August 20

We have a nice, bright, sunny day that should stay dry. Actually, August has gone from a very wet week in a month that is, usually, one of our wettest to having a moisture deficit. I have already finished watering the gardens but with the heat over most of the last month and a half the plants are looking a bit stressed. I am already evaluating and planning for next spring. I already know I will plant some morning glories again next year but in a different place with more protection from direct sun. And I will plant indigo again but in an area where it will get more sun. I had it in two places this year and the one with the most sun has done best. I have several pots I plan to try to protect with wrappings and mulch over the winter hoping the plants will come back.

Tomdispatch has a post from Belle Chesler, a teacher, on the COVID situation now that the school year has begun again. This morning a comment was made on one of the news shows that, with respect to the virus, our population seems to have split into those who are cautious and those who have thrown caution to the winds. After reading Chesler's piece I would amend that a bit. We have divided into those who desperately want "normal" again and those of us who recognize that the old "normal" is never coming back. That desire for "normal" is what is fueling the massive parties which have led to spikes in cases shutting down colleges soon after opening. Or the refusal to wear masks which is usually couched in terms of "freedom." Or the rush to bars after those restrictions were relaxed. Or the frequent discussion of what we miss from the old "normal." We haven't yet found a "new normal" that really fits.

August 21

This piece from Down With Tyranny is interesting and doesn't bode will for Republicans. But no matter how much I want to see that miserable excuse for an alleged human being out of the White House and a large number of his sycophantic followers out of office, I don't really hope things will improve much over the short term--or even the medium term. A different piece from the same source contends that the disgruntled Republicans who have endorsed Biden are doing so because they see a fellow fiscal hawk who will have to impose austerity on the country after the election. The author has the playbook to a T:

 Republican austeritarians run up gigantic deficits while faking reluctance or giving in to pressure. Then, the country up shit's creek, a Democrat is elected and Democratic austeritarians get busy bringing down the wasteful and corrupt deficit the GOP created. Repeat ad nauseum. This little dance will suit Biden just fine.