Clarence Thomas and his White law clerks

 Well, happy Christmas eve everybody.  We got drizzles here in Central PA, and they're supposed to be lingering throughout the day.  Fun stuff.  Temps are going to hover around in the mid 40s (F).  Tomorrow, however, they're supposed to climb up into the 50s (F).  Keep in mind, even though 2023 has been the warmest year since humans have started keeping records, there is no such thing as global warming, at least as far as many of the truly religious are concerned.  God wouldn't let that happen to us.

As expected, yesterday there were not a lot of customers in the store yesterday.  For the most part, the 6 hours I spent there were truly boring.  I did talk to people, but scheduling was lite; management must finally be reading the room.  I did sell some flooring yesterday, and one customer signed up for a credit card.  We did have 2 customers, a husband and wife, who scammed us on getting a military discount.  We knew there was a problem, but they knew exactly which bells and whistles to tap and blow in order to get their 10% discount.  I have no problem with people who are thrifty, and frugal, and who try to save a penny, but those that lie and cheat in order to pay the lowest price they can possibly get?  They are one of the reasons retailers raise their prices.  Corporate is going to do everything within their power to make Market Share, even if it means raising the prices for everybody.

And I saw this picture in the Washington Post this morning.  Tell me, what stands out in this photo of Clarence Thomas and his law clerks?

Do you think it was that there was only one black person standing in front of a lot of white people?  Does this mean that Clarence doesn't like black people?  He, himself, rose in the ranks with the use of affirmative action, yet he has also stridently worked against it.  Maybe he believes minorities should be hired by others, and not him.  Or, perhaps he thinks that if he hires minorities he'll be showing reverse prejudice.  Or, and this seems to be the most accurate possibility, Clarence wants to be white, and so surrounds himself with white people.  He's been called an Oreo, black on the outside and white on the inside, for a long time.  For those of you still wondering this is a good illustration of an Oreo.

Simply Tasty

Well, I head back to work today.  Now, isn't that thrilling news?  Dealing with customers?  One thing that will keep foot traffic down will be the high temps.  We're supposed to crest the 100 (F) wave today... and tomorrow.  In fact, tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter then today.  And if you decide to shop my store, don't expect the A/C to cool you off the moment you walk through the door.  Nope.  It's going to be roasty toasty because we have so many large doors that allow in the smothering heat.  For example, one of our roll-up doors in the back of the building is  twenty feet wide, and it's open most of the day to accept deliveries.

Of course, this is a mini work week.  In 4 days I'll begin another 6 day vacation and shortly after that I'll have another 3 weeks vacation on the books.

I made one of my favorite dishes yesterday for dinner, Shrimp Lo Mein.  Simply tasty.

I understand the figures from the last census get released today and there's fear the Republicans are going to use them to gerrymander the country to hell in order to stay in power.  This is... rather amusing.  Why?  Well one of the pre-release tidbits that came out yesterday is that the country is rapidly diversifying.  Translation?  White people simply aren't making enough babies.  All I have to do is look at my nieces and nephews to see the truth in that.  And the Republican Party is the party of the white voter, a party that is in deep denial about the changes happening in America.  They don't seem to understand that at some point their grandchildren are going to begin paying the price for this denial.

Ah, well, this is how it goes.

 

Dogs and Duck on Bed

Wow!  I got quite a lot accomplished yesterday... like my whole list.  I mowed my lawn and then I whacked my weeds, and then, for good measure I pulled my weeds because sometimes it's fun.  Five loads of laundry?  Done.  A six mile bicycle ride was included in the afternoon.  All in all, I'd say it was a good day.
Today I'm going to take a personal day... I  need to rest up after yesterday.
Frank Bruni zeroed in on one of the Idiot Jerk's biggest problems.  While he's focusing on how the Idiot Jerk treats the LGBTQ community, in reality this is how he treats women, people of color, immigrants (legal and illegal), politicians... everybody except his adoring fan base.  He will give them anything to maintain their "ardor," at the expense of every other human on the planet.  He desperately wants to be worshiped...  He is two-faced.   And those who praise him?  They are a minority.  His approval rating sits at around 40%.  A large number of people don't like him.  Losing the popular vote and getting elected with only the Electoral College does not give you Carte Blanche to do what ever you want.  This has, however, long been a problem with Republicans.  Their attitude as for too long been "shut up.  We're in charge.  We're going to do what we want, so screw you."  Their mantra has always been:  My Money, My Taxes, My Religion.  The time has come to treat this minority they way they treat everyone else.  They need to be taught that they have not been Chosen.
Anyway, we had rain last night, so it's a good thing I got my yard work done yesterday.  My nectarines are beginning to ripen and I have either squash, or cantaloupes, or both, growing along the side of the house.  More dahlias are budding, which means more pictures soon.  If it weren't going to be hot and humid today, I'd take the dogs up to the park for a walk.  Of course, that doesn't mean they're not going to have fun.

That's them this morning... on the bed... with their once yellow duck.

That Republican Minority

It is Saturday.  I have 3 more days of work, and then I'm off a day.  Tuesday.  That's also the day I have a dentist appointment.  When I called them yesterday morning to let them know that the filling, less then a week old, had chipped, the receptionist said in a little girl's voice "Oh, no!"  Not that the fix should take that long, but it scheduled for right in the middle of the day.  Shit.
We are also supposed to have showers for most of today and tomorrow.  The weather forecast for the coming week is cooler, only hitting the mid 80's.  This must mean the hottest  part of summer is past us.  Oh, sure, we'll probably have a week or so when the temps get up there, but having them sit constantly in the 90's, day after day?  I don't think so.
I have to say, those reprehensible Republicans are rather amusing right now.  There are the extreme crazies who shriek their adoration of the Idiot Jerk in the White House, the ones who think volume is enough to convince the world.  They wear their hatred on their sleeves.  While there are a lot of them, they are not the majority.  Then there are the quiet ones, those who voted for him and now wonder if insanity will run forever in their families.  They, too, are a small lot.  The majority, however, tend to be the whiners.  They constantly complain.  Yep.  They are the ones who are so desperately happy to have a bully in the White House.  Does it matter to them if his diplomatic skills are on par with those of a southern cracker at the height of tobacco season?  Hell no.  He is their dream come true.  A faux Republican dictator, whose prowess with Executive Orders excels that of a twelve year old brat's ambitions for stealing a four year old's candy.  These same people, who heaped criticism after criticism on Obama, hiss disparagingly about the media.  How quickly they forget their own vehemence.  The idea of a Blue Wave is beyond their comprehension.  How can that be?  When it arrives they will shit bricks.  This is a minority group.  They need to be put in their place.