Jeffrey Hayes

I awake in the middle of a featureless desert. It is earlier than usual for this to happen, but such irregularities are a part of life. I know what to do. I walk to a round sign by the road, and wait. The bus is coming. #DB2026

Dropped off my ballot today. I usually don't vote quite so far ahead of Election Day, but wanted to complete my civic duty before #DB2026 monopolizes my attention. 😄

Looked at the the last five end-of-year letters I wrote, and on average I included 8 parentheticals per 4-5 page-long letter, (excluding ones to provide/clarify acronyms or abbreviations), including some lengthy ones, though I was particularly parentheses-heavy in 2022 and 2023.

Went to a demonstration today.

This phrasing has been kicking around in my head for a while, but chances I'd ever have the chance to say it in a public speech are near-zero, so I will share it as inspiration for anyone who might be able to use it: We are living under a dictatorship of the plutotariat.

Bus. Is. Coming.

I regret that I, too did not receive a Nobel Peace Prize even though I have, to my memory, never so much as even feigned a punch at another person in defense or offense. But I GUESS that isn't good enough for the Oslo crowd.

Bonus points if you know what the first two bits are references to. #DB2026

Not sure which is more aggravating - getting the . . . 30th? maybe more? political spam text for this month, or that said spam text calls me "Jeff," a shortened name I have *despised* being called since 3rd Grade.

So when watching Twitch streams I've seen ads for "Virginia Connects" that are full of pro-data center propaganda. Tonight while cooking dinner, I saw an ad on the TV that was basically the same, but swapping out "Virginia" with "Oregon." I'm betting it's a single lobby group responsible for both.

Many people ask, "What is Desert Bus for Hope?" Others ask, "When are you going to update that video?" Great news:

No surprises, since I grew up in the SF Bay Area. Also, I would *love* to know where some of these other terms for a sunshower are used.

Have done this, and yep, they were *on* for both my desktop and laptop before I turned them off.

TFW you have the urge to read creative writing you did when you were in your late teens/early 20s and when you do you're "Oh, this is . . . pretty bad"

TWITCH AI TRAINING IS LIVE - ON BY DEFAULT here's how to turn it off: - settings - security and privacy

I very much recommend this, between Molly Lewis's moody music and Cameron Lauder's reading. And on a day when the air outside where I live is hazed from the smoke of multiple wildfires, and the world being in the state it is, it feels tragically fitting for this very day of August 4, 2026.

Bluesky is a "liberal bubble" because fascist chuds can't get traction without algorithmic assistance and because people here trained themselves to block "debate me" trybois the instant they roll up

In before Trump calls FIFA to have tonight's game result overturned.

Just randomly remembered that today is also the bicentennial of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams' deaths.

Spent a little time on my balcony, writing my thoughts regarding the state of my home country a quarter of a millennium after its founding (spoilers - it was not particularly celebratory)

Everyone’s enjoying the excommunication drama but there are also lessons for pro-democracy political actors. Decades of accommodating and appeasing this sect did not work and only emboldened them. You have to go whole hog. When you have power, break the back of the reactionaries. Shut them out

Hey! You! What's your favorite Desert Bus for Hope moment? Let us know here: forms.gle/Gj48hAqP5LNy...

Something that's been irriating me recently is that because I have included my middle initial (A) in some online forms, anytime I'm like "Yeah, autofill my info here," the Last Name field gets filled as "A Hayes."

🚌💨 Broadcasting from our homes to your homes, Desert Bus Express 2026 is LIVE for the next 24 hours! Hop on board, and help us raise money for qmunity.ca. twitch.tv/desertbus

A few shots from my hike today in Milo McIver State Park near Estacada, Oregon.

A couple of butterflies and a sneaky bee I saw during a hike at Forest Park today. Also saw some Tiger Swallowtails, and a deer *bounded* downhill past me.

👀

Had a nice outing to the Tualatin Hills Nature Park earlier today.

Attended a May Day rally and march with members of my union local this afternoon. Didn't really take photos of the event itself, so here's the two sides of the sign I carried (which a different member of the local had made at a sign-making party last Sunday).

Had a nice hike in Forest Park this afternoon.

Watching the Artemis splashdown was nice break from *pretty much everything else newsworthy happening now*

Politics has unexpectedly hit a special interest of mine so here is a quick rundown on the Avignon Papacy.

All right, fuck it. Let's celebrate this glorious Appomattox Day by telling the story of Pickett's Charge from the Union side. We will dispense with Lee's decision, Longstreet's sorrow, Pickett's tragic foolishness, etc. Let's start w/ a conversation between two Philly guys.

At some point you've got to ask yourself why there isn't more resistance.

Nothing like hearing *that* guy's voice to make me immediately close the Twitch stream of the Artemis II mission.

Had today off on account of needing to work Saturday, so took the opportunity to go out to some nature areas. Good day for it.

Good turnout at today's march in Portland - easily in the tens of thousands.

GOOD.

Some nice cloudscapes this evening.

Watching a Twitch stream I'm not subbed to, a 2-minute ad break had TWO gambling app ads, one of which was for betting on real life stuff. Just . . . ew.

Took a brief walk this afternoon to see the cherry trees along the Portland waterfront in full bloom. A lot of folks also had the same idea, as you can see from the second photo.