I had a great talk with my grandson yesterday. It was like talking to a liberal except the baby made more sense. He was making happy faces and nodding his head. Okay, so his nods were more like a bobble head doll. When he got some happy hands we sang a verse of The Hokey Poky.
The great part was that when he started getting an attitude that may have been rooted in dirty diapers, I passed him to his mother. That was my chance to act like a liberal.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Opus 2020-077: A Blip
At this point it looks like the glimmer of yesterday was just a blip.
It is a good illustration of how we are all living in an information fog. Sometimes it is the fog of guesswork masquerading as data, sometimes simply incomplete information and sometimes outright manipulation.
Always keep your salt shaker handy so you can get a grain when you need it. The site I listed yesterday revised the numbers later. The numbers were still low enough to look good but not as dramatic as before. Okay. You give data as it comes in.
What makes me get out my salt shaker is that the website it always quoting from the Cuomo daily briefings and ignoring what the president has to say. That indicates a view of reality that is a bit biased.
I am still optimistic. A county near me with a city of one and a half million people had five deaths as of yesterday. Notice it wasn’t five death yesterday but “as of yesterday”. This is not something to panic over if you have a clean bill of health based on a history of clean living and wash your hands.
And don’t forget to watch for the unicorns spreading the virus.
homo unius libri
It is a good illustration of how we are all living in an information fog. Sometimes it is the fog of guesswork masquerading as data, sometimes simply incomplete information and sometimes outright manipulation.
Always keep your salt shaker handy so you can get a grain when you need it. The site I listed yesterday revised the numbers later. The numbers were still low enough to look good but not as dramatic as before. Okay. You give data as it comes in.
What makes me get out my salt shaker is that the website it always quoting from the Cuomo daily briefings and ignoring what the president has to say. That indicates a view of reality that is a bit biased.
I am still optimistic. A county near me with a city of one and a half million people had five deaths as of yesterday. Notice it wasn’t five death yesterday but “as of yesterday”. This is not something to panic over if you have a clean bill of health based on a history of clean living and wash your hands.
And don’t forget to watch for the unicorns spreading the virus.
homo unius libri
Monday, March 30, 2020
Opus 2020-076: A Glimmer
If you are looking for a ray of hope on the Chinavirus you have one this morning.
I am not interested in headlines and the filters put on by media or bloggers. I try to look for raw numbers and try to interpret them myself. With that in mind, I confess that I don’t know any more than anyone else, probably less. One of the sites I find that gives numbers is Worldmeter. If you have not seen it yet and want data, check it out. I don’t pay a lot of attention to the number of cases because that is totally dependent on how much testing is being done and how reliable the tests are. Interesting but not telling us much. I also discount numbers that come from China or other countries with totalitarian governments. What I focus on is the number of deaths each day.
Yesterday we had a major turn-down in death reported in both the Untied States and the world. It could be only a blip. It could be a lack of reporting. It could be the unicorns have finally been corralled. It is still a ray of hope. Here are the numbers for new deaths in the US starting on March 24:
March 24 225
March 25 247
March 26 268
March 27 400
March 28 525
March 29 264
As you can see we seemed to be spiking on the 27th and 28th and then had a dramatic drop on the 29th. One day does not a pattern make. Don’t break out the sparkling cider yet. But it is still a positive step.
Keep washing your hands and avoid unicorns.
homo unius libri
I am not interested in headlines and the filters put on by media or bloggers. I try to look for raw numbers and try to interpret them myself. With that in mind, I confess that I don’t know any more than anyone else, probably less. One of the sites I find that gives numbers is Worldmeter. If you have not seen it yet and want data, check it out. I don’t pay a lot of attention to the number of cases because that is totally dependent on how much testing is being done and how reliable the tests are. Interesting but not telling us much. I also discount numbers that come from China or other countries with totalitarian governments. What I focus on is the number of deaths each day.
Yesterday we had a major turn-down in death reported in both the Untied States and the world. It could be only a blip. It could be a lack of reporting. It could be the unicorns have finally been corralled. It is still a ray of hope. Here are the numbers for new deaths in the US starting on March 24:
March 24 225
March 25 247
March 26 268
March 27 400
March 28 525
March 29 264
As you can see we seemed to be spiking on the 27th and 28th and then had a dramatic drop on the 29th. One day does not a pattern make. Don’t break out the sparkling cider yet. But it is still a positive step.
Keep washing your hands and avoid unicorns.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-075: Y2K and C-19
I have seen several references to the scare over Y2K. For those with short memories that was the fear that when the calendars in the computer innards rolled over to the year 2000 they would reset at 0 and throw everything in our culture in the blender.
Obviously there was nothing noticeable that happened. Up to that point we are agreed but I am seeing more and more people acting like it was not a real problem, just hype, and then they compare it to the Chinavirus panic.
I am of the opinion that there was a problem based in Y2K. It did have the potential to wreak a lot of havoc. When the concern was acknowledged the geeks got to work looking for a fix. We will never know how much of a problem we might have had but I think we would have had one. So don’t put Y2K in the same box with the virus scares.
On the other hand, when this is done we need to find the balance between accepting that we were brought to a slow boil by the media and that some of the things done did help to contain the spread of the disease. The big, unanswerable question will be, “Was it worth the price?”
If you are on the government dole already and comfortable in your cocoon, you give it all a two thumbs up. If you work for a living, manage to keep it together, the economy recovers and life become normalized we will say, “Maybe.” If the damage is enough to bring us to our knees and strip us of our liberty and potential for prosperity, then, “No.”
Remember, even when we are over the hump it is a good idea to wash your hands. That goes double if you are in a state with a lot of Democrats.
homo unius libri
Obviously there was nothing noticeable that happened. Up to that point we are agreed but I am seeing more and more people acting like it was not a real problem, just hype, and then they compare it to the Chinavirus panic.
I am of the opinion that there was a problem based in Y2K. It did have the potential to wreak a lot of havoc. When the concern was acknowledged the geeks got to work looking for a fix. We will never know how much of a problem we might have had but I think we would have had one. So don’t put Y2K in the same box with the virus scares.
On the other hand, when this is done we need to find the balance between accepting that we were brought to a slow boil by the media and that some of the things done did help to contain the spread of the disease. The big, unanswerable question will be, “Was it worth the price?”
If you are on the government dole already and comfortable in your cocoon, you give it all a two thumbs up. If you work for a living, manage to keep it together, the economy recovers and life become normalized we will say, “Maybe.” If the damage is enough to bring us to our knees and strip us of our liberty and potential for prosperity, then, “No.”
Remember, even when we are over the hump it is a good idea to wash your hands. That goes double if you are in a state with a lot of Democrats.
homo unius libri
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Opus 2020-074: New Terms: That’s Left
I was reading at the DB Daily Update site on my I-pad and came across a statement that got me to thinking. When I tried to reference it on my computer I was informed that I could not get there unless I accepted their cookie policy. Since I try to avoid going there when I can I will try to relate what I can remember. The statement had something to do with something being right or should we say “left”.
We need a new phrase to account for woke comments. I am suggesting “that’s left” instead of a lot of arguing. When we say “that’s left” we mean that they are so ridiculous that our minds are stupefied at their obtuseness. We mean that we acknowledge that they are not open to facts, logic or any kind of reason. We acknowledge their disconnect and the concrete it is set in.
