The news that North Korea is supplying 12,000 crack troops to Putin is of course a worrying development. It also might indicate that Russia is desperate, and not concerned with the world’s perception of escalation and an expansion of hostilities.

It’s good timing on Putin’s part—we’re preoccupied with the upcoming election, and things continue to be ugly and messy in the Middle East. Lots of distractions. But he knows we’ll notice the influx of a third party’s troops. Seems like he’s baiting us, or threatening us to vote for Trump, or else.

This addition of North Korean soldiers seems like the sort of thing that would be considered a glaringly obvious red flag. As a turning point, as the moment when WWIII started. Because how can we stay uninvolved now? Will it take another direct attack on us to force our hand and decide, reluctantly, to engage the little madman?

Nothing good will come of this, and based on what we’ve seen in the Middle East in the past year, along with sporadic attempts to reason with Putin, diplomacy will be impotent. Kamala is going to have her hands full. The world’s Boris Badenovs will see to that.

The Yankees better not make history. They took game 4 last night, avoiding a sweep.

No epic comeback for those guys, please. The Dodgers better not lose their mojo.

I know… the purely selfish motives of a Red Sox fan who couldn’t stand the hoopla and trash talk surrounding a Yankees feat that no team has ever accomplished in the history of Major League Baseball—coming back from 0-3 in a World Series. That would suck.

It’d figure, though—just when a 20^th anniversary Netflix special airs about the ’04 Sox, the Yankees say “hold our beer…” It’d feel like the pinnacle of one-upmanship, like the Yanks get the final word, again and forever.

Well, at least the Sox pulled off their comeback against the Yankees. We’ll always have that.   

The Opinion pages of the Washington Post or any newspaper are a space for publishing opinions. For Jeff Bezos, this is conveniently a bridge too far, not in his best interest, if Donald Trump happens to win the election. Bezos appears to not want to incur Trump’s wrath by endorsing Kamala Harris, which the paper was preparing to do.

This is one more thing, in light of everything else of concern in this election, that has people wondering if Donald Trump is an actual, legitimate threat to our democracy, to freedom of speech, to the envisioned republic as Franklin and the rest once spoke of and brought to life.

Bezos, according to Bezos, would probably explain his move in practical terms, if he was available for comment. But many others are of the mind that this is nothing more than cowardice, and a selfish economic decision.

People are canceling the paper, but maybe they should cancel their Prime subscription instead. I bet Bezos did the math and figured that would be a harder thing for people to give up– we can’t part with the free shipping.

With a week to go, the polls keep saying the race is close. Many are hoping it’s not as close as some may want us to believe.

There’s so much about this election that’s unnecessarily troubling, beginning with Trump himself, who, by some stroke of evil genius or troubling lapses in judgment and letting down of the guard, is in the running for the third straight time.

As Rachel Maddow observed last night, we shouldn’t have to be worrying about the state of our election and voting infrastructure, but we have to. Again. And even more acutely than in 2016 or 2020.

We shouldn’t have to be concerned with international interference in our election, but we must. Again. And even more acutely than in the previous two presidential cycles.

It all reeks of madness, as we once again prepare to gird the loins for election results that most likely won’t be known for days, or longer—because, among other things, Trump’s Stop the Steal II is a more well-oiled machine this time around, ballot boxes have already been suspiciously torched, poll workers threatened, and Trump boasts of some “secret” between him and Mike Johnson. What the hell is that about, or is Trump just blowing smoke?

There is so much about which to be either worried or madder than a hornet. And it all comes back to Trump.

He’s been an easy mark from the get-go. The dark underbelly of ultra-conservative Republicans has always seen him as their man, but not because he was an up-and-coming star or a capable leader. The real brain trust knew he could be manipulated, that he was and is an egomaniac, a narcissist who lives for the spotlight, who tolerates anyone who pays him compliments and tells him what he wants to hear.

Trump and Vance have been acting and talking like losers ever since Kamala Harris entered the race and became the nominee. They’ve spent most of the time defending themselves, downplaying and denying their nefarious intent and paranoia. They speak very little of policy and more about how dangerous Harris and Walz will be. They distract and lie and gaslight practically with every breath, and paint a wildly dark picture of the state of things in this country.

