Yes we are working at staying away from people during this Covid-19 spread. We have a reasonable stock of food, and other expendables. So we are staying away from stores as much as possible. This came about largely because our youngest child is living with us at the moment after getting himself a Masters degree at college. Now he is preparing for spending a year or more overseas on a Fullbright Scholarship while teaching english. Yes, the logistics of that are a little sketchy at the moment for obvious reasons, but we are all still hopeful about him being able to do this.
No, none of us have any symptoms. Unfortunately before my son was relegated to working from home he attended a meeting at work. One of the attendees several days later came down with some kind of flu. He still has not received test results but is pretty sure he has Covid-19. The fact that he has received no test results is abominable over a week later, but what can you do. So, there is a chance our son was exposed which means there is a chance we have been exposed. Not wanting to expose anyone else, we have decided to do the best we can at self quarantine.
Fortunately we are all pretty good at getting along with each other, but living together under these conditions does put a strain on relationships. I never thought I would be looking forward to the heat in Phoenix, but I am. I am hopeful that the heat will also bring a downturn in the infection rate around here.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Monday, March 23, 2020
Irrational and Immoral Behavior in Light of Covid-19
Yesterday I needed to make a quick trip across town both to deliver something and pick up something from my older son. We stood apart from each other as we did what we needed to do. No hugs. No handshake. He's trying to keep both his family and us safe and I was trying to do likewise. On the return I saw something that both shocked me and didn't surprise me at the same time.
On a Sunday afternoon on our way across town it would not be unusual to see a bunch of cars in a church parking lot, but right now this year it was shocking. Why? It was shocking because it was such a flagrant display of irrational immorality that I was stunned.
I realize these people probably think God will protect them. Well so did the people in a church in Italy that became a hotbed source of Covid-19. These people in their flagrant disregard of reality were not just putting their own lives at risk, they were risking the lives of everyone they would have contact with in the next week or two. They were risking the lives of every grocery store employee, every customer who is just trying to get food, every healthcare worker who may have to treat them and every innocent passerby on the street.
Why do I say their behavior was irrational and immoral? It was irrational because we know what is going on and that there is a real danger associated with gathering in groups right now. They are being irrational in denying the reality of that. It was immoral because they are knowingly putting peoples lives at risk other than their own. Last I checked immoral behavior was considered sin. You would think someone who believes in that would see the hypocrisy of their actions.
On a Sunday afternoon on our way across town it would not be unusual to see a bunch of cars in a church parking lot, but right now this year it was shocking. Why? It was shocking because it was such a flagrant display of irrational immorality that I was stunned.
I realize these people probably think God will protect them. Well so did the people in a church in Italy that became a hotbed source of Covid-19. These people in their flagrant disregard of reality were not just putting their own lives at risk, they were risking the lives of everyone they would have contact with in the next week or two. They were risking the lives of every grocery store employee, every customer who is just trying to get food, every healthcare worker who may have to treat them and every innocent passerby on the street.
Why do I say their behavior was irrational and immoral? It was irrational because we know what is going on and that there is a real danger associated with gathering in groups right now. They are being irrational in denying the reality of that. It was immoral because they are knowingly putting peoples lives at risk other than their own. Last I checked immoral behavior was considered sin. You would think someone who believes in that would see the hypocrisy of their actions.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Unsung Heros of Covid-19
I think we all appreciate the healthcare workers and the paramedics during this time because they are on the front lines dealing with an infectious disease, but that is not what this post is about.
This post is about the unsung heroes. I am talking about the people who staff the grocery stores, the hardware stores, food delivery people and truck drivers who are still at their jobs and making sure essential needs are able to be met. Right now these also are first responders and absolutely essential to our well being during these times.
I salute you and want you to know you have our thanks and undying gratitude in these trying times.
This post is about the unsung heroes. I am talking about the people who staff the grocery stores, the hardware stores, food delivery people and truck drivers who are still at their jobs and making sure essential needs are able to be met. Right now these also are first responders and absolutely essential to our well being during these times.
I salute you and want you to know you have our thanks and undying gratitude in these trying times.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
What I hate about Covid-19
It's been a long time since I was around here. I am even wondering why I came back. I am a little upset with the current state of affairs. Who isn't? However I am probably more upset over different things.
