—LET THE SUNSHINE IN, MY FRIEND 

 

…Happy Wednesday.

I think yesterday was considered the first day or summer, though it rained here. Soon enough, though, the sun is coming, and I’m ready for her.

 

BY THE NUMBERS:

 

…The cost of ignorance and intolerance…

Target’s market cap has fallen over $15.7 billion since backlash to its decisions surrounding LGBTQ Pride merchandise. 

Bud Light maker Anheuser-Busch InBev lost $27 billion in market value in the wake of its star-crossed partnership with Dylan Mulvaney. Modelo has now overtaken Bud Light as the number one selling beer in America. 

 

…Every day, on average, 316 people in America are shot and murdered.

 

…America has the highest gun ownership in the world and the highest gun deaths in the world, four times higher than Yemen which also has the second highest gun ownership.

In America, there are 1.25 guns for every man, woman and child. 

 

…As of Tuesday morning, the average cost of regular gas in Washington state was $4.912 gallon, the highest in the entire country, topping CA ($4.868), HI ($4.733) and OR ($4.562)

 

…Seattle police have been barred from making graffiti-related arrest after a federal judge issued an injunction claiming the law violates their First and 14^th amendment rights. This, even though the city of Seattle spends $3.7 million a year on graffiti removal, some of which says F*CK THE POLICE over the I-5 and 405 bridges.

 

…Even after two impeachments, two indictments, the January 6^th insurrection, and a guilty verdict of tax evasion, Washingtonians supporting the re-election of Donald Trump remains exactly as it was—at 36%--during the 2020 presidential election.

 

…Fentanyl overdoes kill 150 Americans every day.

 

…Despite the ubiquitous appearance of Tesla’s on the roadway, electric vehicles still only account for 1% of all automobiles sold in the U.S.

 

…Black women are three times more likely to die from complications while giving birth than are white women.

 

…According to the Department of Justice, as many as 17,000 people are sex trafficked each year, with net profits nearing $100 billion. Victims of sex trafficking are typically 71% women and 51% children.

 

…According to the New York Times, 32% of Amazon’s hourly workers are White, 8% Asian and 60% Black. At lower-level management, 46% are White, 435 Asian and only 11% are Black. At the “Executive” level, 74% are White, 19% Asian and only 7% are Black. 

 

…80% of all Americans say they believe in miracles, and I would be one of them.