#politics
Trump is reminding me of Hitler's last days. Hitler went from fervently believing that Germany could still win, even when the Allies were closing in from east and west, to believing that in defeat Germany would find a cleansing ordeal from which it would rise again, like a phoenix. His suicide would be part of that Romantic, even Wagnerian, narrative.
Not that Donald will take it that far; he doesn't have the Russian Army closing in on him.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/21/trump-election-giuliani-sidney-blumenthal

Holy moly -- idly wondering how far I'd have to go to get out of this smoke, I fire up PurpleAir and it says, in effect, "Klamath Falls, or maybe Eureka."
Not complaining (much), the air quality is bad but not horrible here -- but it's quite something when the nearest good air is in the most distant corner of the next state, or maybe just two states over.

Sad news of file deletions in Meta and TwiXer prompt this reminder: if you pay for it, it's a product. If you get it for nothing, you're the product.

#politics

"State appropriations for West Virginia University fell nearly 36 percent from 2013 to 2022. Republicans have controlled the state legislature since 2015."

Hey, what's this trout doing in the milk?

Came home after a 12-hour odyssey (including 2 waiting for AAA, what do I even pay those people for?) to find at least one bat in the house. I don't mind--much--although it seemed the little fucker was rushing my head sometimes rather than flying out the window I'd opened for him--but he'd find better grub outside, and I'm sure he's not housebroken.
But it's past midnight now and I'm not catering to small capricious flying mammals. Beer, shower, bed, and the chiropteran can look out for itself.

Also, when the gate becomes available, we will have to scurry across an active runway to get to it.
SEATAC is adding something for thrill-seekers here. Why just be an airport when you can be an amusement park too?

Our plane to Seattle started boarding behind schedule, but a persuasive SWA gate agent and cooperative passengers got us taxiing and off the ground practically on time ... so we could sit here on a taxiway at SEA waiting for a gate to open up.
Not the first time I've seen SEA (or is it SWA at SEA?) caught with its pants down. Landed on time, will deplane God knows when.

Sitting in a comfy chair in a Bay Area backyard, lightly clad, cool bay breeze on my shoulders, listening to a song sparrow duetting with a Bewick's wren, perusing Fani Willis's indictment over a bowl of oatmeal....
It's funny that I can write "Fani Willis's indictment" and know readers will understand that I call it that to distinguish it from Cheetolini's other indictments.
This backyard's a little cramped and funky in places, but I wouldn't trade it for Mar-a-lago, especially now.

#politics
#StupidGOPinions

Next time you go to the bank, be sure to thank the teller for not running off to Brazil with your savings.

"Republicans saved democracy in 2020"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/08/04/trump-indictment-jan-6-republicans-saved-democracy/

A more accurate headline might have been "Some Republicans took a short break from destroying democracy" or "Turns out some Republicans have limits after all."

We went to get pizza last night and this little absurdity popped up: they had an ale I like on tap, but none of the staff were old enough to serve it. They were, however, old enough to sell me a can of it. Such a fine line between the rule of law and anarchy.

"A statement attributed only to the Trump campaign called the new accusations a 'desperate and flailing attempt' by the Justice Department to undercut Mr. Trump.

"'There is absolutely no evidence to back up these accusations,' Mr. Trump added. 'Believe me, I've made sure of that.'"

--from the NY Times today (well, half of it is).

#politics

"Though secular and socially liberal himself, Mr. Netanyahu was then forced to retain power by allying solely with ultranationalists and ultraconservatives...."

So that's not just a GOP thing.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/23/world/middleeast/israel-government-vote-netanyahu.html