4/17/2026

 Friday, April 17, 2026

1905  Supreme Court held that the maximum work day was unconstitutional in Lochner v. New York by declaring the "right to free contract" implicit in the due process clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution

1941 US Office of Price Administration formed to handle rationing

1961 1,400 Cuban exiles landed in the Bay of Pigs in a doomed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro

1969 Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of assassinating US Senator Robert F. Kennedy

2025 Two people were killed and six others were hospitalized in a mass shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. The suspect was arrested by local police.

In bed at 9:45, awake at 4:15, up at 4:39  3 blood pressure readings between 4:45 and 5:06, 148/74. 118/69. and 137/59.  Glucose 109. weight 203.6.  What to make of those BPs?

Morning meds at 7 a.m.  Ranolazine at 5:30 a.m. and  p.m.

On Morning Joe this morning, we learned that Pete Hegseth confused Scripture for the movie script in Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino's film in which Samuel L. Jackson plays a hit man, Jules, who purports what is supposed to be Ezekiel 25:17, before assassinating his 'mark'"

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.  Blessed is who in the name of charity and good will shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children.  And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.  And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

The real Ezekiel 25:17 says:

 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes: and they shall kow that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my veneance upon them. (KJV)

Hegseth chose the Quentin Tarantino/Samuel L. Jackson version of the scripture when he led his religious service at the Pentagon on Sunday, modifying it to accommodate it to the situation of the two downed American pilots who were rescued in Iran last week.  It seems so appropriate that he chose and appropriated the make-believe Hollywood version of scripture rather than the real thing, since so much about him and his C-in-C is performative art, make-believe. happy horseshit.  Maybe Orange Julius will post an image of himself and Pete aiming their pistols at the heads of opponents like John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, perhaps with a Jesus figure hovering behind them and blessing them for smiting CNN and the 'failing' New York Times

 I've done a lot of sleeping today, dozing off while listening to Audible The Idiot.

Tornado Watch again.  4th day this week.

From two years ago today:  I'm grateful for Emmylou Harris' rendition of Wayfaring Stranger and for Johnny  Cash's who said “The haunting melodies and poignant lyrics of Wayfaring Stranger have the power to transport listeners to a place of deep introspection.”  I can't hear the old gospel song without thinking of my mother, father, and now my sister, 'over Jordan' and myself as the 'sole surviving son.'

I am a poor wayfaring stranger / I'm traveling through / This world of woe

And there's no sickness, no toil or danger / In that bright land / To which I go

I'm going there to see my mother / I'm going there no more to roam

I'm just going over Jordan /I'm just going over home

I know dark clouds will hover o'er me /I know my pathway is rough and steep

But golden fields lie out before me /Where weary eyes no more will weep

I'm going there to see my father . . .

I'm going there to see my sister . . .