October 31, 2020

Jason Mraz asks you to vote for Joe Biden

Lovely remake of his song "I'm Yours."

October 26, 2020

Quick logistical question

Do we have an alternate communications channel for Election Day if DU gets knocked off the air this year like happened in 2016?

October 24, 2020

Idaho health board "drowning in complaints" after mask mandate lifted

https://cdapress.com/news/2020/oct/24/PANHANDLECALLS/

The team at Panhandle Health District is drowning in complaints after its board voted Thursday to end Kootenai County’s mask mandate.

Katherine Hoyer, PHD spokeswoman, said district employees and staff received scores of calls after the board’s decision to rescind the mandate, which had been in place since late July.

The Panhandle Health Board of Directors voted 4-3 to rescind its mask mandate for Kootenai County. Board members Allen Banks, Glen Bailey, Mike Fitzgerald and Walt Kirby voted to end the mask mandate.

The health district has a call center set up to field inquiries about public health concerns, but the center’s employees are also handling irate and agitated residents criticizing the board’s decision.

(Necessary disclosure: I work for this newspaper but didn't write the story linked.)

Yesterday I was driving home from Seattle to Coeur d'Alene through a snowstorm after a week's vacation and called my managing editor using my hands-free phone system to find out if it was snowing there. It was. Then he produced the words you never want to hear from a newspaperman: "You are not going to believe this." He is NOT happy about this.

For my part, I've decided to stop shopping in Idaho until the pandemic ends. I can drive 30 miles to a state with a slight bit of common sense and buy everything I need...which, right now, means food and tile supplies.

October 23, 2020

I made it about 10 minutes into the debate

I saw a graceful, well-prepared man who is respectful and presidential in his demeanor.

And that man wasn’t the sitting president. Trump came off as an absolute lunatic.

October 22, 2020

I think I know how Trump will cause chaos if he loses

He's already suggested that he, rather than the governors, will be the one to "open up the states."

I believe it is very possible that Trump will issue an EO after he loses that opens the whole country and outlaws mandatory mask orders. He can't actually do such a thing - we do still have a 10th Amendment - but who the hell is going to stop him?

October 9, 2020

Does 18 USC 2383 apply to Trump?

18 U.S. Code § 2383. Rebellion or insurrection

Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

October 6, 2020

Received my ballot today and hand-delivered it to the elections office

So I go out to the mailbox today to find...

The paper copy of the water bill I already paid online
A postcard from a realtor who claims he sold a house in my subdivision...
Something from the lawyer who's probating my parents' estate
And my Official Idaho Ballot. Oh goody.

Whip that sucker open. Vote for the Biden-Harris ticket. Vote for the handful of Democrats that are on the ballot. Ignore all the races that only have a Republican, or a Republican-Libertarian contest. Vote "no" on the proposal to up our license plate fees by $50 per year to pay to expand the roads...we need the roads here expanded, but they gave a list of the roads they want to expand and none of the ones that need it are on there. So, no. And voted for Joe Dunlap to become a new trustee of the local community college...Mr. Dunlap was president of the college for many years and is a good guy, so he gets my vote.

And after it was voted, I put it in the envelope, drove it to the elections office and dropped it the ballot box. There is no need to let Trump try to steal my ballot by fucking with the postal service.

October 4, 2020

I started laying the kitchen tile today

The whole house is porcelain tile...most of it is wood look, the bathrooms will be marble look, and the kitchen looks like an old barn floor. Two bedrooms and the hall are already down.

Helpful hint: if you’re laying tile, invest in a floor leveling system. The one I have is these little hard plastic flaps you shove a plastic wedge into. It makes getting the edges even extremely easy.

October 4, 2020

I have a strange and possibly inappropriate hypothetical

We know Trump has the Coronavirus.

There's a good chance Pence also has it. It would be a bit strange if he didn't have it, since it seems like the entire Trump Administration either has it or is fixin' to get it.

Let's say the worst possible thing happens and it kills both Trump and Pence. Does the GOP get to select new candidates, or does the FEC tell the Republicans, "sorry guys, you missed the deadlines for making changes to your candidates"?

October 3, 2020

What could be entertaining...

Wait until enough Republican senators come up positive to put the Democratic Senate caucus into the majority, then bring all Trump’s remaining judicial nominees to a vote.

“No...no...are you high? Hell no...not on our watch...nope...fuck this shit...nada...nyet...nein...”