Some violent and insidious things are going on in Portland, Oregon right now. There has been a good deal of vandalism--broken windows, spray painted walls, some bottle and rock throwing. There has also been a large body of evidence the authorities, whoever they might be, are also guilty of committing acts which could be described variously as rioting, mugging, and kidnapping.
In fact, for those of us who are a certain age, the nightly scenes coming out of Portland are eerily similar to what we witnessed in Chicago during August, 1968.
Similar, but not exactly the same. At least during what came to be called, "The Days of Rage," in 1968 we knew it was Mayor Richard Daley's cops and the Illinois National Guard whaling away at protestors whether they be peaceful and not. In Portland we aren't so sure.
That's right, in Portland this summer, thanks to President Trump, the crowds are being gassed and carted off by military style clad troops without badges, or any other type of ID other than an occasional generic patch which reads, "POLICE."
Acting Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf has described the force as members of a special detail of the U.S. Border Patrol deputized as U.S. Marshals along with others. Their training in street control has been questioned by some and their methods by many. What we do know is they are adept at laying down billowing clouds of tear gas and the use of truncheons in close quarters. We also know they like to pull just about anyone off the streets, dump them in unmarked cars and vans, then whisk them off to parts unknown.
Donald Trump claims they have done a, "fantastic job." The Mayor of Portland and Governor of Oregon aren't so, let's say, enthralled. On Sunday Mayor Ted Wheeler complained the federal, "agents," have been actually leading to more violence in the city and demanded they be removed. The Governor, Kate Brown agreed with him and called for Wolf to pull his enforcers out. The acting head of the department has refused.
The other night, Navy vet, Chris David approached a line of them to, in his words, "ask them why they were using unmarked cars to snatch people off the streets." Mr. David, who used to be a heavy weight wrestler for the Naval Academy, is a big guy. When one of the officers began whacking him with a large billy club he simply stood there and took it with an almost zen passivity. To see the video of it is like watching some two bit garden gnome whacking the Incredible Hulk with a ruler. It was only after a second blast of mace directly to the face that David turned, then walked calmly away, shooting the attackers the finger with both hands. Later it turned out one of the savage blows broke Chris David's left hand, but you'd never know it by watching that video.
The point here isn't a former Midshipman's toughness, but the fact Wolf's boys don't give a shit if a demonstrator is peaceful, or not. The next night a group of women calling themselves, The Portland Wall of Moms, were attacked with flash bombs and also gassed. Their crime was trying to create a human barrier between protesters and Wolf's, "special forces."
Ah yes, your tax dollars at work.
Donald Trump has recently promised to put more of these federal, "agents," to work in other cities to restore peace in the streets everywhere. In addition he told a Rose Garden crowd if Joe Biden is elected, the democrat, who, according to El Don is controlled by radical leftists and anarchists, would wreck havoc with property values by destroying the suburbs.
Indeed, beware my fellow Christians, first they assaulted Confederate statues, next they'll come charging into your cul de sac. Hell, the only thing Trump has left out, so far anyway, is the unspeakable threat to the purity of our wives and daughters.
Well, you have to run on something don't you. And if you're Donald Trump it certainly can't be the cracker jack job he's done controlling the Corona Virus, or the economy. No, it would seem he has settled on trying to scare the living shit out of white people from coast to coast.
Hey, it worked for Nixon. Why not try it again? After all, fear sells.
7-20-20
Monday, July 20, 2020
Friday, July 17, 2020
Kevin Stitt Learns the Definition of Irony the Hard Way
Kevin Stitt was inaugurated as the Governor of Oklahoma on January 14, 2019 despite not even taking the time to vote much of his adult life. He claimed he was too busy running his business, Gateway Mortgage, and raising his family to wait in line at a polling place.
In 2009 Business Insider ranked Gateway as one of the 15 shadiest lenders in the government backed mortgage industry. According to various media reports the company was fined $10,000 by the state of Illinois. In Georgia Stitt was personally banned for five years from doing any business in the state and his company was exiled for life. After a series of staff firings and another fine Georgia let the company back in. The future Governor claimed he didn't know anything about the wrong doing in both instances.
