by Carl Ballard — ,
Man, fuck NIMBYs. Fuck the demonization of homeless people. Fuck kicking people out in the middle of a pandemic. Fuck thinking that an empty hotel is more desirable than one housing people.
Fuck kicking homeless people out of Cal Anderson Park without having a place for them to go. Fuck. It doesn’t have to be this way.
And wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
We’re less than a month away from the new legislature meeting. It’s going to be less liberal than we thought on election night, but still pretty solid Democratic majorities.
So, what should we push for?
I think it’s going to be COVID-19 related. We are going to have to figure out how to make sure that there isn’t an eviction crisis once the moratorium is lifted. That probably means at a minimum making sure that unemployment stays funded no matter what the Federal government does.
It would also be nice if we could figure out ways to not blow up the budget. Generally, the more progressive the taxation, the better. I can understand if legislators don’t want a fight over the income tax to delay getting the money. But I hope funding wouldn’t just be more sales or sin taxes.
And please wash your hands right now.
by Darryl — ,
Bruce W. Nelson: “Turtle in the toilet”, a Mitch McConnell song
The Daily Show: FAUX News—Staten Island protests vs. BLM protests
Robert Reich: Who will hold the power in the Biden administration?
Conan invites political song parodist Tip Rivers to perform.
President-elect Joe Biden, VP-elect Kamala Harris and Other Electiony Things:
The Daily Show: How to pretend 2020 never happened
Jimmy Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship.
Vice News: ICE is deporting multiple witnesses in gynecologic surgery scandal
The Deplorable Dotard Трамп and His Cohort of Criminals:
The Daily Show: 2020 in review—The year in protests
Amer4D: This is our House
The Late Show: Immigrants praise Kelly Loeffler’s corrupt American dream.
Trevor: Facebook sued by the Federal Trade Commission and 46 U.S. states
Roll Call: Congressional hits and misses of the week
The Week in ТрампPlague:
Now This: Greta Thunberg on understanding the climate crisis gravity
Samantha Bee: America’s New Year resolution—Making housing a human right, part 1
Samantha Bee: America’s New Year resolution—Making housing a human right, part 2
Trevor: Rachel Maddow—“Bag Man” & decoding right-wing media
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
We have Democratic members of the redistricting commission. It’s the guy who is maybe most well known because he ran against Pramila Jayapal and a woman I had not heard of but sounds like she has done good work at the Labor Council.
If Washington gets another seat, hopefully they’ll make sure it is a Democratic seat.
If Washington doesn’t get that seat, I hope they can figure out how to make the Southwest Washington seat competitive. Also, for the last decade, the map of Washington Congressional Districts has featured a corgi standing on its front paws; The commission should commit to making at least one district that adorable.
And you should commit to washing your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Jenny Durkan isn’t going to run for reelection. It’s not something I am going to shed a tear about.
One thing that strikes me, generally, is how many mayors are not good at mayoring. In Seattle every mayor since Rice has either lost the election or left at or before the end of their first term.
Nationally, I was struck during the Presidential primary how many of the candidates had been mayors and not a lot of successful ones. Other than Booker, they all seemed like either they were forgettable or bad mayors. Even people who did well in other jobs. Maybe there are different standards we hold mayors to, or maybe it’s the job.
Anyway, wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Seattle has 2 self testing COVID-19 kiosks. If you can get to Northgate or the Central District, you can get a test. If you get one, let us know how it goes.
In any case, please wash your hands right now.
by Darryl — ,
Stephen: President Obama reflects on the drone program and “the illusion that it is not war”
New York Times: Why Is the U.S. Allowing Migrant Children to Die of the Flu?
Sky New: Is 2020 the hottest year on record?
President Elect Joe Biden and VP Elect Kamala Harris and Other Election Stuff:
The Daily Show: Never forget—White people who called the cops on Black people for no reason
Stephen: President Obama’s mother-in-law helped keep the first family down to earth
The Dotard Трамп and His Delusional Simpleton Friends, Family, and Lawyers:
Roll Call: Congressional hits and misses of the week
Stephen: More time with Barack Obama
The New York Times: How Prince wrote a political anthem that’s still relevant today
The Week in ТрампPlague:
The Daily Show: What is the monetary cost of climate change?
Stephen: President Obama answers “questions we’re pretty sure Barack Obama has never been asked before”
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Forgor to post earlier, sorry. There is a lot to sort out if someone jumps from one city race to another. How will Democracy Vouchers work with different requirements per race? Reading the options, the one that makes the most sense is asking for permission.
Wash them hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Good morning to everyone but the Mossyrock City Council. Imagine gathering together in this difficult time to make sure that your community gets more COVID-19. What a bunch of jackasses.
I hope that they get $0 in relief money. Relief money should go to people who weren’t actively making the pandemic worse. I am sorry for the residents and businesses that are not dipshits.
Anyway, you are not a dipshit or a jackass, so please wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
I’m more of a tea person than coffee. But the other day, I needed a bigger jolt of caffeine so I made myself a big, strong pot of coffee. Then I masked up and went out.
Let me tell you folks, I cracked a code. It turns out that the anti mask folks just have stink breath. It was annoying for one day, but imagine living with it every time you leave the house. Not worth killing your neighbors and spreading a disease, but still. Yuck.
It also explains the people who keep taking their mask off, and then putting it back on when people approach. Gotta loose some of that stink.
Still, no matter how stinky your breath, you have to wear a mask. And wash your hands right now.
by Darryl — ,
Seth Meyers: John Oliver blew up 2020.
The Daily Show: Why are Americans going to the dentist in Mexico?
Vice News: The military’s #MeToo moment
President Elect Joe Biden, VP Elect Kamala Harris and Other Election Things
Trevor: How QAnon is taking over the GOP
Stephen: Stephen challenges President Barack Obama to a game of “wastepaper basketball”
The Dotard Трамп and Other Delusional Conspiracy Theorists:
Stephen: When Barack Obama first asked Michelle about running for president, she said no
Bruce W. Nelson: Heroes of the Senate
ТрампPlague:
Jimmy Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship
Trevor: So you think you know what militias are?
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Darryl — ,
Happy Thanksgiving y’all!
Here are some links for frittering away your time this Thanksgiving day….
by Carl Ballard — ,
Good morning! If you are still planning to have a large Thanksgiving, please cancel it. There’s still time. Seriously tell your aunt you’ll see her after you both get vaccines. Do Zoom or phone calls. But please let’s stop this virus.
And while we’re stopping the virus, please wash your hands right now.
by Carl Ballard — ,
For God’s sake, don’t go to a big Thanksgiving. Don’t go outside of your bubble. Don’t infect your family or friends. If you have plans, please call the people who you were going to have Thanksgiving with and cancel. Let’s not get COVID-19 this Thanksgiving or any other upcoming holiday.
Also, wash your hands right now.
by Darryl — ,
Jimmy Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship
Robert Reich: Georgia runoffs—How you can help flip the Senate
Vox: The 126-year fight to change Mississippi’s Confederate flag
President Elect Joe Biden and VP Elect Kamala Harris:
Stephen: Better know a runoff—Georgia!
Jimmy Kimmel does Barack Obama
The Dotard Трамп and Other Sore Losers, Bad Liars, and SAD Fascists:
Wired: Is the YouTube algorithm controlling us? I try to find out
Bruce W. Nelson: Welcome back America!
John Oliver tells 2020 to “get fucked!”
The Week in ТрампPlague:
Roll Call: Congressional hits and misses of the week
Robert Reich: The real story behind skyrocketing student debt
Jonathan Mann: Socialism or barbarism
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
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