24/7 Reality

Image by BedexpStock from Pixabay

Last night I was driving home around 10 and brooding over the fact that I'd just watched my Seattle Storm, in a game at Climate Pledge Arena, pull defeat from the jaws of victory.

Suddenly I saw multiple flashing lights ahead on the other side of the road. I drove by carefully, as there was nobody directing traffic. Only a mile later did it dawn on me that I'd probably just driven past an ICE raid on a home.

The pieces fell into place:  the one helmeted "cop" I saw didn't look worried, and if this had been a crime scene, I wouldn't have been allowed to get so close.

I realized I was distressingly slow on the uptake because I don't have to live in terror over ICE coming to kidnap me. That display of American ugliness isn't part of my daily or nightly reality. Other displays are, but not the ICE follies.

Unless Trump and his parasites decide to start deporting everyone born in New Jersey.

This Week's Quote

Image:  Facebook

First of all I'd like to say I'm proud to be here to represent Team USA and to represent our country. But we'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention what's going on in Minnesota, and what a tough time it's been for everybody. This stuff is happening right, right around where we live, and what's happening in Minnesota is wrong. There's no shades of gray. It's clear.

Rich Ruohonen, Olympic curler, lawyer, and at 54 the oldest athlete ever to represent the U.S. at a Winter Games

Source:  YouTube

Shutdown

Image:  Facebook

In response to the ICE atrocities in Minneapolis, it's "National Shutdown" day. Activists want us to ditch school and work and not spend money on Jan. 30.

The citizens of Minneapolis pulled that off beautifully a week ago, but I fear there hasn't been enough time to mount a paralyzing nationwide strike.

Still, I'm in. I was supposed to do a happy hour with a couple of friends at one of Seattle's waterside restaurants today, but I let them know why I can't, in good conscience, be there. To acknowledge those killed in Minneapolis (and Chicago and Los Angeles), I can certainly forego shellfish and wine.

Not a sacrifice of heroic proportions. Giving up the chance to gossip, though, that was a little harder.

The Helmet Hides the Nazi 'Do

 

Norman Rockwell Now

A Lesbian Represents

A friend in Vermont sent me this photo taken at an anti-ICE protest in Brattleboro this past weekend. I needed the levity.

Rough Start

Image by TASFIQ UR RAHMAN NABIL from Pixabay

American forces invade Venezuela to capture its president? An ICE agent fatally shoots a woman in Minneapolis?

That's what the Trump administration brought us in just the first week of 2026.

I want to turn this year in already, but I can't find the receipt.