A Blog About Anything & Everything.
Friday, July 31, 2020
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
Sure Could Use A 7th Inning Stretch Right Now
I miss those days.
Will there ever come a time like them again?
Seems so long ago.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Pennsylvania Mail In Voting Information
Busy schedule? Mail-in voting allows you to vote without waiting in line on election day. Apply online for a mail-in or absentee ballot to vote in the general election.
— PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) July 27, 2020
Apply ONLINE: https://t.co/AAQAKsYRC8
Learn more: https://t.co/K9KBHMXfnW#votesPA #ReadyToVotePA pic.twitter.com/iVc0OsuYtD
Mark your calendar so you won’t forget these important election dates.
— PA Department of State (@PAStateDept) June 10, 2020
Oct 19 – Voter registration deadline.
Oct 27 – Last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot.
Nov 3 – Voted mail-in & absentee ballots must be received by the county by 8 PM.
Nov 3 – Polls are open. pic.twitter.com/75fD4SjJhY
Sunday, July 26, 2020
America's Wet Markets
We need to straighten ourselves out before we go pointing fingers elsewhere.
Back in March a Chinese Diplomat Accused The U.S. of Spreading Coronavirus. Zhao's comments echoed a rumored conspiracy, widely circulated in China, that U.S. military personnel had brought the virus to China during their participation of the 2019 Military World Games in Wuhan last October.
While I seriously doubt this diplomat's accusation, given what was shown in the video, it does leave open the possibility. Especially since it was NYC that was first hit the hardest. So the question remains, will NYC do anything about them considering what we now know?
Saturday, July 25, 2020
My Favorite Music Videos (Updated 07/25/2020)
Friday, July 24, 2020
Football Player Inks Half A Billion Dollar Contract
Patrick Mahomes had no idea NFL allowed 10-year contracts
Why that's almost as much as I made over my entire 56 years of working. Not to worry. He'll be only 34 at the end of his contract. Still plenty of time to catch up.
When Coronavirus Is At The Beach (Humor)
It's hard to believe how many quality videos the 'Holderness Family' put out each week. She and her husband are quite creative. Talented as well.
Opetaia Foa'i Music Video
What a great production number!
Here's another version most Americans are more familiar with.
Especially if they have kids.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Rep. Cortez (D-NY) Responds To Rep. Yoho (R-FL)
AOC scares the living crap out of conservatives. It's because they fear in a few years she could run for president. With her ability to speak off script and ever growing popularity they see her as a threat. One they need to destroy whatever way possible. In their attempt inadvertently they're focusing the spotlight on her in ways she herself never could. Thus increasing her name recognition. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
By the time she becomes age eligible for the presidency she will be a well seasoned candidate. Thanks in part to these attacks and being able to so eloquently defend herself. Now if conservatives were really smart they'd not shed any more light on her then necessary. Instead Rep Yoho has given her another opportunity to shine. Smooth move Ex-Lax.
See why they see her as a threat?
She exposes Washington's hidden skeletons.
The ones they don't want exposed.
Confronts Gilead CEO for $2,000 Price Tag for HIV Drug Truvada
White supremacist hate crimes.
No matter how hard critics try to paint her as a dumb radical, she's anything but.
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Rep. John Lewis Led By Example. Not Just Words
Jul 17, 2019
Sept 6, 2012
The world was fortunate to have him for 80 years.
Will there be another like him to come along?
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
FOX News Needs A Thorough House Cleaning
Ridiculous. Also, as a parent, school going virtual was the first time I ever actually got any insight into what happens in my kids’ classes. If teachers were grooming kids it would make far more sense to do it in person, when parents weren’t listening in all day.
— Courtney (@IdlewoodRoad) July 15, 2020
Any semblance to reality is completely coincidental.
Let's roll the tape...
WHAT HYPOCRISY LOOKS LIKE.
These folks have something seriously wrong with them.
Any American wishing to maintain their sanity needs to step away and stop watching this channel before it affects their mental health.
Feb 9, 2018
And he still watches..
“Joe Biden has made a lot of promises - and not gotten a lot done.” @foxandfriends That is the understatement of the year!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2020
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Another Bunch Of Covid 19 Supporters
What about an oxygen mask?