We can have variations on this like raising a fist and saying “left on, brother!” Obviously it will become better to become a left hand fluid gender person than a right hand man. How about “Might makes left”?
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
We need a new phrase to account for woke comments. I am suggesting “that’s left” instead of a lot of arguing. When we say “that’s left” we mean that they are so ridiculous that our minds are stupefied at their obtuseness. We mean that we acknowledge that they are not open to facts, logic or any kind of reason. We acknowledge their disconnect and the concrete it is set in.
We can have variations on this like raising a fist and saying “left on, brother!” Obviously it will become better to become a left hand fluid gender person than a right hand man. How about “Might makes left”?
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-073: Quarantine Meditations
Being retired and having a reasonable supply of necessities, I have not had to change my lifestyle much during the time of social distancing. I am an introvert and feel no confinement be staying home. It is my default setting. But for those of you going stir crazy I came across this in my reading today.
Wash your hands and stay away from unicorns.
homo unius libri
(Psa 88:8 KJV) Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.If you feel isolated, you are not alone. Relax and enjoy it if you are retired. If you are younger then pray that the leaders of the free world realize we will have more people starving to death than will be touched by the virus if you are not allowed to go back to work.
Wash your hands and stay away from unicorns.
homo unius libri
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Opus 2020-072: Headlines: Justice on a Roll
At first I thought it was the Babylon Bee. I went to Whatfinger and could not find it so I did a Google search on Nicolas Maduro being indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice. The first three sources of the story were the New York Times, The Washington Post and Al Jazeera. Since those sources are satire sights for the left I am still not sure. But lets go with it.
We, that being Attorney General William Barr, are indicting Mudaro for drug trafficking? Really? With Hillary and Comey still walking the streets? With John Kerry undermining the U.S. government in his globe trotting? With all of the rampant corruption in our government and media we are spending our time on the Tyrant of Venezuela?
Does this mean that we are going to allow the U.N. Courts to begin going after Americans in political witch hunts? This could really open a can of worms.
We need to see some serious priority shifts in the Government and some adults to think about the implications of their theater tactics.
homo unius libri
We, that being Attorney General William Barr, are indicting Mudaro for drug trafficking? Really? With Hillary and Comey still walking the streets? With John Kerry undermining the U.S. government in his globe trotting? With all of the rampant corruption in our government and media we are spending our time on the Tyrant of Venezuela?
Does this mean that we are going to allow the U.N. Courts to begin going after Americans in political witch hunts? This could really open a can of worms.
We need to see some serious priority shifts in the Government and some adults to think about the implications of their theater tactics.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-071: Ode to Old: They’re Everywhere
One of the indicators of losing it mentally is feeling like there are bugs crawling all over you. I am beginning to see where this might come from.
When you reach a certain age you begin to have what are called “floaters”. The doctor explained it as particles detaching from your retina and floating around inside your eye until they break down and essentially go away. This can take quite a bit of time. He assures me it is normal and nothing to worry about. It is expected to start when you are around 60. He said I was fortunate that it didn’t hit me until I was 70.
Easy for him to say. It has taken my brain a long time to compensate for the masquerade. I keep thinking there are bugs flying or squirrels running along the road. I am gradually adjusting.
Then there was a real bug. Now my brain is starting to say, “See. I told you so. You should listen to me.”
At least I think it was real. I assembled a fly swatter from some paper and went hunting. He was real but I could not get him to settle on anything that would not break.
Now that I know it is not dementia, I can wait.
homo unius libri
When you reach a certain age you begin to have what are called “floaters”. The doctor explained it as particles detaching from your retina and floating around inside your eye until they break down and essentially go away. This can take quite a bit of time. He assures me it is normal and nothing to worry about. It is expected to start when you are around 60. He said I was fortunate that it didn’t hit me until I was 70.
Easy for him to say. It has taken my brain a long time to compensate for the masquerade. I keep thinking there are bugs flying or squirrels running along the road. I am gradually adjusting.
Then there was a real bug. Now my brain is starting to say, “See. I told you so. You should listen to me.”
At least I think it was real. I assembled a fly swatter from some paper and went hunting. He was real but I could not get him to settle on anything that would not break.
Now that I know it is not dementia, I can wait.
homo unius libri
Friday, March 27, 2020
Opus 2020-070: Where Have All the Flowers Gone?
It amazes me how many bloggers who were once prolific have stopped posting. There are blogs I used to check every day and when I get to them now I find the last post was in January. I hope this means that they have found something better to do with their time and moved on. I hope it does not mean a major difficulty in their lives.
When you get down to it, blogging is not a lot more than ego expression. We have things to say. Our wives won’t listen. So we tell the world about it. I sometimes wonder if I would have much in the way of stats if they turned off the bots.
homo unius libri
When you get down to it, blogging is not a lot more than ego expression. We have things to say. Our wives won’t listen. So we tell the world about it. I sometimes wonder if I would have much in the way of stats if they turned off the bots.
homo unius libri
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Opus 2020-069: On the Streets: Are Toilet Paper Lines Better Than Bread Lines?
I never thought the breadlines would form so quickly. Okay. So people are waiting for toilet paper instead of bread. We have all seen pictures from the Great Depression, the Soviet Union and places like Venezuela where people are standing in lines waiting to get what will be made available. We call them bread lines. We shake our heads and wonder how people got there. Then we go and line up like sheep outside the grocery store. The only difference is we stand six feet apart.
I only came close to it once at Cosco. Since I can pick when I shop I managed to have no wait but when I came out the line was formed again. For the most part we are being managed without any rifle toting thugs. We have smiling store employees.
And keep in mind, it is for our own good.
I don’t have an answer. Maybe we could start by refusing to cash the checks that our overlords are planning on sending out. I know I am not going to get violent.
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns. Don’t let them come closer than six feet.
homo unius libri
I only came close to it once at Cosco. Since I can pick when I shop I managed to have no wait but when I came out the line was formed again. For the most part we are being managed without any rifle toting thugs. We have smiling store employees.
And keep in mind, it is for our own good.
I don’t have an answer. Maybe we could start by refusing to cash the checks that our overlords are planning on sending out. I know I am not going to get violent.
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns. Don’t let them come closer than six feet.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-068: Headlines: Ignore Them
Each morning I do a quick run through of sites that report the data from the “pandemic” we are experiencing. Yes, people are dying. It is clear that to those people and their families this is a major tragedy. I am still not seeing anything to justify all the panic and loss of liberty. I do not get too excited about headlines. I am not looking at cases. Cases depend on testing and how many people are sick enough to seek help. The entire country could be 100% infected and it would not change the cases being reported. Death you can quantify and it doesn’t measure up.
Don’t take my word for it. In a Powerline article from March 25 after showing a simple graphic, we see a good short summary.
homo unius libri
Don’t take my word for it. In a Powerline article from March 25 after showing a simple graphic, we see a good short summary.
“The Diamond Princess experience–virtually a laboratory experiment–suggests that around 80% of the population is naturally immune to COVID-19, that half the people who get the disease will experience no symptoms, and that in an elderly population, something like 1% of those who contract the disease will die. So far I don’t see anything in the reported U.S. or global fatality numbers to contradict the Diamond Princess experience.”Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Opus 2020-067: Almost Thanked a Democrat
I was so close to saying something good about the Democrats in congress. Their obscene stuffing of all their left wing agenda into the stimulus was keeping it from being passed. Yay, team. Then they had to realize how evil they looked and pulled out enough to get the RINOs on board.
