The Move Do Over

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Dan Dan the Retired Transportation Man wasn’t having my tongue planted firmly in-cheek misrepresentation of our new digs. In hindsight, it was dumb to try to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes after inviting DDRTM and his lovely bride to the new crib.

Here’s the new east-facing downtown Olympia, WA/Mount Rainier view from the backyard deck yesterday aft. If I had panned to the left, you’d see the Port of Olympia, to the right, the Capital Dome in all its liberal Democrat glory (until Bird is elected).

In fairness to my playing fast and loose with the truth, we are a half a mile from the urban core and you can almost see the aforementioned alley in this picture.

The truth of the matter is the move was not the result of too much nature, but you knew that already because you’ve read me enough to detect sarcasm. And there’s no such thing as too much nature. Nature is like Costco’s chocolate Tuxedo cake, you can never have too much.

All I think I can safely say is the move was a result of the Good Wife’s considerable health challenges. Maybe I can say a little more without getting into trouble, Walking up and down stairs more specifically.

I am keenly aware of my privilege, moving from one very nice house with amazing views to another beautiful, like-new house with a very nice view. The material comforts are less important than the fact that the new crib works a lot better for the GalPal. It’s just a bonus that I can mow the front and back lawns in about 5-7 minutes.

One wonders, what will I do with all the saved “yard” time? A few things. I will use some of it to craft more subtle and nuanced made up stories that even DDRTM cannot detect. And the rest to ponder who the hell the “we” is when Orange Jesus says, “We are so innocent”.

Tim Scott And The End Of Democracy

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Jamelle Bouie for the win, “The One Thing Trump Knows He Wants in a Running Mate”.

“[Trump] has also said that he would not rule out the possibility of political violence. ‘t always depends on the fairness of an election,’ he told Time magazine in another recent interview.

There is no need for Trump to say anything else; all the Republicans vying to stand by his side understand that they’ll lose their shot if they accept the basic democratic norm that a loss may not be overturned after the fact. When asked several times if he would accept the results of the 2024 election, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina — one of the leading contenders for Trump’s running mate — would repeat only a single, rehearsed statement. ‘At the end of the day, the 47th president of the United States will be President Donald Trump.’

I saw the Tim Scott video and couldn’t help but think about how loathsome he is. But upon thought, “loathsome” isn’t sufficient, dangerous is more apropos.

The Move

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Dear Reader,

Apologies for denying you your need to Press Pause for so long. Please know, this time the extended Pause was not the result of lethargy or a lack of profundity deserving of your consideration.

It was due to a 5.8 mile move which, I am very happy to report, is largely in the rearview mirror.

TL/DR. . . I got my ass kicked every which way by The Move. Which begs an obvy question, why did I voluntarily sign on for unprecedented levels of stress?

Because one can only take so much of . . .

The Salish Sea. The Olympic Mountains. Eagle fly-bys. Water-slapping seals. Even directionally-challenged whales. Enough nature already.

In the end, all the nature just got to be too much for the GalPal to bear. And so, a few months ago, she sayeth, “Let’s live among the people. In town.”

To which I said, “Okay, let’s.”

Tonight, our first Saturday in the new hood, we ate among the people. After dropping the Good Wife off at the restaurant, and then parking, I returned to the restaurant via this alley.

Slow your roll. One setting is not inherently “better” than the other. Just different. The old hood was completely bereft of street art, any real weirdness to speak of, and rabbits outnumbered people.

Time to lean into the back alleys, the street art, the urban mess, the grit. This is my life with The Good Wife. Among the people.

On Student Protests

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Typically, older non-participant observers highlight protest rhetoric and behavior that affirms their preconceptions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You can see, in the student protests, what you want to see.

It should go without saying that one can be anti-Israel, without succumbing to anti-Semitism. Many American Jews are anti-Israel right now, but understandably, they are also fearful of rising anti-Semitism.

No university administrators should condone anti-Semitic language or behavior. No Jewish students in the U.S. should be held responsible for Hamas’s actions or feel unsafe on their campuses.

All that said, I fully support the majority of student protestors who are convinced their government is making matters far worse in Gaza.

I’ll take young people with the courage of their convictions, even if it results in chaos on American campuses, over political apathy every single day of the week.

The First Year Writing Seminar

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Is always evolving. This fall’s iteration. Would you sign up?

