the mellow tigger's musings

If Trump is ever jailed on this particular issue, it will feel as unsatisfying as Al Capone being jailed for tax evasion. Better than nothing, sure, but nowhere close to true justice. I still hope for charges on the problems for which Trump was impeached (twice!), as well as the rest of the long laundry list. Scroll to the bottom of that webpage for the table of crimes, and be sure to notice the page numbers at the bottom of the table.

edit 6:15pm: Or, you know, go full schadenfreude.

If you're looking for something to do on Tuesday evening (7pm EST) of next week, January 24th, then check out this remote discussion with hopepunk authors. I've signed up. Hopepunk is a type of speculative fiction that encourages "defiant optimism in the face of hopelessness". It's closely related to the more recognized solarpunk genre, where people and nature work together as a symbiosis rather than as plundered opponents.

There is already a good explanation for the different kinds of punk fiction, but this video is great for explaining solarpunk itself:

Humanity is on the verge of so many significant technological innovations that it's almost breathtaking. Our immense failures right now are social (and therefore also political and economic). So much conduct disorder, so much long-taught greed, so much self-fulfilling corruption (other people will do it to me, so I should do it first to them, right?). Humanity needs healing. It will take a lot of work to overcome the terrible momentum we have accumulated. But the opportunity for change is real.

"The beginning is near."

My car doors magically started working again! The temperature yesterday was still a few degrees below freezing, but that was plenty warm enough for the gears in all three doors to start working again. Yay!!! I went to both grocery stores yesterday to restock my kitchen. I have a variety of food again. :)

As I headed for the car yesterday, I noticed some animal tracks. They're both good signs. One was a bird looking for seeds in the plants that I leave untouched during winter. I'm sure the city would rather I cut everything down, but the local ecosystem benefits from keeping things as natural as possible. This plant was tall enough to poke above the snowline with its old flower shell. A bird was foraging on my front steps for seeds in that plant. I don't know if it had any, but surely other plants around my yard could provide something for it to eat. I also saw cat tracks near the same front porch, where I occasionally put out cat food for the strays. Obviously, at least one cat survived the arctic surge. Survival is good, even if I can't provide more for now. These tracks are good news, and they make me happy. :)

People in warmer climates may not understand the interest, but this Minneapolis car has successfully escaped its snow bank.

Today, the weather is a degree or two above freezing, and I ran errands farther afield. I researched online to find a lubricant rated for -54C/-65F, which would be great for the innards of those doors. Unfortunately, my local AutoZone didn't have it in stock, so I just now ordered some online for delivery tomorrow. Once it arrives, though, I may temporarily give up trying to fix those doors this winter. It may have to wait for warmer weather in a few months. It'd be fine if I had my own dry garage to work in while tearing open the panels for those doors, but I don't have a garage, so this self repair work may have to wait. All that deep snow and slush on the roads right now is just an invitation for me to lose one (or more) door screws in my usual clumsy fashion.

I finally went to the bank to deposit a Christmas check from my parents. Elsewhere, I successfully found some glue rated for all kinds of plastic. I applied it to the broken door handle just now. I have to wait a day for it to bond completely. I'll find out tomorrow if I can easily exit the driver side again. Today, I had to roll down the window and lift the handle from the outside. That's fine, as long as the windows continue to roll down, but they failed me too during the recent arctic weather. But the car engine works, and the doors work. Those are low standards for my old rust bucket, maybe, but I'll take the good news where it's available. :)