So let's just say when it comes to business practices he and Don Trump serve in the same band of brothers.
After becoming Governor one of Mr. Stitt's first acts was to sign off on a bill which allows any Oklahoman 21 years and older--18 if you're in the military--to carry a loaded weapon, concealed or openly, without a license, or any sort of training. He named the bill, Constitutional Carry and claimed he didn't want to spoil the fun for huge numbers of paranoid yokels just because a few demented cranks had used firearms for evil purposes. You know, like shooting up classrooms, robbing banks, and such.
All of which brings us to this year and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like Trump, Stitt didn't think much of it. But then he doesn't think much of any disease. In fact, he's is an anti-vaxxer, although not a vocal one, who refuses to let his six kids be vaccinated for anything.
In March, as things were beginning to seriously spin out of control the Governor posted a picture of himself and two of his children in a crowded Oklahoma City restaurant on Twitter. Part of the caption read, "Eating with my kids and all my fellow Oklahomans...It is packed tonight." He also urged everyone in Oklahoma to get out and enjoy themselves.
He quickly deleted the post after local public health officials went ape shit. Three days later the Governor ordered all restaurants, bars, barber shops, gyms, tattoo parlors, and other non essential businesses closed. He would give the okay for them to re-open about 30 days later.
The President praised him for his, swift and responsible re-opening of the state and rewarded him by planning a giant, huge, really huge, rally in Tulsa on June, 20th. (Actually the original date was the 19th, but the campaign ran into a little trouble when it was pointed out that was Black Independence Day.) Trump predicted the 19,000 plus arena would not only be filled, but there would be a huge overflow crowd outside A few days prior Gov. Stitt publicly assured him the crowd would be SRO and everyone would be safe.
The get together took place on a Saturday night. Unfortunately the BOK Center was just barely over a third full and there wasn't any overflow. Afterward Trump stormed out of Tulsa in a huff. The Governor was there however, unmasked like so many, eschewing social distancing, sitting right next to Herman Cain, a prominent member of the GOP.
A little over two weeks later Cain was hospitalized with the Coronavirus. Two days ago, as Oklahoma reels from record numbers of new cases, Kevin Stitt announced he too had tested positive. During the statement he expressed surprise he had become the first U.S. Governor to come down with it.
Irony, thou art a bitch.
Despite all this, Kevin Stitt still refuses to mandate a requirement to wear masks while out and about. He says he won't even consider it until the Oklahoma COVID rate reaches 7,000 people a day. That would be a little more than the entire population of Blackwell becoming infected every 24 hours.
We can only imagine what his thoughts would be if someone comes up with a vaccine somewhere down the road.
Hey, here is hoping the Governor recovers swiftly and completely. And, on behalf of everyone, I'd like to thank him for being, so responsible through out his entire private and public life.
sic vita est
7-17-20
In 2009 Business Insider ranked Gateway as one of the 15 shadiest lenders in the government backed mortgage industry. According to various media reports the company was fined $10,000 by the state of Illinois. In Georgia Stitt was personally banned for five years from doing any business in the state and his company was exiled for life. After a series of staff firings and another fine Georgia let the company back in. The future Governor claimed he didn't know anything about the wrong doing in both instances.
So let's just say when it comes to business practices he and Don Trump serve in the same band of brothers.
After becoming Governor one of Mr. Stitt's first acts was to sign off on a bill which allows any Oklahoman 21 years and older--18 if you're in the military--to carry a loaded weapon, concealed or openly, without a license, or any sort of training. He named the bill, Constitutional Carry and claimed he didn't want to spoil the fun for huge numbers of paranoid yokels just because a few demented cranks had used firearms for evil purposes. You know, like shooting up classrooms, robbing banks, and such.
All of which brings us to this year and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like Trump, Stitt didn't think much of it. But then he doesn't think much of any disease. In fact, he's is an anti-vaxxer, although not a vocal one, who refuses to let his six kids be vaccinated for anything.
