What's Judy Woodruff Wearing?

I stand corrected! The blogosphere has spoken: Judy’s orange look last night was a hit! What say you about tonight? I like the softer hair and the olive green looks nice with her skin tone (which is unfortunately, alien-blue in this photo, taken from my computer). I don’t care for these drop earrings with this top, though.

I don’t have much today but I didn’t want to miss my chance to say I was wrong!

We did learn that John Bolton told the Wall Street Journal quotes him as writing, ‘”I am hard-pressed to identify any significant Trump decision during my White House tenure that wasn’t driven by reelection calculations.” That seems patently obvious now but there have been presidents who used other drivers to make decisions!

Tune in tomorrow, I hope!

Ordinarily, I am a fan of bright orange for blondes, but as at least one commenter has noted, Judy is not a blonde, but a strawberry blonde these days. I like the cap sleeves and the zipper and the collar, but does the color work? I think it’s too much orange-with-orange today, sorry to report.

Judy breezed right over the fact that, thanks to that weasel (I just finished a Steven King book that had shit weasels, but I shy away from profanity) Barr, the federal government is going to execute 5 death-row inmates, after an almost 20-year hiatus.

Good story on Breanna Taylor and the belated end of no-knock warrants in Louisville. Have to wonder, though. She was shot 8 times in her own apartment in March. Is it because she’s female that she hasn’t gotten as much press as the black men who have been executed by the police?

But wait just a minute… a star is born! WHERE has Judy been hiding Stephanie Sy?

How lovely and what a great dresser! Nuclear power, indeed! She can tell me about the China-India border clashes anytime!

In other news, NY Times says that a common steroid has proven effective in helping severely ill sufferers from COVID-19. Let’s hold on to that hope, gang!

Judy looked positively noble this evening in a navy blue covered-button blouse and silver earrings. Great color with those eyes.

Too bad she didn’t give me enough to work with for the blog. I am committed to trying to be mostly positive in this forum, so tonight was a challenge.

SCOTUS handed a huge and frankly surprising win for LGBTQ community by ruling that federal civil rights laws prohibit job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or transgender identity. I would have thought they’d go all originialist and hold that the Civil Rights Act did not contemplate gays or transgender folks, but I was wrong, happily.

In other news, police shot and killed Rayshard Brooks after finding him asleep in a Wendy’s drive thru. Those lines ARE long these days. Tragically, during his encounter with police, he offered to lock up his car under their supervision and walk to his sister’s house. “I can just go home,” he said. Why are so many de-escalation opportunities not taken by police?

More to come, certainly, on the story about two black men found hanged in trees in LA, first ruled suicides.

Warning: I’m going off script here.

Judy was too decent to report on this, but the NY Times is not. And neither am I.

Trump has been wobbly (and we don’t mean sympathetic to labor unions) in two recent appearances. He had trouble raising a glass of water to his arguably slimy lips (ok paragraph one commitment has limited applicability) and he walked down a ramp super-cautiously. I freely admit to having a case of falling-down-the-stairs-a- phobia, so maybe Trump has that, but it doesn’t explain the water thing.

On the West Point ramp, he looked really tentative and old until he got to the end, when he sped up. During the West Point speech, he used his left hand to help lift the small glass of water in his right:

Small things, yes, but media outlets all over have picked them up. Here’s a link to the Times article:

Come on, it’s fun. Need something to look at on a Monday. Pretty as Judy is, she can’t hold our attention forever.

I love the fuchsia sleeveless look on Judy. Some might say it clashes with her strawberry hair, but not me. Same lovely basketweave earrings as last night and I’m ok w/that. This color really flatters her, in my opinion, but eager for your thoughts.

Really big times for NASCAR. I lived in the heart of NASCAR country, in Charlotte, NC. They had races on the radio, and I’m not joking about that. NASCAR was the whitest sport I’d ever seen. Legend has it that the National Association of Stock Car Racing was born on the dirt roads of Appalachia, when moonshiners souped up their stock cars to outrun the police.

The king of stock car racing was, and will always be, Richard Petty. I know this for many reasons, one of which is the fact that when I was in law school in Durham, NC, one of my classmates requested that his numbered exam (to preserve students’ anonymity) not be the the one next in the pile but, as he said loudly, “number 43, for the king of stock car racing, Richard Petty.”

So it’s all the more significant that the first Black NASCAR driver since 1971 is Bubba Wallace (bet you thought that was a white guy’s name). One thing NASCAR drivers ALWAYS know is what they are wearing; they always support their team and /or their sponsors. You can’t see it in this darn picture. I really must hire a decent photographer. Bubba’s wearing a “Richard Petty Racing” shirt. Yes, Bubba Wallace drives the number 43 car. That’s huge in and of itself.

