Read and help if you can. Call your Senator and let them know where you stand, and how you want them to vote on your behalf, and why. I fell fortunate that I have two solidly Democratic Senators in Wyden and Merkley representing my state.
Wenzda’s Wandering Thoughts
I parked beside a bright blue Jeep Wrangler today. As I closed my door and turned to walk away, I glanced into the car.
There, are their dash were small plastic ducks. I counted twelve, all neatly lined up.
It prompted me to smile as I walked away. I was happy for them. Not many people can be said to have their ducks in a row these days.
You gotta respect it when someone does.
Knock On Wood
Knock on wood, I am not superstitious. I’ve owned three wonderful black cats in Crystal, Sam, and Boo. Each gave me nothing but purrs and good company.
Of course, I do respect that others are superstitious. That affects things. So, for them, I throw salt over my shoulder when I spill it. With many affected by Friday the 13th, I know that many people are a little more distracted and nervous, so I’m a little more careful and alert.
Sure, I do have my lucky underwear, but that’s not superstition. I’ve observed the cause and effect of having them on. I only wear them when extra luck is needed these days because the elastic waistband is worn out and its cotton material has grown as sheer as a silk negligee. The light blue boxers also have a couple holes torn in them from getting a toe ripping through the material when I was putting them on. My wife wants me to throw them away but come on, that would surely be temping the gods to do that.
I do wear a pen on my shirt, but that’s not superstition. I’m a writer and the pen is a talisman to enhance my creativity and prevent writer’s block. What fiction writer would turn that down?
Also, I don’t walk under ladders just as a matter of safety and common sense. Someone could be doing something up there, drop it, and bonk me on the head.
And that would be bad luck.
Wenzda’s Theme Music
Weather is dipping our beaks into the winter pot. Rain has shown itself, following a path fashioned by a lumpy charcoal and gray sky carpet. Sunshine has shown no plans to be much involved today, telling us in its slow way, you’re on your own for warmth.
This is March 12, 2025, in Ashlandia. 45 F and light rain, it’s down from an earlier temp of 48 F. 51 F is supposedly the day’s high.
With all the negative news stories raining through our days, another blogger brought out one of the world’s classic protest songs. “Ohio” was written by Neil Young and recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young in response to American National Guard shooting protesting students at Kent State University in May of 1970. What a dark time. Before then, most adult Americans distrusted and blamed the protestors. This event marked the beginning of a change. Shame that such a watershed moment had to be bloody but that’s often the outcome when change is sought, and that’s not just in the United States.
With “Ohio” in my ears, The Neurons began thinking of other famous protest songs. They were soon queuing in my head. One eventually took over the morning mental music stream. “Get Up, Stand Up” was written by Peter Tosh. Bob Marley and the Wailers came out with it in 1973. The lines hooking The Neurons this morning were part of a stanza saying, “You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time. So now we see the light, what you gonna do? We going to stand up for our rights.”
That’s the protest needed now. As the Trusk Regime rages like a fire through people’s rights and needs, burning the protections set up by checks and balances, people need to stand up.
Coffee has stood up for me again. Hope you have a solid day in all needed regards. Time to press on once again. Cheers
Twosda’s Wandering Political Thoughts
I read an interesing piece about The Trumpcession by Jay Kuo at The Status Kuo.
It’s not even been two months since 47 took office, and already there is talk of the dreaded R word.
In a matter of weeks, the U.S. has gone from having the most robust economy in the G7—with low unemployment, tamed inflation, falling interest rates and steady growth in wages and GDP—to being on the brink of a big economic downturn.
Jay Kuo puts up several reasons what might cause a Trumpcession.
Trump’s own big mouth
Not just his words but his deeds
Terrorizing workers
Undoing Biden’s signature accomplishments
Yes, those four points are absolutely so Trumpian. PINO Trump often lies and makes rash claims. Things are never his fault when they go awry but he’s fast to jump in to get credit. He hates former President Joe Biden because President Biden thoroughly trashed Trump at the polls and was credited with a strong economy and saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump, on the other hand, was soundly and continuously thumped for doing a poor job of those things by all but those who had their lips firmly glued to his sagging, oversized ass.
But those things aren’t what really struck me. Instead, it was how he’s responded again and again when talking about the economy. He keeps saying ‘we’. He never specifies who ‘we’ is. Never says Americans. Never says the United States.