With good reason, they can’t shake their association with fascism and Naziism, and they appear intent on continuing to bring out the worst in as many of us as possible. What kind of leadership is that? Who actually wants that?

Maybe this is what happens when the head of the ticket doesn’t really care about the country or his potential responsibilities, but is only in it for the ego boost and power and protection from prosecution.

Israel is starting to remind me of a lunatic who somehow cannot be held responsible for his actions. The powers that be are blinded by rage and revenge and a zero tolerance policy that has ravaged and reduced the lives of innocent Gazans (is there such a thing, in Netanyahu’s estimation?) to something beyond hell on earth.

Of course… Hamas could stop their heinously cowardly practice of operating under schools and hospitals and places where civilians are liable to be congregating. For all I know, Hamas has dug tunnels underneath the refugee camps. And Israel will bomb them, too, if they haven’t already.

This is way beyond tragic. The whole region is nothing but one big war crime. And their God condones it all?

Keep the faith, they’ll tell themselves. Praise Allah, trust Elohim. Not exactly a blueprint for fruitful evangelism.

Maybe the October Surprise arrived at MSG last night. Thousands of deceived zombie disciples treated to top-shelf xenophobia, and the Trump campaign and Republicans in general doing damage control in the aftermath.

They never learn. They’re lost. Trump, of course, will still be the golden boy and try to deny he was even there.

If the idea was to recreate the “ambience” of a 1939 Nazi rally, then I guess they failed at that, unsurprisingly.

Feast your eyes, America. That was Donald Trump in his native habitat, doing… whatever he does. And his handlers—and he himself—will deny he had anything to do with any of it.

Many will remain all in on the “strongman.”

Does it mean anything for anyone to chime in on the Tua Tagovailoa concussion kerfuffle? He’s gonna play if he wants, apparently. He loves the game so much that he’s willing to risk his future health and maybe even his life to keep playing it. Who’s gonna stand in his way?

There’s tough, and then there’s stupid tough. Apart from magically avoiding any more concussions, how can his decision to keep playing, along with the clearing of concussion protocol, not be viewed as reckless and irresponsible? Doesn’t he have a family to think about?

We’re talking brain function here, and cumulative effects that may not manifest until down the road. More power to him, I guess.

There’d most likely be a place for him in the coaching ranks, so here’s hoping he knows what he’s doing.

Israel mounts a serious retaliatory strike against Iran.

So, now what?

Is Iran supposed to accept this as payback for what they did a while back and simply call things even? Do they now conjure up another strike and perpetuate the hostilities? I’m unclear regarding protocol in this holy war ridiculousness.

Does each side consult their rabbis and imams and holy writ before proceeding any further? Is there a formula they need follow? Does diplomacy mean anything? Does world opinion sway considerations?

It’s all stupendously pathetic. Nothing matters but payback. Surely there is no code of ethics involved, other than the ethic of endless animosity and degradation.

Doesn’t anyone ever get tired of this?

Sounds like it was an instant classic. Glad I wasn’t watching, especially Freeman’s showboating. No need for that shit. The Yankees will remember that and pay it back, if they have the chance.

There’s something about the two richest franchises ending up in the World Series that seems both predictable and somehow privileged, as in “Should we expect anything less?” As in a foregone conclusion. Like no one else in the majors really had a chance.

I’m always amazed that the stands are full at a game that costs anywhere from a little over $1K to over $30K per ticket. More power to ‘em, but count me out. The shine came off that apple a long time ago. No more for love of the game. I’ll just cherish the days we went to Fenway and sat in the center field bleachers for 3 bucks, or a box seat for 6 or 8.

It’s probably nicer to watch on TV. Certainly cheaper, anyway.

We really are two countries.

One is fully or at least blindly behind Donald Trump; the other isn’t. One prefers lily whiteness, God, and guns; the other is more open to a multi-cultural tapestry. One is fearful and paranoid; the other is more open to going with the flow.

Holding on versus letting go. Posting the Ten Comandments in every classroom versus embracing diversity and ideals. Single-issue voters versus a more wholistic world view. Believing immigration and the economy are the only issues that matter versus a willingness to tackle a whole host of complex issues.

Wanting things to be simple versus realizing that they’re not.