Then this week, he went out with few sponsors, driving a Black Lives Matter car:

Anyway, copycat sleeveless Amna interviewed Bubba about NASCAR decision to ban the confederate flag at all races. That’s so huge. This is happening during a time of declining ratings for NASCAR, so one might think cynically that NASCAR would pander. I am impressed!

Shields and Brooks were good, though when discussing Gen Z, they sounded like what we are: old white people. Still, it was good to hear Brooks list what Gen Z has grown up with: the financial crisis, Trump, climate change, systemic racism, Trump, Trump and Trump. No wonder they are suspicious of adults and power structures.

Brooks called out Trump on Juneteenth. He said that yes, we have to assume Trump knows what June 19 is and that at least someone in his circle knows of the massacre of Black people in Tulsa on that date. He said to have a rally then and there is “putting a thumb in the eye of basic decency.”

I couldn’t have said it better.

Have a great weekend!

Unemployment and COVID cases are up, the stock market is down, but Judy’s a cool breeze on a hot summer’s day! Marvelous look. Goes with the strawberry hair and the soft pink lip gloss. The silver earrings are perfect. I cannot see them too well, but I like the silver basketweave.

The show surprised with two restaurant recommendations for those who live in the B’more/DC area. Well, they weren’t recommendations but stories on Black-owned businesses, but the restaurants look great and this blogger hopes to try them.

The first is B’more’s own Terra Cafe,

Owned by Terance Dickson, Terra Cafe is celebrating 10 years in Baltimore. I just checked out its menu, and I’m getting all drooly. I didn’t know it was a meat-and-two-sides place, either. The sides include string beans, sauteed veggies, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, vegan greens, rice pilaf, yams with pineapples, potato salad, and macaroni salad. It might be my first post-quarantine foray. Mr. Dickson, shown below, is adorable but like many Black business-owners, had trouble even getting a business credit card.

The second place on my list and first stop next time I”m in DC is Ben’s Chili Bowl. One of the founders, Virginia Ali, is pictured below. (Her husband, Ben, passed away in 2009.) She is a lovely woman who also has had trouble getting funding from banks because she’s African-American.

Ben’s Chili Bowl has been open for 62 years. It was the only restaurant allowed to stay open after curfew during the 1968 riots, thanks to a petition from Stokely Carmichael, who obtained special permission to keep Ben’s open after curfew to feed the protesters. Ms. Ali said she loves the protesters and wants to see them keep fighting. She is a true lady. That chili dog looks really good.

I almost wrote Bon Apetit! as my closer…

…but then I remembered that mag has had trouble lately, what with the now-former editor-in-chief, Adam Rapoport (and his wife) posing as Puerto Rican stereotypes:

Apparently, he was just one part of the toxic culture at Bon Apetit and its parent, Conde Nast.

So that’s why I’m saying, “enjoy the meal!”

Not the same ring, though.

Opening up, indeed! It’s another new outfit for Judy! I love the militaristic look of the zipper/epaulet detailing. The timing could be off, though as militaristic is not en vogue these days. Nice earring choice. Would have bet she’d go with one from her “red drop” earrings collection, but no. Good job, Judy!

Philonise Floyd, George Floyd’s brother, testified on the Hill today. Not only were his words on point, including “my brother’s life matters. Black lives matter” but he looked lovely. My last pair of glasses was Burberry and I think these are, too. I cannot determine if the Burberry watch plaid was on the arm of these frames or not, but I think it was. Also, nice summery suit. So professional. No, it didn’t matter one bit what Mr. Floyd wore, but isn’t it nice that he looked great, too?

Lisa was looking sharp in her schoolgirl glasses and fetching turquoise necklace. Chosen to go with the print/painting? I think so.

My favorite bit on today’s show came at the end — a piece on gardening. It was an interview and visit with Piet Oudolf, who designed the gardens of the High Line, among other famous spaces. They are worth a look for sure.

What a lovely man (and a nice head of hair). When asked what advice he has for amateur gardeners, he said,’ “It’s pleasure and entertainment at the same time. In the garden, it’s a sort of performance so it’s beautiful but it’s also beautiful to do it in your own way.”

My favorite thought for today came from Mr. Oudolf, as well, “From the moment that you understand gardening and you are a gardener, then every day is special. Every day is an experience.”

Bad picture day. Sorry! Her eyes were closed in all of the photos I took. Maybe she was so tired. I haven’t seen this outfit before, though I admit I am getting her reddish drop earrings mixed up at this point. Is someone making them for her? Anyway, the outfit is fine.

