HALLOWEEN AND SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

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 costs since the conflict with Iran began on February 28, 2026. [1, 2]
• Do you see a direct connection?
• Watch President Donald Trump bragging about the above.

This is my 18th Halloween on this blog site, and I think I have reported on this subject annually.

• So I checked.  Turns out the first time I linked with Halloween was on 31October2012:

 Here is Bobby Boris Picket, who co-wrote this song in 1962 (which became #1 in the country just before Halloween that year).  This was the during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and I kind of associate one with the other.

• 
  Interestingly enough, checked my posting of October 31 from 2012 to 2017, and not one mentioned Halloween.  This happens to be a day when I'm normally on a trip, so I wrote about my travels.  In fact, my 31October2017 posting talked about my Fabulous Fall Fantasy.  Click on it.  Worth a read.  Very colorful.
• Nothing in 2018, but finally, my posting on 31October2019 was titled:  TRUMP AND HALLOWEEN 2020.

• 
  Nothing in 2021, but 31October2022 was titled HALLOWEEN 2022.  
• Sort of a repeat of history, for the lead article was Luis Inacio LULA da Silva just winning the Brazilian presidential election at the age of 77, the same age as Joe Biden when he was elected president.

• 
  Further, the next paragraph mentioned that LULA had recently gotten hitched, for the third time, to 55-year old Rosangela da Silva.  They are still married.
• 31October2023 showed off my Halloween pants.  I was on a cruise.

• 
  31October2024 was all about Halloween.  Featured the Great Pumpkin.
• Finally, 31October2025 was again focused on Halloween, noting that the #1 Halloween film of all time was the 1978 Halloween, with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 97/89.

I'm still leading up to Inde Navarrette and the Saturday Night Live production tonight.

• I just saw the 2025 Obsession, a supernatural horror film, starring Inde.
• Don't want to give the story away, but need to mention a twist to the classic Monkey's Paw trope.  This fictional One Wish Willow novelty toy or talisman is innocently bought by someone who wants to be the boyfriend of Inde.
• Great Rotten Tomatoes scores:  93/94.
• Can be watched for free if you subscribe to Peacock.  Otherwise, $6 on several streaming channels.
• She is seriously frightening in this film.  So much so that I might skip even watching SNL tonight.

Anyway, tonight, she will host Saturday Night Live, where the musical guest will be Gracie Adams.

• Gracie's most popular song is the 2024 That's So True.
• SNL Halloween broadcasts are rare.  The first after 30 years was in 2020 when COVID was rampant.

• 
  But with a horror star hosting on Halloween a few days before the mid-term elections, this could become a very special show.  So maybe I will watch.
• There was a buzz that perhaps Barrack Obama might appear to roast Donald Trump, bringing in the Cheesecake Factory joke, but...nah....couldn't possibly.  
• But maybe Jay Pharoah can be resurrected to play Obama.

• 
  Nathan Fielder himself?  Was a key part of that other horror film now popular, You Can See Everything.  Was the second most popular film last weekend.
• I've been featuring Elizabeth Holmes and her travails, so surely some of her nightmares would be worthy of insertion in a sketch or two.

About Inde Navarrette:

• Danielle Fabiola Navarrette was born in Tucson, Arizona on 3March2001, which means she is 25 years old.
• By the age of 15, had attended 11 schools.  Her father is in the Marine Corps.
• Says she is bisexual.
• Her first sitcom role was in 2019 when she was 18.
• Was in the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why in season 4, 2020.

• 
  Was in Superman & Lois in 2021.
• Was in the film Trap House in 2025.
• Starred in Obsession, released in the U.S. in May of 2026.
• Another horror film, Invertigo, also came this year.
• You will see her as Rogue in an X-Men reboot, planned for release in 2028.
• At this young age, she will be executive producer and star in The Waffle House Index.

