Notices by Kim Possible (kimlockhartga@beige.party)

Tonight, Rachel Maddow reminded us all of a fact I had memory-holed. Those horribly ill-advised tariffs are the brainchild of Economic Advisor Peter Navarro. Navarro was selected by Jared Kushner (in 45's first term) who just went on Amazon and searched the titles of books on Economics until he found a title that he thought "sounded cool."

In his books, Navarro cited economist "Ron Vara" as the main source for his (wacky) ideas. Except Ron Vara doesn't exist. The name is an anagram of "Navarro."

These incredibly destructive tariffs were implemented on the advisement of a person who does not exist, just the ghost of a fool speaking nonsense to a bigger fool.

And we all pay the price, globally.

Dr. David Kessler, former White House Chief Science Officer, gave a sober warning about the HHS firings. He says we only have about a week to undo this, before the damage is permanent.

@ATLeagle I knew it was bad this year, but like you say, this is inhuman. You shouldn't be able to beat a record by so much at one time.

Now, to wipe down the dogs.

Y'all remember my saying "Gee, I hope we don't break the record and go over 10,000." Yeah, we went over 14,000. 😬🙀🌳

Atlanta shatters pollen count record, rising far above ‘extreme’ standards

https://www.wrdw.com/2025/03/29/atlanta-shatters-pollen-count-record-rising-far-above-extreme-standards/

As happy and relieved as I am about the Wisconsin Supreme Court election result, and truly I am, I am also discouraged that voters still don't understand that Voter ID laws are always disingenuous, created to enact voter suppression. We already go through a dog and pony show in order to vote. You don't need to enshrine that into your state Constitution. It only causes harm and disenfranchises the most vulnerable.

@TheJen I'm so sorry. You prompted me to look up our air quality index which is an unhealthy 55 right now. Mostly PM2.5 pollution, but also tree pollen is very high.

@TheJen and yet every doctor told me to move TO the desert. They don't know everything, do they?

@TheJen I think that's about how outdated the advice is.

@dnalounge that actually sounds pretty good. Is this what mixed drinks cost these days?

@BeAware interesting. I suppose they could be silent, though that seems difficult for anyone like that. I chose greed, because it solves the most problems, but abuse is a close second. I've seen the destruction it has wrought.

Streaming Binge Day for me:

Movie: "Serenity." Okay.
Movie: "Children of Men." Very Good
Movie: "Wonder Woman." Very good, but way too long.

Currently watching the "Stargate Universe" series. Pretty good. I actually saw some of it years ago.

I know the writers are trying to throw everything at this season of the U.S.A. before it gets canceled, but Mississippi just had an earthquake during their tornado emergency.
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2025/03/15/usgs-reports-earthquake-strikes-magee-ms-on-same-day-as-tornados-in-state/82448439007/

We don't have a basement or a tornado shelter, so we just go to the most interior windowless room, which is the little half bath. Since there is a tornado outbreak ongoing in the South, I checked the room to make sure everything is in there: blankets, sturdy boots, water. J added a weather radio, so she is taking this seriously. Might even put some motorcycle helmets in there.

In 2022, when the last terrible tornado hit anywhere near us, it hit in the middle of the night (as they usually do, here) and we were so sleepy, we ignored the Tornado Warning alert on our phones. It hit 18 miles away, as an EF4 tornado. That's the second highest designation a tornado can be. Our friends lost their home and they were so traumatized, they moved to another state. I am terrified of losing warnings via National Weather Service.

What I'm trying to say with all this is that there is no safe place anymore. Floods in Germany, and alternating dry riverbeds and floods in France, the fires in Australia, South Africa, California, Brazil, Canada, Greece, and Spain (which also has had floods), Hell, even the top of a high mountain is not safe during a freaking hurricane.

So, you will need to have more than one plan, as well as a predetermined place to meet in case you get separated.

Me: I was really hoping we could contain this, keep it from spreading.

Friend: What, measles?

Me: Well, yeah, that too. But, I meant ignorance.

#Playlist for doing chores or other mindless tasks:

Where's Your Head At (Klaas Remix) Basement Jaxx

Trojans, Atlas Genius

Apes From Space (Phatso Brown Remix), Aaren San

What You Know, Two Door Cinema

Come Fly Away (feat. Channing), Benny Benassi

Inside Out, Eve 6

Bring Me to Life, Evanescence

1901, Phoenix

4AM (Adam K & Soha Mix), Kaskade

Dangerous (feat. Joywave) Big Data 

I Remember (Vocal Mix), deadmau5

No Roots, Alice Merton

Alive, Krewella 

Alone, marshmello

Paper Planes, M.I.A.

Ride, twenty one pilots

Feel It Still, Portugal The Man

I Love My Sex, Benny Benassi

The Veldt (Eight Minute Edit), deadmau5 (feat. Chris James)

All those people who defeated Fascism, just for it to come back.

All those vaccines developed to eradicate disease, just for them to come back.

All that work to protect the environment, just for us to destroy it.

All that progress in striving for a more equitable society, just for some to turn back the clock.

Faulkner once said that "the past isn't prologue; it's not even past."

It's time to take back what is being stolen from all of us.

I'm watching an older animated feature, and Alaska is described as "Russian America." This intrigued me, especially since my dad was a cartographer for the Air Force, stationed at Alaska, before it was a U.S. State.

The theme is familiar: all progress comes out of risk, as long as that risk does not extend to you.

@kaia do you keep your safe in a safe place?

Went by my local independent grocery store and discovered my new favorite thing: El Milagro crunchy tortilla chips. Makes the best nachos ever! I'm never buying any other brand again. In the U.S. you can probably find them at Walmart or Food Depot.