It’s just a royal ‘we’.
Examples:
“There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big,” Trump said Sunday on the Fox News show “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big,” Trump said Sunday on the Fox News show “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“All I know is this: We’re gonna take in hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs and we’re gonna become so rich you’re not gonna know where to spend all that money, I’m telling you, you just watch! We’re gonna have jobs, we’re gonna have factories, it’s gonna be great.”
He used the same sort of marketing language when he touted Trump Steaks, Trump Air, Trump University, and other enterprises he pursued. But what is key is that use of ‘we’. Methinks he’s not referring to the nation but to himself and his billionaire friends, including Putin of Russia.
That’s who PINO Trump refers to; not you and me, or his MAGA supporters, or the United States in general.
Just him and his friends and backers. That’s the ‘we’ who are gonna take in hundreds of billions of tariffs and become so rich.
That’s why he’s so indifferent to inflation. Sure, he used it as a club to bludgeon voters into deciding President Biden wasn’t doing enough over inflation. But PINO Trump’s end game was to gain votes. Now that he won, h doensn’t need votes, and those people no longer matter.
Nor do their worries over inflation and the economy.
Don’t Call Me Late For Dinner
Well, I suppose I would compare myself to common, lowly housefloofs. Basically, a floof is an animal, bird, fish, or reptile. A housefloof is then one of those critters living with humans, even if their accomodations aren’t an actual ‘house’.
I say that I’m a housefloof based on my observations of housefloofs residing with me. Those were cats and dogs. My typical housefloofs were creatures of comfort who enjoyed lazing in sunshine, periodically apparently thinking themselves into a doze. This is something which I also do, although I’ll often have a book in my hand and will read myself into a doze. I have seen animals with books, newspapers, and magazines; they enjoy sleeping on them. I’ve yet to witness any housefloof holding a book. I suppose they could be waiting until I’m not around to pick up a book. They do the same with my computer, logging on when I’m not using it, trying to order themselves things from the net. How else can some of the things delivered to our door be explained?
The other thing about housefloofs which I’ve noticed which cements my comparison to one of ’em is their interest in food. They can be sound asleep — or so convincingly pretending to be that I can’t tell they’re awake — when a can, bag, or refrigerator is opened. Then, pop! Their eyes open. They sit up and look up, orienting their senses with precision: “I hear food; there it is.” Some are so adept at this, they react to the sound, leap up, and dash to the food before awakening. I swear, one cat became so good at this whole thing that she picked up our intentions to get something to eat and was there to greet us when we entered the kitchen.
I can honestly say that I’m quite like those housefloofs. I hear the ‘frig open or a bag. Click; hello, what’s that noise? I seek out my other to see, “What are you eating? What do you have?” And like my housefloofs, I’ll sometimes try to surreptitiously seize a share and scurry away.
Sometimes, though, like the housefloofs, I’m disappointed by the result, and sulk away to resume my previous activity.
Twosda’s Theme Music
Sunshine richly soaks Ashlandia’s end of the valley where I5 climbs into the mountain pass between Oregon and California. But this Twosda finds it a chill morning. 42 F, the sun is pulling us out of the mid-thirties trough where we spent the night. Like yesterday, our high will eye the 60s; I saw us at 64 yesterday at my place.
This is Twosda, March 11, 2025. Although spring is closing on us, a winter warning has been issued for tomorrow. That’s wholly in keeping with expectations. Before reading of that warning yesterday, I applauded the spring but then reminded myself that winter likes to make one last, dramatic March appearance in our area.
The Neurons are treating me with “Only You Know and I Know” in the morning mental music stream. Dave Mason penned the song, but Delaney & Bonnie had more of a hit with it in the U.S. I had the Dave Mason original in mind this morning. Comes solely out of thinking about PINO Trusk and his sneering as he ‘makes dramatic announcements’. That’s how the mainstream media often portrays him. ‘Trump Makes Dramatic Announcement About New Tariffs on Canada’. I’ve seen the first iteration and the rest of this song and dance is tiresome. But you and I know how much of his grandstanding is done to keep his base’s attention; he loves it when they thrill over his words, swoon over his actions, orgasm and gasp over his power and prophecies. Never mind that many of his words are lies, his actions are bullshit, and his power is right out of the dictator handbook.
