I yesterday said I would today post part 2 of train trips.  Well, I'll do that later this week. Today is Midterm-Elections Day, and I feel compelled to lay out the foundation for what will be a very interesting day. For one, voting has begun in the whole nation, so I'm cheered that Democracy has withstood the first challenge.  There is still that matter of accepting the results, but my sense is that this matter will soon be confirmed.  However, there is no doubt in my mind that the next 26 months will determine the future of the USA.  In any case, I offer this posting as background to help you watch the unfolding drama today from your television set. CNN coverage started yesterday, and will re-start at 11AM ET today FOX News from 1PM ET . MS NOW also began yesterday, but goes full bore at 1PM, led by Rachel Maddow.  Then tomorrow, Morning Joe will host a special edition on their November 4 show. Expectations are varied.  Ranges from a Blue Tsunami to Blue W...

Some interesting news first from the New York Times this morning. Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in his home state of Illinois.  Have you voted yet?  The mid-terms are three days away. Obamacare premiums will rise by 13 percent next year , hitting middle-income people already struggling with health care costs.  19 million Americans will thusly suffer. Tech company stocks tumbled, some by double digits , as investors fretted about whether their A.I. spending spree is paying off. The war with Iran has been very lucrative for U.S. oil companies, which nearly tripled their annual profit as consumers faced higher prices for gas and other fuel. Over $130 Billion: More than 50 major U.S. oil and gas producers and refiners collectively earned over $130 billion in net income during the six-month period from April through September 2026. [ 1 ] This from Google AI:  U.S. consumers have paid a staggering $147.7 billion to $160 billion in extra gasoline and diesel...

From Time magazine ( Read the full story here . ): With the pivotal November elections looming, President Donald Trump’s approval rating earlier this month dropped to the lowest point of his second term—and the lowest level of any President heading into the midterms in decades. Trump’s approval rating fell to 30% in early October, according to the Pew Research Center. The last American President with a comparably low approval rating this close to the midterms was Harry Truman in 1946. He today cancelled rallies in two key states , Kansas and Iowa.  Why?  Mind you, some countries think well of him.  Like Nigeria and Israel. Nothing much else newsworthy.  So here is a video summarizing today. Top U.S. & World Headlines — October 29, 2026 On Thursdays I tend to feature medical topics.  Growing up, we are told to avoid certain kinds of food.  At one time, for example, coffee was bad for your health. Now, a lot of coffee is good.  What is a lot?...