In March, as things were beginning to seriously spin out of control the Governor posted a picture of himself and two of his children in a crowded Oklahoma City restaurant on Twitter. Part of the caption read, "Eating with my kids and all my fellow Oklahomans...It is packed tonight." He also urged everyone in Oklahoma to get out and enjoy themselves.
He quickly deleted the post after local public health officials went ape shit. Three days later the Governor ordered all restaurants, bars, barber shops, gyms, tattoo parlors, and other non essential businesses closed. He would give the okay for them to re-open about 30 days later.
The President praised him for his, swift and responsible re-opening of the state and rewarded him by planning a giant, huge, really huge, rally in Tulsa on June, 20th. (Actually the original date was the 19th, but the campaign ran into a little trouble when it was pointed out that was Black Independence Day.) Trump predicted the 19,000 plus arena would not only be filled, but there would be a huge overflow crowd outside A few days prior Gov. Stitt publicly assured him the crowd would be SRO and everyone would be safe.
The get together took place on a Saturday night. Unfortunately the BOK Center was just barely over a third full and there wasn't any overflow. Afterward Trump stormed out of Tulsa in a huff. The Governor was there however, unmasked like so many, eschewing social distancing, sitting right next to Herman Cain, a prominent member of the GOP.
A little over two weeks later Cain was hospitalized with the Coronavirus. Two days ago, as Oklahoma reels from record numbers of new cases, Kevin Stitt announced he too had tested positive. During the statement he expressed surprise he had become the first U.S. Governor to come down with it.
Irony, thou art a bitch.
Despite all this, Kevin Stitt still refuses to mandate a requirement to wear masks while out and about. He says he won't even consider it until the Oklahoma COVID rate reaches 7,000 people a day. That would be a little more than the entire population of Blackwell becoming infected every 24 hours.
We can only imagine what his thoughts would be if someone comes up with a vaccine somewhere down the road.
Hey, here is hoping the Governor recovers swiftly and completely. And, on behalf of everyone, I'd like to thank him for being, so responsible through out his entire private and public life.
sic vita est
7-17-20
Sunday, July 12, 2020
The Ghosts in Tiger King Land
The Netflix series "Tiger King," was weird enough when we saw it earlier this year, but lately, even though Joe Exotic is long gone, we've learned the strange goings on down in Wynnewood, OK continue.
Just this past week it has been reported Travel Channel's, "Ghost Adventures," crew was on the prowl at the decaying GW Exotic Animal Park. Presumably they were looking for more than the spirits of the tigers Joe Exotic, the fiercely out there former park owner, allegedly killed. Exotic--real name Joe Maldonado-Passage--is currently doing 20 plus years in jail on numerous charges, including a botched murder for hire plot involving humans rather than large cats.
According to Exotic the ashes of at least three, possibly four, people have been spread across several different parts of the 16 acre, "zoo." After Joe went away, a man named Jeff Lowe briefly took possession of the land and animals enclosed there. He has said, "several people," had been killed on park grounds, although as far as officials know only one person died a violent death on the property. He was Travis Maldonado, one of Mr. Exotic's many husbands. The official report states he accidently shot himself in the head.
Despite this seemingly low body count, according to Lowe, when you're in the park at night, "It is the creepiest place in the world." It is unknown if he is the one who contacted the producers of, "Ghost Adventures," or if it was the new owner, Carole Baskin, a woman who might have at least one ghost lurking in her own past.
What we do know is, "Ghost Adventures," executive producer and on air star, Zac Bagans showed up at what is left of the park along with his cast and crew to stir up some haints. Along with their usual assortment of odd electronic wizardry they brought a couple of cadaver dogs to narrow the search.
The media reported the dogs got a hit near what was once an alligator pit. Bagans, or probably someone from Travel Channel's legal department, notified the Garvin County Sheriff's office, who in turn called the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Although there aren't any tales of human tragedy nearby the pit was once the scene of a reptilian massacre. Years ago, when a large fire destroyed part of the park all but one of the beasts kept there boiled to death. Although imaginations might have run amok with gruesome scenarios of human sacrifices, a search of the area conducted by Sheriff Jim Mullett's crew and OSBI agents produced only a few small animal bones. Mullett quickly told the press he was convinced there weren't any human remains in the area. In other words the dogs hired by Bagans' outfit were utterly incompetent and, by the way, leave me alone I have better things to do.