• 
  In 2004, Federal Emergency Management Agency director Craig Fugate coined this term after restaurant chain Waffle House, known for its 24-hour, 365-day service.  In other words, they were always open...unless there was some disaster, like a hurricane.  Three levels following a storm:  Green, full menu; Yellow, limited menu low of power and food; and Red, closed, for the disaster was too serious.

• 
  The Plot: The story takes place during a graveyard shift at a Waffle House. What begins as an encounter with an armed stranger quickly spirals into a wildly escalating chain of surreal disasters—including floods, killer crocodiles, nuclear explosions, a magical bunker, and alien occurrences. [1, 2, 3, 4]

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THE RETURN OF MIDNIGHT DINER ON NETFLIX

There are only a very few Japanese series I've ever watched.  Midnight Diner might be the best.

• Why is a bit puzzling.  Low keyed, with a personal relationship focus in each episode.  Really, nothing much more.
• Based on the manga by Yaro Abe, Sinya Shokudo.
• 10 episodes/season.
• Began in 2009 for three seasons.  Netflix produced seasons 4 to 6, beginning in 2016.  Season 6 just began in October 2026, after a 6-year hiatus.  Master now has white hair.

• 
  Season one got a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, while #2-#5 apparently all got 94 scores.
• Season 6 still unfolding, with the 10th episode to be released on 23December2026.
• Takes place in a late-night diner in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, featuring a mysterious chef played by Kaoru Kobayashi, only known as "Master."  He has this major scar over his left eye.  Never explained.

• 
  Seems to be under Yakuza protection, which might be from where he came.
• Every episode starts with moving camera shot under a bridge to reveal Shinjuku, accompanied by a narration:

• When people finish their day and hurry home, my day starts. My diner is open from midnight to seven in the morning. They call it "Midnight Diner". [cut to menu listing tonjiru, sake, beer and shōchū] That's all I have on my menu. But I make whatever customers request as long as I have the ingredients for it. That's my policy. Do I even have customers? More than you would expect.^[1]

• 
  This is a 12-seat diner, only open from midnight to 7AM.
• Lighthearted with some drama, ending with melancholy resolutions.
• Three toothpick and drink maximum, except on New Year's Eve for the latter.

• 
  Customers include salarymen to yakuzas to prostitutes to normal people, who all generally get along well.
• There are conflicts, and they get settled in each episode, usually with the influence of Master.

• 
  Each chapter usually focuses on a particular Japanese dish, like rolled omelet, hot dog, stir-fried liver, ochazuke, ramen, simmered burdock, cabbage roll, karaage, tempura.  A lot more than what is stated above.
• There are regulars and cameos.
• Also now Korean and Chinese versions of Midnight Diner.
• There are two films.  No Rotten Tomatoes reviews nor trailers on You Tube I could access.
• Midnight Diner (2014)
• Midnight Diner 2 (2016)

From Google AI:

• Series: Midnight Diner -- Tokyo Stories
• Platform: Netflix (3 Seasons available)
Overall Audience Score (Popcornmeter): 94% average on Rotten Tomatoes.
Season 1 Scores: 100% Tomatometer / 94% Popcornmeter.
Season 3 Release: Released on July 31, 2023 (10 episodes).

Premise: Set in a small back-alley Tokyo diner called Meshiya (open from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m.), a quiet proprietor known as the "Master" serves comfort food and listens to the personal stories of his diverse, nocturnal customers.

More recently from Google AI:

Seasons 4 and 5 of the anthology series—released internationally on Netflix as Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (Season 4 in October 2016 and Season 5 in October 2019)—hold a 94% average audience score("Popcornmeter") on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside widespread acclaim from critics. 

Key Details about Seasons 4–6

Seasons 4 & 5 (Tokyo Stories): Produced by Netflix, these seasons follow the same quiet, formulaic approach as the first three MBS-produced seasons, pairing individual human drama with specific late-night comfort foods prepared by the Master (played by Kaoru Kobayashi). Critics praised their gentle, empathetic storytelling and meditative pacing.

Season 6: Greenlit and released after a 7-year hiatus, Season 6 picks up post-pandemic (incorporating subtle nods to the restaurant industry's real-world struggles) with the Master returning behind the counter.

