126 "swing states" vs. "scapegoat states"

July 21, 2020

Today we'll lead with a project that took up most of the weekend, a "dog shelf."

https://youtu.be/9dLbmhDGt-k

Then, let's head up to Portland, Oregon, for a preview of the fall election.

Where dear leader's big plan to instigate a civil war in the US is predictably revitalizing a protest movement which had been pretty quiet.

To my best understanding, up until now, Portland, like many areas, had two protest scenes. There were the daytime, family friendly and non-violent protests. And then there's the nighttime scene, where protestors focused on a federal courthouse and some other government buildings. These buildings are what the unmarked federal agents are supposedly protecting. The agents laid out a "do not cross" line, and protestors get close to the line, then get bashed by batons and sprayed with chemical weapons. The protestors have actually gotten pretty good at standing up to this abuse, with medics on hand. While a few maybe rattling fences and spray painting, most are chanting, "No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA."

Meanwhile, through the vast, vast majority of the city, life goes on as normally as everywhere else in a mismanaged pandemic.

So basically, it's not a big deal, this is par for the course protesting in the 21st century, but somebody wants it to be.

Because when everyone's out to get you all the time, you have to go on offense...

...against your political rivals.

Like I said, it's coming down to "swing states" and "scapegoat states."

And it won't stop in Portland.

Or with protests.

Because there's an election coming up.

And somebody is hurting in the polls.

So while the actual violence is coming from the right, "law and order..."

Because why? Because we're the opposition.

That's right, the opposite of fascism is? Anti-fascism!

And so we see people who watch the news saying weird shit like this:

Or this:

Dear dear leader, the man who killed that black federal government agent in Oakland was an active duty Air Force sergeant who aligned himself with the Boogaloo Bois, who are anti-government, but definitely not Antifa. Ask them.

There's some other weird shit going on, too. A couple days ago, a friend, Mrs. Snake, posted about starting a "pod" with some other parents to share homeschooling support among a group of families. It seemed like a great idea for the many, many parents who are suffering the burden of raising their offspring all by themselves.

(I say that jokingly, but historically, it has taken a village. In fact, menopause might be a species advantage allowing fertile women more free time to do things like survive thanks to nana's nurturing ability.)

My friend is apparently part of a quickly organizing trend.

And it all sounds groovy, until you really start getting into it.

And realize that of course, people with resources will pod together, making their lives easier, and people without resources?

Screwed again.

And now back to the main event.

LA is backing it up.

SF is backing it up.

California is adapting, slowly. Can we just skip the debate, shut the streets to cars already, and reopen businesses in the safe space left behind? It's already painful, and it's going to get worse watching this hemming and hawing. Guys, this is a fucking pandemic! It will kill you! It's spread indoors! Doing stuff outside is safer!

The question of traveling and vacationing keeps coming up. We would love to visit friends and relatives, but how? Even if you get a test before you leave home, by the time you get anywhere you may have been exposed.

Maine's solution? $25 tests with 15 minute results. Welcome to Vacation land.

The kicker? "Make sure to book far in advance."

My father-in-law is feeling better with oxygen and fluid supports. If you believe in prayer, or vibes, or good thoughts, he can use them.

Learned of our first friend in the city with Covid-19. He's the lawyer I've bumped into a couple times while walking to the farmer's market. He's been laid out for two weeks. His symptoms are subsiding, but now he's seriously fatigued.

He has no idea how he caught it.

This might be better in my horoscope column, but did you realize the "tail" of Neowise is actually aimed in the direction the comet is moving toward? It's not an contrail like we see from a plane. It's actually the result of solar wind hitting the comet. That's why in all the photos it looks like the comet is chasing the sun. (It's actually moving away from the sun right now.)

Ok, phew, glad we set the story straight on that one!