These guns are going like hotcakes! Credit: IPGGutenbergUKLtd/ Getty Images
These guns are going like hotcakes!
These guns are going like hotcakes! IPGGutenbergUKLtd/ Getty Images

Remember our veterans while exploring nature? Today we pay our respects and celebrate the sacrifice made by our friends, family, and all other Americans who have served our country in the military. In observance of Veterans Day, all state and national parks are free of charge today, one of the 12 free admission days in the year. How can you go wrong? You never need an excuse to pay your respects or journey out into the outdoors, but today you have one.

President Trump’s weekend roundup, or, how Trump fumbled through France: It was a big French weekend for malignant narcissist in chief Donald Trump, from canceling a WWI memorial service at an American military cemetery on Saturday, over fear of precipitation, to avoiding a peace forum in Paris on Sunday. As former secretary of state John Kerry pointed out, “Those veterans the president didn’t bother to honor fought in the rain, in the mud, in the snow.”

At the World War I ceremony Trump did find time to attend: French president Emmanuel Macron gave a 20-minute address in which he dubbed nationalism a “betrayal of moral values.” Macron went on to say, as Trump, a self described nationalist, sat just feet away, “Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism; nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism.”

Here’s what Trump’s puppeteer thinks of the job Trump is doing:

Seattle moves to shift money from school-safety projects into general fund: The money is generated from fines produced via red-light cameras that catch drivers who drive though red lights. The Seattle City Council wants to shift $900,000 a year from school sidewalk and crosswalk projects into the general fund to help fund “programs related to arts, parks, homelessness, and other needs.” Apparently, the red-light cameras were installed to lower the rate of drivers who dangerously careen through red lights. It hasn’t made a difference, and the city has raised more money than they expected.

Blue wave even stronger since Election Day, Trump is spreading “infected” lies: Democrats seem to be doing even better than than they appeared to be on election night, picking up almost 40 seats in the US House. In Florida, the Senate race, the governor’s race, and the agriculture commissioner are too close to call–the Florida senate and governor races are already headed to a mandatory recount. Trump, our narcissistic, unstable leader, is doing nothing short of spreading misinformation in the hopes of casting doubt on the election results.

Washington gun shops expect sales boost from gun control: Yep! In preparation for guns being ever so slightly more difficult to obtain after the passing of I-1639, gun shop owners expect a big uptick in sales. But gun stores would prefer the “threat” of gun control more than the actuality of it, as the continually circular debate produces the best waves of sales increases. Seems that since Trump was elected, gun sales have actually slumped, because buyers feel confident no one is going to strip them of their “constitutional right.”

Mother Earth is passing gas: That’s how wind works, right?

Holy fucking fires: Camp Fire, the peculiarly named fire that has wreaked havoc throughout Northern California, is now considered the most destructive fire in the state’s history, having killed 29 people and burned down 6,453 homes. There are still 228 people missing. That’s not to mention the Woolsey Fire in Southern California, which has also claimed two lives. Los Angeles fire chief Daryl Osby understands that climate change has caused these fires to become more destructive than ever.

Climate change, Osby said, was undeniably a part of why the fires burning in Northern and Southern California were more devastating and destructive than in years past.

It bears repeating; California state’s most destructive fire ever… in November.

Oh yeah, and our president’s only response in a time when California needs our help more than ever? Nothing. Except to blame California for their suffering.

Speaking of fires: My wife and I were walking around Wallingford on Saturday night when we noticed a glowing red skyline and massive plume of smoke just off to the east. I said, “That looks like a fucking huge fire. If that’s a building burning, it must be full of lumber.” As it turned out, it was a four-alarm fire at a lumberyard warehouse in North Queen Anne. A four-alarm fire means there were four fire units needed to put out the blaze. Apparently, the last four-alarm fire in Seattle was back in 2010. The good news is no one was injured, and the owner vows to rebuild.

Three hour standoff in Mount Vernon: Police responded to a domestic dispute Sunday night to find a woman and boy outside the home they were called to. The woman and boy told police the man in the house had a “machine gun.” After three hours of negotiation, police were able to bring in the suspect without incident. The only good ending to a situation that involves a three-hour standoff and a “machine gun” is one “without incident,” my lord.

Gouda play: If you don’t like cats, you can skip right over this blurb. Good, the psychopaths are gone, we’re safe to continue… enjoy this video from when Gouda was just a wee kitten and could play with a sock endlessly.

Tonight’s best Seattle entertainment options include: A reading with living poetry legend Eileen Myles, an evening with Italian prog-rock ghouls (who created the original Suspiria soundtrack) Goblin, and a screening of Jim Jarmusch’s Mystery Train.