Anni de Plombo

 https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/15vs4py/shop_owner_shot_killed_over_rainbow_flag_outside/

At least the cops killed the shooter but while people are killing each other over flags in Ukraine, they're also doing so here. We are entering our Years of Lead, Anni de Plombo as it was called in Italy, our Troubles, and some would argue as evidenced by more than 1000 deaths a year due to political conflict, our newest civil war. 

I was up all night worrying two pieces of test equipment apart. Identical pieces which made it a bit easier but real bastards to take apart. At least there were some pretty neat, high-value parts in there. 

I was up in time to have a coffee and grab the two bags of books I'd made ready last night and get out of here to the used book store. I was offered $7 cash or something like $11 in trade, and took the cash. 

I had to take the books they didn't want with me of course, so I took those with me to Whole Foods where I got some sausages and asparagus and ate. Then I headed over to the Teen Challenge store and dropped the books off. Literally, as I'd just dashed in and put the bags of books on a table and one of them tipped and books flopped onto the floor. Oh well, their problem now, I got outta there. 

I rode up to Central Computers where I wanted to buy a new mouse pad but they were closed. Oh well,  I figured, I've got time to go to Kinokuniya and look for maybe some training stuff on learning the kana/gana, and I'll get a cold bottle of coffee in Mitsuwa too. So I rode back, only realizing I'd gone the wrong way when I got back to the Big-5 by Santana Row. Uhh, oops. 

I hadn't planned my day other than cashing in the books. While out riding I had been thinking that I'm not really enthusiastic about going to Nordstrom's to see if they have Olukai slippers, and maybe I'll just set aside the cash for 1/2 the price of a pair, and then get them next week. But since I'd screwed up going to Kinokuniya, there wasn't much else to do but, indeed, walk over to Nordstrom's after all. 

I locked my bike there and walked over. The time I'd gone into the mall and mainly into Macy's, it was depressing as hell. Dead, dead, dead. But this time I had to walk past tons of stores and the place was hopping. Nordstrom's was fine. There were actual customers in there, and I was able to walk in, veer to the left, and find a pair of Olukais that fit me. Tried them on to make sure, paid, and was out of there. 

I poked around a few stores but the mall's pretty boring unless you have a specific mission to get a certain thing, and even then it is. 

By the time I got back to my bike it was starting to get dark, and I realized the Chidori Band concert I'd planned to go to tonight started at 7 and it was almost 8. Oops. 

I wended my way back, going through San Pedro Square once I was downtown again. They've stopped having loud bands there and have it shut off to cars so it's just people walking around and no loud music. In other words, ideal for busking. And there was not ONE busker, or even beggar or anything. 

Other than San Pedro Square, it was surprisingly dead and it was very quiet and peaceful on my ride home. This is not counting the zombies of course, of which I encountered the stumbling, mumbling, yelling, barking, and even roaring varieties. 

I found a few books to get my next batch started, some from a pile of stuff left out, there was an electric kettle of the same type I use, in other words a good one, a rolling bag of the type you travel with, a Brother sewing machine, and such useful things. 

I got back here and checked the time - 9PM, the equivalent of midnight in the before times. I put the scraps out for the bums from the equipment I'd taken apart and there was a bum nearby after I'd taken half of it out so I got back in here and buttoned the place up while Mr. Bum, somehow, carried the stuff away on his bike, then went back out and put out the other half. I don't know how these bums do it but I suppose with enough meth all kinds of things are possible. 

There's a high layer of cloud that's distinctly brown. In keeping with the decay of the internet, www.purpleair.com is pay-only now but according to www.airnow.gov the AQI is only about 30 which is really good.