I have precious little to work with today. Corey Booker said a whole lot of nothing when asked if he supported defunding the police.

I don’t feel right on commenting on Tam Keith’s outfit, accessories, or home decor, though they would be rich subjects to mine. She ain’t a radio personality for nuthin’.

I did say I wouldn’t comment on Lisa Desjardins, but she’s upped her game considerably.

I like the blue jacket and how well it goes with the painting.

Gee, I wonder how much a painting like that goes for? Well, I think it’s a print, by T. S. Harris. Just how much is it worth to you to emulate Lisa? $495 will get you that print. It’s a start. Then buy a bunch of hoop earrings.

I like the painting. It’s happy. I’m glad she didn’t opt for, say, Anselm Kiefer:

Not the same feel, at all, I’d say.

BTW, congrats, Kiwis! You say you’ve eradicated COVID! Now, what to do with all of those Lord of the Rings fanatics swarming your island?

Over and out!

Clearly it’s too cold for tiny Judy in her house. She has resorted to her back-of-the chair cardi again.

She just wore it two days ago:

It might have been that it was a long week for this blogger, but I cannot tell her drop earrings apart anymore. I also think Judy’s had her hair styled. I don’t think it’s shorter but it’s definitely different. Let’s be kind. It’s been a heck of a week.

I f*&%ing cannot believe how low Trump has sunk. Why though? Why am I surprised? He’s led us here with every flap of those gums. Now, he’s in a “the people’s house,” surrounded by an 8 foot fence.

Today, in case you missed it, in a Rose Garden with the chairs for reporters pushed closer than the mandated 6 feet (because, the staffers said, “it looks better”), Trump said, “hopefully, George [Floyd] is looking down right now and saying, ‘this is a great thing that is happening for our country. This is a great day for him. It’s a great day for everybody.'” Look, I do not claim to know what happens after we die, but it’s hard to imagine MR. FLOYD is saying anything close to that.

BTW, unemployment rates for minorities went up.

So glad we’ve made it to Friday. I love how Mark Shields is now commenting from a walk-in-library-closet:

I defy anyone to find a kinder face, anywhere. Giving Shields and Brooks the nod for wearing coat and tie every Friday for us. I am also so touched by the fact that both of these seasoned journalists remain hopeful about our country and where it is going. That gives me hope, too.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

I might be in the minority here, but I dig Judy’s kimono-thingy. Some might say, “well, she sure looks comfy. All ready for bed.” No, I say, no. Look at that tailoring – note the zipper on her left, our right.

I was so elated when I saw new look, though I feared for her safety. Did she risk her life for us, dashing to Neiman’s Bethesda outpost before it shutters its doors forever? Did she send Mr. Judy?

Regardless, I like the look. Sort of a cross between a kimono and maybe a middle-aged version of the sexy Diane Von Furstenberg wrap, worn here by a smokin’ Cybill Shepard in ’76:

Sure, Judy is more bundled up, but it’s 2020 and we’ve talked about the way Mr. Judy keeps their place freezing cold. I like the cornflower blue. I like the circles. The whole thing works for me.

I watched the whole show, much of which was related to the potential demise of the NY real estate industry at the hands of us new WFH’ers. True. Relevant. Important. Yawn.

I am a fan of the generals standing up to Trump, including Flynn and Dempsey:

but their outfits were nothing to write home about.

Someone tell me when the Republicans are going to stand up to Trump.

I’m waiting…

“There are many more important things to think about right now than clothes.”

That’s what Judy’s outfit is telling me, and she’s not wrong. Possible that she just threw on the all-purpose black cardi that she keeps on the back of her (home) office chair for when Mr. Judy turns up the a/c too much atop a purply (not quite burgundy) top and — am I wrong, gang? — yesterday’s earrings.

Happy to see they dusted off Charlanye Hunter-Gault for this episode. She’s so good. Miss her on NPR, apart from the occasional missives from Africa. I’m using this stock photo because she closed her eyes in mine:

Ms. Hunter-Gault reminded us of the still-shocking fact that African-Americans are killed by police at 3x the rate of whites, then interviewed a baby.

She spoke with the darling preteen assistant professor of psych at Miss State and author of White Kids, Margaret Hagerman:

She is a freakin’ BUTTON, as in “cute as.” Smart, too.

But this journalist must pose the hard question: how did she manage to pass as white and privileged for her study on affluent white kids in America?

Little Miss Miss made the important point from her study that it’s not so much what white parents say to their kids about race (though they don’t talk about it much), but what they do: do they do everything in their power to give THEIR kid every chance, at the expense of the community? Once again, it’s what we do, not just what we say, that matters.

Shortie today but more tomorrow.