Cool Spot on the River

I'm impressed that my sister hasn't left the house in 10 days.

Then again San Jose is a hot spot.

I go out once a day, for a short stint with a goal in mind,

  and, a new one for me, a LIST, so I can not waste time.

Groceries is every third day, so I have to stock up.

My downstairs fridge is filled.

My sister asked about the fridge situation, which

  hasn't changed since the Flood a year ago.

I have a European kitchen upstairs. 

Gisela will crack up laughing, because it is more

  of a Soviet wartime kitchen - all natural.

My kitchen window, slightly cracked open, is my cold box.

My cupboard airing cabinet is my pantry for breadstuffs.

I'm amazed that so many stores and businesses were able to

  so quickly get emergency dispensation from the State

  to qualify as critical, life-threatening services.

Tourists are definitely frowned upon; we don't like them fur-ners.

So bars and restaurants are closed; except all restaurants have switched

  to take out food only, and thus are still open.

All the Moma-Papa Deli stores are open segueing into the coffee houses

  like Coffee Bazaar, Light-Wave [Skate Park], etc.

My circuit today took me to:

the USPS [for meds, now mailed], Babs Laundry, [shirts],

  Dada's Hardware [cat litter, bird food].

All essential items, for me.

I getting to enjoy the aroma of Purell.

The finches have started hatching their babies.

Two weeks ago, the males grew colors;

  last week the females were fat and happy,

     [they were always barefoot],

   This week, a deluge of hungry, little ones.

I've gone from 5 pounds a week of Nyger Thistle for winter,

  to ten pounds last week, and now twenty pounds for my dozen feeders.

When all the young are hatched, I get 3 to 8 little ones

   on a feeder at a time, 30-50 birds.

My white cat is winding up her kitten-hood this month.

The plethora of young, naive birds has not escaped her notice.

I found one dead baby last week, and another one today that she

  was still playing with.  The large number of "toys" in the shape of,

  and designed  to play like, a real baby mouse or bird should be

   the focus of any concern.

I buried them both - she hasn't taken to full, carnivorous,

    White Panther mode; she only slinks, attacks, and kills.

Like all teen youth, she feels she is omnipotent, and that life has no end.

Peanuts cartoons used to capture this when Snoopy would

  be seen, up in a tree, surveying the Earth, and watching for prey.

Or does she think of herself as a white, spring blossom of pear,

    clematis, or Jasmine?

uTube has gone Millenial

Every 2-3 years, I check out uTube

  to see what they are doing with classical music.

I just did it again recently,

   now that I have some “At-Home” time.

This area has gone through a Sea-Change.

It was (years ago) simply capturing of an event;

   Later (until ??) doing a professional job of recording an event;

      and, NOW, staging an event for the uTube camera,

        where TV sites numerous cameras at critical locations,

          TV captures the performer’s face in full HD clarity,

           with every emotion showing, every crick of the brow,

            every grimace and smile of elation.

Just like professional football, the TV camera has changed the game.

uTube mesmerized me last night.

I couldn’t stop – the next one popped up

   and I had to see who it was, and how it started off.

uTube chose the next selection based on your original

  selection.  In my case I wanted to watch

    a Violin and Viola concert piece,

      nothing specific.

Mozart is the classical choice (which uTube made for me).

But the follow on pieces kept getting slightly more classical,

  but also more modern, since all the performers were women.

I had a hard time stopping after an hour and a half.

For a decade I had season’s tickets to the SF Symphony, even went to the Opera, until they moved.  When I lived in England, I also had season’s tickets to Birmingham’s Symphony.  Later occasional tickets  here in Sonoma County.

This is a game-changer, especially in the Covid-19 era.

Like grooves in records, there will always be those few who want the concert hall sound, etched in wax masters.

But face-to-face TV is so much better than attendance from over 100 yards.

I thought I had achieved Food-Sourcing Nirvana,

I thought I had achieved Food-Sourcing Nirvana,

When I came back from a decade in Europe and shopped every day for fresh food. 

“I don’t eat frozen food”, I’d say.  Much like the Gluten and GMO people these days, I was dismissive.

“I never eat canned food”, I’d say.  Too many dangerous chemicals, and salt.  I read the labels now.

I used to enjoy eating lunch at Kaiser in Santa Rosa: these people saved my life, several times.  They don’t want me around anymore, and it’s a two-way street; their food wasn’t that healthy anyway.

I like my fresh blueberries and wild Atlantic Salmon, and they are good for a longevity to 99; if I make it to 82.  Reality has hit HARD.  I will take what is available now.  I was at Whole Foods yesterday: all the prepared, fresh food cabinets were empty.

I remember the mocking of the Soviet era:

“What are you in line for?”

“Whatever they have!!”

Through his ignorance, Trump made us a 3^rd-World Country.  We will be lucky to survive.

Instead of Trump’s MAGA, let’s relax with MAHA, Hawaiian for relax.  I think it was the

“Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” that introduced, “Don’t Panic.”

DJT's Alternative to standard Pubic Health Testing

So I had initially posted this

I listened to Trump’s speech today in the Kaiser parking lot, while waiting for an eye exam.

