Midrange Weekly February 22
Your Weekly Round Up On What’s Got The Midrange Staff’s Attention
Midrange Staff @midrangeyvr
Welcome back to Midrange Weekly and like us, we assume you have spent the past week learning about the mechanics of wind turbines to a far greater extent than you ever imagined. Despite what Trump says, we’re still pretty sure they don’t cause cancer. Speaking of the big sad Florida man, wow is it ever nice not having him dominate the news with his boundless idiocy. Other dumb stuff happened sure, but we appreciate the variety. A lot of neat things happened this week too, not the least of which was an impressively tricked out golf cart posting a Tik Tok video from Mars, but it was also a tough stretch for a lot of people in Texas, which is where much of our focus will be this week. Who’s ready to learn about the nuances of the US energy grid? No one? Really?
Sifting Through The Lies Of The Texas Power Failures
Via People Magazine
Texans this week have been faced with the unenviable task of determining which is worse, facing the consequences of staunch deregulation and privatization in the state amid a climate change caused natural disaster, or facing the reality that they elected some reprehensibly stupid people to represent and govern them. Texas is a wonderful state and its residents deserve better than to go without power and water in a brutal snowstorm only to be gas lighted or straight up abandoned by their leaders. The punishing winter storms currently subjecting Texas to unprecedented temperatures have revealed the unacceptable frailties and antiquities of their power grid and brought out the most mendacious and craven of qualities in their increasingly irredeemable leaders. It’s worth putting what they’ve said about the catastrophe into context in efforts to reveal them for the callously self-serving lies that they are.
Winter Storm Uri descended upon Texas and swiftly smashed its power grid leaving millions of residents without power, without heat, even without clean water. Texas, being a southern state, understandably does not have nearly as developed an infrastructure as northern states do to deal with low temperatures and snow. It doesn’t have an army of municipal snowploughs the way a state like Illinois or Michigan does. What’s less excusable is how woefully inadequate the preparedness was for maintaining the Texan power grid amid anomalous weather. Being a state mostly dependent on coal and natural gas, the gas in the pipelines froze, expanded, and then cracked said pipes, crippling the system.
This is not what Texas Governor Greg Abbott would have you believe. Abbott was swift to go on the news and make some absolutely wild claims about the causes of the power failures. He spuriously stated that this was the fault of frozen windmills; Trojan horses for the precipitous folly that is the Green New Deal. From Abbott’s perspective this event is clearly a repudiation of attempts to invest in green energy in his state and elsewhere in the nation. This is an astonishingly stupid take at best and at worst he is straight up lying. Wind power makes up less than a quarter of energy produced in Texas, some estimates has it as low as 8%. ERCOT- the main supplier of energy in the state- pegs it about 15-18% in recent years. Furthermore, a spokesperson for ERCOT added that wind turbine freezing was the least significant contribution to the power outages. In other words, if more of the state were powered by wind energy they would be in a better position. It’s interesting that on local Texas news outlets Abbott was being more forthright about the reality and severity of the situation, but on Fox News where he had a national and culture war oriented audience, he spat out the aforementioned bullshit.
local audience v. national audience pic.twitter.com/Lf56MnTSdG
— City Nolan (wears a 😷, so should you) (@ndhapple) February 17, 2021
It’s also stunning to hear Abbott blame the Green New Deal for Texas’ troubles, considering the Green New Deal is a set of climate change oriented policy proposals that have not been implemented yet. Not in Texas, not anywhere, it exists purely as a legislative hypothetical at this point. In what context are we expected to believe that Governor Abbott, a fierce republican true believer of the increasingly Trumpian variety would ever implement significant measures to decrease the oil industry’s grip over Texas? How about his equally partisan predecessor Rick Perry, who ended up being the Secretary of Energy of all positions- did he enact such green energy minded policies? Texas is as far away from implementing green energy initiatives in a meaningful way as any state in the country and yet they have the unmitigated audacity to blame the GND and advocates of it such as AOC? Did she sneak in over night and completely reconfigure their energy infrastructure without them noticing? Are they hoping people are this dumb?