The stimulus is not a good idea. If we end up having a failing economy it can be traced back to this pork barrel deluxe. I have seen lists of all the stuff the Democrats tried to get away with but no one has confessed to all the self serving additions made by the Republican. You know they added whatever they could get away with.
Americans don’t need handouts. They need liberty and the freedom to go to their jobs. As I write we have 910 deaths in a nation of 350,000,000. Each one is a tragedy. So are the ones that died from illegal aliens and criminals let loose by demented political leaders. So are the babies that are executed by abortion. The list can go on. We need to let people be responsible for their own lives.
I hope God has mercy on us because the politicians won’t.
homo unius libri
The stimulus is not a good idea. If we end up having a failing economy it can be traced back to this pork barrel deluxe. I have seen lists of all the stuff the Democrats tried to get away with but no one has confessed to all the self serving additions made by the Republican. You know they added whatever they could get away with.
Americans don’t need handouts. They need liberty and the freedom to go to their jobs. As I write we have 910 deaths in a nation of 350,000,000. Each one is a tragedy. So are the ones that died from illegal aliens and criminals let loose by demented political leaders. So are the babies that are executed by abortion. The list can go on. We need to let people be responsible for their own lives.
I hope God has mercy on us because the politicians won’t.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-066: On the Street: No Going Back
I understand the Cosco is refusing to accept returns on items that were being rushed such as toilet paper. I am glad to see that my suggestion of March 17 is being followed. There is no reason why a company doing everything it can to supply the needs of its customers should be left holding the bag. I can only hope that other major stores will follow the leader.
I am now looking forward to the yard sales to come. We can stock up on the cheap before the next panic.
If only the same thing were happening with ammunition.
homo unius libri
I am now looking forward to the yard sales to come. We can stock up on the cheap before the next panic.
If only the same thing were happening with ammunition.
homo unius libri
Monday, March 23, 2020
Opus 2020-065: Headlines: The Stimulus that Kills
The headlines are full of reference to a Trillion (with a T) dollar stimulus package that both sides seem to be excited about. It seems like all they are arguing about is how to structure it so that their buddies get the most benefit. Like most government programs, very little will get to the people in genuine need. Government officials and their stock brokers will make out like bandits. Social workers and government administrators will line their pockets. A big chunk will just disappear. And the people who could take care of themselves will be pushed one step closer to becoming dead-beat dads and welfare queens.
The only stimulus package America needs is for the government to back off, stop feeling so important and let Americans get on with life. If the budget was already in the deep red then where are we going to get another trillion dollars? The obvious answer is to print it and there goes inflation. People are throwing around the D word and if the government doesn’t stop playing God then the America hating Progressives* will get what they want.
Of course stopping the stimulus will be hard to do with so many closet snowflakes wanting the CDC to produce a magic elixir that removes all risk from life. There are a large number of Americans who talk the language of free enterprise but are really government goodies socialists at heart. They don’t seem to understand that for them to get a $1,000 check the government will need to spend for or five thousand dollars and all of that will be paid back in their taxes.
Sometimes I think our only hope is that there is so much selfishness that they will never agree on how to distribute the compassion that they think will keep us obedient.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
The only stimulus package America needs is for the government to back off, stop feeling so important and let Americans get on with life. If the budget was already in the deep red then where are we going to get another trillion dollars? The obvious answer is to print it and there goes inflation. People are throwing around the D word and if the government doesn’t stop playing God then the America hating Progressives* will get what they want.
Of course stopping the stimulus will be hard to do with so many closet snowflakes wanting the CDC to produce a magic elixir that removes all risk from life. There are a large number of Americans who talk the language of free enterprise but are really government goodies socialists at heart. They don’t seem to understand that for them to get a $1,000 check the government will need to spend for or five thousand dollars and all of that will be paid back in their taxes.
Sometimes I think our only hope is that there is so much selfishness that they will never agree on how to distribute the compassion that they think will keep us obedient.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-064: Baby Talk: Cause and Effect
One of the important lessons that children must learn is cause and effect. Unfortunately the younger generation is being sheltered from that lesson by education and government.
My granddaughter is still struggling to make the connections. She like to open and close doors. She also thinks she needs a daily libation of lotion on her hands. This is not a good combination for a toddler. Once her hands are well lubricated she will invariably walk over and try to open the door she just closed. This does not go well for her.
Eventually she will learn to deal with it. It may not make her a Constitutional scholar or a free market economist but it will move her toward adulthood.
homo unius libri
My granddaughter is still struggling to make the connections. She like to open and close doors. She also thinks she needs a daily libation of lotion on her hands. This is not a good combination for a toddler. Once her hands are well lubricated she will invariably walk over and try to open the door she just closed. This does not go well for her.
Eventually she will learn to deal with it. It may not make her a Constitutional scholar or a free market economist but it will move her toward adulthood.
homo unius libri
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Opus 2020-063: Geezer Alert
The elderly are the new children.
You have noticed if you are paying attention that the way the Progressives* get things done is to claim that “it is for the children”. Now we have a cause that does not seem to touch the children so they are calling for the same types of government intervention only this time it is “for the elderly”. I can see some legislation called “No Geezer Left Behind”.
Keep in mind that these same people were okay with the death panels of Obamacare and withholding medical treatment for those who no longer make a contribution. Now that group must be preserved at all costs. We hear about the frail and helpless people in nursing homes. The sobs are almost heart breaking. We are closing our schools. Is it to protect the children? No, they don’t seem to be at risk in the current panic unless they get caught in a toilet paper stampede. We are closing our schools to protect the elderly who populate the good paying jobs associated with being a teacher or professor. It might make more sense at the college level to force the students to stay in the dorm and not go home. That way their parents and grandparents would be safe and the only ones at risk would be the left-wing mind warpers running the mediocrity mills.
So get ready for a lot of laws you would never imagined. Picture speed limits around nursing homes and cars carrying anyone over 65 to have special blinking warning lights. Perhaps we could have social worker visits and licenses required for anyone keeping their parents at home. My mind boggles at the potential for new invasions of our liberty.
But keep in mind, it is for the elderly.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
You have noticed if you are paying attention that the way the Progressives* get things done is to claim that “it is for the children”. Now we have a cause that does not seem to touch the children so they are calling for the same types of government intervention only this time it is “for the elderly”. I can see some legislation called “No Geezer Left Behind”.
Keep in mind that these same people were okay with the death panels of Obamacare and withholding medical treatment for those who no longer make a contribution. Now that group must be preserved at all costs. We hear about the frail and helpless people in nursing homes. The sobs are almost heart breaking. We are closing our schools. Is it to protect the children? No, they don’t seem to be at risk in the current panic unless they get caught in a toilet paper stampede. We are closing our schools to protect the elderly who populate the good paying jobs associated with being a teacher or professor. It might make more sense at the college level to force the students to stay in the dorm and not go home. That way their parents and grandparents would be safe and the only ones at risk would be the left-wing mind warpers running the mediocrity mills.
So get ready for a lot of laws you would never imagined. Picture speed limits around nursing homes and cars carrying anyone over 65 to have special blinking warning lights. Perhaps we could have social worker visits and licenses required for anyone keeping their parents at home. My mind boggles at the potential for new invasions of our liberty.
