Sun, 18:46: “Christmas with the Clauses” on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad. We’d hoped there would be snow, but even as close to Mt. Rainier (10 miles) as the town of Elbe, WA, it was 50° today. At least it didn’t rain! It was still beautiful. I mean, the train was loud, but the scenery was pretty.
I’ve wanted to do the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad for ages, and now I finally did it. It wasn’t entirely what I expected, but it was fun for what it was; I’m glad to have checked it off my list. https://t.co/34AX2ugk5q
Sun, 21:03: Side note to any moron trying to suggest the mass shooting in Sydney proves that gun control laws don't work: do you know how many mass shootings Australia has had this year? TWO. The U.S. has had that many in the past three weeks.
Australia has had a total of four mass shootings in the past five years, combined fatalities 35. The U.S. has had 16 mass shootings this year alone, combined fatalities 53. I didn't even tally the truly massive U.S. totals over the past five years because I don't have the time (and these numbers don't even include the far higher number of injuries).
The difference is clearly stark. It's so tiresome when people argue that gun control is pointless because it doesn't prevent all shootings. It fucking prevents most of them! It literally saves lives.
The scenario in the U.S. is what happens when we take no action against endless, utter horror for no reason besides demanding nothing short of perfection. It's the same shit over and over: whether it's electing imperfect candidates or passing imperfect laws, when you demand perfection, which is impossible, you not only get far worse than the best option available, you get absolute shit.
Sat, 13:13: Not only is Dick Van Dyke still alive but he turns 100 today, which is kind of nuts. Shobhit and I watched a lovely documentary about him on PBS last night. It made me really want to watch MARY POPPINS, my all-time favorite movie musical, again, which I haven't done in ages. It looks like you can watch the documentary in its entirety online! https://t.co/BFEoHRgQONZ/
Sun, 19:47: My first time at the Pathway of Lights at Green Lake, apparently an annual event for over 40 years. No wonder it was bonkers-crowded. I got some nice photos but this one doesn’t need to go into my annual rotation. https://t.co/yrgOVesTMB