But you and I know. Those of us with some smattering of understanding about history and politics know. Smattering to me is that you learned about these things in junior high or high school, but also that you understood and remember it. PINO Trusk’s base often does not.
Anyway, I enjoy this video of Dave Mason and his group performing a rockin’ rendition of the song. Hope you do as well.
Coffee is purring away in my innards, restoring some of my faith in my existence. Hope you have a royally awesome day. Here we go. Cheers
Munda’s Wandering Political Thoughts
PINO Trusk’s Regime suggested that with egg prices increasing, people should just get their own chickens.
Trump Admin Says Americans Should Farm Chickens to Combat Egg Prices
Let’s address this as if we’re seriously thinking about it.
One, getting a chicken. My understanding of the current dynamics is that the price of eggs is high and going higher because of avian flu. Birds have died from this, and birds have been killed to prevent the disease from spreading.
The Trusk Regime may not be aware of this, but chickens are birds. As such, they’ve been killed by millions. That means there are fewer of them. If I understand elementary supply and demand, having fewer birds available makes the price increase, especially if demand increases. This is the essence of inflation. Buying an egg-laying chicken might not be as cheap and easy as the Trusk Regime lays out.
Two, raising a chicken. As any backyard gardner will tell you, raising your own food isn’t cheap. With chickens, you’d need to provide feed, have a place for them, protect them, and keep them warm and safe. These supplies and materials all add up…quickly.
Three, back to the beginning and why the price of eggs has been rising and is expected to go higher: avian flu. It’s killing birds. And birds are being killed to prevent the spread. So, if you have a chicken, it may succumb to avian flu.
Thus, buying your own chicken to raise your own eggs might not be the genius idea some people perceive it to be.
At least, in my opinion.
Sunda’s Wandering Political Thoughts
Mellow and quiet are the best descriptions for Ashlandia today. Turning attention to politics for a bit, I found a few sites with ideas that merit being shared with others.
Lithub presents, What Is Donald Trump Doing? Three Theories for the Madness.
- Theory 1: Trump is a Russian Asset. This theory isn’t new, but let’s be real: If someone had laid out Trump’s actions over the past several years and presented them without names attached, the conclusion that he’s working to advance Russian interests wouldn’t sound like a wild conspiracy.
- Theory 2: Trump is Trying to Foment Global Chaos. For a man who ran a campaign on the promise of putting “America First,” Trump sure seems intent on making the world and America a far more unstable place.
- Theory 3: He’s Just Worse at Presidenting Than Last Time. As shocking as this might sound, it’s possible that Trump’s presidential skillset second term is shaping up to be even less stellar than his first.
‘Less stellar’ made me chuckle. I think the author, Aron Solomon, is being generous.
Over on The Democracy Labs, they’ve provided us with a very useful map. The Trusk Regime is wielding DOGE to curtail leases on thousands of government buildings. This can well mean that people will need to go further and wait longer to reach the Federal office which can assist them. You know, places such as the VA office, FEMA, Social Security, IRS, Medicare, Medicaid, NOAA…
Driving longer distances isn’t good for people or the environment: it came mean longer trips in motor vehicles. If you’re in a gas or diesel powered vehicle, you’ll spew more emissions into the air. And you’ll pay for more vehicle fuel. If you’re worried about inflation, buying more gass can translate into more demand and higher prices.
Driving further and waiting longer will also mean that if you’re a person being paid by the hour or working the gig enonomy, it may well cost you more in your wages. Then there’s the age and handicap issue: traveling longer distance and waiting longer can often be emotionally wearing and physically tiring.
This essentially demonstrates how little the Trusk Regime cares about people.
What this map does is show us what’s being closed where, and importantly, what member of Congress to contact about it. You know what to do with your phones and keyboards, right? That’s right: raise your voice.
Finally, Jill Dennison shares a story of the sublime. Don’t Say That Word!!! covers the growing list that the Trusk Regime forbids to be used in official documents.
What follows is a list of words that are either forbidden or ‘discouraged’ in federal government communications, both formal and informal, under the current regime. Take a look for yourself … even words like ‘women’, ‘racism’, and ‘pollution‘ are taboo! And of course ‘Gulf of Mexico’ cannot ever be used in federal communications! An article in the New York Times provides more information, but do take a glance through this list … it will raise your hackles!
And that’s always something that I need: something else that the Trusk Regime is doing that raises my hackles.
Michael Seidel, writer 