John Oliver examines 'Midterms 2026' on 'Last Week Tonight'

Change of plans — today's post features Midterms 2026: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO).

Ahead of this week’s midterm elections, John Oliver discusses why things aren’t looking great for Republicans, how they’re desperately trying to get ahead, and why Hamilton was a mistake. You heard us, Lin-Manuel. You’ve done more harm than good.

That's a good summary of my midterms experience and a listing of why I'll be relieved when this election is over. That written, I'm not done with the midterms, as I have a Marsh Family song about them for tomorrow. Stay tuned for Tuneful Tuesday!

'Trump' interrupts David S. Pumpkins in 'SNL's Halloween cold open

I'm extending spooky season at least one more day with the highlights of last night's holiday episode of Saturday Night Live as the Sunday entertainment feature for Day of the Dead, beginning with Scary Halloween Cold Open (ft. David S. Pumpkins).

A spooky mausoleum ride attempts to scare its passengers (Jeremy Culhane, Grace Reiter) with characters like David S. Pumpkins (Tom Hanks) before getting interrupted by something even scarier.

David S. Pumpkins returns only to have Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump make it all about him. At least Tom Hanks got to introduce the show.

SNL continued with the midterms and Pervert Hoover's interest in men's behinds in Weekend Update: Trump Obsesses Over Men's Asses & Ramps Up Attacks on Abdul El-Sayed.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like Ted Cruz saying Americans will die if Abdul El-Sayed wins the Senate race.

I'll be so glad when the election is over.

Weekend Update's silly takes on serious (and sometimes not-so-serious) news continued in Scotland Opens Epstein & Prince Andrew Investigation, NYC Bans Horse-Drawn Carriages.

Weekend Update anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che tackle the week's biggest news, like a woman who went viral for reporting a car crash while dressed as a banana.

Of course the woman reporting a car crash while dressed as a banana was in Florida. Florida Man (and woman, too)!

Follow over the jump for the Weekend Update interviews, Inde Navarrette's monologue, and a seasonal skit.

Broken Peach performs 'Thriller' for Halloween

Happy Halloween! This year's featured song is Broken Peach - Thriller (Halloween Special).

Our new single, out now...

"Thriller" is a song by Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 11, 1983, in the UK and on January 23, 1984, in the US, as the seventh and final single from his sixth album of the same name. "Thriller" is a disco song featuring a synthesizer bassline, lyrics, and sound effects evoking horror films. It includes a spoken-word sequence performed by the horror actor Vincent Price. It was produced by Quincy Jones and written by Rod Temperton, who wanted to write a theatrical song to suit Jackson's love of film.

"Du Hast" is a song by German metal band Rammstein. It was released as the second single from their second album Sehnsucht (1997). It has appeared on numerous soundtracks for films, most notably The Matrix: Music from the Motion Picture, How High, and the home video CKY2K. It is featured in the music video games Guitar Hero 5 and Rock Band 3. The guitar riff is similar to Ministry's "Just One Fix". The music was written by keyboardist Flake and guitarist Richard Kruspe. The intro section and the verses were a combination of a synth sequence by Flake and a guitar riff by Kruspe, and the chorus was written around a chord sequence by Flake.

"Somebody's Watching Me" is the debut single written, co-produced, and performed by American singer Rockwell, released by Motown in December 1983. Serving as the lead single from Rockwell's debut studio album of the same name (1984), it features uncredited guest vocals by Michael Jackson, additional backing vocals by Jermaine Jackson, and co-production from Curtis Anthony Nolan.

I had been wishing Broken Peach would redo "Thriller" for Halloween since 2017 as I wrote in 2019.

Of course, the ultimate Michael Jackson song for Halloween is "Thriller," which Broken Peach also sings...Two years ago, I left [this] request in a comment on this video: "I have a suggestion for you all. Next Halloween, dress up like zombies and sing 'Thriller' again."

It only took nine years, but it finally happened.

Broken Peach also donned their skull makeup for a series of songs this spring that they called "Old Skull" (Old School). Follow over the jump.

Storied shares 'The Deep Halloween Lore You Probably Don’t Know' about bats

Happy Candy Corn Day, when I usually blog about monsters, courtesy of Monstrum on Storied. I'm resuming the tradition by sharing The Deep Halloween Lore You Probably Don’t Know about bats.