Additional context is also instructive. Iowa has more wind power production than any other state in the union, at 40% of its energy ratio. It routinely faces colder temperatures than Texas and has suffered no such power failures as a result. One could point to whole other countries such as Norway or Sweden that are far more dependent on wind energy come away with the same observation. This is not the delineating factor in regards to the catastrophe in Texas. What is far more determinative is that Texas is the only state not on a national power grid. The entirety of the United States is partitioned into the western grid, the eastern grid, and…. Texas. The state’s overzealous commitment to performative individualism on a governance level has left it alienated from federal back up energy reserves or physical infrastructure and resources. By legislating themselves into an isolated position, Texas has been free to privatize and deregulate their energy industry. As such the companies tasked with administering and maintaining the grid have been free to put short-term profits over long term planning. They have left their infrastructure to decay and fall into disrepair, leading to the previously mentioned busted pipes not being winterized and water treatment facilities being similarly ill equipped. Politicians such as Abbott repeatedly accept donations from these private companies ensuring this spiral of incompetence continues in perpetuity. Countless other places around the country and the world are proving right now that the weather Texas is facing is wholly manageable and doesn’t need to be a death sentence. Instead, people are dead. 47 people as of Friday. -Tristan
Of Course Ted Cruz Fucked Up Again
Via Getty Images
First of all, I’m very sorry to have to once again talk about Ted Cruz. All of this was already very bad. And then Cruz happened. Truthfully I cannot think of any situation, anecdotal or otherwise, ever where the inclusion of America’s most loathsome senator has not made things inexorably worse- or at least more embarrassing. The saga of the latest Ted Cruz scandal is egregiously stupid, even by his standards. Amidst a harrowing snowstorm that has disrupted, and even sadly in some cases ended, the lives of his constituents, Cruz got busted flying to Cancun. Before we go any further, yes, The Simpsons once again did predict our present reality a generation in advance. Congratulations to Cruz for now being synonymous with Mayor Quimby who is essentially the incarnate of corruption and hypocrisy.
What’s even more pathetic is the litany of half assed excuses Cruz burned through in record time upon being caught; he had three separate ones in less than a full day. At first he said his daughters wanted to take a trip with friends on account of weather related school closures and, being the good dad that he is, he wanted to fly them down with the intention of heading back the same day. Within an hour of his statement proof emerged that his originally round trip ticket had a return date of Saturday, four days after his departure flight, and that he scrambled to get a stand by seat back to Texas after landing- and landing in hot water. That he told a demonstrable lie would be bad enough but holy hell yes he actually did throw his own children under the bus for this one. Once that story fell apart Cruz did the media circuit claiming that he had originally planned to accompany his daughters the whole time, but shortly after departing realized he was needed in Texas and opted to head home right away. Enter the Heidi Cruz group chat, in all of its vengeful glory. Text messages from Cruz’ wife with the neighbours that were leaked to the New York Times reveal that the couple had planned the trip several days in advance and had nothing to do with a request from their daughters, rather they simply wanted to get the fuck out of dodge while it was cold out. Whoever leaked these texts to the NYT is clearly a national hero, but it really is something that Cruz is so reviled, not just in his home state but in his own back yard, that his neighbours would so quickly opt to rat him out.
So the daughter excuse was complete bullshit, but even if it were true- does he really think that constitutes a viable defence for his unscrupulous actions? Brutal weather or not we are still in a pandemic and CDC guidelines strongly deter recreational international travel, and yet Cruz acquiesced to his children’s alleged wishes to what- hang out on a beach with their pals? By virtue alone of being the daughters of a senator they are members of one of the most privileged families in the state. How about teaching your daughters to wield that privilege responsibly and for the betterment of their fellow citizens instead of teaching them to abandon those in need? Just because Cruz grew up to be a feckless and spoiled brat doesn’t mean his children must be doomed to the same fate.
