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No Gas, No Meat, No Problem.
Surely you’ve heard of the expression “never two without three?”
First, it was the Colonial Pipeline Company that was struck May 11th by a ransomware attack. This is where a bad actor puts malicious software, or “malware,” onto their network, that encrypts drives and software to the point that they couldn’t run the business. For the better part of a week the east coast either had or created a gas shortage by hoarding the commodity. And, it was just when you were getting ready to drive to your favorite Memorial Day BBQ.
Then yesterday, a day after you grilled out, the world’s largest meat processing company was targeted by a sophisticated cyber-attack. Computer networks at JBS were hacked, temporarily shutting down some operations in Australia, Canada, and the US, with thousands of workers affected. The attack could lead to shortages of meat or raise prices for consumers.
Russian hackers are believed to be behind both attacks. Did the cold war turn virtual a half-century later? Are these two cyberattacks just warm-up bands?
It’s never two without three. So, what’s next?
“White supremacy,” Joe Biden said yesterday. Wait, what?
“According to the intelligence community, terrorism from white supremacy is the most lethal threat to the homeland today,” Biden said. “Not ISIS. Not Al Qaeda. White supremacists.”
This is actually comforting to know though. Prelection and continuing into his first 150 days we were told that climate change was the greatest existential threat to our country and planet. Some running against Joe actually told us it was too late to save us from us already.
No oxygen, no land to stand on, no petroleum, no meat, no worries. White people-worry.
And, then there is, or was this little pandemic problem.
Never mind!
Biden revisited the massacre yesterday of the black community in Tulsa 100 years ago. And, there is certainly nothing wrong with doing that. Then he attempted to show the long history of white supremacists in the country comparing it to the clash between the protesters in Charlottesville.
“What happened in Greenwood was an act of hate and domestic terrorism, with a through-line that exists (existential maybe?) today,” he said. “Just close your eyes and remember what you saw in Charlottesville four years ago on television.”
You should remember and will repeatedly be reminded about what happened in the prior four years that culminated in an insurrection (if you think it rose to that level). There were dog whistles everywhere hinting at it we were told and told.
When Joe asks you to close your eyes at least he is being overt about his path.
After all, it’s but one step from pulling the wool over them.