Retired pastor faces trial under U.K. speech laws for preaching John 3:16 near hospital Despite not mentioning abortion in his sermon, Clive Johnston is being charged for trying to "influence" people not to go through with the procedure.

The police in Northern Ireland are cracking down on ukulele players. reason.com/2026/04/21/r...

Donald Trump tried to ‘use nuclear codes’ claims: what we know Larry Johnson - a retired CIA analyst - claimed Trump tried to access nuclear codes but was stopped by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The claim that Trump tried to access nuclear codes and had to be physically stopped lacks any credible support. Yet given his recent threat to destroy Iran's civilization, it can't be dismissed as an obvious absurdity.
www.newsweek.com/donald-trump...

"Democrats can keep Republicans on the defensive about the president’s aberrant behavior with a debate over Trump’s ability to carry out his presidential duties." In other words, they want to pretend they're doing something.

If you're counting on Vance to initiate action to kick Trump out (which is how the 25th Amendment works), your expectations are unrealistic.

25th Amendment _and_ impeachment? What makes you think Vance and the Cabinet will initiate action under the former?

25th Amendment removal is initiated by the VP and the Cabinet. You're seriously expecting Vance and Trump's appointees to take that action?

Looking through Bluesky posts, I see the fantasy that Vance and the Cabinet can be persuaded to declare Trump unfit for office has become a mass delusion.
#25thAmendment

Everyone knows that 25th Amendment removal presents an insurmountably high barrier, higher than impeachment. The Democrats are talking it up because it lets them avoid questions about why Congress hasn't impeached him.

You're seriously suggesting Trump would sign such a bill or Congress would get the votes to override? The 25th Amendment fantasy is a way for Democrats to avoid talking about impeachment.

You know the Cabinet will never grant the necessary approval. Why aren't you putting your efforts behind impeachment?

"I came in with Halley's Comet ... and I expect to go out with it." He did.

The same people who say (correctly) that Trump's cabinet is full of slavish minions somehow think that these minions will vote to confirm a 25th Amendment removal.

Finally finished reading _Toscanini: Musician of Conscience_ yesterday evening. A fascinating life, covering the time from Verdi to after World War II. A review will come soon.
#classicalMusic #history #books

Trump Bible reading raises questions about church and state Donald Trump will deliver a recorded Bible reading from the Oval Office as part of the America Reads the Bible.

Separation of church and state doesn't prohibit government officials from expressing their religious views. If Trump has crossed some line on this particular occasion, it's necessary to tell us what it is.
www.newsweek.com/trump-bible-...

If tech companies are "above the law," it's because the censors have sunk so low.

I'm planning to get tickets for the next Boston Artists Ensemble season, on May 1 or soon after. Composers listed are Mozart, Haydn, Dvořak, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, and Janáček.

So ironic that Massachusetts celebrates defiance of military occupation (the Marathon is held on Patriots' Day) by setting up a liberty-free zone.

‘Heightened, threatened environment’: Authorities highlight security ahead of Boston Marathon Members of the Massachusetts Police State Police and the FBI gathered to highlight security plans ahead of the 130th Boston Marathon.

An FBI agent claims the area around the Boston Marathon course is a "threatened environment" in spite of the lack of any credible threats. Many ordinary, everyday items are prohibited there. Just avoid this micro-police state.
www.boston25news.com/news/local/h...
#Boston #Massachusetts #Marathon

Quebec passes expanded secularism law targeting daycare workers, public prayer | CBC News The Coalition Avenir Québec government adopted legislation on Thursday that puts limits on praying in public and extends a ban on wearing religious symbols to daycare workers.

If you go to the Montreal Worldcon next year, remember not to pray in public, or you might be charged with a crime.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
@montrealworldcon27.bsky.social

Book discussion: How Jesus Became God Christianity is a big part of our culture, and even non-Christians have to make some sense of it. I like Bart Ehrman’s treatments of Biblical research. He’s skeptical but not belligeren…

Bart Ehrman's _How Jesus Became God_ provides fascinating information about the development of Christian beliefs.
garymcgath.com/how-jesus-be...
#books #religion

Waltz defends Trump’s threat to bomb ‘every single power plant’ in Iran U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended President Donald Trump’s threat to "knock out every single power plant" in Iran on "This Week" on Sunday.

The US ambassador to the UN supported Trump's threat to destroy the civilization of a country that hasn't attacked us and with which we aren't legally at war.
abcnews.com/Politics/wal...

Love is a superlative response. If you love everybody, you love nobody.

The concluding work was the Dvořak String Quintet, which was very impressive, as was the performance. I don't recall hearing it before, but I would have recognized it as Dvořak if I heard it without identifying information.

EFF pushes back on Google data scandal response: 'Google screwed up' The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is pushing back on a statement from Google regarding a recent user data scandal.

“The subpoena targeting Amandla did not fit any of Google’s exceptions. Google screwed up, and it needs to own its mistakes,” EFF’s @mariotrujillo.bsky.social told @androidauthority.com. www.androidauthority.com/eff-pushes-...

The BAE performed the Verdi Quartet, which I'd never heard before. The last movement is practically a comic opera in itself.

Interior of St. Paul's Church, Brookline MA

This is the second church I've been in today. I may have to turn in my atheist card.

Same here.

Get a clip-on camera. Take it with you everywhere. Be ready to record the federal government's crimes. Many models are cheap, and they're less conspicuous than a phone.

Big Brother, we're watching you!
#ICE

I don't miss Flash at all.

Rümeysa Öztürk, Tufts student detained by ICE, says she has returned to Türkiye Rümeysa Öztürk, the Tufts University student detained by ICE last year, says she will return to Turkey following the completion of her PHD program.

Rümeysa Öztürk, whom ICE abducted off the street on March 25, 2025, is now out of the US government's reach.

www.boston25news.com/news/local/r...

#ICE #Massachusetts