Still, many within the conservative punditry were eager to come to his defence. Donald Trump Jr- who has looked like he is on the verge of a spectacular nervous breakdown since roughly October- and professional troll and very small person Ben Shapiro were some of the more prominent right wing partisans to back up Cruz. Both of them had basically the same prosaic rationale for doing so- something akin to what do we actually expect a senator to do during a natural disaster? It’s not like Cruz can get out there and personally weld the pipes back together. In fact there’s little to nothing for a senator to do in such a crises, they assert, and thinking otherwise shows how ignorant the libs are as to the functionaries of government. In reality such statements reveal a great deal about what the Shapiros and mini Trumps of the world think the role of government and its arbiters is. This is what happens when even a desire for clean water and electricity is cynically derided as something akin to socialist handouts. This is the logical end point to a toxic and festering mindset that views their political ideology as motivated not by advocating and implementing policy, but to inflame grievances and culture wars. To people like them, all a politician is supposed to- all they are good for- is stoking white victimization, and reducing everything- even the weather(!)- to menial and pointless culture wars. Cruz serves no purpose other than to be an insolent shit poster that owns the libs, and certainly one can do that anywhere. Like I said, their thoughts are revealing.
In reality, there is a great deal a senator can and should do during a crisis! Indeed they are uniquely equipped and integrally required to be a liaison between federal resources and state and municipal organizations that respond to such events. Furthermore the grassroots and donor networks that every major politician has morphs into their broad constituent service arms one in office. This web of staffers and volunteers provide connective fibres between everything from first responders to food banks to shelters. Senators exist in the centers of such a nexus and can help coordinate their many tangential appendages. Beyond that a senator like Cruz can use the outsized media platform that automatically comes with being an elected official to amplify information that is vital to residents, such as shelters, power updates, safety measures etc. Even in a more passive sense, by simply being there on the ground and plugged in would ensure that a senator actually learns something. This is vital to being made aware of a state’s issues, deficiences, or needs which will help a representative craft and shape pertaining legislation. Ted Cruz may not understand any of this, but others do luckily. Despite representing New York and not Texas, AOC raised an astounding two million dollars (update- it’s up to five million now- she keeps raising so much money I’ve had to edit this several times) in donations to benefit shelters and food banks on the ground in Texas trying to mitigate the crises. In a staggering twist of irony, this is the work of a representative from a state that in its own time of dire need in 2012 when hit by a debilitating tropical storm, Cruz tried to screw out of federal aide. Again, that’s the kind of person Ted Cruz is. Subsequently, Beto O’Rourke, who Cruz bested in the 2018 senate race and isn’t even an elected official, used the vestigial branches of volunteers from his former campaign to call hundreds of thousands of Texans for wellness checks and provide safety and support information. That’s what leaders can do in times of crises. They can display solidarity; the notion that we are all in this together- that’s the bare minimum of what they can do actually and Cruz couldn’t even bother to do that. The next time Cruz wants to cross the southern boarder under morally onerous circumstances to give his family a better life in a more hospitable country, hopefully he fucks off and stays there. -Tristan
Buying-Back Banned Firearms From Canadians Shouldn’t Be Controversial
In this Aug. 15, 2012, file photo, three variations of the AR-15 rifle are displayed at the California Department of Justice in Sacramento, Calif. (Rich Pedronelli/The Associated Press) - via CBC
There were times a few years back while Barack Obama was President where I wished he’d said “screw it, you want your guns, then accept that massacres such as these will happen, and stop saying you’re sorry for the loved one’s who’ve just lost a family member or friend, because it’s on you that they’re dead.”
It drove me nuts seeing him go up to the press corps every few months and repeat the same message of prayers and condolences, when he knew full well nothing would be done to change how Americans saw gun ownership.
The argument so many gun advocates reach for is this silly concept that since they’re responsible gun owners they shouldn’t be punished for the sins of those who are not, namely criminals. This, by the way, is the dumbest logic one might use in trying to combat this or any firearm ban.
Why?
Because sadly for them, that’s not how society works. Government’s make laws that revolve around the densest individuals in our population and not of those whom they know will follow the rules and abide as upstanding citizens. If that were the case, we wouldn’t need laws at all.
If there are 100 gun owners in Canada and 99 of them are responsible, but Gabriel decides that today is the day he’s going to shoot and kill 23 people (as was the case last April in Nova Scotia) then he kinda screws it up for everyone else with his actions.
