnish his turdness. Disgusting.
ReplyDeleteHer estate should be able to object to such misuse of her image. Trump has no shame.
DeleteFuck her estate.
DeleteSomerby continues his nostalgia binging today with his stoopid "NAME WITHHELD" name-dropping and references to things that mean nothing to anyone but him. A blog is intended to be read by an audience. Failure to communicate with readers means the blog is failing in its purpose. Somerby, of course, doesn't care. He just likes seeing his name on screen while he hints hints hints about previously having friends in his past life. He just sounds pathetic. Like Trump does when he hints that he and Dolly were friends (wink wink nod nod).
ReplyDeleteThis blog is not a good use of your time.
DeleteWhere’s the anonymouse A-Team? Are they all at Soros summer camp or something?
DeleteThis blog is not a good use of your time. Why not fuck off?
DeleteAnonymouse 11:06pm, you first.
DeleteWhy are you here? For the constant discussion of Trump’s mental illness, that you voted for, after seeing his first term? Hearing the “monster” Gutfeld being attacked day after day, the show you love to watch and chuckle at? Refusing to contemplate your own culpability in the current debacle, smugly chuckling at the chiding of liberals here? Does that ease the guilt you feel in happily giving your vote to the destructive corrupt clown? Are you happy with yourself, Cecelia? Not that I give a shit.
DeleteA shit given about Cecilia would be a stupid shit.
DeleteYou people have the ability to make it go away and try to sate its lust for attention and need for stimulation to fill its empty life elsewhere, simply by ignoring it. But you don't. You're getting what you deserve.
DeleteNow it can be told: Cecelia is a British agent.
ReplyDeleteCouldya be mean’n me, guv’nor?
DeleteJames Bond was an Icelander.
DeleteThe Israeli Lounge Incident
ReplyDeleteThe Event: Palermo organized an exhibition in the Israeli Lounge featuring paintings by an American-Israeli artist whose son was at the Nova Music Festival during the October 7, 2023, attacks.
The Confrontation: During the opening reception, Ric Grenell allegedly wagged his finger at the grieving attendees.
The Demand: Grenell told the crowd that if they did not want the Israeli Lounge to be sold off to an outside corporate sponsor or renamed, they would need to "pony up the money" and pay to renovate the space themselves. Palermo stated he was "mortified" by the interaction.
***************
That's a nice Israeli Lounge you got there, be a shame if something happened to it.
This is what David in Cal, the great Jewish troll, supports. Figure it out
Google, Kennedy Center Whistleblower
DeleteIt was a warning, not a theat. Grenell is the Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. He is no longer Acting Director of the Kennedy Center. So, he does not have the power to re-name the Israeli lounge.
DeleteI disapprove of Trump's all to common re-naming of things, but that's reality. Grenell's warning was probably appropriate.
BTW, there is an error in the source article at Mediaite. They promoted their incorrect interpretation "threat" by a headline that falsely identified Grenell's position as "Trump's Kennedy Center Director." The article admitted that he no longer holds this position.
Trump’s Kennedy Center Director Threatened to Rename Historic Israeli Lounge at October 7 Event: Report
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-kennedy-center-director-threatened-152348450.html
Fuck you, David degenerate fascist freak
DeleteWhat the fuck is your point, dickhead? Was he Director when he made the fucking THREAT, you imbecile? Is this why you voted for the megalomaniacal clown, to bust up the Kennedy Center Memorial?
DeleteSteve M does some more media analysis:
ReplyDeletehttps://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-new-york-times-is-almost-close-to.html?m=1
I grew up in Hollywood when movie stars still lived there. A few child actors attended my Jr High and Hollywood High. It was common to encounter adult stars on the street. I could withhold a lot of names if I were feeling nostalgic. I could make a list of famous adults following that including a touring concert pianist, the inventors of carbon dating, the guy who invented fuzzy math, and the author of a series of well loved children’s scifi books, oh, and Anais Nin. Not counting famous professors.
ReplyDeleteWe all meet other people in our lives. That’s why Somerby’s ridiculous rub-off fame-by-association is so silly. Maybe he’ll tell us again how nice Roseanne Barr was to him before she went crazy.
Look, it’s very simple — any sentient mammalian who professes no to like the Beatles is just being difficult. Period, full stop, the end.😎
ReplyDelete“not to like.” Not “no to like.”
DeleteThere are different tastes.
DeleteThe Beatles are for the chicks.
ReplyDeleteHysterical, screaming ones. The 1960s equivalent of today's retarded Dumbocrat cat-ladies.
Good fucking lord. 😎
DeleteThat leaves Ted Nugent and Kid Rock for the right wingers.
DeleteIt's bad when Nugent gets into that funk.
Delete