Whether a Tiger King segment is aired on, "Ghost Adventures," when it begins a new season is up to speculation. However, we do know Bagans and his cast are always entranced with, "creepy places," even though they might be short on paranormal activities. In fact in many episodes their only proof of hauntings are a few luminous orbs floating about which most people who aren't hunting spirits for a living would write off as bugs reflecting camera lights.
Besides, they might be looking in the wrong place. Rumors abound that Baskin, who for years has run her own big cat sanctuary in Florida, did in her first husband, the fabulously well to do Jack Don Lewis. He disappeared without a trace in 1997 and no less of an authority than Joe Exotic himself claims she fed his remains to one, or more of her tigers.
Well, in these sort of sordid affairs you never know what a professional like Zac Bagans might turn up. By the time it is over he might find the entire GW Exotic Animal Park is sitting on top of a native American burial ground. After all that's what researchers like him do and it would help explain the bizarre shit which went on there for decades.
Hey, why not? The whole year has turned into a huge Twilight Zone episode anyway. We might as well roll with it while we can.
sic vita est
7-12-20
Just this past week it has been reported Travel Channel's, "Ghost Adventures," crew was on the prowl at the decaying GW Exotic Animal Park. Presumably they were looking for more than the spirits of the tigers Joe Exotic, the fiercely out there former park owner, allegedly killed. Exotic--real name Joe Maldonado-Passage--is currently doing 20 plus years in jail on numerous charges, including a botched murder for hire plot involving humans rather than large cats.
According to Exotic the ashes of at least three, possibly four, people have been spread across several different parts of the 16 acre, "zoo." After Joe went away, a man named Jeff Lowe briefly took possession of the land and animals enclosed there. He has said, "several people," had been killed on park grounds, although as far as officials know only one person died a violent death on the property. He was Travis Maldonado, one of Mr. Exotic's many husbands. The official report states he accidently shot himself in the head.
Despite this seemingly low body count, according to Lowe, when you're in the park at night, "It is the creepiest place in the world." It is unknown if he is the one who contacted the producers of, "Ghost Adventures," or if it was the new owner, Carole Baskin, a woman who might have at least one ghost lurking in her own past.
What we do know is, "Ghost Adventures," executive producer and on air star, Zac Bagans showed up at what is left of the park along with his cast and crew to stir up some haints. Along with their usual assortment of odd electronic wizardry they brought a couple of cadaver dogs to narrow the search.
The media reported the dogs got a hit near what was once an alligator pit. Bagans, or probably someone from Travel Channel's legal department, notified the Garvin County Sheriff's office, who in turn called the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Although there aren't any tales of human tragedy nearby the pit was once the scene of a reptilian massacre. Years ago, when a large fire destroyed part of the park all but one of the beasts kept there boiled to death. Although imaginations might have run amok with gruesome scenarios of human sacrifices, a search of the area conducted by Sheriff Jim Mullett's crew and OSBI agents produced only a few small animal bones. Mullett quickly told the press he was convinced there weren't any human remains in the area. In other words the dogs hired by Bagans' outfit were utterly incompetent and, by the way, leave me alone I have better things to do.
Whether a Tiger King segment is aired on, "Ghost Adventures," when it begins a new season is up to speculation. However, we do know Bagans and his cast are always entranced with, "creepy places," even though they might be short on paranormal activities. In fact in many episodes their only proof of hauntings are a few luminous orbs floating about which most people who aren't hunting spirits for a living would write off as bugs reflecting camera lights.
Besides, they might be looking in the wrong place. Rumors abound that Baskin, who for years has run her own big cat sanctuary in Florida, did in her first husband, the fabulously well to do Jack Don Lewis. He disappeared without a trace in 1997 and no less of an authority than Joe Exotic himself claims she fed his remains to one, or more of her tigers.
