'California Dreaming' Has Turned Into a Nightmare

Pandemic Diary

Day 191

Dear Diary,

During my teenage years in the 1960s, Californians celebrated the great outdoors and beaches fostering a popular culture about the state that made it sound like a surfing paradise. 

"Apache" is still played regularly by nearly every surf band in the country. What's interesting about that is the song had nothing to do with surfing. It was that trebly, clear, bright Fender twang, suitably soaked in heavy reverb; that staccato picking of strings and driving bass and drums that made it pure surf.

Jan and Dean's "Surf City" in 1963 was the first surf song to hit #1 on the U.S. charts. 

The 1964 hit "California Sun" was pure surf - from the driving beat and its verby guitar, right through to its thoroughly sun-soaked lyrics. The Beach Boys rocked the nation with "California Dreaming."

Getting closer to the point...

Growing up in southern California was a kids dream. Easterners looked upon California with envy because of it's great weather and beaches. West was best. 

It offered the whole package, including exploring groves of the largest trees on the planet - California Redwoods. I even lived among those majestic giants in the 1970s in Humboldt Country. Tourists came from around the world to drive along the Avenue of Giants.

My point...

California Dreaming is a bygone story, poignant with happy memories and facing a sad fate. 

Those dreams have fled in this apocalyptic summer of record-breaking temperatures, raging fires that have forced thousands to flee their homes up and down the state, unprecedented lighting strikes, rolling blackouts that have left millions in the dark, and ghostly orange and Martian-red skies.

Californians have always been blasé about earthquakes despite the loss of lives and infrastructure they sometimes cause. It was an accepted flaw in the dream. But the massive wildfires and drought from climate warming have been catastrophic for the Golden State for six straight years. 

It's only going to get worse according to the National Climate Assessment, a major "state-of-science" review of climate change and it's projected impacts on California and the rest of the West Coast. 

This year may be the tipping point for Californian's. They're leaving in greater numbers than ever before. My wife and I left the state seven years ago, and moved to southern Oregon. 

Now we're experiencing too many wildfires in Oregon in the last couple of years. We even had to evacuate our home when a wildfire got too close. Fortunately, our house was still standing when we returned. We're not sure where we'll go if it continues here.

The sad truth is "California Dreaming" has turned into a nightmare. Oregon, and Washington, don't appear to be far behind California's fate.

Quote for the Day: "Which is the true nightmare, the horrific dream that you have in your sleep or the dissatisfied reality that awaits you when you awake?" -Justin Alcala

Trump and Supporters: Images Tell the Story

 Pandemic Diary

Day 190

Dear Diary,

Sometimes it's best to let photos tell a story. As the saying goes, a photo paints a thousand words. The following collection of photos tell the story of Trumpism in 2020.

 Celebrating white supremacists and racists are a common theme at Trump rallies.

Trumpsters think nothing of defacing the American Flag

Perhaps one of the most puzzling thing about Trump supporters is the fact that his policies pander to the wealthy but most are middle class and poor.

Trump has proved to be the biggest con man in American history, casting a spell over a large portion of Americans.

While the majority of women in America loath Trump there is a small contingent that do follow him... despite his well-documented poor treatment of them.

This segment of Trump minions surprises me the most. It's hard to believe any woman would follow the orange sex fiend who brags about grabbing pussies. 

After extensive research I simply couldn't find any intelligent people who supported Trump.

Trump's super powers only seem to affect the ignorant and racist elements who have elevated him to a divine status in a mockery of religion.

Trump supporters like to mock attributes like empathy because Trump rejects it in his hateful dialogue.

There is no sympathy for most Americans plight, just a plot line that promotes Trump as the supreme leader. 

Honesty is a casualty of Trump's regime.

This is a president with few human attributes and an ego the size of the Titanic. 

There's only one thing Trump cares about - himself. His followers suspend reality to ride the Trump train of stupidity.

Quote for the Day: "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." -Albert Einstein

Trump/McConnell/Graham Power Play is a Naked Display of Hypocrisy and Corruption

Pandemic Diary

Day 189

Dear Diary,

Ruth Bader Ginsberg's body was barely cold before Trump was celebrating and tweeting orders to move "without delay" to replace her. 