Tomorrow will be Halloween.  Saturday Night Live returns, to be hosted by Inde Navarette.  Just watched her in Obsession, a highly rated, but frightening, film.  Will elaborate on all that.  She was scarily crazy in that movie.  Looking forward to seeing her more normal.

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COFFEE IS GOOD FOR ADULTS--CAN EATING FAT ALSO BE HEALTHFUL?

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?  I asked Google AI:

For most healthy adults, 2 to 4 cups (8 ounces each) of black coffee per day is considered the ideal range for maximizing health benefits, while up to 5 cups (or 400 mg of caffeine) is safely tolerated by most people. [1, 2]

Further:

The Sweet Spot: Drinking 2 to 4 cups daily is most strongly linked to lower risks of type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart failure, and cognitive decline. [1, 2]
Caffeine Limit: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Heart Associationrecommend capping daily caffeine intake at 400 milligrams, which equals roughly 3 to 5 standard 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee. [1, 2]

Keep It Black (or Simple): Health benefits apply primarily to black coffee. Adding heavy amounts of sugar, flavored syrups, and cream can increase calories and diminish the metabolic and heart-protective perks. [1]
Filter Your Brew: Paper-filtered or instant coffee traps natural compounds called cafestol. Unfiltered methods (like French press, espresso, or Turkish coffee) keep cafestol in your cup, which can raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol. [1, 2]
Know Your Limits: Tolerance varies by body weight, metabolism, and individual sensitivity. Pregnant individuals, people with certain heart rhythms, or those prone to anxiety and insomnia should consult a doctor or lower their intake. [1, 2]

Okay, so coffee is good for adults.  Can a small amount of coffee be good for children?  I asked:

Multiple scientific studies and pediatric reviews show that coffee and its primary active ingredient, caffeine, can negatively affect children. While there is no single study "proving" coffee is toxic in small, accidental sips, extensive research highlights clear, measurable harm from regular consumption. [1, 2]

However:

Scientific data has debunked the old myth that coffee permanently stunts a child's height. Large-scale reviews (such as those summarized by Harvard Health Publishing) show that height is governed by genetics, overall nutrition, and general health—not coffee. However, doctors still advise against coffee because of its impact on sleep, anxiety, and the developing brain. [1, 2]

It's taken me a long time, but I now, finally, try to drink at least a cup of coffee/day.  I strive for two cups, but haven't yet succeeded with any regularity.  Never really liked coffee, and to make this hot drink taste like coffee candy, which I like, means to add sugar and other not so good ingredients.

Over the years, I've come to the point of also eating more fat because, well, it adds a right kind of taste.  There is this guilt feeling for the medical profession keeps saying fat is bad.  I asked Google AI if there was a high fat diet:

Yes, the ketogenic (keto) diet and the Atkins diet are the most well-known diets that feature eating a high amount of fat. [1, 2]

• Ketogenic (Keto) Diet: This is a very low-carb, moderate-protein, and high-fat diet. By drastically cutting carbohydrates and replacing them with fats, your body enters a metabolic state called ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of glucose. Foods allowed include meat, cheese, butter, cream, eggs, and healthy oils. [1, 2]
Atkins Diet: A popular low-carbohydrate diet that starts with a high-fat and high-protein phase, gradually reintroducing more carbohydrate sources over time. [1, 2]

Mediterranean Diet: While not strictly "high-fat" in the same extreme sense as keto, it features generous amounts of healthy, unsaturated fats—such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados—as a core part of the daily routine. [1, 2]

Key Things to Keep in Mind

Type of fat matters: Nutrition experts emphasize choosing healthy unsaturated fats (like olive oil, avocados, nuts, and fatty fish) over heavy amounts of saturated fats found in processed or ultra-heavy animal products. [1, 2]

Calorie density: Fat has 9 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates and protein, meaning high-fat foods add up in calories very quickly. [1]
Forum consensus: Users on fitness and weight-loss communities like Reddit generally agree that while high-fat diets like keto can help with short-term weight loss and appetite control, sustainable weight loss still depends on an overall energy (calorie) balance. [1, 2]
You absolutely don't want trans fats, which would be anything fried and battered, margarine and most bakery products.