He launched what every computer literate citizen groans about, a brand new, nationwide computer system – beta testing at the White House as I type this (Bill Gates was not on stage).  Governments are great at designing and implementing nationwide systems.

Trump couldn’t get his {country of origin} on the Census paperwork, but I bet that question is on the list of his “few simple questions” to identify the test recipient along with a mailing address.

Btw: I sure am happy I declined to be a Census worker this year.

His Corporate buddies on stage today aren’t going to worry about ACLU suits or liberal judges telling them what they can ask.  If the computer system works, one result will be a great INS visit list.

Of course he skirted the whole question of where are the tens of millions of test kits that he has been promising for weeks and weeks.  Were there any plans to do that in the first place?

And then she said this.

Yes I’m ashamed that I fell for some of it because as he continued I could see this was nothing new.

I was shocked by my family member’s take on DJT today.

This was the most dis-ingenuous proposal by DJT to date.

I said,

Nothing New.!.!.!.!.!

Neither You nor I, nor anyone else we know, will

  be going to a Walmart Parking Lot to get a viral test.

We all have coverage, one way or another,

   and we mostly trust our medical providers

      to guide us properly.

The only people who want 10-minute, from a car, "anonymous"

   medical examinations, are illegals, criminals, and crazies,

       who are scared to be a PART OF THE ESTABLISHED SYSTEM.

We don't need this.  They don't need this.

If we had enough test kits (tens or hundreds of millions),

  then we could go, conveniently, go to Kaiser

    (or where ever) and get tested

       at our mutual convenience.

  EVEN THOSE WHO ARE UNDOCUMENTED, ETC.

This isn't something to panic over.

  If you have some symptoms - get tested at Kaiser

     If you are positive - get treated at Kaiser

  If you are asymptomatic, rest easy, but stay vigilant.

PUBLIC HEALTH IS FOR EVERYONE IN THE COUNTRY

 EVEN illegals, criminals, and crazies

Don't trust Corporate Goons

  -  with your personal data

  -   to test you

  -   to diagnose you

  -   to give you medical advice

  -   to treat you

Use the established system

My eyes are the same as two years ago

I listened to Trump’s speech today in the Kaiser parking lot, while waiting for an eye exam.

He launched what every computer literate citizen groans about, a brand new, nationwide computer system – beta testing at the White House as I type this (Bill Gates was not on stage).  Governments are not known to be great at designing and implementing nationwide systems.  Maybe release 3.11.2 will work well enough, sometime in the Fall of 2021; then again, maybe things have improved since I retired.

Trump couldn’t get his {country of origin} on the Census paperwork, but I bet that question is on the list of his “few simple questions” to identify the test recipient along with a mailing address an SSN #.

Btw: I sure am happy I declined to be a Census worker this year.  There was a lot of prep work, but probably not enough spray bottles of Purell, gloves, and toilet paper.

His Corporate buddies on stage today aren’t going to worry about any ACLU suits or liberal judges telling them what they can ask.  With a National Emergency Label, Barr will squash any complaint.  If the computer system works, one result will be a great INS visit list.

Of course he skirted the whole question of where are the tens of millions of test kits that he has been promising for weeks and weeks.  Were there any real plans to do that in the first place?

I ordered a small set of stronger contacts to use at the DMV, but the eye Doc also gave me a slip of paper [pre-test] to avoid any DMV eye test in any event.  What he said was that I should have cataract surgery within the next 2-5 years.  We both agreed – after CoVid-19 is under control worldwide.

Darwin Says,

It’s 5 pm, wine time.  Pattie and I just came in from the garden.  Having deserted the place, two score finches descended to feed at a dozen white-bag feeders.  Many males have developed brightly-colored chests recently, enticing the engorged females to join them and play bird games.  They are all very animated.

Trained in Math & Physics, I passionately believe in Darwin’s theory of “Publish or Perish” or was it, “Evolution”; I believe in that too.

I was mulling over the indeterminate-period closure of many of my passions, creations, and hobbies: art openings, plays, supper club, church, writing and reading groups, Grand Jury meetings, Library events, Friends of Monte Rio events, Live Tributes, Easter Egg Hunts, Senior Center activities, classes at OLLI schools, restaurant meals, and movie night.

Most of my close family and friends are 75-85 years of age, and it’s hard for anyone that old not to have some respiratory factor(s).  Many of the above mentioned activities, are part of the daily life of me and my family & friends, doctor advised, to stay connected and vibrant.

We now move into this [thrown in reverse] epoch of shunning personal contact, rather than developing more of it.

There are going to be an awful lot of very lonely people this year.

So, as I thought of all of this, it came to me that I could evolve my Tuesday movie night, into a summer-time only, back-yard bar-b-que movie night.  Open, fresh-air, neighborhood movies.

A couple of 4’ X 8’, ¼-inch plywood panels nailed to the fence; a few more as top and as side screen, and it would be viewable at sundown, 7-8 at night, with a white sheet stapled on.  Six-foot spacing is easy with fresh breezes wafting Clematis & Jasmine aromas around the area.  It’s a way to gather and talk, enjoy pop-corn, pot luck, and old classic movies, which some of us know by heart.