But keep in mind, it is for the elderly.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
Friday, March 20, 2020
Opus 2020-062: Not Lucky
I thought I would make some farewell comments while I have a chance. I am feeling fine. I am not planning on going anywhere. I am totally not worried about the Chinavirus even if I am in the demographic that has the most deaths. If I suddenly disappear from the internet it will either the black helicopters came to get me or I was totally wrong about the Chinavirus. If the worst happens, I want you to know I went out smiling.
It has been a good run. I am not lucky, I am blessed. I have a wonderful family, a few really good friends and enough money to stay afloat. I can even walk around the house and chase my granddaughter without much pain, if you discount the first few minutes of the morning when my old joints are protesting the new day.
What ties it all together is a trust in Jesus that means I have no fear of death. It means that no matter how many failures I might think I have, I am still a child of the living God, created in His image. It means that I can lose politically but I won’t live in fear or anger. It really makes a difference when you can see that it takes more faith to believe in the accidental cause of the universe instead of the careful design of a Creator.
My plan is to keep writing but I have had a lot of plans that went down in smoke. I will not be going down with them. Bring it on, life or death are both options for the blessed.
homo unius libri
It has been a good run. I am not lucky, I am blessed. I have a wonderful family, a few really good friends and enough money to stay afloat. I can even walk around the house and chase my granddaughter without much pain, if you discount the first few minutes of the morning when my old joints are protesting the new day.
What ties it all together is a trust in Jesus that means I have no fear of death. It means that no matter how many failures I might think I have, I am still a child of the living God, created in His image. It means that I can lose politically but I won’t live in fear or anger. It really makes a difference when you can see that it takes more faith to believe in the accidental cause of the universe instead of the careful design of a Creator.
My plan is to keep writing but I have had a lot of plans that went down in smoke. I will not be going down with them. Bring it on, life or death are both options for the blessed.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-061: Four Horsepower
We live in interesting times. I almost wonder if it is the end times. Will Trump be the Anti-Christ? Will the trumpet sound? Will the New Jerusalem descend from heaven? People have been asking those questions for at least 2000 years. Of course they have substituted all kinds of names for “Trump” but you get the idea.
Recently I wrote a post about locusts causing famine in Africa. It struck me that we have a classic time to remember the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Evidently the concept comes from the sixth chapter of Revelation. They represent pestilence, war, famine, death. If you think about it we have all of them greeting us on the internet every day.
So is it the end or is it just business as usual?
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
Recently I wrote a post about locusts causing famine in Africa. It struck me that we have a classic time to remember the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Evidently the concept comes from the sixth chapter of Revelation. They represent pestilence, war, famine, death. If you think about it we have all of them greeting us on the internet every day.
So is it the end or is it just business as usual?
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Opus 2020-060: Immortal Quotes: “...Fear Itself”
I have been hearing FDR quoted a lot recently. The way I keep hearing it is “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” I heard it Sunday and the pastor talked about how this was offered to the country during the dark days of World War II. I have others say the same thing. With respect to the pastor and others it was not offered during the war. The quote comes from his first inaugural address, March 4, 1933. That is eight years before Pearl Harbor.
The situation he was addressing was what we have come to call The Great Depression. He was wrong. The greatest thing we had to fear was not fear but the fear mongers and control freaks of the Democrat party. It has been argued that if Roosevelt and his do-good friends had stopped trying to use the coercive power of the federal government to fix the economy things would have gotten better a lot sooner. In fact the economy was already on its way to recovery when Roosevelt took office. He did everything he could to stop the recovery.
I am willing to consider that he thought he was helping. Millions of people have been taught that he saw us through this rough time. He was one of the primary examples of the Reagan quote about the scariest words in our culture, “I’m from the government and I am here to help you.” People need to talk to someone from Alcoholics Anonymous and the people they label “enablers.” These are the people who put a protective cocoon around the alcoholic so that he never has to face his problem. They do it to help and they perpetuate the destructive behavior.
We are in another one of those times. We do not need the government stepping in with its thug boots and trying to fix something that really isn’t broken. I am watching our economy be shut down because a bunch of old people in power realize they are threatened and don’t care how many people at low level jobs they destroy in order to feel safe and virtuous. Keep in mind that if Starbuck’s closes down the executives that made the decision will be able to keep living high but the baristas who worked the counters will be going hungry, literally. Sure a few will work the drive thru window but that won’t make up for the loss.
We need to bite the bullet and get back to regular living. I say that as one who is in the middle of the most endangered demographic. So far it has not influences my life a lot. One up side is that my wife can’t go out to eat as much. I am retired and have few demands I can’t put off. If I am one of the few that get sick I expect I will be back on task in a few days. The people who keep the economy moving are not in that position. I am not sure the country can be so optimistic about all the businesses that will close down because of this panic. The Progressives* would love the shut the country down and see martial law in place.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
The situation he was addressing was what we have come to call The Great Depression. He was wrong. The greatest thing we had to fear was not fear but the fear mongers and control freaks of the Democrat party. It has been argued that if Roosevelt and his do-good friends had stopped trying to use the coercive power of the federal government to fix the economy things would have gotten better a lot sooner. In fact the economy was already on its way to recovery when Roosevelt took office. He did everything he could to stop the recovery.
I am willing to consider that he thought he was helping. Millions of people have been taught that he saw us through this rough time. He was one of the primary examples of the Reagan quote about the scariest words in our culture, “I’m from the government and I am here to help you.” People need to talk to someone from Alcoholics Anonymous and the people they label “enablers.” These are the people who put a protective cocoon around the alcoholic so that he never has to face his problem. They do it to help and they perpetuate the destructive behavior.
We are in another one of those times. We do not need the government stepping in with its thug boots and trying to fix something that really isn’t broken. I am watching our economy be shut down because a bunch of old people in power realize they are threatened and don’t care how many people at low level jobs they destroy in order to feel safe and virtuous. Keep in mind that if Starbuck’s closes down the executives that made the decision will be able to keep living high but the baristas who worked the counters will be going hungry, literally. Sure a few will work the drive thru window but that won’t make up for the loss.
We need to bite the bullet and get back to regular living. I say that as one who is in the middle of the most endangered demographic. So far it has not influences my life a lot. One up side is that my wife can’t go out to eat as much. I am retired and have few demands I can’t put off. If I am one of the few that get sick I expect I will be back on task in a few days. The people who keep the economy moving are not in that position. I am not sure the country can be so optimistic about all the businesses that will close down because of this panic. The Progressives* would love the shut the country down and see martial law in place.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-059: On the Street: Looking for Fallen Sky
I finally got out of the house yesterday. It was not in planned isolation, just life as normal. My wife and daughter have been our almost every day but I can’t get a haircut watching the grandchildren.
I also wanted to be able to experience the panic before it went away. I didn’t figure I had much time. I think I already missed it. After my haircut I walked through one of the smaller markets in town and was impressed by the empty shelves. In the paper goods section they had not even bothered to put stuff on the shelves. They just opened boxes and left them on the floor. If I had been in need I could have still found plenty to eat both fresh and canned.
At Cosco they were ready for the crowds. They had barriers up and an employee wiping down the carts with sanitizer. The idea was that people would line up and be admitted in an orderly manner. They even had a lady announcing what they were out of. I was only delayed because people didn’t realize there was a line and the guy at the door told them to start over there. Inside was nice. They had no toilet paper but mounds of bottled water. I guess people finally realized that the water supply would keep running. They had an adequate supply of diapers but we were limited to two boxes and since I have a newborn and a toddler I got the limit. There was no canned chicken but plenty of the expensive canned tuna. Checking out went faster than usual.
