Look at this morning’s picture. Normally, they don’t have much, if anything, to do with whatever I’m talking about. This morning is different. I’ve decided to do something controversial and wear a safety pin. Not a small one, mind you. I ordered the largest one I could find. I’m not hiding it under a collar, either. It’s right there on the front of my shirt where everyone can see it. Yeah, I’m aware of all the backlash. If you doubt my solidarity with women, immigrants, and the entire LGBBTQIA+ community, try me. I may be small and weak, but goddammit, the head of my cane alone is enough of a weapon to render someone senseless and I’m not the least bit afraid to use it. You won’t be the first time I’ve had to stand up for someone. I have five of these huge pins because I have a bad habit of losing things. I’ll wear them until I know that everyone is safe.
There may be further additions and changes to my attire and attitude as well. I am beyond disturbed that at least four of the people closest to me are now at high risk, not only from the coming policies of a deranged and horrible president but more likely from those who put him there. Policies don’t hurt nearly as many people as do actions and we’ve already seen those actions in place. The Orange Felon isn’t going to show up at my daughter’s school and directly threaten her safety. Students indoctrinated by his rhetoric may, though. We’re fortunate that our kids go to schools that protect them against aggressive behavior. There’s still the bus ride there and back, though. No one’s protecting them there. If I have to start riding the damn bus to keep them safe, I will.
Of course, there’s also the danger that I’m apparently losing my fucking mind. My dreams have been unusually lucid of late, but they went over the top this morning around 2:30 when a dream was interrupted by what I thought was a young woman standing at the side of my bed. She had shoulder-length brown hair, was wearing a simple dark blue dress, and smiled as she said, “Hello.” That’s what caused me to sit straight up in bed. I heard her. I rubbed my eyes and she was gone. I looked around the room, Both dogs were still sound asleep. Cats had draped themselves here and there, none of them appearing to be disturbed. But, I heard her! Her voice was pleasantly sweet, just loud enough to wake me from my dream. Since when does a dream wake one from another dream? Am I hallucinating again? I thought we had cured that problem by changing chemo meds two years ago. I really don’t want to return to a state where I can’t trust what I think I’m seeing. I closed my eyes and immediately went back to sleep. Who does that?
Then, because once a day is tainted it stays that way, as I was sitting down to read this morning’s news, I heard a horrifying crash coming from the kitchen. I knew before I left my chair that the cats had knocked something off the counter. What I didn’t expect was the complete explosion of porcelain across the entire kitchen floor and even into the living room. Fortunately, I was still wearing boots from having taken the dogs out earlier. I grabbed the broom and dustpan and started sweeping. I’ve warned the kids that I’m still not sure I got all the little pieces of porcelain.
As I sat back down in my chair, Hamilton, who is the closest thing I have to an emotional support animal, started pawing at my arm. I assumed he wanted some attention and pets. Typically, I can pet him for a couple of minutes and he’s cool. Not this morning. I started petting him and he put his paws on my shoulder and pulled. Not expecting this behavior, I was rather slow in getting the message. He wanted me to lie down and he didn’t stop pestering me until I gave in. I lay next to him on the bed and checked the health monitors on my watch. My oxygen was below 90 and my heart rate was 137. I stayed put and cuddled with Ham until the numbers were better. This is why we’re running late this morning.
Kat didn’t have a good day yesterday, either. Her original plan had been to take G to his shadow day, then he would join her at the salon. They never made it to the salon. After dropping off G, Kat went to her mom’s and slept on her couch until it was time to pick him up. Then, they came home, and she chilled in her big chair until Tipper got home. I don’t know if she’s going to even try going to the salon today. I’m hoping she just goes on up to Fishers and stays there for the weekend. Her recovery is going to go slowly and I don’t want anyone rushing her.
Amidst all this, I must say that the kids are doing well. They were both up before I was this morning. They’re each busy doing their own thing. I have projects for both of them later in the day, but they can have the morning to themselves. They’ve definitely earned it.
Saturday morning is normally my science catch-up time and there’s a lot to read this morning, most of it concerned about continued funding. One of the top stories this morning is How much power do Trump and Kennedy have to reshape health agencies? Throughout the campaign, scientists have sounded the alarm that science funding and agencies are at risk. Of course, no one listened. Why would the people who deny climate change and question the validity of vaccines suddenly start paying attention to what the scientists are saying? [sarcasm]. Supposedly, Kennedy is vetting the resumes of those who might head various health and science concerns. That could definitely shape the future of those agencies. However, there’s no shortage of concern that the National Institute of Health is in for a major shakeup.