No doubt it was the last-minute surprise that he's been hoping for. Something had to happen to gin up his failing campaign and RBG's death was a lifeline.

Picking another conservative Supreme Court judge is a big deal. Especially for conservatives who want to overturn Roe vs Wade. Trump sees this sudden opening as a way to win the day. With the help of shameless hypocrite Mitch McConnell, the mission is to confirm a nominee before Election Day - or if necessary, after the election regardless of the results.

McConnell, whose stance in 2016 on advancing supreme court picks during an election year was wait for the new administration to make that selection, did a complete about face two days ago. Now, suddenly it's okay to shove a pick through weeks before election day. Talk about gall.

Second only to McConnell for the master hypocrite award, Lindsey Graham's neck is swiveling 360 degrees like Linda Blaire's in the exorcist. He too is on record (and video) saying that it's wrong to pick a supreme court judge during an election year.

But surprise. As chairman for the Senate Judiciary committee lying Lindsey thinks it's a great idea, because his master Trump want's it done.

In the coming days there's going to be delays, legions of lawyers trying to prove their cases for one side or the other, and an all out brawl between Democrats and Republicans. 

Granted, it already seems like an all out brawl, but apparently we haven't seen anything yet. Just the thought of this new challenge is like listening to someone scratch a blackboard with their nails.

I've witnessed administrations coming and going since Truman, and I honestly can say I've never seen a more dangerous political power play than the one Trump and his minions are attempting right now. They're lust for power destroys the boundaries of ethics, morals, and equal justice. But the three stooges traitors don't care.

I'm heartened by what happening the morning after RBG died. News videos showed Virginians showing up hours before polling places opened.

The state started early voting last Friday. People formed a long line that went on for blocks. They stood there for hours, determined that their vote would count. 

So what encouraged me?

When I looked at the people in that long line, they were all wearing facemasks and social distancing. That suggested to me they were democrats because they believe in science. 

As if to confirm my suspicion news videos showed a group (maybe 25) Trump supporters - without masks and shoulder-to-shoulder - standing in front of the polling place waving Trump flags, shouting, blowing horns, and acting like asses dressed up for Halloween.

Some people in the line were intimidated by the groups actions and had to be escorted out of the polling place by officials. But they persevered in order to see Trump and his minions run out of Washington DC on November 3rd. 

The pathetic little group of Trump supporters looked lonely as they played out Trump's reality show amid thousands of democratic voters. It was another one of those surreal moments 2020 has become known for.

Quote for the Day: "One thing you can't hide - is when you're crippled inside." -John Lennon

The Game is Afoot! Four States Have Begun Early Voting

Pandemic Diary 

Day 188

Dear Diary,

I confess to feeling nervous as we close in on the presidential election, but because voting is now underway in four states - Minnesota, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming - I'm feeling hopeful.

Why?

It appears my hope for an historic democratic voter turnout may not be a fool's dream. Long lines of people wearing masks and social distancing formed in all four states to cast their ballots. Political pundits are predicting that same scenario will happen throughout the nation as polls open early in the weeks ahead.

The thought that Trump voters would turn out in larger numbers at polling places has a basic flaw; fervent liberals will be turning out in massive numbers at the polls too. 

In addition, they're more likely to vote by mail if they have underlining conditions than Republicans who could skip mail-in voting because Trump told them the process was a fraud.

In an effort to sabotage mail-in voting Trump appointed a political donor to run down the USPS. That scoundrel, Louis DeJoy, is now being investigated for several reasons. A federal judge ruled yesterday that "The Trump Administration was involved in a politically-motivated attack on the efficiency of the postal service."

In the ruling DeJoy was ordered to restore the machinery that was dismantled to slow the system down. His toxic policies of no overtime, trucks leaving at certain times (whether full or not), and not fulfilling their mandate to get mail out in a timely manner because of artificial obstructions, were ordered to stop. Congress still needs to hold him to task for corruption in two different cases related to the USPS.

One of those four states that began voting yesterday had two visitors; Joe Biden and Trump. The game is truly afoot!