Is it any wonder why Canada and Europe have banned travel from The United States. They've seen too many videos just like this.
Why Is Easton Express Hyping Up This Story?
Here are two copy/pastes from The Easton Express Times. The first from their webpage the second from their Facebook page.
Every news service has dropped the "knee on neck" line from their headlines. Yet four days later and just a few hours ago this morning (07/14/2020) they repeated this unverified accusation yet again on their Facebook page. They've done this almost repeatedly for days. If you check out any other news source none of them are doing this. This has been annoying me for days Seems very bias and judgmental to me. Do they plan on continuing to report it this way?
Every news service has dropped the "knee on neck" line from their headlines. Yet four days later and just a few hours ago this morning (07/14/2020) they repeated this unverified accusation yet again on their Facebook page. They've done this almost repeatedly for days. If you check out any other news source none of them are doing this. This has been annoying me for days Seems very bias and judgmental to me. Do they plan on continuing to report it this way?
Sunday, July 12, 2020
Allentown Officer Kneeling On Man
SOURCE: NBC10 Phila. (07/12/2020)
Of course this quickly turned into a hot potato.
Protestors now knocking on the doors to the precinct, demanding answers. pic.twitter.com/D7WQtUS6ne
— Kayla Dwyer (@kayla_dwyer17) July 12, 2020
Is the knee on the neck okay?
— Kayla Dwyer (@kayla_dwyer17) July 12, 2020
APD Chief Glenn Granitz says he saw the video, came here to investigate, can’t answer that question until he does. pic.twitter.com/L35a3dShhs
Thanks to MC Reporter Kayla Dwyer for the videos
Here's The Way I See It: SIMMER DOWN!
Here's a picture from THE POSTED VIDEO
Clearly the officer DID NOT have his knee on this guy's throat. The mayor and police chief had the courage to come down and speak directly with this crew around midnight. Their complaints weren't ignored. Both the mayor and chief handled it calmly and professionally like adults. Loudmouths in the group ought to try and do it sometime in return. They'd get further showing the same respect they were given. All this hollering and screaming down the street doesn't exactly make them look rational. Cooler heads need to prevail.
Covid 19 Infecting A Nation Of Fools
FOX13 (Tampa Bay) reported on Sunday, July 12, 2020, The first day of school for many districts across Florida is scheduled for August 10, and while Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing for students to get back into the classroom, the Florida Education Association says many districts are not ready for that.
Meanwhile huffpost.com reported on the same day, (Reuters) - Florida reported a record increase of more than 15,000 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours on Sunday, as the Trump administration renewed its push for schools to reopen and anti-mask protests were planned in Michigan and Missouri.
If Florida were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for the most new cases in a day behind the United States, Brazil and India, according to a Reuters analysis.
Florida’s daily increases in cases have already surpassed the highest daily tally reported by any European country during the height of the pandemic there. It has also broken New York state’s record of 12,847 new cases on April 10 when it was the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.
The same time this was being reported Education Secretary Betsy Devos was interviewed by Chris Wallace at FOX News. During the interview she used Florida's forced school openings as a springboard as to why other schools should be planning to do this as well.
Here's my thoughts. Even if it were true kids are less susceptible it doesn't mean their teachers, staff, after school caregivers and family members would be. Neither half day classes nor 2-3 day a week classes are great alternatives. This would be a problem for full time working parents.
Then there's the school bus problems. School transportation providers are concerned because many of their drivers are oldsters. A number of them already indicated they will opt out. There is certainly no way of social distancing these kids on the bus. Not unless they're planning running only half full. This would in turn require double the runs which would necessitate more drivers. Obviously a problem since (as I mentioned) there's likely to be less drivers they had in prior years.
What about PPE and hand sanitizers? Schools already were short on supplies which teachers paid for out of their own pockets. Are they suppose to provide protective gear now too?
I'm not going to pretend I have answers but there's one thing I'm sure of. You can't plow hell bent headlong into this without much better plans than I heard. I don't give a flying fig what Trump wants or his education secretary. What this will boil down to is what teachers, staff, and parents are willing to risk.