Yes, the Covid-19 virus, the Corona Virus or whatever you want to call it definitely sucks, but I think what sucks way more is people's behavior. We are in this situation largely because of really bad behavior of people involved in the government of China. I am talking about people who were intimidated into not revealing the problem before it got out of hand. Then those who did reveal it demonstrated the governmental manipulation problem. Some of them paid for that with their lives. Oh, they were chalked up to Corona Virus victims, but of course they would be. I also guarantee that North Korea is doing exactly the same thing.
Having said all of this I am still not addressing the thing that I think sucks even worse. In many ways humanity is acting like an "immune system" that has run amok. We are doing way more damage to the body than that virus that triggered this whole event. When all is said and done I predict the death toll due to collateral damage rather than the virus itself will be much higher than the toll directly due to the virus. We are also demonstrating that panic can lead to people doing incredibly stupid things. That is because panicked people don't think. They just react and usually react in ways that are ultimately counter productive.
That leads me to something that is just infuriating me and that is the roll that news media has had in generating panic. Cue dramatic music - announcer in dramatic baritone voice, "Corona Virus catastrophe brings an end to the world. News at 11," followed by flashy video graphics. Yes, this is hyperbole, but not by much. The news media is not just presenting facts as they should, they are presenting a lot of unsupported opinion as if it is fact and providing dramatic emphasis to sell it to all of us. Why? Ratings and market share. Catastrophe sells. It sucks in viewers. It gets people to watch the advertising. It keeps you glued to your screen.
Then of course you have the "talking heads" many of whom actually know little if anything but realize if they can say something outrageous they are brought back time and again. They enjoy the fame and their place of self appointed importance. They don't add anything constructive to the situation but only serve to raise the level of panic that helps to drive the herd wherever you want them to go.
You may realize that I hate being manipulated. I hate attempts to panic me that interfere with critical thinking. I hate being steered in ways that are not in my best interest or the best interest of those I care about. I hate seeing people being turned into drones that sprout "party lines" and unsupported accusations. I hate seeing people being divided when they should instead be unified and supporting one another. However, divide and conquer seems to be the theme of these times. It's sad and makes me angry.
Yes, the Covid-19 virus, the Corona Virus or whatever you want to call it definitely sucks, but I think what sucks way more is people's behavior. We are in this situation largely because of really bad behavior of people involved in the government of China. I am talking about people who were intimidated into not revealing the problem before it got out of hand. Then those who did reveal it demonstrated the governmental manipulation problem. Some of them paid for that with their lives. Oh, they were chalked up to Corona Virus victims, but of course they would be. I also guarantee that North Korea is doing exactly the same thing.
Having said all of this I am still not addressing the thing that I think sucks even worse. In many ways humanity is acting like an "immune system" that has run amok. We are doing way more damage to the body than that virus that triggered this whole event. When all is said and done I predict the death toll due to collateral damage rather than the virus itself will be much higher than the toll directly due to the virus. We are also demonstrating that panic can lead to people doing incredibly stupid things. That is because panicked people don't think. They just react and usually react in ways that are ultimately counter productive.
That leads me to something that is just infuriating me and that is the roll that news media has had in generating panic. Cue dramatic music - announcer in dramatic baritone voice, "Corona Virus catastrophe brings an end to the world. News at 11," followed by flashy video graphics. Yes, this is hyperbole, but not by much. The news media is not just presenting facts as they should, they are presenting a lot of unsupported opinion as if it is fact and providing dramatic emphasis to sell it to all of us. Why? Ratings and market share. Catastrophe sells. It sucks in viewers. It gets people to watch the advertising. It keeps you glued to your screen.
Then of course you have the "talking heads" many of whom actually know little if anything but realize if they can say something outrageous they are brought back time and again. They enjoy the fame and their place of self appointed importance. They don't add anything constructive to the situation but only serve to raise the level of panic that helps to drive the herd wherever you want them to go.
