Dispatches From the Fortress – Day 281

A lot of folks on the web this morning seem to be panicked at second-hand reports that Donald Trump says he will not vacate the White House just because they swear in Joe Biden. None of these folks believe Trump's a man of his word. He never built 10% of the wall he said he was going to build. He never figured out how he was going to get Mexico to pay for any part of it. He never delivered the better, cheaper health plan he said he'd unveil just weeks after he took office…and so on. Why are people who don't trust this man to do what he says he's going to do so worried about him doing what he says he's going to do? Even if he actually said it?

Remember the running tally I was keeping of friends I'd lost because of their hysterical support of Trump? I may have to start one for ex-friends who still insist that the coronavirus is mostly hype and wearing a mask is a sign of weakness and/or being stupid enough to believe "authorities" who made it all up.

Getting back to friends I lost because of Trump: One of them called the other day to ask if we could be friends again. He says he never thought D.J.T. was an honest man. He just liked the idea of the country going where Trump claimed he wanted to take it. Eventually, the movement got a bit too skinheaded for him, plus there were other issues. Our friendship has not fully resumed but I think it's back and on supervised probation.

There's some awful, destructive weather out there and more is forecast. A lot of us are waiting for The Trump Issue to go away and for The Pandemic Issue to go away. And one way we'll know when they have is that someone in power will mention the words "Climate Change" once more.


I completed my Christmas shopping weeks ago with about ten minutes on Amazon, half of that spent ordering things for me. I only had a few folks to buy for and most of 'em were the kind of friends where we exchange gifts whenever we feel like it. I like gifting when it doesn't feel the least bit obligatory.

And I'm hoping this New Year's Eve will be the safest and sanest ever because everyone will stay home and not go out. But you just know there will be lots of super-spreader celebrations. Someone needs to design an emoji that shakes its head in despair and makes an expression that says, "I can't believe how stupid some people can be."

Tune in this site tomorrow for our big 20th Anniversary Celebration. If you have a colorful paper hat around, feel free to wear it! Noisemakers are also permitted as long as you make all the noise where you are and don't put it in an MP3 and send it to me.