I’m thinking I evolve my Tuesday Night Group that normally meets at 6 pm, to the outdoors starting April 6^th, 2020.  .  Any time change will be later, as summer progresses.

Apocalypse Now?

There was mild concern expressed by my family and friends,

 this past week about my recent Apocalyptic blog post to FB.

Fear not – my back yard is still my serenity, escape haven;

 now also for my kitten – yearling to be in one month. 

Please note [ Why Pattie Goes Up Trees ] link below,

https://youtu.be/khxCHeDp9Dk . {lens cap does come off}.

It was just my age showing.

I grew up in a world where the Brits and us ruled the World: not

 just military power but smarts too.

That worked for the 20^th Century, but now I’m a post-Y2K being.

Post-19 has changed the pecking order:

  China (?), India (??), Italy (???).  I can’t grasp this.

But my scientific training tells me these are the smart guys.

I’m just the target market guy, [ 81-82 ],

 waiting my turn to be Soylent Green.

Dystopian would be thinking this was an evil plan.

I believe it was just sheer incompetence on the part

  of the “old rulers”.

Like Sue, it appears to be a fitting departure,

  to leave the planet to the kids.

Is This All There Is? a poem

21^st Century Life in the USA

   (or two decades of retirement in Sonoma County)

Recently it’s been Biblical Times:

   Drought, Fire, Flood, and Pestilence.

When I first came here twenty years ago,

   it was apple blossoms, jazz concerts, FM radio, and The Arts.

What happened?

We started with Bush-Gore along with Y2K 2000.

    We’ve splintered increasingly with each 4-year period.

There might as well not be schools anymore;

   We’ve shed art, geography, history, athletic teamwork,

        home-making, shop, civics, foreign languages.

   The only thing taught these days, is how to pass the SATs.

We’ve lost community, National unity, and Global awareness:

No more scrap drives – girl scout cookies are a fund-raiser

     for a PAC to support an agenda that now includes the Boy Scouts

   No one I know sends packages to 3^rd world countries except http://motherbearproject.org/ ,which my better half does.

Sci-Fi books used to be the future when mankind came together:

   well, now it’s womankind as well, but they didn’t have any answers

    that the public really wanted to hear either..

The American “Dream” of yore used to be the white picket fence:

     Washed away in the flood – of 2008 financial ruin.

Retiring to a free society in Northern California to write my memoirs?

   Dream on.  Smoke and Smog – evacuees and refugees from elite

        havens to the South.  Newspapers closing or selling. 

Increased County resources devoted to home-less and job-less

    people with no long-term solution; just moving them

        from one location to another, endlessly.

COVID-19

Many discussions going on these days about pandemics.

It’s clear to me that, while currently everyone is laughing at China,

  as having botched things up, they are going to be the big winners

  in all of this.

Two reasons:

1.)              With a dictatorial form of government, they can “afford” to

lose 2-4 % of their working class,

 without more than a hic-cup.  They will be back

  to producing cheap gods by Jan 2021.

2.)             While “Slow” to react by W.H.O. standards, they are miles

ahead of everyone else in the world, including WHO. Containment is the big thing – they dd it

            and no one else has yet.

The big losers? – Africa, the Americas, and the Middle-East.

            All those refugees – this will be like the Jews at the start of WW-II,

                        no one will want to take their boat-loads of sick people.

  Twenty to Forty million dead, and the bulk of it nation-less refugees

            From – you name it

History Books will not begin and end in 2020 for this pandemic.

If Trump is re-installed as President, [by coup]

 World leadership will shift to Asia, mostly China, until COVID-19 ends.

 Our USA economy will completely collapse.

    Putin will mediate Peace between East [China] and West [Europe].

If Trump is deposed,

            a century of reasonably good intentions may help

            to buy our way back into influence enough to

            maintain a focus on the American economy and

            American Diplomatic Leadership ,

            simply because of our past history of sincere support

            for world peace

            and prosperity.

If the World is fortunate enough to have this happen,

  we should become so grateful, so eternally grateful,

  that we should alter our system, such that we can never

  be in so perilous a situation, ever again.

All the King's Men

Totally coincidentally, our Senior Center Movie tonight was,

  “All the King’s Men”, 1949 with Broderick Crawford.

This is a film adaptation of Robert Penn Warren’s novel, 1946,   by the same name, all about Huey Long’s rise and fall

  in Louisiana in the twenties and thirties, almost a hundred years ago.

Watching Huey Long’s rise, as an honest man, promising health care for ALL, as a RIGHT, and socking the bill to the rich guys, is like watching the rise of Bernie Sanders.

Then comes the switch to a Trumpism, populist supporter crowd,

  as corrupt as the day is long.  The movie uses the term, Messiah or Dictator.  Remember, the thirties was the era of many dictators.

The Louisiana House impeaches him; but he buys off a non-guilty verdict from the Senate.

The crowd scenes from his political, election rallies could be

  live video from MAGA events.

Nothing has changed in ninety years.

It’s scary.

Oscars

Best Picture 1950

Best Actor in a Leading Role Broderick Crawford

Best Actress in a Supporting Role Mercedes McCambridge