Is This Anything? February 19, 2021February 19, 2021 We’re in the midst of a cold civil war, in which one side believes the disgraced former president “won by a landslide” . . . when even his slavishly loyal former Vice President and Attorney General join everyone else in positions of authority — many of them Republicans and Trump appointees — in confirming he did not. It’s scary when good people are willing to risk their lives for a lie. Scarier still when some of them — not all — wear Camp Auschwitz shirts and carry Confederate flags. One of their generals — who told them, “If any race of people should not have guilt about slavery, it’s Caucasians” — was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the disgraced former president’s final State of the Union. Rolling Stone wasn’t so kind. (“How the right-wing talk radio icon corrupted the Republican Party, spread hate, racism, and lies, and laid the groundwork for Trumpism.”) Here’s Homeland Security’s assessment in 2009: . . . Threats from white supremacist and violent antigovernment groups during 2009 have been largely rhetorical and have not indicated plans to carry out violent acts. Nevertheless, the consequences of a prolonged economic downturn—including real estate foreclosures, unemployment, and an inability to obtain credit—could create a fertile recruiting environment for rightwing extremists and even result in confrontations between such groups and government authorities similar to those in the past. — Rightwing extremists have capitalized on the election of the first African American president, and are focusing their efforts to recruit new members, mobilize existing supporters, and broaden their scope and appeal through propaganda, but they have not yet turned to attack planning. . . . That changed after Trump called on them to fight like hell to save their country. We know the disgraced former president kept a book of Hitler’s speeches by his bedside; I wonder whether he has found time to read Caste. On the brighter side . . . 1. Is This Anything? is a compilation of bite-sized observations Jerry Seinfeld will read to you as you fall asleep. Set the Audible timer for 15 minutes and chances are, you’ll be smile-snoring after ten. (The melatonin gummy you ate an hour or two before helps.) The next night, just go back a few minutes to roughly where you dozed off and start again. 2. How To Avoid A Climate Disaster is Bill Gates’ just-published review of “the solutions we have and the breakthroughs we need.” Not mentioned, but a good one, from a British company called Clean Planet Energy: 3. Jet fuel — and more — from non-recyclable plastic! There’s so much to look forward to, if we can just learn to get along with each other! Have a great weekend.