The Art and Science of Human Connection—Ron Byrnes, Education

     In this seminar we work together to improve as readers, discussants, and writers while exploring the challenges and rewards of meaningful friendships. Our readings, discussions, and writing overlap with the University’s Wild Hope Project, which asks, “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” We will be as introspective and transparent as possible as we get to know one another’s stories and draw on history and social sciences to explore what’s most important in life. Among the questions we’ll consider: What makes life most meaningful? How do we want to balance work and individual economic aspirations with recreation and close interpersonal relationships with others? What is easy about making friends and what is hard? How can we be better friends to ourselves and others? And does social media make it easier or harder to build strong interpersonal relationships?

I Can Do It Too

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This guy, whose net worth is over $500m, has a huge following among young sports-minded men. He has won over $2m picking the winner of the last two professional golf events. You can take this to the bank—his recent, short-term luck will translate into hundreds of millions more lost by sports gambling addicts.

Health Fads and Fictions

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Health Fads and Fictions: VO2 Max, Supplement Mania, Sunlight, and Immortality.

You know what “they” say, “Common sense is not common.” Well worth a listen. Two critiques. They don’t pay enough attention to how to help sedentary people begin moving and there’s no mention of the role genetics play in longevity.

Sentence To Ponder

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From ESPN.com.

“The World Anti-Doping Agency on Saturday confirmed reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned drug before the Tokyo Olympics but that it accepted the country’s findings it was due to substance contamination.”

A name change may be in order. . . The Pro-China Doping Agency or The Who Are We To Judge Anti-Doping Agency.

The Washington State Republicans’ Deep Bench Strikes Again

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On one of my running routes, right behind Squaxin Park, there are two next-door neighbors from opposing tribes. One house decked out in red, white, and blue MAGA signage; the other drenched in aging Tibetan flags, with a decidedly liberal-hippie vibe.

One day Mr. MAGA said “hi” to me from his driveway. Nice that he doesn’t read the humble blog.

I wonder what kind of relationship these neighbors have with one another? Do they talk to each other? Borrow sugar from one another? Watch each other’s homes when on vacation? Bring in one another’s trash cans? The mind whirls.

This morn, in Mr. MAGA’s yard, there was a “Semi Bird” for Governor sign. I immediately suspected Semi was for the birds. I did a (very) little sleuthing and was not at all surprised to learn Semi is not a conventional candidate. This article, “WA governor candidate says ‘no excuse’ for financial crime” was the first clue.

Bird appears to have learned nothing from the leader of his party.

“In an interview Tuesday, Bird, now 63, said he makes no excuses for the mistake decades ago. ‘Guilty as charged — 100%, he said. ‘It was wrong. He said he was estranged from his father at the time and was ‘bitter’ and ‘angry’ and ‘tried to justify’ his actions, but said ultimately ‘there was no excuse.'”

That is weirdly straightforward and honest.

There have been other legal problems and debts, both of which are much more in keeping with the leader of the Republican Party.

For example:

“In 1996, Bird was arrested and charged with felony theft for failing for many months to return a pistol he’d been issued as a Yakima County sheriff reserve officer after departing the role. The charge was later dismissed after the gun was found and returned. In 1999, he filed for bankruptcy.”

But who among us hasn’t used a parent’s name and social security number to supplement our income and/or forgotten to return a pistol we’ve been issued. I, for one, will not cast the first stone.

However, I’m not willing to give the Bird “campaign” a pass on one unforgivable sin committed against the English language. The offending phrase first appears in the opening sentence of Bird’s “Story” on the campaign’s unwieldy website.

“Semi Bird is a career American who has spent a lifetime in service to his country and community.” The offending phrase repeats throughout the site.

I don’t have Bird’s history of playing fast and loose with the law, but I am a career American too, so maybe I should run for office. I bet there aren’t many career Americans around. I bet the electorate is desperate to vote for a real, living breathing, career American.

For shit’s sake.

Why did I see that sign and how do I unsee the mindless phrase “career American”?

How To Turn A Bike Ride Into A Bike Workout

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The title of an article in the morning’s New York Times. Anna Watts opines:

“You don’t need a flashy new bike or fancy gear to get a solid cycling workout. The most important thing is that your bike fits your body and you enjoy being on it.”

One wonders, does Watts regularly spout heretical things or is this a one-off?