News Of The Week Roundup: Week 39, 2021

I can't believe it is October. I've spent the entire weekend organizing and decluttering. Eric is working on redoing the drywall in the garage which meant everything had to come out of there anyway, so it was a great time to get rid of some stuff. It is always amazing to me how much "stuff" a person accumulates. Eric and I are not collectors. I rarely if ever buy physical media anymore, the odd hardcover book an exception that I know I will want to revisit several times. All my music is digital. I stream shows and haven't bought a DVD in I don't know how long. Eric has a fetish for tools and I have one for bags. He has too many tools - like, it is absurd how many he owns. Plus he keeps what he calls "aggregates" in case he needs for future projects. What are "aggregates" you ask? Think pieces parts and bits of wire, plastic pipe, PEX, tile, glue, wire, wood, whatever. We got rid of a lot of that and I am thankful. I use my local Buy Nothing group on Facebook to give away things that still have life to keep items out of landfills. Truly the best use of Facebook.

As for news, the week was all about the infrastructure bill on Capitol Hill. The government was funded so we didn't "shutdown" in America, which is always good. The infrastructure bill will pass by the end of the month. The question is really just how big it will be and what will it include.

Politico-Morning Consult poll:

56% of Americans support the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Just 27% oppose.

57% believe the $1 trillion price tag for the bill is either the right amount or too *little* to spend.

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) September 28, 2021

New: As she looms over Biden’s agenda, pro-Sinema mailers are distributed in Arizona touting her infrastructure bill.

“Independent. Straight Talk. Bipartisan.” “Just like John McCain.”

A glimpse into the senator’s unique political identity at home.https://t.co/FhpSWtfb5v pic.twitter.com/IWVNp4FToT

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) October 3, 2021

Booker sides with Democratic progressives in fight over infrastructure bill https://t.co/JD4Hiqln1F pic.twitter.com/PiTQffQGax

— NJ.com Politics (@NJ_Politics) October 3, 2021

Also, any infrastructure bill passed will not close churches in America. Just FYI.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) claims that the infrastructure bills are a Democratic plot to take over America with socialism in one vote. Blackburn also claimed, "They want government control of your kids," and infrastructure bills will close churches. pic.twitter.com/bh57V2X2Bv

— PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) October 3, 2021

Friday kicked off the official Walt Disney World 50th anniversary celebration. The celebration will actually last 18 months and features special programming and merchandise in all four Disney parks. I saw some crowd photos from Friday and all the people gave me the heebee jeebees.

Florida's Walt Disney World celebrates its 50th anniversary with new rides and a light show pic.twitter.com/IzQlspZKGh

— Reuters (@Reuters) October 1, 2021

This wasn't at night... we're talking around 6 a.m. - people were flocking to the main gate of The Magic Kingdom because they wanted exclusive merchandise. Bonkers.

The gates to Magic Kingdom have opened and guests are pouring in for the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World! pic.twitter.com/smdNu7PFxg

— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) October 1, 2021

COVID-19 cases remain frustratingly high in America (see post above for crowds). Still, the pandemic is showing signs of easing, at least in the U.S. Perhaps by Christmas time, things will be more stable and less dangerous - with Delta starting to die off. Experts are hoping to vaccinate large swaths of the world as soon as possible. Without doing so, this pandemic will never end.

World leaders aim to vaccinate 70% of the global population by next September, yet experts say many doses in rich countries risk going unused https://t.co/lB2n4EVDIp

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 2, 2021

A grim milestone for America:

CNN: On Friday, the United States passed 700,000 deaths from Covid-19, 108 days after it reached 600,000 Covid-19 deaths.

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) October 2, 2021

The Feds are still looking for Brian Laundrie, the boyfriend of murdered van life blogger Gabby Petito. Laundrie is wanted on a financial crimes warrant of using a debit card that wasn't his while traveling home to Florida from out west where he was the last to see Gabby alive. Many want more serious charges for him. That won't matter if he stays in the wind.

Why hasn’t Brian Laundrie been charged with a more serious crime?
“I think it’s coming.” – Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg says.
He also explains why the full autopsy report hasn’t been released.
And what would it take for Brian’s parents to be charged? pic.twitter.com/d67uQ6xR8N

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) October 2, 2021

The Super Bowl halftime show announcement has people buzzing! I have to admit, I am excited for this. 90s hip hop, rejoice!

Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Mary J. Blige Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre will perform at the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show. https://t.co/srZpYevZpc pic.twitter.com/FPIWcbHYPJ

— Variety (@Variety) September 30, 2021

And I leave you with this:

pic.twitter.com/yhjHONqsue

— WholesomeMemes (@WholesomeMeme) October 1, 2021

Comments

[GNR]

Defintion of INFASTRUCTURE ~ the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

Too bad the bill just can't stick to that.

16 home nfl games this weekend about a 800,000 to 1,000,000 attending these games, think they care about COVID ? That doesn't even count the 50+ D1 college games.They are whistiling and humming Bon Jovi's "It's My Life" chorus over and over again.

[Jack T. Ripper]

@GNR… that bill is stuffed with socialist PORK! I was at 1 of the College games this weekend. Didn’t hear any BonJovi but did hear plenty of Fu@k Joe Biden chants. Place was completely sold out just like every other campus but Fauci says it’s too early to know if we Americans can visit with family for Christmas!!!!!

[Him]

I am glad that people are feeling better and gathering in massive crowds to celebrate feeling better. That is a sign that things are finally, truly, done. Thank you, massive crowds, for showing us the way. In other news, I love irony.

In other (other) news, I think infrastructure needs to be improved. Like, NOW! But I also don't like chicharrones in my bridge reconstruction plans. Thing is, I also know that a bit of pork in the greatest of all bills is . . . the . . . way . . . things . . . have . . . gone . . . since . . . FOREVER!

You take the good. You take the bad. You take them both and there you have . . . the facts of living in America. Sigh. When the world never seems . . . okay, I will stop.