To prevent such an occurrence from ever happening again, an investigation will transpire and new rules will have to be implemented. The actions of one have ruined it for the many. It’s just how things work and we see this everywhere in our society. Seat belts came about in much the same manner. Airplane security another. We’ve accepted the added precautions and safety measures to insure the protection of the masses from the actions of a few. It’s just common sense. Yet, strikingly, when proposed in response to mass shootings or single shootings for that matter, the debate for civil liberties rages on with little credibility for those whom wish the status quo need not changing, because as so many pro gun advocates continue to hammer home, ‘I’m a responsible gun owner, why should I be punished?”
On Tuesday, this is exactly what took place after the Liberals introduced Bill-21. As per the CBC:
The federal government introduced new gun control legislation today that would introduce a buy-back program for barred firearms, allow municipalities to ban handguns and increase criminal penalties for gun smuggling and trafficking.
Bill C-21, introduced this morning, comes nine months after the Liberals announced a ban on the use, sale and importation of more than 1,500 makes and models of what the government refers to as military-grade “assault-style weapons.”
Not surprisingly, here’s what Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole had to say. As per the CBC:
"I think Mr. Trudeau misleads people when he tries to suggest that buying things back from hunters and other Canadians who are law-abiding is somehow going to solve the problem of shooting and criminal gang activity in the big cities," he said.
"It's ignoring the real problem and it's dividing Canadians."
The bill has its drawbacks. It isn’t mandatory which sucks. It really should be. If an AR-15 is banned from use in Canada, then why own one? I assume there’s some political appeasing at play here, which I get. I don’t agree with it, but this has become a common theme with this Trudeau government in trying to cater to both sides. They did it when they nixed two pipelines while buying another.
The onus, nevertheless, therefore will be set with how much the government decides to price what they’ll pay for each weapon. Higher the rate, greater the probability of more willingness to participate. I guess we’ll see once the full figures are out and if this actually passes the Senate and becomes law.
In the meantime, for those who like their guns and want to keep them, I get it. I enjoy my toys too. It’s just that an M16 kills people. You want to fire it? Great! Head over to your local gun range and blast away. And if that doesn’t appease you, well, I’m sorry. You’re not going to get everything you want in life and if pissing you off means one less dead person in this country because of gun violence, then so be it. Have a martini and get over it. - Jamie
FLUX FIVE
This Week:
Bobby Womack “Woman’s gotta have it” 1993 Anthology
Plaid “Kiterider” 2019 Peel Sessions EP
Nicolas Godin “Passion Femme” 2018 Au Service De La France
Authur Verocai” Caboclo” 1972 Arthur Verocai
Cub ”Where Are You now?” 2019 Single
Enjoy! - Mick
Things From The Internet We Liked
Oh Hell Yes There’s A Mortal Kombat Trailer
Doesn’t matter how bad this ends up being, The new MK is finally, gloriously R rated. All the blood and viscera that is requisite of the series will finally be gruesomely recreated on the big screen. Will pay all the dollars to see Scorpion and Sub Zero body every one around them for a couple hours. (NSFW)
Vox Releases An Excellent Explainer On Why Getting Side Effects After Receiving A COVID Vaccine Are A Good Thing
With vaccination rates soon to rise rapidly here in Canada, for those still leery of getting their shot, this detailed explainer by Vox helps give much needed clarity on why we get side effects from vaccinations in the first place and why it’s a good thing we do.
Cassandra Jenkins Channels Dan Bejar In Her New Album
In her new album An Overview On Phenomenal Nature- which is a very cool album name- New York artist Cassandra Jenkins takes all of the existential and cultural fears that weigh on us and renders them in refreshingly calm and pastoral terms. In the standout track Hard Drive, Jenkins is pulling off some serious Destroyer aka Dan Bejar vibes. This track could have been on Kaputt and we wouldn’t have even blinked.
Kylie Brakeman Dunks On Ted Cruz
No we are not letting this one go, and thankfully neither is one of Twitter’s best comedians doing what she does best.
ted cruz right now pic.twitter.com/QTb4aBkHQR
— kylie brakeman (@deadeyebrakeman) February 18, 2021