Bats have long been symbols of death and darkness. But why? Their rise as Halloween’s spookiest icon traces back to ancient Celtic traditions, revealing how these harmless creatures turned into something far more evil. Join us under the Congress Street Bridge in Austin as we unravel the spooky myths, vampire lore, and Halloween history that turned these sky puppies into creatures of the night!

Ah, the intersection between folklore and biology! That's what got me into Monstrum seven years ago. I couldn't resist.

I also can't resist the Halloween-themed shorts Dr. Z has been posting, beginning with Why Ghosts Wear White Sheets.

Here's the long and storied history of why we see ghosts this way!

Dr. Z continued the spooky theme when she asked Why do ghosts say BOO?

Boo! Why do ghosts say that?

Moving from ghosts to witches, Dr. Z asked Why do witches wear pointy hats?

The history of this hat is deep and kinda complicated!

I close with Candy Corn Cocktail from Bed Bath & Beyond. Yes, a recipe from beyond the grave!

Drink responsibly and stay tuned for one more Halloween post plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry or two. Trick or treat!

Words Unravelled asks 'What's the 'were' in werewolf?'

I telegraphed today's post in Words Unravelled asks 'What's poopy about a poop deck? | NAUTICAL ETYMOLOGY' for Talk Like A Pirate Day.

I'm glad YouTube recommended this channel to me. It's a great resource that I plan on using for...Halloween, Christmas, and, of course, English Language Day. Those entries will be fun!

Watch as Words Unravelled asks What's the 'were' in werewolf? | SPOOKY ETYMOLOGY.

In this episode of Words Unravelled, Rob and Jess dig into the spooky origins of Halloween words. From 'ghosts' and 'ghouls' to 'warlocks' and 'witches', they uncover the hauntingly fascinating roots of supernatural lingo.
What is the 'were' in werewolf?
Why is there a 'monster' in 'demonstrate'?
What does 'vampire' literally mean?
These creepy questions answered and many more. Join us... if you dare

Jess and Rob promoted her book Words from Hell. I found another podcast video by Grammar Girl about it, which I might use next year. I'm an environmentalist, I conserve my resources.

In the middle of talking about hoaxes and ghost words, Jess made an aside about the hoaxes purporting to explain the origin of the word cocktail. Shake Stir & Mingle almost certainly included some of them in The Origins of the Word Cocktail.

The term "cocktail" for mixed alcoholic drinks has an interesting and somewhat debated history, with several theories on its origin. One popular theory dates back to the 18th century in the United States, where mixed drinks became popular. Here are a few stories that have circulated about the term's origin:Horse Dealers and Ginger:

One theory suggests that the term originated from horse dealers in the 18th century who would put ginger up a horse's derriere to make it appear more lively and spirited, thus artificially "cocking" its tail up. This practice was known as "cocktailing," and by extension, drinks mixed to make spirits more lively or palatable were called "cocktails."Cocktail as a Decoration:

Another theory suggests the term comes from the custom of placing a feather (often from a cock's tail) in the drink as a decorative garnish, indicating that the drink was mixed or adorned.French Influence: Some believe the term derives from the French word "coquetel," which was a drink served to French soldiers during the American Revolution. This theory posits that Americans adopted the term from their French allies.

The Tavern Tradition: Another story involves a tavern keeper named Betsy Flanagan, who during the American Revolution, is said to have served French soldiers an alcoholic drink garnished with feathers from a rooster's tail, leading to the drinks being called "cock tails."Cock-Ale:

There's also a reference to a drink from the 17th century called "cock-ale," which was made by steeping a cock in ale, along with other ingredients to add flavor.

However, this concoction is quite different from what we consider cocktails today.While these stories offer colorful origins for the term "cocktail," the true source remains somewhat of a mystery, enveloped in the mists of history. What's clear is that the term was firmly established by the early 19th century to refer to a mix of spirits with various ingredients to enhance or complement their flavors.

I don't know which, if any, to believe, although a corruption of the French "coquetel" appeals to me.

Speaking of cocktails, I'm taking inspiration from today being National Cat Day for The Purr-fect Halloween Cocktail? Meet the Black Cat Martini!

A Little Cat-titude for Your Halloween Cocktail!

Dark, fruity, and dressed to impress! The Black Cat Martini combines blackberry liqueur, vodka, cranberry, and lemon for a deliciously smooth cocktail with a deep purple color, sparkling black sugar rim, and fresh blackberry garnish.

*Black Cat Martini Recipe*

- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz blackberry liqueur
- ½ oz cranberry juice
- ½ oz lemon juice (fresh or bottled)
- Ice
- Optional: Fine black cocktail sugar for the rim
- Garnish: 2 fresh blackberries

Drink responsibly and stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

Randy Rainbow sings 'MITCHCRAFT!'