Ignoring the pandemic isn't going to make it go away. Nor pretend it's an overblown hoax. Anyone who thinks they can jump into a fire and not get burned is sadly mistaken. But I guess some people have to find it out for themselves.
Meanwhile huffpost.com reported on the same day, (Reuters) - Florida reported a record increase of more than 15,000 new cases of COVID-19 in 24 hours on Sunday, as the Trump administration renewed its push for schools to reopen and anti-mask protests were planned in Michigan and Missouri.
If Florida were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for the most new cases in a day behind the United States, Brazil and India, according to a Reuters analysis.
Florida’s daily increases in cases have already surpassed the highest daily tally reported by any European country during the height of the pandemic there. It has also broken New York state’s record of 12,847 new cases on April 10 when it was the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.
The same time this was being reported Education Secretary Betsy Devos was interviewed by Chris Wallace at FOX News. During the interview she used Florida's forced school openings as a springboard as to why other schools should be planning to do this as well.
Here's my thoughts. Even if it were true kids are less susceptible it doesn't mean their teachers, staff, after school caregivers and family members would be. Neither half day classes nor 2-3 day a week classes are great alternatives. This would be a problem for full time working parents.
Then there's the school bus problems. School transportation providers are concerned because many of their drivers are oldsters. A number of them already indicated they will opt out. There is certainly no way of social distancing these kids on the bus. Not unless they're planning running only half full. This would in turn require double the runs which would necessitate more drivers. Obviously a problem since (as I mentioned) there's likely to be less drivers they had in prior years.
What about PPE and hand sanitizers? Schools already were short on supplies which teachers paid for out of their own pockets. Are they suppose to provide protective gear now too?
I'm not going to pretend I have answers but there's one thing I'm sure of. You can't plow hell bent headlong into this without much better plans than I heard. I don't give a flying fig what Trump wants or his education secretary. What this will boil down to is what teachers, staff, and parents are willing to risk.
Ignoring the pandemic isn't going to make it go away. Nor pretend it's an overblown hoax. Anyone who thinks they can jump into a fire and not get burned is sadly mistaken. But I guess some people have to find it out for themselves.
Saturday, July 11, 2020
Good News Is Allentown Settled With LC Water Authority
Bad news is by 2024 I'll get charged more then 6 months worth of water then I'm now paying.
lehighvalleylive.com
Settlement involving major Lehigh Valley water system means higher bills for customers "For most water and sewer customers, the proposed agreement would mean an approximate $88 rate increase per year that would rise over time to an $176 increase per year by 2024, plus inflationary increases,"
Currently I pay around $90 per quarter. If the projected increase of $176 holds true I'll be paying nearly 50% more for the same amount of water I use now. Not sure how much those "inflationary increases" will add to the bill but if it were 4% each year that too could add another $50. That would be about another month and a half worth of water at it's present cost. So all said and done I'll end up getting around 7 1/2 months less of water then I'm now paying for. What a bargain for them.. me, not so much!
In addition the article goes on to say, "Under the settlement, LCA will pay for water purchased from the city system based on actual production costs and will pay a proportionate share of the cost of all capital improvements at the water treatment plant in Allentown." Does this mean in a worse case scenario it could end up costing me close to 2x's more?
Thank goodness I get those Social Security increases. Otherwise... never mind the Allentown School District increases already account for those. I sure hope those retired workers are enjoying the pensions my water bill is paying for with this deal the city made to lease out it's water department.
Every time I flush I will be thinking, there goes another donation to the cause
Settlement involving major Lehigh Valley water system means higher bills for customers
Currently I pay around $90 per quarter. If the projected increase of $176 holds true I'll be paying nearly 50% more for the same amount of water I use now. Not sure how much those "inflationary increases" will add to the bill but if it were 4% each year that too could add another $50. That would be about another month and a half worth of water at it's present cost. So all said and done I'll end up getting around 7 1/2 months less of water then I'm now paying for. What a bargain for them.. me, not so much!
In addition the article goes on to say, "Under the settlement, LCA will pay for water purchased from the city system based on actual production costs and will pay a proportionate share of the cost of all capital improvements at the water treatment plant in Allentown." Does this mean in a worse case scenario it could end up costing me close to 2x's more?
