The high pressure system is still in place so it’s another glorious day at my place! We’ve had a great week so far. At the moment I’m expecting it to start raining again on the weekend. I always feel guilty when that happens – a fine week followed by a wet weekend – because I got to enjoy the sun and the workers didn’t. It’s why I’m more likely to write at the weekend, no matter how I’m feeling.

I started watching Donald Trump’s rally in Phoenix yesterday, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I suppose by now it should be par for the course. But he continues to shock me with his rhetoric. CNN said it was a “77-minute presidential therapy session” and though I didn’t watch all of it, that’s true of what I saw.

One of the worst things was his floating the idea that he’s going to pardon former Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I think talking about it to his base is Trump’s idea of a focus group. If they like it, which they did, he’s likely to go ahead with it. He doesn’t care what the rest of the country thinks. When he’s gone from this job, a quarter of the country is tens of millions of people he can extort money from via Trump TV.

Also, whether he sees it or not, admits it or not, it’s another nod to the white supremacists he insists he doesn’t support. Arpaio’s policies in relation to Mexicans in particular was widely seen as racist, but Trump says he was “just doing his job.” It’s also a kick in the teeth for the legal system. Arpaio’s conviction is for criminal contempt, but Trump is saying that’s okay.

All leaders have to grow into the job, and this is a much tougher job than most. However, I despair of Trump ever making it. He doesn’t have even the basic skills needed. He says he will bring his country together. However, in many ways he’s made deeper the rifts that were already there. He has shown no indication that he’s got what it takes.

Trump cartoon

 

Cat Tweets

If it strokes me, I’ll be its friend …

Aren’t they sweet?

 

Now that’s a cat showing what’s on its mind …

 

I hate to think what happened here …

 

Poor kitty …

Dog Tweets

This is pretty cool. There are no cats who have this honour, but my guess is they don’t care!
(Via Ann German.)

 

There are several people I know who regularly strike the same pose …

 

Who could resist?

 

Marine Tweets

Cool photo bomb!

 

Other Animals Tweets

I love red pandas. I am not a cuddly toy person, but I have one of a red panda cub from Auckland Zoo, Amber, from several years ago.

 

Peek-a-bunny …

 

Scenic Tweets

Beauty in Belgium …

 

The lovely island of Mykonos.

 

Morocco is stunning too …


 

History Tweets

On 23 August 1305 Sir William Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered. I saw the movie, and although it was a fairly good movie, the inaccuracies in the history drove me nuts, so I’ve never watched it again.

 

And more …

 

I wonder when this story was made up – you can be sure it wasn’t until well over a millennium later …

 

I’m not sure how they know it’s the oldest, but for you soccer fans, the world’s oldest football has a new display at The Stirling Smith museum in Scotland.

 

Political Tweets

Trump said there weren’t many people protesting at his Phoenix rally …

 

It’s not just in the US that Trump’s reputation is going down.
(Via Ann German.)

 

I want this t-shirt!
(Via Ann German.)

 

Art Tweets

How’s this for a stage for a play? What’s the bet the play’s about religion?

 

Watercolours by Korean artist Sunga Park.

 

Lovely work!


 

Eclipse Tweets

Best photo-bomb ever! I thought the video of the eclipse from a plane window I put up yesterday was pretty good, but this is even better!
(Via Ann German.)

 

Here it comes …

 

Funny Tweets

Don’t blame me, blame Ann German. Okay, so it made me burst out laughing, but who wouldn’t?

We have Oreos in NZ, but they’re not a big thing. I think I’ve only eaten a couple in my life, and I can’t remember whether I liked them. I understand that those of you who are USians have a bit of a relationship with these biscuits though. Or should I be calling them cookies?
(Via Ann German.)

 

Human Rights Tweets

Good on this brave woman!

 

Perhaps dancing in the middle of the road isn’t the best idea, but to arrest a 14 year old boy for having fun is why Saudi Arabia needs to take a good hard look at itself.


 

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