Wow!  I'm surprised.  A high fat diet can actually be good for you!!!  From Time magazine:  The 5 Healthiest Fats You Can Eat.

• Unsaturated fats are best.
• Are liquid at room temperature.
• Can improve blood cholesterol levels, inflammation, cardio-vascular health and more.

• 
  But, more and more, some types of saturated fats are gaining in diet acceptance.  Such as:
• Monounsaturated fats are found mostly in plants such as vegetable oils, avocados, nuts and seeds.
• Polyunsaturated fats are in corn, sunflower, walnuts, FISH and canola oil.

• 
  Omega 3-fatty acids lower the risk of premature death among older adults, and are not made in the body, so must come from the food you eat.
• A good way to get Omega-3 fats is by eating fish 2-3 times/week.
• In addition to potentially reducing heart disease risk, some research points to cognitive benefits from omega-3s. “It’s important to acknowledge the links between the cardiovascular system and brain health,” Marklund says. But most people don’t eat enough fatty fish.

• 
  But be careful about canned fish products, for too much sodium is added.
• There is a strong association between blood levels of linoleic acid (omega-6 polyundaturated fatty acid) and long-term health.  

• 
  You can find good levels of this acid in safflower, sunflower, corn, cottonseed, sesame and soybean oil.
• Olive oil is fine.
• Plus sunflower seed, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, peanuts and sesame seeds.

• 
  Also chicken pork and grain-fed beef.
• Eggs are particularly very good.
• For example, when it comes to snacks, replace chips with nuts.

• 
  Absolutely minimize all kinds of sugars.  
• Particularly terrible are high-fructose corn syrup and white table sugar (sucrose).
• While there is encouragement of eating fruits, excess fructose can be harmful.

• 
  Fructose is almost entirely process by the liver.  This can lead to fatty liver disease, high triglycerides and insulin resistance.
• Fructose does not trigger fullness, so can be overconsumed

• 
  Soybeans are gaining in acceptance.
• From soybeans come edamame, tofu and natto, all good for unsaturated fats, protein and fiber.  Particularly good for females to lower risk of breast cancer.
• Heard of tempeh?
• A staple in Indonesia.

• 
  It is fermented soybean cake, made from boiled soybeans mixed with a starter culture, and left ferment for a couple of days.
• Has a dense, chewy and almost meaty texture with a nutty flavor with a hint of savory umami.
• The somewhat bitter taste from the package mellows when cooked.
• Can be probiotic if prepared that way.
• Has double the nutrients of tofu.  But also double the calories.

• 
  In the United States, the biggest sources of saturated fat (12) in the diet, very bad for your health, are:

• Pizza and cheese
• Whole and reduced fat milk, butter and dairy desserts
• Meat products (sausage, bacon, beef, hamburgers)
• Cookies and other grain-based desserts
• A variety of mixed fast food dishes.

• 
  But more recent studies show that (from Google AI):

• Odd-chain saturated fatty acids: Found in whole-fat dairy and some other foods, these are sometimes associated with lower risks of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. [1]
• 
  Butyrate: A short-chain saturated fatty acid found in butter and whole milk that supports gut health and helps reduce inflammation. [1]
• 
  Stearic acid: A long-chain saturated fat found in meat and chocolate that appears to have a neutral effect on blood cholesterol levels compared to other saturated fats. [1]

So some of the fats I particularly like from milk, butter and meat can be okay for you.

I've recently been on a Keto-like diet and did not know that.  Works for me, as I can go on a two-month trip and over-indulge in fine cuisine and alcoholic drinks, gain 12 pounds, and drop that weight in a week or two at home by strictly following this loose regimen.  I can then maintain a certain weight range by continuing this diet.

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