Comments on: The Daily Blog Open Mic – 23rd October 2025

By: Pat O'Dea

Pat O'Dea — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:59:21 +0000

No Kings!
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome decree….
Samuel Coleridge

As Samuel Coleridge noted; Kings rule by decree

Donald Trump is no exception

Donald Trump has decreed that a ‘Ball Room’ be built in his honour at the White House Paid for by donars seeking his favour, a place where assembled minions can be ordered to obediently stand in ranks, as fauning loyal retainers come to pay homage and seek influence.

Why not? After all, every King needs a throne room.

As well as a throne room, an Arc de Trump, a marble floor for the White House and a recently unveiled presdiential walk of fame with gold framed protraits of himself and 44 other presidents.

Critics, including a guest essayist for the New York Times, have called his Oval Office remodel a “Gilded Rococo Nightmare”.
The White House did not immediately respond on Wednesday to the BBC’s request for further comment.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7e8lv176go

…..And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Samuel Coleridge

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:02:26 +0000

New Zealand’s Strategy for the East Asia Summit and APEC.

Christopher Luxon is heading to Asia for a diplomatic double-header. What are his main goals?

https://thediplomat.com/2025/10/new-zealands-strategy-for-the-east-asia-summit-and-apec/

By: Greywarbler

Greywarbler — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 09:08:52 +0000

Some interesting economic and political history with coloured pictures to lift the mood from the bad taste of reality of the past and who knows of the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nXb6LWEjZE

By: Greywarbler

Greywarbler — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 01:48:10 +0000

Thinking about the thinking that goes on around the world and in NZAO but doesn’t seem to take while other organic things like Myrtle Rust that are bad for living things float and settle everywhere. This has to stop[. We need the thought to settle everywhere and stay on significant numbers of hosts and be absorbed. I keep hearing from men that they don’t read much. Pikers! Education is not just for reading road map instructions, mechanical specifications and sports and stock exchange results.

So I suggest a group called The Late Group. The letters would stand for something too unlike some vacuous conglomerations that have started to be seen. There’s WAA in Nelson and could I find what that stood for? Took me ages.

The LATE Group would stand for Literate and Thinking Exponents.
It would read the same book and discuss the points made, disagree, explain, change, and learn to think from a kaleidoscope, arranging known things in different order to go better; perhaps. Otherwise we will dance off the stage to the Exponents:
Even though I’m Blue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x_uRhxq0T0