You may realize that I hate being manipulated. I hate attempts to panic me that interfere with critical thinking. I hate being steered in ways that are not in my best interest or the best interest of those I care about. I hate seeing people being turned into drones that sprout "party lines" and unsupported accusations. I hate seeing people being divided when they should instead be unified and supporting one another. However, divide and conquer seems to be the theme of these times. It's sad and makes me angry.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
There Is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
I've been involved in two different conversations this week regarding people who think something should be "free."
Ultimately, if something takes some effort on the part of someone who provides a service or product it is NEVER free. It always costs someone something. Could something be "free" to you if you don't have to pay for it? Perhaps, but it still isn't free. It actually costs the person who provides it. They put time, effort or some kind of cost into it. So it still isn't free.
There are people who seem to think some things should come to them free as if by magic. Well there is even a show on TV the last few years where the saying is, "Magic always comes with a price." That is just as true for the magic services and products some people seem to believe they are entitled to receive.
They believe they should get free healthcare, free food, free TV, free internet, free college, free (you name it). Why? Because they are entitled. These things should not be only for the "rich" you know. The problem is that none of these are EVER free. They always cost someone something because magic comes with a price. The people that provide these things are working for a living and trying to support their own families and meet their needs. They do that by EARNING some income and paying for the things they need.
Every free service or product comes at the expense of someone else. The person who wants the free thing believes themselves to be deserving and that the person who is going to pay the price should get "nothing for something." In civilized society that is the mindset of the people who stick a gun in your face and demand your money because they want it and you should just give it to them. Why? Because you have it and they want it. Hey, you have more than you NEED and they want more than they have so that's the way it should be. Right? They think so.
It is a good thing to voluntarily help those who are in need. It is robbery to have your money forcibly taken from you whether it is at the point of a gun or through taxation without representation. It is not the purpose of a government to play Robin Hood.
Ultimately, if something takes some effort on the part of someone who provides a service or product it is NEVER free. It always costs someone something. Could something be "free" to you if you don't have to pay for it? Perhaps, but it still isn't free. It actually costs the person who provides it. They put time, effort or some kind of cost into it. So it still isn't free.
There are people who seem to think some things should come to them free as if by magic. Well there is even a show on TV the last few years where the saying is, "Magic always comes with a price." That is just as true for the magic services and products some people seem to believe they are entitled to receive.
They believe they should get free healthcare, free food, free TV, free internet, free college, free (you name it). Why? Because they are entitled. These things should not be only for the "rich" you know. The problem is that none of these are EVER free. They always cost someone something because magic comes with a price. The people that provide these things are working for a living and trying to support their own families and meet their needs. They do that by EARNING some income and paying for the things they need.
Every free service or product comes at the expense of someone else. The person who wants the free thing believes themselves to be deserving and that the person who is going to pay the price should get "nothing for something." In civilized society that is the mindset of the people who stick a gun in your face and demand your money because they want it and you should just give it to them. Why? Because you have it and they want it. Hey, you have more than you NEED and they want more than they have so that's the way it should be. Right? They think so.
It is a good thing to voluntarily help those who are in need. It is robbery to have your money forcibly taken from you whether it is at the point of a gun or through taxation without representation. It is not the purpose of a government to play Robin Hood.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Democratic Hypocrites
It is fascinating that people who claim to be for free speech, wanting people to "abide by the results of elections," are concerned about the welfare of the people, and particularly the children then behave in exactly the opposite way when they don't get their way.
Democrats were all concerned about free speech until they decided they didn't like something that was being said. Then it was: block venues where speeches were taking place, disrupting speakers, causing problems in various venues, and doing everything possible to prevent people from freely speaking.
Democrats were all concerned that someone might not "abide" by the results of the Presidential election. Then the Democrat candidate lost. So Democrats protest the results of the election, riot, attack people to the point of even children being attacked and claiming that the President elect is NOT their president.
There were even Democrats that claimed that they would pack up and leave the country if their candidate did not win. Now they are saying they are not going. Too bad.
You see, people like that didn't really want an election. They wanted a coronation. They don't want the rule of law, they want to be a law unto themselves. They don't want what is best for the people as a result of a choice by the people, they want what is best for them specifically and to hell with everyone else who does not agree with them.
They couldn't even let the whole of their own party decide who the candidate should be. They had to rig the game internally so that the person who actually might have fairly won could not even be a candidate so that the chosen one of the elite could get her shot at the Presidency. They have no one to blame but themselves for their loss.