Well, in these sort of sordid affairs you never know what a professional like Zac Bagans might turn up. By the time it is over he might find the entire GW Exotic Animal Park is sitting on top of a native American burial ground. After all that's what researchers like him do and it would help explain the bizarre shit which went on there for decades.
Hey, why not? The whole year has turned into a huge Twilight Zone episode anyway. We might as well roll with it while we can.
sic vita est
7-12-20
Monday, July 6, 2020
The Death Toll Mounts and Sports Begin Again--Sort Of
There were 36,108 new cases of COVID-19 in the United States yesterday. It is a number which doesn't impress Don Trump and a lot of his fans. Neither does the 132,000 deaths, even though over a scant five months that is more than twice the number of Americans killed during 20 years of combat in Vietnam.
No, there are many in this land who don't care about such gruesome statistics--as long as they don't include someone they love--they just want to get on with life without any constraints, including those pesky masks. Besides, no one tells these hearty patriots what to do unless it is The Big Orange Guy himself.
All of which brings us to sports. Major league sports in the United States and Canada are due to make a return by the end of this month, although in a severely limited way. Limited as in no vast cheering crowds exhorting their teams onward. In fact, no fans at all, unless you count the ones watching on TV.
Even as we near these auspicious dates things are a tad dicey. NBA teams opened their practice facilities to players so they could prepare for what amounts to a play off tournament in Orlando. However within a scant couple of weeks, the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, LA Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Sacramento Kings have all shut down their gyms because either staff, or players have tested positive for the Coronavirus.
The league is set to play their abbreviated schedule at Disney World sans spectators. The restrictions are such the players must limit their outside activities--no Space Mountain between games--and not bring their families along until the all clear is sounded. Any player testing positive must spend two weeks in quarantine then test bug free not once, but twice.
The NHL isn't quite as restrictive, but has limited all play to a couple of, "hub," cities. At the moment those locations are Edmonton and Toronto whose cavernous arenas will also be utterly empty.
Major League Baseball, the only sport which is actually in season, is set to play a 60 game schedule before their playoffs begin. Travel is limited and interleague play is restricted. In short, the Dodgers interleague schedule is limited to American League teams on the west coast. Conversely the Red Sox interleague games will be against NL East teams only. Again, no fans other than the ghosts of Harry Carey and Joe Buck will be allowed.
That's in addition to a couple of rule changes meant to shorten the length of games. First, the vile designated hitter rule will apply to not just the American League, but the National as well. Next comes the really weird part. After the first inning each team will start off with a man on second base. He will be that team's last out from the previous inning. So, if a player whiffs on three straight pitches in the top of the third to end it, he will find himself on second base at the the top of the fourth as if he led off with a double.
Meanwhile the NFL and NCAA football are both acting as if their seasons are going to start on time with their stadiums filled to the brim.
Well, maybe.
On the college level there is at least an in common nod to reality. A quick survey of major college football programs shows all of them supporting, "the idea," of spring football. In other words, if this shit doesn't go away we will delay everything until next March, or April.
It isn't a bad idea, since anyone who has ever been to a big time college football game knows there is no such thing as social distancing, both in the stands, or below in the concession and restroom areas.
At the University of Oklahoma for instance the vast majority of fans in the stadium holding over 80,000 are sitting on benches literally shoulder to shoulder. At the half so many make a run for the restrooms and concession stands the jam of people below the seats is physically crushing. At times one can barely move. The micro spray of a single unguarded cough can contaminate dozens at a time.
Imagine that scenario in less than two months as the plague rages on and half the rubes there refuse to wear masks, no matter what the University mandates. Hey, those fools might put on one at the gate for admission purposes, but once inside, especially in Norman, OK's September heat, there is no way they will keep it on.
And we've seen how one crazy anti-mask white woman can tear up a Target Store. Just imagine a squad of poor campus cops trying to enforce a mask required rule with tens of thousands of hyper worked up drunks, many of whom believe the one true guru is, Donald J. Trump.
Yes, it is a scene too ugly and violent to even contemplate.
As much as I love college football this foul year of 2020 is all wrong for it. It's wrong for the players, the coaches, the students, and the fans. Just push it back to next March, then maybe, hopefully, there will a vaccine. If there isn't, then it is on to the fall of 2021.