Quote for the Day: "Every election is determined by the people who show up." -Larry J. Sabato

Lord of the Lies: Trump Unchained From Reality

Pandemic Diary

Day 187

Dear Diary,

In Trump's world a lie is very useful.

When someone fact checks his lies, they're repeating them. 

That's a win, in his twisted worldview. 

Lying about COVID-19's deadly impact and denying the science of face masks has caused hundreds of thousands of lives.

LORD of the LIES

Fact checking sites agree that Trump has told at least 20,000 lies since slithering into office on January 20th, 2017.

***

We learned from Bob Woodward's tapes that we need to pay less attention to Trump's shameless lies and far more attention to the things he's lying about.

***

A sign of how far we've sunk as a civil society is the reverence once attached to "Honest Abe" has dissolved. Peoples acceptance of the biggest liar ever to hold the office of the presidency is disintegrating the values and morals this nation was built on. 

***

 Trump's fusillades against his enemies, domestic and abroad, are rants against reality. By now, everyone in the world knows that. Trump's reputation as a world class liar has caused our allies to back away from our turbulent government.

***

Supposedly master of the Art of the Deal (a book of fiction written by a ghost writer who needed the money), Trump has proven to be the Master of the Steal. It's going to take years to total how many millions he's stolen off taxpayers.

***

The United States faces a daunting challenge having an insane president desperately trying to hold onto his power by whatever means possible. 

Trump's even sacrificing his own followers by holding increasingly large supper spreader rallies where attendees go without wearing masks and ignoring social distancing.

Trump wants his base to vote for him. He could care less about their safety. Loyal supporters that catch the coronavirus and die aren't going to make Trump cry. They're just easily manipulated pawns.

Promises Not Kept

**Manufacturing jobs have not returned from China.

**Trump's tax cuts went overwhelmingly to the wealthy.

**Student debt continues to cripple the prospects of the next generation.

**Trump was unable to overturn Obamacare and put in a new health system so he attempted to get rid of a pre-existing conditions clause in the Affordable Care Act.

**The Great Wall of Trump turned out to be about five miles of New Wall. A couple of hundred miles were repaired and Mexico didn't pay for it.

**He didn't Make America Great. He did turn the country into a battlefield of red-and-blue states. He flaunted his contempt for the rule of law, and installed corrupt cronies loyal only to him - and not the country.

Quote for the Day: "It is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane." -Philip K. Dick

You Pick: Science, or Trump? Fact, or Fiction? Truth, or Lies?

Pandemic Diary
Day 186

Dear Diary,

The cards are down.

Trump has been shuffling facts and trying to cheat. But science wins with a Royal Flush (reality), and Trump is a Joker stuck with a losing hand.

In a classic Trumpian display of defiance against science Trump lost his shit yesterday.

The CDC chief had testified in a senate subcommittee hearing that the American public may be able to get a vaccine by mid-2021. It was a positive opinion. 

Trump however is claiming a vaccine is going to be available for all Americans, as early as October, or (conveniently) November 3rd. 

It's a lie. A bigly lie. And Trump knows it. 

Every healthcare expert in the world, the CDC, and HHS agree face masks are a vital tool in fighting the coronavirus, but Trump said they don't know what their talking about in a press conference (that was a poorly concealed campaign rant) yesterday.

Interesting enough, Trump went on his tirade right after the  hearing where CDC chief Robert Redfield also testified that wearing face masks was as important as a vaccine. Trump blatantly lied and claimed Redfield "didn't know what he was saying," and that the head of the CDC was "confused."

Then he turned on Redfield, trying to get him to walk back his comments, and when Redfield re-appeared he tried to thread the needle between fact-and-fiction. It didn't work.

It was another moment of truth versus Trump. Once again he doubled down on his lies - his own words in the Woodward Rage tapes - and discounted the most prestigious healthcare professionals in the nation.

Only an insane person would do that. Who else would defy reality so openly? Who else would put American lives at stake just to hold on to power?

The choice for our next president has never been clearer. Never been more important or vital to our republic. Democracy is on the ballot this year. 

Vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris if you want to live in a world where reality is respected, and where there's only one truth... and no amount of lies can change that.