Thank goodness I get those Social Security increases. Otherwise... never mind the Allentown School District increases already account for those. I sure hope those retired workers are enjoying the pensions my water bill is paying for with this deal the city made to lease out it's water department.
Nearly Half Of Oklahoma Is Part Of Native American Reservation
The big news at the Supreme Court today will be Trumps taxes. But for Indians in Oklahoma, we’ll be talking about today for decades.
— Rebecca Nagle (@rebeccanagle) July 9, 2020
After a century of #Oklahoma not following our treaty rights, the Supreme Court said no more.
Eastern Oklahoma is Indian Country.
There sure are lots of implications. Does this mean Oklahoma has to give up almost half of their congressional members? How will this affect the electoral counts in the up coming election? Will it null and void state and local taxes on this sector of land? Could this tribe be able to request those taxes previously collected for themselves and enact new ones? Will deeds and licenses no longer be valid? Will residents now have to live under tribal laws instead of previous state and local ones? How will this affect all those formerly prosecuted? Will the courts be turned over to the tribe? What about schools and hospitals? Will they defund the police?
While the supreme court didn't go that far in this ruling it could set up future litigation matters such as some of those I mentioned.
Cabaret Star Leanne Borghes (et al) Sing In Quarantine
Broadway theaters may be shutdown because of the virus but the stars aren't about to let that stop them from performing.
"Billy Porter reprised his performance of “Raise You Up” from Kinky Boots alongside performers from the Broadway casts over the show’s six-year run, the national tour, and casts from the companies of the international productions in England, Germany, South Korea, Australia, Japan, and Canada in this new music video."
THE ACTORS FUND
"Billy Porter reprised his performance of “Raise You Up” from Kinky Boots alongside performers from the Broadway casts over the show’s six-year run, the national tour, and casts from the companies of the international productions in England, Germany, South Korea, Australia, Japan, and Canada in this new music video."
THE ACTORS FUND
Friday, July 10, 2020
Common Sense Test
Most of them seem like trick questions to me.
Course it may seem they are only because I may be lacking common sense :-)
Let's see how well you do.
Hard to believe I once passed an Army intelligence test. Course they were looking forsuckers volunteers to snoop out where Vietcong troops were hiding in those days. Fortunately they gave me this test before I signed the enlistment papers. The way I figured it future wouldn't be looking bright after taking that test if I went ahead with it. Especially since they said I'd most likely become a radio operator which goes along with that. I decided instead to take my chances and wait out the lottery drawings for the draft. Turned out my number was 265. The list that year stopped at 150. I've been losing lottery drawings ever since, but still consider myself fortunate. So many of my friends from high school were not :-(
A bit of a weird story. One of the guys at work was a radio operator during Vietnam. He had a second guy who would always go with him on advance patrol. He said the radio batteries were so damn heavy to carry in the hot jungles so he took them out of his radio to make his load lighter. Then one day they came under attack. He jumped to one side of the path while his companion (carrying the much needed extra batteries) jumped to the other. After some arguing he said toss me your batteries. They other guy replied, what batteries? I thought you had them in your radio. He said no, I left them on the chopper. Turns out so did this other guy. Oh shit. Several days later they came across some Marines having lunch. When they weren't looking he took one set of theirs so he wouldn't get disciplined praying he wouldn't run into them again.
Course it may seem they are only because I may be lacking common sense :-)
Let's see how well you do.
Hard to believe I once passed an Army intelligence test. Course they were looking for
A bit of a weird story. One of the guys at work was a radio operator during Vietnam. He had a second guy who would always go with him on advance patrol. He said the radio batteries were so damn heavy to carry in the hot jungles so he took them out of his radio to make his load lighter. Then one day they came under attack. He jumped to one side of the path while his companion (carrying the much needed extra batteries) jumped to the other. After some arguing he said toss me your batteries. They other guy replied, what batteries? I thought you had them in your radio. He said no, I left them on the chopper. Turns out so did this other guy. Oh shit. Several days later they came across some Marines having lunch. When they weren't looking he took one set of theirs so he wouldn't get disciplined praying he wouldn't run into them again.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Tuesday, July 7, 2020
RIP Nick Cordero
On July 05, 2020, a little bit before noon, Nick Cordero has passed away due to complications with COVID-19. Please look out for one another by wearing masks and socially distancing, you could unknowingly hurt those around you.