The Democratic Party is a joke and now the joke is on them.
In the last decade the Republican party (which has its own problems) lost multiple major elections. There were no disruptions of the speeches of Democratic candidates. After the losses there were no riots. After the votes were done no one was attacked because of who they voted for. No one claimed that the President was NOT their President.
I don't like either party and I have said repeatedly I think they should both be embarrassed for not being able to come up with better candidates for President. That being said, the vote is done, the people have spoken. If you don't like it, there is the door, don't let it hit you on the way out.
I have no sympathy for hypocrites.
Democrats were all concerned about free speech until they decided they didn't like something that was being said. Then it was: block venues where speeches were taking place, disrupting speakers, causing problems in various venues, and doing everything possible to prevent people from freely speaking.
Democrats were all concerned that someone might not "abide" by the results of the Presidential election. Then the Democrat candidate lost. So Democrats protest the results of the election, riot, attack people to the point of even children being attacked and claiming that the President elect is NOT their president.
There were even Democrats that claimed that they would pack up and leave the country if their candidate did not win. Now they are saying they are not going. Too bad.
You see, people like that didn't really want an election. They wanted a coronation. They don't want the rule of law, they want to be a law unto themselves. They don't want what is best for the people as a result of a choice by the people, they want what is best for them specifically and to hell with everyone else who does not agree with them.
They couldn't even let the whole of their own party decide who the candidate should be. They had to rig the game internally so that the person who actually might have fairly won could not even be a candidate so that the chosen one of the elite could get her shot at the Presidency. They have no one to blame but themselves for their loss.
The Democratic Party is a joke and now the joke is on them.
In the last decade the Republican party (which has its own problems) lost multiple major elections. There were no disruptions of the speeches of Democratic candidates. After the losses there were no riots. After the votes were done no one was attacked because of who they voted for. No one claimed that the President was NOT their President.
I don't like either party and I have said repeatedly I think they should both be embarrassed for not being able to come up with better candidates for President. That being said, the vote is done, the people have spoken. If you don't like it, there is the door, don't let it hit you on the way out.
I have no sympathy for hypocrites.
Sunday, August 14, 2016
No Right to Freedom from being Offended
We have a right to certain things. From the United States Declaration of Independence it is claimed we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
What we don't have is the right to not be offended, angered, irritated, or annoyed by things people say or do providing they have not broken a law. No, offending you is not against the law. You may wish that it was, but it is not.
People these days seem to think that if you say or do something that they don't agree with that you should be stopped from saying or doing it just so that they can be free from being offended by you. These people have no idea what the concept of free speech is all about.
The freedom of speech is the freedom to say the things that might offend, aggravate, irritate, annoy or even anger people because they are things that those people do not want to hear or do not agree with.
The freedom of speech is a freedom to not have to say that the emperor's new clothes look so nice. It is the freedom to say that what everyone is doing is wrong in some way. It is the freedom to express a different and perhaps highly unpopular viewpoint.
I listen to what people have to say even if or when I don't like or agree with what they are saying. I might also express a different opinion or point out areas where I believe they are in error, but I listen. I don't try to shut them up, shout them down, or ask that they be prevented from talking. After all, what they are saying is what they are thinking and there is probably a reason that they think that way. It could be a good reason or a bad reason, but nevertheless it is their reason and they might not be alone in that opinion whether they express it or not.
It's much better to know what people think than to have them bury it until it leaks out another way.
Let's face it, some people actually look for ways to be offended and would find something offensive about saying good morning to them. They might react with, "What do you mean, 'good morning'? What's good about it? Are you saying light is better than darkness? That's prejudiced against those of us who like night time! That's offensive!!! People everywhere should stop saying that right now or face a lawsuit."
Many years ago at a previous employer we had a big meeting that was presented by the Human Resources department. This was to be a meeting about diversity in the workplace. I had no problem with that, but then came the presentation. Near the beginning they showed a picture from the 60's of a bunch of old white guy engineers in suits and ties working on some project. They then proceeded to say that this is the way engineering had been and we no longer wanted the company to look this way. Being an old white guy at the time, this caught my attention. More so it caught my attention because it was people like those who had built a company which was the second largest employer in our state at the time (somewhere near 18,000 people at the high point).