Quote for the Day: "Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other and greater ones invariably slink in after it." -Baltasar Gracian

Now Birds Are Dropping Dead from the Sky: Apocalyptical Enough?

Pandemic Diary
Day 185

Dear Diary,

Forget locusts.

Birds are dropping dead in alarming numbers in New Mexico completing the apocalyptical picture of what America looks like today.

Wildlife experts are reporting potentially hundreds of thousands of birds have already died. Some speculate that a recent cold front that hit the state last week may be the cause. 

Others are suggesting the deaths could be related to the West Coast wildfires causing damage to the bird's lungs.

In Other News

There's dueling natural disasters facing the nation. Out-of-control wildfires along the entire West Coast and a super soaker event unfolding along the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Sally made landfall this morning. Catastrophic flooding is unfolding in Alabama and Florida.

What's making this super soaker event especially dangerous is that Hurricane Sally is a slow-mover that will hover over large swaths of land, potentially flooding cities and rural areas.

On the other side of the country the entire West Coast is on fire. In California alone over 3.2 million acres of land have been scorched. Smoke from the raging fires has reached Europe. 

Here in Oregon, we've experienced over a million burned acres, and in Washington more acres were burned in the state in a single day than were charred in the past 12 seasons.

Thirty-Six deaths have been attributed to the West Coast conflagration with dozens of missing people being sought by their families. Twenty-two missing people in rural Oregon are surrounded by fires, and it's too dangerous for searchers to help them.

In what could have been an inspiring moment of unity Trump went to California to see the destruction the fires have inflicted on the state. While there, he made it clear that he doesn't believe in climate warming and that the scientists don't know what they're talking about.

Quote for the Day: "I have heard the language of apocalypse, and now I shall embrace the silence." -Neil Gaiman

No...Doomsday Is Not Here: In Fact, Deliverance is Near

Pandemic Diary
Day 183

Dear Diary,

I'm tired of hearing Doomsday talk.

The real conversation should be that we're living in the Trump era which has been the most destructive presidency in our history, and we want it to end.

The need for Americans to cleanse the White House and restore sanity and science is at Defcon 1. But America is not doomed! 

On November 3rd, Americans are going to be voting in record numbers. We already know that from recent newly registered voter polls across the country. There's million of new voters since 2018, which was a record turnout for democrats.

At times it seems hopeless. Trump has been impeached, but he's more deadly now than ever before. He openly defies laws, ethics, and the truth without hesitation. The only thing standing in his way are the courts, and real patriots (whistleblowers) still working in government agencies.

I would also argue that Trump's campaign is a cluster fuck. He has no national platform, or even vision for the future to share with prospective voters. All his fumbling campaign (think Tulsa super spreader) has managed to do is dig deeper holes alienating undecided voters.

Trump's non-scientific stance on COVID-19 hasn't changed despite being exposed in Bob Woodward's new book Rage. He admitted knowing the virus was 5 times deadlier than the flu, and that it was an airborne virus.

Yet he's holding super spreader rallies again, against CDC and state regulations for COVID-19 safety. His open defiance is really a sign of desperation. That's why I know that deliverance from this complete asshole is at hand.

The majority of state and national polls have Biden leading. There are a lot of other factors that make me believe Trump will soon be a dark footnote in our history.

Most Americans think Trump has done a shitty job  managing the pandemic; they don't trust his advise because it goes opposite of what healthcare officials have been saying all along.

The time for climate warming denial is over. The flat-earthers and birthers time has come and gone. The out-of-control wildfires on the West Coast have been awful. I doubt that many Californians, Oregonians, or Washington state inhabitants will deny what's happening.

The fact that the economy is in free fall is going to be a big consideration by undecided voters who've been evicted from their homes or have lost their jobs. 

I can't imagine voters are going to think fondly of the orange anus who couldn't lead his way out of a wet paper bag. From the pandemic to his encouragement of racists/white supremacists, Trump has discouraged any efforts to solve the nation's challenges.

He's not a leader. He's a liar and a con man whose past is catching up to him, and he's panicking. That's why he using voter suppression in claiming mail-in votes are fraudulent, and actively slowing down the USPS's ability to quickly process mail.

