Crazy COVID Tales

The tan colored counties are the ones with the highest populations, density, and vaccination rates. On this map the tan also represents a moderate per capita rate of COVID. The red, more rural, counties show off-the-charts rates of COVID. 

Once Again I'm Late To The Party: Yidcore

 

“Yidcore are an Australian Jewish punk rock band from Melbourne, formed in 1998. Known primarily for playing punk covers of Jewish and Israeli songs, the band started writing more of its own material in later albums. The band's logo is a variation of the Ramones logo, with the names of the band members in Hebrew.” Wikipedia

Last night the kid introduced us to Yidcore and laughter, angst, and craziness ensued.

Friday Cat Media

The Cat.

 

Traditional Summer Meal Consumed

 

This Is What I Do When I'm Bored

Today I felt restless, so I set my phone's AI to speak English with a South African accent and asked it to recite a poem. The poem chosen was "The Remote Control" by Siri. 

I am ridiculous. I accept that.

Hanging Out With Sun Tzu

I was paging through a copy of “Art of War” to get into a philosophical mood. Mission accomplished.

Taoist philosophy can mean anything to any situation, so the pursuit of knowledge in this framework is a relaxed, contemplative feeling.

“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate."

Yes!

Numbers From Spotify

I was enjoying cuts from Nirvana's1991 album "Nevermind" like so many of us.

When I looked at the screen it hit me that a billion and some people had played "Smells Like Teen Spirit." A billion. Really.

I'm surprised the world is not a better place after a billion plays.

Hanging Out In the Gorge

Catherine Creek hiking loop.

 

The sandbar at Lyle, WA seen from Rowena Point.

Some aspirations downtown in White Salmon, WA.

Nice mural -- you guess where. 

Racial Justice Work: An Illustration

This isn't the easiest graphic to read but it does a good job at underscoring some of the difficulty white people experience doing racial justice work.

I am trying to be an anti-racist and I'm realizing that it is a slow process -- my biases are entrenched and just acknowledging them is a struggle.

I like the line suggesting one be patient with oneself. 

Community Garden A Lush, Inviting Place

 On a walk a friend took me into an urban community garden.

I always imagined these spaces as utilitarian plots to grow food.

Instead, I found a lush space where many, if not most, people were cultivating all different kinds of flowers. The garden was a peaceful oasis nestled between city streets.

As for the vegetables, kale and tomatoes were popular. Sunflowers were also well represented – I’m not sure if these were a food item or just a stately and beautiful plant.

You're Really Old When...

 

...you start shopping for a reclining chair. 

Oregon County COVID Ranks

 

Multnomah is the most populous county in Oregon but it is not the highest case count for COVID.

Why?

Multnomah County has a high percentage of vaccination.

Vaccination saves lives. 

Celebrate science, celebrate life. Vaccinate. 

“Ted Lasso” Has Been Scratching The Itch

 

We’ve enjoyed every episode except the one about Christmas, which aired this year in August.

Reading the Wall Street Journal, the reason for this saccharine Christmas love fest was because in the episode before a dog was killed. The writers worried this was too heavy for a comedy and a counterweight was needed to remind people this was a feel-good show.

The dog was killed when it leapt after a pigeon and ended up in front a goal post during a free kick. This silly exit, I suppose, was not silly enough to countenance the notion of a dog’s passing.

Jason Sudeikis, who plays the title role, felt for the comedy to be effective, gripping emotional drama is a necessity. I heartily concur – the audience must become roped into the drama for the comedy to hit hard.  

Last Plane Out of Kabul

I woke up today with the news that the Taliban were hours away from a complete takeover of all cities in Afghanistan. 

All that blood and treasure wasted.

It was time to pull the plug on the stupidity and corruption of two decades of folly.  

Nothing was learned from Vietnam. All the flowerily rhetoric about human rights and education for women ring true. But the ham-fisted implementation of an incompetent and venal government spelled disaster.

I’m reminded that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. 

Cat Gives Up On Feline Grace Due To Hot Weather

 Unapologetic cat sprawls in the heat, claiming he will compose himself later in the year.

Volunteer of the Week!

 

The Kid Gets His License

 Yesterday the kid took his final driving test and, of course, passed. Part of the requirement was that he practice driving for 50 hours. The above is the beginning of the driving log. 

There is still the bureaucratic necessity for the kid to go to the DMV and present his documents, which is a challenge in these pandemic times, but all actual stuff relating to driving has been done.

Let teenage mobile stoke commence!

 

Those Pesky Olympics!

I've always enjoyed watching the Olympics. This year my head was in a different place and I couldn't even muster the interest to watch summary shows.

Today I rekindled that interest a bit by going to the official Olympics site and learning of all the recognized sports. I had heard about the additions of surfing and skateboarding but a few sports evaded my lax radar. Such as: breaking (presumably dance), marathon swimming, beach handball, ski mountaineering, and roller speed skating.

I'm hoping in four years I will have the motivation to watch some of these events.

 

 

My Infrastructure Wishlist

Important people asking serious questions about infrastructure.

These are the projects that I think about when I think about infrastructure (in no particular order):

• A replacement bridge for the 100-year-old structure spanning the Columbia River at Hood River. The narrow bridge currently has no pedestrian crossing.
• A protected bike path running from Portland to the Oregon coast. I’ve done it riding on the side of the highway but despite the beautiful scenery the ride feels dangerous as an endless stream of traffic passes cyclists with close margins.
• Scheduled public transit running over Mt. Hood. The traffic in winter is ridiculous.
• An office dedicated to creating a public culture that is respectful of cyclists and pedestrians.
• More pedestrian plazas where population densities support them.

This list will be updated as more ideas come to me.

You’re welcome!

Climate Change

We live nestled into a wooded park that extends twenty miles out of the city and into the countryside. This forested land acts as a corridor for wildlife, and it isn’t unusual for deer to wander into the city.

It is unusual for us to look out the window and see a deer.

I was happy to see the doe, but such came on the heels of hearing about the UN scientific report on the direness of climate change.

The doe in the front yard was a reminder that the earth is out of balance and heading in a bad direction.

Evidence of climate change is all around us and on the news every day. Our failure to respond with aggressive public policy makes me want to scream.

Summer Food

 Hot or cold made with fresh local basil.