Today's spooky season special features MITCHCRAFT! - A Randy Rainbow Song Parody.

Happy Halloween!

Parody of “Witchcraft” (Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh)

Parody Lyrics by Randy Rainbow

Song Produced, Orchestrated, Mixed, Mastered by: Michael J Moritz Jr @michaeljmoritz

Vocal Arrangement - Brett Boles
All Vocals - Randy Rainbow
Piano, Orchestral - Michael J Moritz Jr
Drums - Tom Jorgensen

Randy is not like Stephen Colbert, who apparently "decided that if he couldn't say anything nice about McConnell, he shouldn't say anything at all, even if it meant getting poked with a broomstick for a punchline and transition." Randy had plenty of mean things to say about him, not that I'm in a position to complain.

Randy did make a passing reference to Donald "Pervert Hoover" Trump, who is the star of the encore, The Kiffness - Donald Trump BURP REMIX!



I've got 90% problems, but a governor ain't one
At least Kiffness excused himself. Then again, don't give Pervert Hoover any ideas; he might pardon himself instead.

I close with How to Make a Witch's Brew cocktail with Basic Witch Wendi!

Wendi (with an "i") is here again today to show you another cool cocktail called Witch's Brew. Like, we hope you enjoy it. For sure.

Drink responsibly and stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

Wall Street Journal and Retail Archaeology examine Spirit Halloween, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse for Black Cat Day

Happy Black Cat Day, when I examined Spirit Halloween last year. I decided to make it a tradition, so I'm opening with the Wall Street Journal explaining How Spirit Halloween Became a Titan of the $10B Halloween Industry | WSJ The Economics Of.

Each fall, there’s one store that suddenly seems to be just about everywhere: Spirit Halloween. The brand taps into the $10 billion Halloween industry by setting up shop in otherwise vacant real estate for three months each year.

This video came out four years ago, but it's held up well except for being too early to include Party City closing in the United States, although it did show the handwriting on the wall with Halloween City opening fewer locations during the pandemic.

Erik of Retail Archaeology has a much more current report in Spooky Archaeology: A Retail Archaeology Halloween Special, uploaded two days ago.

In this special Halloween episode of Retail Archaeology we check out this years Spirit Halloween instore experience. We also check out Horror Monger, and awesome horror themed store that is open year round.

"In the corpse of a Big Lots" — that makes what I wrote when Big Lots filed for bankruptcy two years ago prophetic: "As for what will fill the spaces left by the closed stores, there's always Spirit Halloween." I don't know whether to brag or be creeped out. Maybe both.

Spirit Halloween itself provides today' drink recipe, Angry Orchard Halloween Punch - Spirit Halloween.

Follow this recipe for a deadly delightful Halloween Cocktail Punch!

Drink responsibly and stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

Oregon Crusaders 'REDRUM' returns for a drum corps Halloween

I'm continuing to go full spooky season with Marching Arts Network TV's Marching Arts Halloween Spookcast-Scary show reaction.

So good to be back and talking about some news and watching a really great show! We missed Jenn on this one, but we "Keep Calm and Carry ON! Oregon Crusaders 2018-REDRUM. WOW! So impressed with level of commitment from the members. Plus the show was designed to be fun and entertaining. Always fun doing a Halloween themed show.

We hope you enjoy it!

This show should look familiar to my long-time readers, as it was the featured program for 2019's Drink to 2018 Oregon Crusaders 'Redrum' for a drum corps Halloween and I recycled the full show for 2024's Marching music for the Kentucky and Oregon primaries — Oregon Crusaders and marching bands. That video no longer exists because the account hosting it has been terminated — as I often write about unofficial uploads of drum corps shows, including that one, enjoy it while it lasts — but Marching Arts Network TV reacting to the show might just preserve it.

It's not one of my Halloween week posts without an appropriate drink recipe, so I'm closing with Redrum - an Original Rum Cocktail Inspired by The Shining from Distinguished Spirits.

This is an original drink inspired by The Shining made with Rum, Campari, Cherry Liqueur, Curaçao and Lime Zest. The drink is much lighter than 12 Bottle Bar’s other Shining-inspired drink, the Jack Torrance ( • Jack Torrance - A Cocktail Inspired by Sta... ). The interpretation of the drink could hardly be more literal. It’s rum-based and it’s red.