Then, during the rest of the presentation, they showed what they wanted the company to look like. I had no issue with the people that were in the pictures. They were Hispanic, Indian (India Indian), Native American, Black, Chinese, Japanese, etc. They were all young (20's and early 30's). Many were women. Then I realized something. None of those people were old white guys. Yes, I mean NONE. It registered with me. If I had been the kind to take offense at such a slight I could easily have been offened, but instead I just remembered it.
Then the layoffs started. Then they got worse. There were a few new people hired, but the demographic was changing. Then things got even worse. Within a few years I was gone along with a lot of other old white guys. Just a few years later the company went from the second largest employer in the state to not being an employer of anyone in the state. They had succeeded in changing their demographics alright!
In the process of giving us a presentation which was unwittingly offensive, they told the truth about some decisions they were about to make which ultimately led to the elimination of their own jobs. How ironic. The handwriting was on the wall the day that presentation happened. Ultimately I was glad they inadvertently offended me, because as a result I was prepared for the eventual outcome when it happened.
What we don't have is the right to not be offended, angered, irritated, or annoyed by things people say or do providing they have not broken a law. No, offending you is not against the law. You may wish that it was, but it is not.
People these days seem to think that if you say or do something that they don't agree with that you should be stopped from saying or doing it just so that they can be free from being offended by you. These people have no idea what the concept of free speech is all about.
The freedom of speech is the freedom to say the things that might offend, aggravate, irritate, annoy or even anger people because they are things that those people do not want to hear or do not agree with.
The freedom of speech is a freedom to not have to say that the emperor's new clothes look so nice. It is the freedom to say that what everyone is doing is wrong in some way. It is the freedom to express a different and perhaps highly unpopular viewpoint.
I listen to what people have to say even if or when I don't like or agree with what they are saying. I might also express a different opinion or point out areas where I believe they are in error, but I listen. I don't try to shut them up, shout them down, or ask that they be prevented from talking. After all, what they are saying is what they are thinking and there is probably a reason that they think that way. It could be a good reason or a bad reason, but nevertheless it is their reason and they might not be alone in that opinion whether they express it or not.
It's much better to know what people think than to have them bury it until it leaks out another way.
Let's face it, some people actually look for ways to be offended and would find something offensive about saying good morning to them. They might react with, "What do you mean, 'good morning'? What's good about it? Are you saying light is better than darkness? That's prejudiced against those of us who like night time! That's offensive!!! People everywhere should stop saying that right now or face a lawsuit."
Many years ago at a previous employer we had a big meeting that was presented by the Human Resources department. This was to be a meeting about diversity in the workplace. I had no problem with that, but then came the presentation. Near the beginning they showed a picture from the 60's of a bunch of old white guy engineers in suits and ties working on some project. They then proceeded to say that this is the way engineering had been and we no longer wanted the company to look this way. Being an old white guy at the time, this caught my attention. More so it caught my attention because it was people like those who had built a company which was the second largest employer in our state at the time (somewhere near 18,000 people at the high point).
Then, during the rest of the presentation, they showed what they wanted the company to look like. I had no issue with the people that were in the pictures. They were Hispanic, Indian (India Indian), Native American, Black, Chinese, Japanese, etc. They were all young (20's and early 30's). Many were women. Then I realized something. None of those people were old white guys. Yes, I mean NONE. It registered with me. If I had been the kind to take offense at such a slight I could easily have been offened, but instead I just remembered it.
Then the layoffs started. Then they got worse. There were a few new people hired, but the demographic was changing. Then things got even worse. Within a few years I was gone along with a lot of other old white guys. Just a few years later the company went from the second largest employer in the state to not being an employer of anyone in the state. They had succeeded in changing their demographics alright!
In the process of giving us a presentation which was unwittingly offensive, they told the truth about some decisions they were about to make which ultimately led to the elimination of their own jobs. How ironic. The handwriting was on the wall the day that presentation happened. Ultimately I was glad they inadvertently offended me, because as a result I was prepared for the eventual outcome when it happened.
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