From there I went to the gas pump and had almost no waiting.
Then I stopped at the grocery store. Out of curiosity I checked the soup aisle and found it cleaned out. The meat department had limitations but I was quite satisfied with only being able to buy one beef product. Again the check out went very fast.
All in all I think I waited too late to be a part of the panic. Maybe next media caused frenzy I can do better.
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
I also wanted to be able to experience the panic before it went away. I didn’t figure I had much time. I think I already missed it. After my haircut I walked through one of the smaller markets in town and was impressed by the empty shelves. In the paper goods section they had not even bothered to put stuff on the shelves. They just opened boxes and left them on the floor. If I had been in need I could have still found plenty to eat both fresh and canned.
At Cosco they were ready for the crowds. They had barriers up and an employee wiping down the carts with sanitizer. The idea was that people would line up and be admitted in an orderly manner. They even had a lady announcing what they were out of. I was only delayed because people didn’t realize there was a line and the guy at the door told them to start over there. Inside was nice. They had no toilet paper but mounds of bottled water. I guess people finally realized that the water supply would keep running. They had an adequate supply of diapers but we were limited to two boxes and since I have a newborn and a toddler I got the limit. There was no canned chicken but plenty of the expensive canned tuna. Checking out went faster than usual.
From there I went to the gas pump and had almost no waiting.
Then I stopped at the grocery store. Out of curiosity I checked the soup aisle and found it cleaned out. The meat department had limitations but I was quite satisfied with only being able to buy one beef product. Again the check out went very fast.
All in all I think I waited too late to be a part of the panic. Maybe next media caused frenzy I can do better.
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-058: Headlines: Old Fashioned Famine
Here is an issue you might have missed in all the noise about the Chinavirus. It seems that the locusts are on the march in Africa. This is from World Net Daily.
What struck me is that this is the second wave.
Historically Americans don’t seem to think about pests like locusts much. I see a grasshopper every once in awhile. It doesn’t stir much interest. We have had locust problems here. When the Mormons were trying to get established in Utah they were attacked by swarms. They consider it a miracle from God that large flocks of sea gulls showed up to feast on the pest. We usually think of this as something from the far past. It was one of the plagues God sent against Egypt when Pharaoh would not let Israel go. You find them mentioned in Revelation.
Maybe it is time to bring back DDT. If you take the deaths caused by malaria and add the numbers that starve to death because it wasn’t around to kill the locusts you run into some serious issues that dwarf the panic over the Chiniavirus.
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
What struck me is that this is the second wave.
Historically Americans don’t seem to think about pests like locusts much. I see a grasshopper every once in awhile. It doesn’t stir much interest. We have had locust problems here. When the Mormons were trying to get established in Utah they were attacked by swarms. They consider it a miracle from God that large flocks of sea gulls showed up to feast on the pest. We usually think of this as something from the far past. It was one of the plagues God sent against Egypt when Pharaoh would not let Israel go. You find them mentioned in Revelation.
Maybe it is time to bring back DDT. If you take the deaths caused by malaria and add the numbers that starve to death because it wasn’t around to kill the locusts you run into some serious issues that dwarf the panic over the Chiniavirus.
Wash your hands and watch out for unicorns.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Opus 2020-057: Time to Panic?
I woke up this morning and checked the Johns Hopkins site tracking the Chinavirus.
First let me give you the news as it would come from the Media,
Deaths Double in Texas!!!
100% Increase in One Day!!!
Governor Mobilizes National Guard!!!
Now let me give you the facts. Texas went from one death to two. I think he called out the guard before even the first was reported.
Another headline I saw said something about American deaths have reached 100. What the headline didn’t point out was more than half of those were in Washington state and most of those were in one nursing home. Do the math. That leaves the rest of the states with less than one each.
I went to the local “major” newspaper and found three other deaths mentioned. One from a bar shooting, one from a car accident and a guy running around waving a machete who was shot by the police. At least they don’t have to worry about the virus.
If we can keep the government from messing it up we will live through this.
And watch out for those unicorns.
homo unius libri
First let me give you the news as it would come from the Media,
Deaths Double in Texas!!!
100% Increase in One Day!!!
Governor Mobilizes National Guard!!!
Now let me give you the facts. Texas went from one death to two. I think he called out the guard before even the first was reported.
Another headline I saw said something about American deaths have reached 100. What the headline didn’t point out was more than half of those were in Washington state and most of those were in one nursing home. Do the math. That leaves the rest of the states with less than one each.
I went to the local “major” newspaper and found three other deaths mentioned. One from a bar shooting, one from a car accident and a guy running around waving a machete who was shot by the police. At least they don’t have to worry about the virus.
If we can keep the government from messing it up we will live through this.
And watch out for those unicorns.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-056: Watch Out for the Unicorns
Has the Chinavirus always been with us but we didn’t know it. I am not a medical doctor nor a trained scientist. I speculate based on observations, common sense and a bit of general knowledge.
Is this a lot of hoopla because certain people need a reason to panic? Some people always need something to worry about. Democrats need something scary so the government can ride to their rescue. Republicans need to feel the government is trying to take away their liberty. And then there are the elites who know what is best for us. If they can’t find a crisis to not let go to waste then they are quite willing to manufacture one.
I think this whole panic falls into all of those categories. A few years ago my son thought he had the flu and went in to be checked out. The doctor said it was not the flu but it was a viral infection. Evidently there are hundreds of viral infections out there that are not influenza. We are concerned about one that is part of a well known family of viruses. I would suggest that the Chinavirus has been around forever and because its symptoms are so similar to other common illnesses it slipped below the radar. People get sick. It happens. Us laymen tend to talk about either having a cold or the flu. Usually we recover. If we are in the demographic that the Chinavirus seems to be targeting, we die.
I woke up this morning to have my friendly local ratings seeker inform me that the first Chinavirus death had occurred in Texas. I made myself a bet that it would turn out to be someone really old with other problems as well. Later I was able to check the San Antonio major newspaper and found out that the man was 90 years old. It did not tell me if he was locked in a nursing home, on oxygen or already had bronchitis. To add those details would make even the slowest Democrat say, “Why is this something to shut down the state over?” Even a Beto supporter might see it.
Have you also noticed that we don’t have an “approved” test for it that is readily available. If we don’t have a way to test for it yet, how do we know how many people have it? How do we know it hasn’t always been causing “colds” and “flu”? I may have had it a dozen times already.
I may contact the virus. At 72 years of age I am in the danger zone. I am also in the danger zone for every virus and bacteria that floats my way. If it is my time, I will go. If not, I will either ignore it or shake it off. Since I never smoked, don’t drink, have no STD’s, and my diabetes is under control, I don’t think I am in a high risk group. Keep in mind that you have more chance of being killed by a drunk driver than dying of the Chinavirus.
When I see some numbers that tell me different I will change my tune but for now that is my song and I will continue singing it. My theory is it is really unicorn bites that are affecting people.
homo unius libri
Is this a lot of hoopla because certain people need a reason to panic? Some people always need something to worry about. Democrats need something scary so the government can ride to their rescue. Republicans need to feel the government is trying to take away their liberty. And then there are the elites who know what is best for us. If they can’t find a crisis to not let go to waste then they are quite willing to manufacture one.