America has finally had enough of Trump. I expect it'll be official this fall.

Quote for the Day: "The roots of our deliverance lies in the delight to seek right ways." -Lailah Gifty Akita

Have Americans Finally Gone Mad?

Pandemic Diary
Day 182

Dear Diary,

Public sanity is slipping away faster every day. 

Americans are breaking under the multiple challenges besieging the nation. Crazy talk and actions have thrust us into a dark Twilight Zone existence filled with fear and lies.

I was in disbelief yesterday when I saw that two football games were being played as out-of-control wildfires raged across the state of California.

Amid millions evacuating their homes, people dying in heartbreaking fiery deaths, and the worst air quality in the world ... and professional football had to play through the unfolding Armageddon... what the hell? What did the fans think watching it in the stands and on TV?

Was it that important for the league's owners and players to pretend the worst holocaust of wildfires in California's history weren't happening despite the bright orange skies overhead? 

I understand people are tired of living in this age of COVID-19 and having it disrupt their lives so dramatically. The economic blow to millions of Americans because of the virus is enormous. 

With the realities of climate change upon us there should be no ignoring the historic fires, floods, tornados, and other natural disaster events that are regularly happening from coast-to-coast.

But it's happening. Trump and the science deniers he's infected the government with, have confused millions by promoting conspiracies into the mainstream. Fake news for fools. It seems to be working. 

To show their loyalty, Trump's followers ignore CDC coronavirus safety regulations, and state regulations against crowds as they gather at his increasingly larger super spreader rallies. 

All of the fear, loathing, and stupidity described above is happening with a presidential election as a backdrop in seven weeks.

To be clear, Democracy is at stake. If Trump wins we will have a batshit crazy supreme leader. American as a republic cannot stand another four years of the orange anus in the Oval Office.

To add to the toxic chaos in the country, Trump and his minions are attacking the USPS (slowing it down) and claiming mail-in voting is fraudulent in a sinister effort to suppress votes. 

Any one of the above situations would be sufficient to drive someone crazy. Our country is so politically paralyzed that we can't even unit against common enemies like this pandemic, or the terrible effects climate change is having on us all.

As I look out at the bruised orange sky through my window there are no birds flying. The landscape is covered in ash and the air is barely breathable.

Will America survive? Stay tuned.

Quote for the Day: "I had noticed that both in the very poor and very rich extremes of society the mad were often allowed to mingle freely." -Charles Bukowski

'We Have the Worst Air Quality in the World:' Most of Oregon is on Fire

Pandemic Diary
Day 181

Dear Diary,

Most of the state of Oregon is on fire. 

It's an unnerving experience and a wake-up call: Climate Change is no longer a future concern - it's our very real present.

We're at a Level 1 warning stage in Medford and the air quality is really hazardous. We're being told to stay indoors if possible. 

The same goes for most of the state (and up and down the West Coast) because we all have the dubious honor of the worst air quality in the world!

Just the thought makes my lungs ache and eyes water. 

Schools that struggled to open up for the Fall semester in the Rogue Valley during this age of COVID-19, are closed. 

Rumors of widespread looting amid the raging wildfires are carried with the same hot air as the QAnon lies about Antifi starting the fires throughout the state.

The firestorm that engulfed southern Oregon and Jackson County has been brutal. 

Fifty people remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of the Almeda and South Obenchain wildfires. I pity those who have to discover them, and the victim's families.

As of yesterday afternoon officials reported that the 3,200-acre Almeda Fire is 50 percent contained, and the 25,000-acre South Obenchain blaze is 20 percent contained.

People are confused. Scared. And mad. Emergency shelters are opening - then having to suddenly close - as the wildfires are shifting dangerously with the erratic winds.

The Riverside Fire is raging uncontained in Clackamas County and is moving northward along the Clackamas River corridor toward Estacada. Most of Clackamas Country residents are under Level 3 evacuation orders.

The Oregon State Fire Marshal is warning that two major fires straddling Clackamas and Marion counties are expected to merge. They may have already merged as of this writing. Basically, the whole damn state is still on fire.

Quote for the Day: "Every time I am out of the woods, I am back in the fire." -Robert Black