There, this drum corps holiday post is now complete.

Stay tuned for more Halloween posts through the end of the month plus a bonus Day of the Dead entry. Trick or treat!

'Drag-U-La' car and 'Dragula' song, a spooky season driving update

Pearl the Prius passed 75,000 yesterday, earlier than I expected, so I needed to write a driving update. This ran into my plan to go full spooky season this week, as well as my usual Sunday entertainment feature, but I found a way to combine all three, a Halloween car from television (and a movie). Watch The Munsters Drag-U-La Coffin Car and Koach by MyClassicCarTV.

Behold, two of the spookiest TV and MOVIE cars ever built! Dennis gets a close up look at the insane Drag-U-La coffin car dragster. It's a casket on wheels! Plus, we pile into the Munster Koach and FREAK OUT the neighborhood! In the Munsters episode titled Hot Rod Herman, Herman Munster loses the Koach in a drag race so Grandpa Munster builds the Drag-U-La to win back the Koach. "The Munsters" was a hit TV show in the 1960's.

I'm not the gearhead that Dennis Gage and John Sbrigato are, but I do appreciate dopamine returned on gasoline invested and classic cars. I also have fond memories of watching The Munsters in syndication during the afternoons when I came home from elementary school. However, I didn't remember the first appearance of Drag-U-La, Grandpa's Vampire Car 'The Dragula' | The Munsters (TV Series) | Fear. Well, it's been 60 years, so I have an excuse.

Grandpa takes the custom vampire dragster for a spin.

From The Munsters Season 1, Episode 36, "Hot Rod Herman": Herman is dragged along by Eddie to compete in a drag-car race and modifies the family hearse into a dragster for the event.

All three generations of Munster men are geeking out over the hot rod, although Grandpa doesn't share that surname. That's a great television moment.

By the way, Wikipedia describes a different origin story for Drag-U-La in The Munsters movie.

The 1966 movie Munster, Go Home! features an alternate origin. After Herman crashes a Jaguar limousine owned (and raced) by the Munster family of England, Grandpa builds the DRAG-U-LA, using the motor from the Munster Koach, so Herman can drive it in a cross-country automobile race.

Eh, alternative continuity.

The Drag-U-La stuck around in the series, showing up in the end credits of the second season. See if you can catch it in Munsters Opening and Closing Theme Season 2.

The reason I fell into this rabbit hole is because a cover of the Rob Zombie song "Dragula" appeared on my feed. While it inspired me, it didn't make it into this post because of the following passage from the song's Wikipedia entry.

Zombie told Billboard magazine that the title came from the name of Grandpa Munster's eponymous dragster DRAG-U-LA on The Munsters. He goes on to say that it "was a classic show with great comic characters..."

The music video shows Rob Zombie driving the Munster Koach (not the actual Dragula racing car) with various shots of the band members in Southern California locations such as the Pasadena Arroyo Seco Parkway with shots of the 3rd Street tunnel and Lower Grand Boulevard in Los Angeles and different scenes from classic horror films, e.g. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) at the beginning of the video and the killer robot from chapter film series The Phantom Creeps (1939) along with home video footage of mid-20th-century families being entertained by a clown with clips of nuclear testing mushroom clouds sardonically overlapping of when the clown and a girl are laughing, with the multi-color backdrops referencing Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), also with early-20th-century footage of children being entertained and shocked.

Instead, I'm embedding the original, Rob Zombie - Dragula.

Music video by Rob Zombie performing Dragula.© 1998 Geffen Records

I could go on about Rob Zombie being such a fan of The Munsters that he wrote, directed, and produced the 2022 film, but it's time I climb out of this rabbit hole and write my personal driving update. Follow over the jump.

Guide to entries with answers to 'Food, Inc 2' for National Food Day

Happy National Food Day! I begin today's observance by recycling from 'The Food That Built America,' '30 for 30,' and other nominees at the Critics Choice Documentary Awards for World Food Day and National Sports Day.

Speaking of my students, they watched Food, Inc. 2 this week. As I wrote on Talk Like A Pirate Day, I plan on writing a guide to answers to Food, Inc. 2 worksheet on National Food Day, but I'm linking to the entries now as a preview of coming attractions: Think about the fast food workers on National Fast Food Day, Vox explains 'The salmon dilemma', and New guidelines flip the food pyramid on its head. My students and I will go over the answers next week in lab, then I'll write the entry for anyone who missed class.

Follow over the jump for the sections of the posts with questions and answers from the film.