I think this whole panic falls into all of those categories. A few years ago my son thought he had the flu and went in to be checked out. The doctor said it was not the flu but it was a viral infection. Evidently there are hundreds of viral infections out there that are not influenza. We are concerned about one that is part of a well known family of viruses. I would suggest that the Chinavirus has been around forever and because its symptoms are so similar to other common illnesses it slipped below the radar. People get sick. It happens. Us laymen tend to talk about either having a cold or the flu. Usually we recover. If we are in the demographic that the Chinavirus seems to be targeting, we die.
I woke up this morning to have my friendly local ratings seeker inform me that the first Chinavirus death had occurred in Texas. I made myself a bet that it would turn out to be someone really old with other problems as well. Later I was able to check the San Antonio major newspaper and found out that the man was 90 years old. It did not tell me if he was locked in a nursing home, on oxygen or already had bronchitis. To add those details would make even the slowest Democrat say, “Why is this something to shut down the state over?” Even a Beto supporter might see it.
Have you also noticed that we don’t have an “approved” test for it that is readily available. If we don’t have a way to test for it yet, how do we know how many people have it? How do we know it hasn’t always been causing “colds” and “flu”? I may have had it a dozen times already.
I may contact the virus. At 72 years of age I am in the danger zone. I am also in the danger zone for every virus and bacteria that floats my way. If it is my time, I will go. If not, I will either ignore it or shake it off. Since I never smoked, don’t drink, have no STD’s, and my diabetes is under control, I don’t think I am in a high risk group. Keep in mind that you have more chance of being killed by a drunk driver than dying of the Chinavirus.
When I see some numbers that tell me different I will change my tune but for now that is my song and I will continue singing it. My theory is it is really unicorn bites that are affecting people.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Opus 2020-055: Ode to Old: The Flip Side
I recently had a moment of disorientation. I slipped on my shirt and reached down to button it. There were no buttons? Huh? Then I noticed that they were on the left instead of the right. Had my shirt gone Democrat on me? Then I noticed they were on the inside. Finally I realized that when I took it out of the washer and put it on the hanger it was totally inside-out.
I have since recovered and my car keys have been returned to me.
homo unius libri
I have since recovered and my car keys have been returned to me.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-054: Should-a-Beens: Ration Returns
I had a thought on how to deal with the problem of hoarding. We need the sellers of things like toilet paper to limit or ban the return of the item. If something was rationed, it can’t be returned. This would put the hoarders in a real bind but would not effect the people who are simply being prepared. We tend to buy toilet paper at Cosco in the huge packages. When we buy it we get three or four. We have always done it that way. We have never even come close to running out. We have no need to return it when the panic recedes because we never did panic buying. Last week when I saw the empty aisles at Cosco and yesterday when I saw empty shelves at Walmart I was not concerned. I hope people can get what they need. Why should grocery stores have to deal with the movement of large quantities of stuff that will be returned through no fault of the store or the manufacturer and cause all kinds of problems with storage?
This would be a double win for people who plan ahead because in a few weeks we would begin seeing toilet paper and hand sanitizer available at yard sales.
Wash your hands. Regular bar soap will do the job better than hand sanitizer even if it is not as cool.
homo unius libri
This would be a double win for people who plan ahead because in a few weeks we would begin seeing toilet paper and hand sanitizer available at yard sales.
Wash your hands. Regular bar soap will do the job better than hand sanitizer even if it is not as cool.
homo unius libri
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Opus 2020-053: Baby Talk: Better than a Diaper
I now have a grandson. He is at the stage where he is beginning to show some personality if you catch him at the right moment. Other times? Not so much.
Today I rescued him from his bed and what kind of thanks did I get? Did I get a happy face? Did a get a smile? Did I even get eye contact? He seemed to find a diaper next to the chair more interesting than his grandfather.
Oh, well.
homo unius libri
Today I rescued him from his bed and what kind of thanks did I get? Did I get a happy face? Did a get a smile? Did I even get eye contact? He seemed to find a diaper next to the chair more interesting than his grandfather.
Oh, well.
homo unius libri
Friday, March 13, 2020
Opus 2020-052: Thank Thoughts: Better than a Grandchild?
As I was watching my granddaughter lighten up the room this morning I had a brief thought about the day in which she would return, with her mother and brother, to Japan. I had a moment of gratitude for the privilege of having her around for a good amount of time. I then thought about how much more wonderful it will be after the return of Jesus and the glorification that eternity involves. I thought about how being in the presence of God would be so much more than this.
But will it? Will eternity be so filled with awe that we forget the joys and sorrows of today? The obvious answer is, “Yes.” The more realistic answer is, “Probably not.”
As far as sorrows go I think we may remember them but the memory will be sweetened with reunions and an eternal overview. I think of a friend named Charley. He was one of those genius types that was also a genuine people person. He was an awesome human being. His plan was to go to medical school and then go to the mission field. Then he died of leukemia. Someday I will find out all of the lives that were changed by his untimely death. I will be able to smile about it as I sing the base line in the celestial choir with him.
Joys? It may well be an addition rather than a cancellation. To be almost heretical keep in mind that you can make a cheeseburger better by adding bacon. I am thinking that part of the glory will be remembering things with perfect memory and deeper understanding. I might be able to relive all of those great moments I have forgotten of when my children were toddlers. I will be able to laugh at the messes they made without cleaning them up again.
Life has so much to offer and eternity will blow it out of the water.
homo unius libri
But will it? Will eternity be so filled with awe that we forget the joys and sorrows of today? The obvious answer is, “Yes.” The more realistic answer is, “Probably not.”
As far as sorrows go I think we may remember them but the memory will be sweetened with reunions and an eternal overview. I think of a friend named Charley. He was one of those genius types that was also a genuine people person. He was an awesome human being. His plan was to go to medical school and then go to the mission field. Then he died of leukemia. Someday I will find out all of the lives that were changed by his untimely death. I will be able to smile about it as I sing the base line in the celestial choir with him.
Joys? It may well be an addition rather than a cancellation. To be almost heretical keep in mind that you can make a cheeseburger better by adding bacon. I am thinking that part of the glory will be remembering things with perfect memory and deeper understanding. I might be able to relive all of those great moments I have forgotten of when my children were toddlers. I will be able to laugh at the messes they made without cleaning them up again.
Life has so much to offer and eternity will blow it out of the water.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-051: Quarry Questions
Where is the dividing line between personal benefit and what is good for the country? Often they are not the same thing.
This comes to mind because of signs I am seeing plastered on fences that warn me about the evils of a quarry that is being proposed in the area. The signs are on what appear to be large plots of land located well out of the city. I would guess they are 10 acres at a minimum. These are people who moved to get away from the noise and congestion of the city and are on their private estates minding their own business. They were thinking they were secure. They may have worked, planned and scrimped to achieve this dream. Then someone decides to build a quarry just down the road from them.
I thought the concern was the explosions shaking the foundations of their homes. Vibration carries very well through solids. I talked to someone who is certified with explosives and he said that is not the issue. He said what they were really concerned about was the truck traffic that the quarry would generate. Our part of Texas has its share of quarries and one day I took a back road that went by one of them. I could see the concern. Trucks were omnipresent and you don’t understand the amount of filth they bring with them until you drive through it. They have a reason to be worried.