However, the new Republican administration isn’t the only threat to the science world. Russia has postponed three major science projects. In Greece, warming water temperatures completely wiped out this year’s mussel harvest. In fact, over the course of the week, I’ve seen reports of cutbacks of various kinds on every continent except Antarctica. As nationalism and right-wing fanaticism grow across the world, so does distrust and dismissal of established science.
This is concerning for any number of reasons. For example, there’s considerable concern that infections of H5N1, or “cow flu,” are going undetected. What are the odds of the world having another pandemic during the next four years? Much tighter than anyone cares to admit on the record. Best advice: wash your hands frequently and keep those masks close.
Health isn’t the only concern, though. In Botswana, there’s research actively taking place that may show that the whole fucking continent of Africa is about to split. The repercussions of such an event would change everything from tidal flows to the movement of the jet stream around the world. Entire weather patterns would be affected. And there’s not a damn thing anyone can do to stop it from happening.
Look, I can’t predict the future any more than anyone else. We’ve all seen the plan this administration has for us, though. The number of people it puts at risk is horrifying. These aren’t just abstract numbers on a page. These policies affect real people, you and your neighbors, and millions of lives are going to be destroyed if we don’t act. This isn’t the time to be a pacifist. Loving your neighbor doesn’t stop them from being an asshole. From where I sit, we have no choice but to be unusually aggressive in our response to everything this new administration does.
As I’ve been typing, I’ve been listening to an old Deutsche Grammophon recording of Vladimir Horowitz at the piano. His complete mastery and domination over even the most tender and careful of pieces is precisely the kind of mood we need to foster right now. No note gets away, nothing skipped.
Hamilton is pawing at me again. I need to eat breakfast and take my meds. I’m not well. I’m not strong. But you are always safe here.
URGENT UPDATE! PLEASE READ & RESPOND
AN ATTEMPT AT DICTATORSHIP HAS BEEN MADE
The next step is martial law and at this rate, we could be there by the end of the week. What the fuck am I talking about? An executive order signed late yesterday titled ‘Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies.‘ When I first read it last night, my initial reaction was, “Huh?” On its surface, the order appears to be laying out a chain of accountability for government agencies. That would be redundant, however, given that accountability for all branches of government is outlined in the Constitution. So, I asked for help. It took a while, which is why this post is running so late. After reading it, I didn’t think this should wait until morning.
When we brush past the legal speak, here’s what this order actually does:
This is a massive power grab on the part of the White House. It effectively seeks to either bypass or override the authorities of both the Congress and the Supreme Court. Just a refresher for those of you who skipped Civics class, the Constitution requires Congress to control the nation’s purse strings. There is zero allowance for the OMB or the President to preempt Congress’ funding decisions in any way. The Constitution also demonstrably states that it is the Supreme Court that interprets the law for the entire country, including all portions of government. There is zero allowance for the President or the Attorney General to even get involved with that discussion.
Several agencies that are meant to operate independently of political considerations include the SEC, FTC, FCC, FEC, FDA, EPA, and all consumer protection-oriented agencies. They will now have a ‘White House Liason,’ essentially an enforcement officer, that occupies space in every department and oversees their actions to ensure that they align with the plans of the White House. There is no more independence anywhere. Even the stock market can now be controlled by the President.
Think: insider trading is on the table. Enforcement of antitrust laws now depends in part on who is in favor with the President. Political opponents can be directly targeted through regulatory agencies. Entire states could, in theory, be stripped of all federal funds simply because their governors stood up to the President.
Scientific research and new drug approval must now have the approval of the White House before it can be released. If the President chooses to not believe in Climate Change, and we already know he doesn’t, then he can kill the publication of any research that warns of impending disaster and remove environmental protections where they exist.
How does the President shut down the Department of Education without Congress? This gives him the power to defund any federal department for any reason, or no reason at all. How does the President gain the power to run for a third term? This gives him complete power to control elections, who can be in them, and whether they happen at all.
Remember how we warned against Project 2025? The recently confirmed head of OMB is Russel Vought, one of the primary authors of Project 2025. This order now gives him sufficient power to implement every aspect of that horrendous document without any oversight. Congress can’t stop him. SCOTUS won’t stop him.
The Attorney General’s opinions override those of the Justice Department. The Justice Department, which includes the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, and all federal courts, is completely sidelined to interpret and enforce laws that might run against the wishes of the President.
THE PRESIDENT HAS COMPLETE AND TOTAL CONTROL.
Sure, Congress and SCOTUS still exist, but only for the feel-good purpose of rubber stamping what the President wants. If that sounds familiar, it is exactly the type of government found in both Russia and China.
Ladies and Gentlemen, democracy died with this executive order.
For now, the Second Amendment is still in play. I strongly recommend using it. Any hope for keeping this country even relatively free depends on our use of that Amendment to take back the government.
I’ll talk more about it in the morning.
Share this:
Like this: