I'll continue my entertainment mode today, but first, some troublesome matters around the world. The Los Angeles disturbance is the most inconsequential as a public event, since nothing much is happening.  The fearful sense is that this is just another step towards Donald Trump's quest to become a dictator.  Today,  California Senator Alex Padilla , who was trying ask Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem a question at her press conference was manhandled by her security agents. The USA has evacuated embassy staff from Iraq.  Embassies in striking distance of Iran, as far away as Europe and North Africa, were ordered to convene emergency measures. Why?  Israeli seems likely to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.  Trump himself has said their nuclear weapon discussions with Iran have deteriorated.  But perhaps some of this is to spur talks, for the next round of these negotiations are schedule for Sunday in Muscat, Oman. Peace discussions between Ukra...

But first,  Odysseus , with difficulty, but safely, landed 186 miles from the South Pole of the Moon.  The first American touchdown in more than 50 years, and by a private company from Houston, Intuitive Machines, with  $118 million of NASA money .  While Odie is vertical ( 14 feet tall ), and sent one signal back to Earth, it was weak.  However, the company later did say that data was streaming in.  The intrigue is that this region might well hold frozen water, which can be split into oxygen and hydrogen, serving as a space station for a future Mars project, or mined for Helium-3. Another U.S. firm, Astrobotic Technology, gave a shot last week, but the lander crashed back to Earth.  NASA is trying to kick-start a lunar economy, this being a $200 million gift to the company.  Well, not quite what was intended, but one spinoff so far is that the gold fabric protecting parts of Odie from extreme cold being marketed as  Omni-Heat Infinity  ...