At the same time I would bet that most of these people who are trying to stop the quarry have homes with a lot of stone used in the construction. They want the utility and beauty of the stone but they don’t want to put up with the production. It is the Not in My Backyard syndrom. We see it in so many places. As a consumer society that is concerned about the environment we have learned that we can out-source a lot of production to other countries so we don’t have to deal with the pollution. It isn’t just the hypocrisy of the wealthy climate activists taking private jets to green conferences and owning multiple mansions. It is also wanting golf clubs that can’t be made cheaply here because of EPA restrictions.
For me I see the conflict in Social Security and Medicare. I see it in property taxes. Then there are those annoying signs that say, “School Zone, 20 MPH”. It touches all of us in some way.
Part of the American mindset has been to sacrifice our own interests for the good of the whole and to do it because we felt it was right, not because we are coerced to it. It is a basic ingredient in parenting. It is part of patriotism. It is the heart of Christianity.
The answers are not easy. Quarry or no Quarry? If only life were simple.
homo unius libri
This comes to mind because of signs I am seeing plastered on fences that warn me about the evils of a quarry that is being proposed in the area. The signs are on what appear to be large plots of land located well out of the city. I would guess they are 10 acres at a minimum. These are people who moved to get away from the noise and congestion of the city and are on their private estates minding their own business. They were thinking they were secure. They may have worked, planned and scrimped to achieve this dream. Then someone decides to build a quarry just down the road from them.
I thought the concern was the explosions shaking the foundations of their homes. Vibration carries very well through solids. I talked to someone who is certified with explosives and he said that is not the issue. He said what they were really concerned about was the truck traffic that the quarry would generate. Our part of Texas has its share of quarries and one day I took a back road that went by one of them. I could see the concern. Trucks were omnipresent and you don’t understand the amount of filth they bring with them until you drive through it. They have a reason to be worried.
At the same time I would bet that most of these people who are trying to stop the quarry have homes with a lot of stone used in the construction. They want the utility and beauty of the stone but they don’t want to put up with the production. It is the Not in My Backyard syndrom. We see it in so many places. As a consumer society that is concerned about the environment we have learned that we can out-source a lot of production to other countries so we don’t have to deal with the pollution. It isn’t just the hypocrisy of the wealthy climate activists taking private jets to green conferences and owning multiple mansions. It is also wanting golf clubs that can’t be made cheaply here because of EPA restrictions.
For me I see the conflict in Social Security and Medicare. I see it in property taxes. Then there are those annoying signs that say, “School Zone, 20 MPH”. It touches all of us in some way.
Part of the American mindset has been to sacrifice our own interests for the good of the whole and to do it because we felt it was right, not because we are coerced to it. It is a basic ingredient in parenting. It is part of patriotism. It is the heart of Christianity.
The answers are not easy. Quarry or no Quarry? If only life were simple.
homo unius libri
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Opus 2020-050: Silver Linings
The silver lining of the Chinavirus scare is that we may see some changes in how we do business as a country. We are suddenly realizing how dependent we are on a country that manufactures so much of what we use on a daily basis. I was concerned about the technology being manufactured over there. I was not aware of the medical supply lines. The two things that jump out at me during the current panic are antibiotics and face masks.
I read today that 95% of our antibiotics come from China. Really? With all of the concerns about toxic chemicals in children’s toys and clothing we have seriously allowed them to make our medicine? What could possibly go wrong?
Even here I am not panicked. My sense of history reminds me of time like the beginning of World War II. When America is challenged it swings into action. We retooled and began to supply the war efforts of the Soviet Union. It was an awesome output. Consider what happens when a patent runs out on a popular product. It seems like within days the clones are in every store. We can see the same thing happening from medicine to screws.
The Trump hating Progressives* are giddy with forecasts of the recession they are hoping for. They are convinced that Orange Man will finally be brought down. If it were just him they might have a reason for optimism. The problem they refuse to face is that Trump believes in America and free enterprise. Americans will respond to fill the gaps caused by disruption of supply lines and will begin to produce again. Prices will go up a bit but most of us can afford it. Picture a world where you actually go to a local mom and pop hardware store to buy a paint brush they will clean and reuse rather than a throw away from a dollar store.
Before you strap in for the ride, wash your hands.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
I read today that 95% of our antibiotics come from China. Really? With all of the concerns about toxic chemicals in children’s toys and clothing we have seriously allowed them to make our medicine? What could possibly go wrong?
Even here I am not panicked. My sense of history reminds me of time like the beginning of World War II. When America is challenged it swings into action. We retooled and began to supply the war efforts of the Soviet Union. It was an awesome output. Consider what happens when a patent runs out on a popular product. It seems like within days the clones are in every store. We can see the same thing happening from medicine to screws.
The Trump hating Progressives* are giddy with forecasts of the recession they are hoping for. They are convinced that Orange Man will finally be brought down. If it were just him they might have a reason for optimism. The problem they refuse to face is that Trump believes in America and free enterprise. Americans will respond to fill the gaps caused by disruption of supply lines and will begin to produce again. Prices will go up a bit but most of us can afford it. Picture a world where you actually go to a local mom and pop hardware store to buy a paint brush they will clean and reuse rather than a throw away from a dollar store.
Before you strap in for the ride, wash your hands.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Opus 2020-049: Biden Their Time
It is obvious that the word has gone out, “Support Biden, or else.” One of the big questions is why the powers behind the throne in the Democrat party are setting things up for Biden. And why do they think that they can get the communist wing of the party to go along with it. The man is obviously having some mental problems. I think that is part of their reasoning.
Let’s just set a hypothetical that Biden is elected president. When you elect someone who is failing mentally and very old you must have alternative motives. You could not seriously think a man this confused could run the government. He is so out of it that it would even be impossible to manipulate him the way they did Obama. You have a reason: Keep Bernie out. You have a second reason: Set precedent for destroying the Republic. I think the second is even more sought than the first. From the Daily Update,
They don’t want Biden. They want to railroad the population and negate elections they do not like. They want to destroy the already weakened rule of law. Once they remove one of their own it will be easier to remove one from the other party. The precedent will have been established. No one will be safe.
Of course if you are paying attention, no Progressives* are going to jail and a good number of Trump supporters are either already there or spending their resources on lawyers.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
Let’s just set a hypothetical that Biden is elected president. When you elect someone who is failing mentally and very old you must have alternative motives. You could not seriously think a man this confused could run the government. He is so out of it that it would even be impossible to manipulate him the way they did Obama. You have a reason: Keep Bernie out. You have a second reason: Set precedent for destroying the Republic. I think the second is even more sought than the first. From the Daily Update,
“As both Giuliani and the narrator note, the reality about Joe Biden is that if you elect him, you are really electing his running mate, because Quid Pro Joe will quickly either voluntarily resign or have to be removed under the 25th amendment.”They already tried to float the balloon that Trump was unstable and incompetent and waved the flag of the 25th Amendment. They have tried to impeach him on nonsense. They have threatened members of the Supreme Court with violence. They are laying the groundwork for the next Republican president and removing him by a “legal” coup.
They don’t want Biden. They want to railroad the population and negate elections they do not like. They want to destroy the already weakened rule of law. Once they remove one of their own it will be easier to remove one from the other party. The precedent will have been established. No one will be safe.