That's right, let science determine when we get back together in huge crowds not an ego maniac, his half baked political toadies, and the screeching heathens who think both he and themselves are anointed by God Almighty.
The NBA, NHL, and MLB realize it. College football and the NFL should too.
sic vita est
7-6-20
No, there are many in this land who don't care about such gruesome statistics--as long as they don't include someone they love--they just want to get on with life without any constraints, including those pesky masks. Besides, no one tells these hearty patriots what to do unless it is The Big Orange Guy himself.
All of which brings us to sports. Major league sports in the United States and Canada are due to make a return by the end of this month, although in a severely limited way. Limited as in no vast cheering crowds exhorting their teams onward. In fact, no fans at all, unless you count the ones watching on TV.
Even as we near these auspicious dates things are a tad dicey. NBA teams opened their practice facilities to players so they could prepare for what amounts to a play off tournament in Orlando. However within a scant couple of weeks, the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, LA Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Sacramento Kings have all shut down their gyms because either staff, or players have tested positive for the Coronavirus.
The league is set to play their abbreviated schedule at Disney World sans spectators. The restrictions are such the players must limit their outside activities--no Space Mountain between games--and not bring their families along until the all clear is sounded. Any player testing positive must spend two weeks in quarantine then test bug free not once, but twice.
The NHL isn't quite as restrictive, but has limited all play to a couple of, "hub," cities. At the moment those locations are Edmonton and Toronto whose cavernous arenas will also be utterly empty.
Major League Baseball, the only sport which is actually in season, is set to play a 60 game schedule before their playoffs begin. Travel is limited and interleague play is restricted. In short, the Dodgers interleague schedule is limited to American League teams on the west coast. Conversely the Red Sox interleague games will be against NL East teams only. Again, no fans other than the ghosts of Harry Carey and Joe Buck will be allowed.
That's in addition to a couple of rule changes meant to shorten the length of games. First, the vile designated hitter rule will apply to not just the American League, but the National as well. Next comes the really weird part. After the first inning each team will start off with a man on second base. He will be that team's last out from the previous inning. So, if a player whiffs on three straight pitches in the top of the third to end it, he will find himself on second base at the the top of the fourth as if he led off with a double.
Meanwhile the NFL and NCAA football are both acting as if their seasons are going to start on time with their stadiums filled to the brim.
Well, maybe.
On the college level there is at least an in common nod to reality. A quick survey of major college football programs shows all of them supporting, "the idea," of spring football. In other words, if this shit doesn't go away we will delay everything until next March, or April.
It isn't a bad idea, since anyone who has ever been to a big time college football game knows there is no such thing as social distancing, both in the stands, or below in the concession and restroom areas.
At the University of Oklahoma for instance the vast majority of fans in the stadium holding over 80,000 are sitting on benches literally shoulder to shoulder. At the half so many make a run for the restrooms and concession stands the jam of people below the seats is physically crushing. At times one can barely move. The micro spray of a single unguarded cough can contaminate dozens at a time.
Imagine that scenario in less than two months as the plague rages on and half the rubes there refuse to wear masks, no matter what the University mandates. Hey, those fools might put on one at the gate for admission purposes, but once inside, especially in Norman, OK's September heat, there is no way they will keep it on.
And we've seen how one crazy anti-mask white woman can tear up a Target Store. Just imagine a squad of poor campus cops trying to enforce a mask required rule with tens of thousands of hyper worked up drunks, many of whom believe the one true guru is, Donald J. Trump.
Yes, it is a scene too ugly and violent to even contemplate.
As much as I love college football this foul year of 2020 is all wrong for it. It's wrong for the players, the coaches, the students, and the fans. Just push it back to next March, then maybe, hopefully, there will a vaccine. If there isn't, then it is on to the fall of 2021.
That's right, let science determine when we get back together in huge crowds not an ego maniac, his half baked political toadies, and the screeching heathens who think both he and themselves are anointed by God Almighty.
The NBA, NHL, and MLB realize it. College football and the NFL should too.
sic vita est
7-6-20
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