1/19/2026

 Monday, January 19, 2026

1970 Eight Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands said there should be room in the church for both married priests and celibate priests

1984 The California Supreme Court rejected the request of quadriplegic Elizabeth Bouvia's to starve herself to death in a public hospital

2021 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China was committing genocide in its repression of Uighurs and other Muslim people

2025 Israel - Hamas ceasefire came into effect with the Palestinian death toll at 46,800 

In bed around 9:30, awake at 4:40, and up at 5:30.  2/-22/14/-1.  Winds gusts up to 41 mph.  

Meds, etc.  Morning meds at 10:30 a.m.

A year ago today, I wrote:

The Last Day of the Biden Era.  Or has his time on the world stage been too short to call an "era"?  Will the next significant news we hear of him be his illness or death, or perhaps his sinking into dementia?  Is it not inevitable that if he lives 4 more years, we will be hearing news of his physical and mental condition and imagining him being in that condition in the White House?

He has virtually disappeared from view, along with Dr. Jill and poor miscreant Hunter.  We have to wonder what condition he is in as he deals with his prostate cancer, cognitive decline or dementia, all the other indignities of old age, and his bitterness over having been shown the door at the end of his one term in the White House.

. . . what I will most remember him for was providing Danld Trump a second term in the White House . . . There is an article in yesterday's NYTimes titled "How Biden’s Inner Circle Protected a Faltering President" by Katie Rogers, Adam Entous, Maggie Haberman, and Charlie Savage.  It relates how Biden's family (especially his wife Jill and son Hunter) and his staff took steps to prevent the public from seeing how his age had diminished Biden's physical vigor and mental sharpness.  It's hard for me to feel any sympathy for any of them, knowing what was at stake in the 2024 election, namely the fate of the government and people of the United States, and indeed the fate of the world.  Protecting precious Joey Biden's inflated ego was never more important than the rest of the country's and the world's safety and welfare.  Shame on all of them.  Instead of going out as a hero (of sorts) with many commendable accomplishments, Biden leaves office as a goat, and not a GOAT.

We can't know whether a different Democratic candidate would have won the 2024 election, but we do know that Trump won it after Biden had completely, foolishly, and tragically fucked up the Democratic primaries process.  He well deserves reprehension and condemnation for that, for the nation and the world are now

Living through a nightmare that only gets worse.  Trump has told the Norwegian government that he is resolved to follow through with his desire to acquire ownership of Greenland because the Norwegians chose not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize.  

President Trump is now claiming that one reason he is pushing to acquire Greenland is that he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize, according to a text message he sent to Norway’s prime minister over the weekend.

Jonas Gahr Store, Norway’s leader, received the text message on Sunday, an official in the prime minister’s office said on Monday.

“Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America,” Mr. Trump wrote in the message, which was first published by PBS.

In the message, Mr. Trump also questioned Denmark’s claim to Greenland, saying, “There are no written documents,” and adding, “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you!”

Emotionally immature.  Mentally unbalanced.  Senile?  

Text exchange with ASC:

Charles Clausen:

Good morning.  On this terribly cold morning, I wish you a warm and Happy Birthday and a safe, healthy, and good year ahead.  It seems like only a couple of months ago that I wished you all good things on your last birthday.  The older we get, the faster time rushes by, except when we're experiencing pain(s), when it seems to stand still.  Andy or Sarah may have mentioned it to you but, if not, I was diagnosed last week with congestive heart failure and a couple of arrhythmia problems for which I’ve been referred to a rhythm (and blues) specialist.  I had forewarnings, so I wasn’t surprised, but I received the news with mixed feelings.  I hope you’re holding up with your health challenges and that the coming year will bring only good and welcome happenings your way.

Anne Clausen:

Oh, my goodness! No, I did not know about this new health problem of yours. I hope this new specialist can take care of the arrhythmia. 

Thank you for the birthday greeting.  I don’t feel any different from the way I did yesterday. . .old and creaky. And so it goes. . .