Friday, July 17th, 2020

1

PDX Carpetbaggers

Portland has always been a city of contrasts. It has the most hipsters per capita of any city in America, and it also has the most strip clubs per capita. It's an old, tough, hard drinking, port town. It's also world headquarters for microbrews and a city where it's always wine o'clock. It's known for rain. And now it's known for reign. Stumptown, in short, has become Trumptown. The latest Portland contrast: Peaceful protestors and camouflaged federal agents in unmarked vans who are forcing them off the streets, turning RIP City into GRIP city. "I am basically tossed into the van. And I had my beanie pulled over my face so I couldn't see and they held my hands over my head." Federal Law Enforcement Use Unmarked Vehicles To Grab Protesters Off Portland Streets.

+ Oregon Governor Kate Brown: "This political theater from President Trump has nothing to do with public safety. The president is failing to lead this nation. Now he is deploying federal officers to patrol the streets of Portland in a blatant abuse of power by the federal government."

+ NYT: "This week, Portland's law enforcement leaders have a new worry on the streets: their federal counterparts. Purportedly in town to help tamp down the unrest, the federal officers in camouflage and tactical gear have so far instead served to escalate tensions, rejuvenating a protest crowd that has been demanding a substantial overhaul to policing and an end to militarized tactics." Trump's 2020 campaign slogan should be: Making Matters Worse.

2

RB(OM)G

"The 87-year-old Ginsburg, who spent time in the hospital this week for a possible infection, said her treatment so far has succeeded in reducing lesions on her liver and that she will continue chemotherapy sessions every two weeks. 'I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam. I remain fully able to do that.'" AP: Justice Ginsburg says cancer has returned, but won't retire. (The last thing we need right now is a more Ruthless country.)

3

Weekend Whats

What to Twenty: With your help, the Harriet Tubman Twenty t-shirt store has raised $25,000 for K-12 programs focused on Black history, literature, equality, and racial justice. And thanks to a new matching donor, we're able to keep the program going for another 10K - which comes out to 500 shirts. So wear it and share it. Change the Twenty.

+ What to Watch: I am completely addicted to HBO's I May Destroy You. Michaela Coel is a remarkable writer and one of the most watchable and interesting actors around. So many shows are the same. This one is different, and excellent.

+ What to Doc: I never surf. I never ski. I never do loop de loops after parachuting off of a mountain peak. But man do I love watching other people do that stuff. Magnetic on Netflix is just that.

+ What to Hear: I've been digging a newish band called the Black Pumas. And when I dig it, you usually dig it too.

4

Gov Connection

"His defiance of science has made it impossible to do what he wanted to do. The irony is his incompetence and his arrogance and his refusal to listen to experts and his downplaying of the virus have made it impossible to do what he thought he needed to run for reelection." The Atlantic: How Trump Closed Down the Schools. A thousand times this. My son will start high school on Zoom and my dad is locked in his house because this administration failed to lead.

+ Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp sues Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms over face mask order.

+ NYT Upshot: A Detailed Map of Who Is Wearing Masks in the U.S. (In many places, we're so close to getting it right. But Covid doesn't care about close.)

+ Vox: Trump reduced fines for nursing homes that put residents at risk. Then Covid-19 happened.

+ "The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it's all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I'm sick of it." That unfounded remark from former game show host Chuck Woolery was retweeted by the president. Well, Chuck's tune changed in less than two and two, after his son tested positive. He then realized everyone is not lying. His hero is lying.

5

Taking Off the Kid Govs

"The federal government — a much bigger and better-funded institution, with tens of thousands of scientists and physicians in the civil service — wanted my help! Governors always do the hard work, make the tough decisions and take the political heat. But an undertaking as large as a national testing program required Washington's help. We expected something more than constant heckling from the man who was supposed to be our leader." Republican Governor Larry Hogan in WaPo: I'm a GOP governor. Why didn't Trump help my state with coronavirus testing?

6

Skirts and Skins

"It was the most miserable experience of my life. And we all tolerated it, because we knew if we complained — and they reminded us of this — there were 1,000 people out there who would take our job in a heartbeat." WaPo: From dream job to nightmare. More than a dozen women allege sexual harassment and verbal abuse by former team employees at Redskins Park

+ ESPN: 72 NFL players tested positive for coronavirus. (And these guys don't specialize in social distancing...)

7

Killer Caught

The brutal murder and dismemberment of Fahim Saleh was described as a professional job. Yesterday, I remarked that it actually seemed like anything but that (for example, the killer left the saw behind). It's not surprising at all that a suspect is already in custody. Fahim Saleh's assistant in custody in connection with death of tech entrepreneur.

8

Hair Raising

"An engineer made the brave, not at all dangerous decision to have his hair cut by a robot he designed." (Damn, and I've been too scared to try a Roomba...)

9

Wood Working

"'So far, knock on wood, everything is going well." (That quote suggests my punning has spread to the adult entertainment world...) Rolling Stone(s): No MILFs, No Squirting, No Gang Bangs: How the P-rn Industry Is Changing During COVID-19. (Feel Good Friday started a little prematurely this week...)

10

Feel Good Friday

"One of the many remarkable things about this story is that Banner didn't actually know what the term 'anti-Semitism' even meant before that morning. 'I'm just gonna be honest with you man, before this ... When I was reading that article from ESPN, I had to Google what ‘anti-Semitic' was,' he told me." The Steelers' Zach Banner Tackles Anti-Semitism and Racism.

+ "This is such a high award and to get it from Her Majesty as well - what more can anyone wish for? This has been an absolutely magnificent day for me." Capt Sir Tom Moore knighted in 'unique' ceremony. "Capt Sir Tom, who was given the honorary title of colonel on his 100th birthday, had initially set out to raise £1,000 for NHS charities by repeatedly walking an 82ft (25m) loop of his garden. But he eventually raised £32,794,701 from more than one-and-a-half million supporters."

+ Pentagon issues de facto ban on Confederate flag at military bases. (I always thought the Civil War ended with a de facto ban...)

+ Four high school students created a coloring book to teach kids about the coronavirus. (I know the perfect customer!)

+ A COVID-19 Success Story In Rwanda: Free Testing, Robot Caregivers. (Where's the shithole now?)

+ Designer Creates $3,900 Wetsuit That Looks Like A Real Suit.

+ Iceland offering coronavirus stress relief by broadcasting world's screams. (Basically sounds like my house at dinner.)