68th Tony Awards Performance (2014) "Bullets Over Broadway"
Rest In Peace Nick.
You put up a great fight to live and you left behind wonderful memories.
68th Tony Awards Performance (2014) "Bullets Over Broadway"
Rest In Peace Nick.
You put up a great fight to live and you left behind wonderful memories.
Pandemic Aid: Churches Made Out Like Bandits
Evangelical Megachurch With Close Ties To Trump Approved for Millions In Pandemic Aid
Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a rally last month at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, whose pastor, Robert Jeffress, has been on Trump’s evangelical advisory board.
It was among the [84,000] tens of thousands of religious organizations that received a total of $7.3 billion in pandemic aid from the Small Business Administration."
Imagine how many small owners of restaurants, barbershops, hairdressers, bars and 1,000's of others could have benefited. Most all of them paying taxes. Many of which are certain to be unable to sustain. I find it truly disgusting public money was used this way.
Clearly the constitution states there should be a separation of church and government. Seems to me to be a one way street whenever it benefits them. Another when it does not. They have a pretty good racket going if you ask me. What other business could sell an invisible product with no guaranteed benefits or if there even was one that existed?
In my opinion this whole pandemic stimulus program is turning out to be a money grab in which the ones who needed it the most are getting the least (if any). No doubt pharmaceuticals will make out like bandits too. After seeing what happened with the 2008 bailouts imagine my surprise. Metaphorically speaking, the government is throwing another feast and peasants aren't invited. Instead the peasantry will be expected to pick up the tab as usual. Surprised?
Sunday, July 5, 2020
Hamilton Polka
Goes to show you can churn out a polka,
no matter the kind of music it was before :-)
Lin Hears "The Hamilton Polka"
LA Cop Pulls Up To Street Musician
..and this is what happened
❤️🌎COME 👊🏿👊🏻 🚔 👊🏾👊🏽TOGETHER 🌎❤️💋💋 pic.twitter.com/TxwnK26nE2
— DDD🐰🍀🐇❤️💋💋 (@DDD_101_) June 30, 2020
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Inspiring July 4th Messages
Reagan and Obama
Lord knows we could sure use these inspiring speeches now more then ever. Sadly these magnificent words are absent in Washington presently. I was fortunate enough to have heard them when they were first spoken. Hopefully I will live long enough to experience the likes of them once again when today's present leaders' voices will be no longer heard.
Thursday, July 2, 2020
Bernie Sanders Weapons Won't Make Us Safer
We already have enough weapons to annihilate the human race several times over again. The argument goes, with that threat hanging over us all sides will be fearful enough to not engage them. Wanna bet?
I agree with Bernie it's a lot better to intermingle with other countries as much as possible. By doing so the probability is much greater one will not see the other so different from themselves. The way I see it fear is what drives people to war with one another. The root cause of fear is born when nations isolate from each other. Isolation always begins with political leaders at the top wanting it to be that way. Never because of the people themselves unlikely to have met those they are told by their government to hate and kill. Right now we see protestors, police and ethnic groups weaponizing against one another right here in our very own country. All of fueled by fear and distrust.
I don't know if you ever watched the Anthony Bourdain series. He went into what could be described as the most dangerous parts of this world. If you tuned in late you'd have a tough time determining whether he was in a friendly country or in one of our so-called adversary's. Such is the case for years with NASA whom several countries put their differences aside to work on the ISS for years. Universities have been at the forefront bringing youth from one country to engage with others their same age. Thus reducing what political and cultural differences we may have thought we harbored. Same goes throughout the tech industry.
Hate, fear and the resulting violence can't be solved by weaponizing. One side can build a weapon. The other even a bigger weapon. Then another till both are able to wipeout the human race. Ninety percent who never met each other. Genius... sheer genius.
Can I get an Amen?
"I don't have to agree with you to like you or respect you."
Anthony Bourdain
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