#portland

Are there any amateur #classicalGuitar players in the #portland area that are interested in getting together with a low key, small group of other (adult) players? A bunch of us are putting together a monthly salon. The skill levels range widely, from noob on up -- all welcome. You can bring a guitar and play if you want, or just hang and chat. We've met a few times, and it's been great.

DM me if you are interested.

TRO against federal agents use of force has been GRANTED!

There was a hearing today where a judge ruled in favor of and granted a temporary restraining order against the feds in Portland, OR using chemical weapons and excessive force after multiple lawsuits were filed after this weekend, including from a march of over 5,000 people on Saturday where young children got teargassed, and Sunday night where over 500 people protested at the ICE facility and without warning the feds gassed a large portion of the city.

The TRO blocks federal officers from using “chemical or projectile munitions,” including pepper balls, tear gas and other crowd control munitions “unless the specific target of such a weapon or device poses an imminent threat of physical harm to a law enforcement officer or other person.”

“In a well-functioning constitutional democratic republic, free speech, courageous newsgathering, and nonviolent protest are all permitted, respected, and even celebrated. In an authoritarian regime, that is not the case,” U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon wrote in a 22-page temporary restraining order, which you can read here: https://www.opb.org/pdf/Dickinson%20v_1770160054941.pdf

The ruling also blocks federal officers from firing munitions or using weapons directed “at the head, neck, or torso of any person, unless the officer is legally justified in using deadly force against that person.”

“The temporary restraining order goes into effect for 14 days and could be renewed. Simon has scheduled a hearing on the underlying lawsuit for March 2, where he’ll take testimony from witnesses. That evidence could form a basis for an injunction should the judge deem it necessary.”
- https://www.opb.org/article/2026/02/03/judge-limits-federal-officer-use-of-force-portland-ice-protesters/

#Portland #pdx #chemicalweapons

The SF/Fantasy-focused bookstore in #Portland is doing this book as part of one of its book clubs. I've only read Surface Detail from the Culture series, and thought I'd ready this early novel to better understand the universe. It's a really interesting perspective, the beginning of the book laying out the game-playing and Gurgeh's mastery of nearly any game he encounters as a way to tell the story.

On Sunday, #ICE used #chemicalweapons in #Portland OR, firing #teargas on a crowd of peaceful protesters.

This was legal only because the victims were civilians in peacetime. Chemical weapons are banned in war by both the 1925 Geneva Protocol and the1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

#CWC Article II.clause 9 lists "Purposes Not Prohibited Under this Convention" to include "Law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes".

Gassing soldiers is banned. Gassing civilians is OK.

I don't suppose anyone is flying from #Miami to the Northwest (#Portland) in the next few weeks who would be willing to meet and escort a street #dog for us... Feel free to boost this unlikely request. That's the only place they can be sent at this time of year from #Aruba, apparently.