Of course if you are paying attention, no Progressives* are going to jail and a good number of Trump supporters are either already there or spending their resources on lawyers.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-048: The End, or the Continuation, of Life as We Know It
Recently my son suggested we go to a local gun show. It sounded good to me but I was concerned about going to a large event and returning to a house with a newborn inside. My daughter was comfortable with it as long as I washed my hands and clothes when I got back.
We need to go to the gun shows of life. The real threat of the Chinavirus is the same threat that terrorism brings. The danger is not that a few people might die. People die every day of many causes, most of which could have been prevented. The concern should be that we change our way of living in such a way that our way of life is destroyed. If we stop going to baseball games because we might catch something that strangely resembles the flew then we are on our way toward collapse as a culture. I am not buying that this is a Chinese conspiracy. That is total conjecture based on a need to increase readership. It is enough that it is a virus. New viruses come along on a regular pace. If we stop life every time something comes along we might deserve the results.
I will continue to go to church. I will still shop at the grocery store. I assume family members will still want to go out to eat. I will still talk to my neighbors. The reason I will not be going to a baseball game is because I would not have gone before the Chinavirus. I will go about life.
Of course I will also wash my hands but that is something we all need to learn to do better anyway.
homo unius libri
We need to go to the gun shows of life. The real threat of the Chinavirus is the same threat that terrorism brings. The danger is not that a few people might die. People die every day of many causes, most of which could have been prevented. The concern should be that we change our way of living in such a way that our way of life is destroyed. If we stop going to baseball games because we might catch something that strangely resembles the flew then we are on our way toward collapse as a culture. I am not buying that this is a Chinese conspiracy. That is total conjecture based on a need to increase readership. It is enough that it is a virus. New viruses come along on a regular pace. If we stop life every time something comes along we might deserve the results.
I will continue to go to church. I will still shop at the grocery store. I assume family members will still want to go out to eat. I will still talk to my neighbors. The reason I will not be going to a baseball game is because I would not have gone before the Chinavirus. I will go about life.
Of course I will also wash my hands but that is something we all need to learn to do better anyway.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Opus 2020-047: Hope for Snowflakes
I had a ray of hope regarding the millennials and snowflakes. There is a chance they may grow up. I know it sounds impossible but being around toddlers, newborns and middle school students reminds me that they can grow up and learn to think. It is an up hill slope but not a stone wall.
It is surprising how often you read the life story of conservative icons and find that in their youth they were either Marxists or close to it. Thomas Sowell, David Horowitz, Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork come to mind. In their desire for a perfect world they embraced the lie of the Progressive*. Their minds were confused and uninformed but their hearts were right so they had an epiphany.
If radical Marxists can wake up then maybe the woke can. Of course it is possible that they are not committed enough to anything to get past being sheep. The great curse of the Sander’s generation is that they want everything for nothing but a willingness to commit a little violence. Even there they assume they will be shielded from consequences by the media and Progressives* in positions of power.
As a Christian I have hope based on Jesus Christ. That doesn’t mean that there will be no times of tribulation. It does not mean the America is the promised land. It does mean that I have read the book and I know how it all ends.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
It is surprising how often you read the life story of conservative icons and find that in their youth they were either Marxists or close to it. Thomas Sowell, David Horowitz, Clarence Thomas and Robert Bork come to mind. In their desire for a perfect world they embraced the lie of the Progressive*. Their minds were confused and uninformed but their hearts were right so they had an epiphany.
If radical Marxists can wake up then maybe the woke can. Of course it is possible that they are not committed enough to anything to get past being sheep. The great curse of the Sander’s generation is that they want everything for nothing but a willingness to commit a little violence. Even there they assume they will be shielded from consequences by the media and Progressives* in positions of power.
As a Christian I have hope based on Jesus Christ. That doesn’t mean that there will be no times of tribulation. It does not mean the America is the promised land. It does mean that I have read the book and I know how it all ends.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
Monday, March 9, 2020
Opus 2020-046: The Fourth Man
It always surprises me when I stumble across my own ignorance; well, maybe not the existence, but the location. I just read the book of Job. I had read it before. I have listened to people preach from it. After God allows Satan to tempt Job he is visited by three friends and a dialogue begins. That much I knew. What I had not known was that there was another man present who does not say a word until chapter 32. At that point he starts off and goes for chapters.
It seems there is always more to learn in life.
homo unius libri
(Job 32:4-5 KJV) Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.Maybe you knew about this guy. I didn’t, and it seems that what he has to say is better than the well known three.
It seems there is always more to learn in life.
homo unius libri
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Opus 2020-045: New Terms: ESP
I am enjoying the time with a toddler and a newborn in the house. It calls for a lot of adjustment but it is good for my attitude. Whenever my fatigue starts adjusting my attitude I remind myself that these days will pass quickly. Millions would rejoice to be able to hold their newborn grandson as he fights sleep or fix breakfast for a granddaughter who got up on the wrong side of the bed.
As I was admiring my grandson I realized that at this age he does three things: Eat, Sleep, and Poop. Being someone who likes science fiction I quickly recognized the acronym: ESP.
It brings a whole new perspective to fantasy.
May your life have more to it than ESP.
homo unius libri
As I was admiring my grandson I realized that at this age he does three things: Eat, Sleep, and Poop. Being someone who likes science fiction I quickly recognized the acronym: ESP.
It brings a whole new perspective to fantasy.
May your life have more to it than ESP.
homo unius libri
Friday, March 6, 2020
Opus 2020-044: Cultural IQ
I keep reading about how smart the American people are; smart, but patient. The implication being that they are at the end of their patience and we will now see a groundswell of voting that brings the country back from the brink. I am afraid I do not share that optimism.
Don’t forget the 47%. Mitt Romney had the foolishness to point them out. He was pilloried for it. Now we have Mike Bloomberg being crucified for his moments of honesty about law enforcement. I believe most people still get their news from the MSM and although they have a general feeling that something isn’t right they still, in their hearts, blame those right wing haters.
When you look at polling numbers there always seems to be a large block that vote for socialism. That means they want more government, doing more for them, taking money from others and giving it to them. That is the heart of the 47%. Then you have the masses of people that work for the government. I was a teacher. I know how it goes. You can’t get fired no matter how poor a teacher you are. Teachers are part of the 47%. So are the clerks at the government agency that you went to in order to straighten out a mess they created. Does IRS sound familiar? Do they have a DMV where you live?
Right now the swing votes are liking what President Trump is doing. It may last long enough to bring victory for America in November but if they sniff the wind going against them, all bets are off. The media is pumping the current concern over the China Virus and pushing for panic. Of course the solution will be more government.
The masses tend to be sheep whether they register Republican or Democrat. They tend to listen to their favorite talking head and decide on that information. For example, they know that public education is not doing the job. At the same time they approve of their local school. I guess they figure they have the only school in the country that is giving a well balanced education. They never look at the text books. They never compare them to the ones from a few years ago.
One of the scariest statements I have ever heard: Every country has the government it deserves. It is attributed to Joseph de Maistre but keep in mind that he was a Frenchman who lived through the Reign of Terror and Napoleon.
homo unius libri
Don’t forget the 47%. Mitt Romney had the foolishness to point them out. He was pilloried for it. Now we have Mike Bloomberg being crucified for his moments of honesty about law enforcement. I believe most people still get their news from the MSM and although they have a general feeling that something isn’t right they still, in their hearts, blame those right wing haters.
When you look at polling numbers there always seems to be a large block that vote for socialism. That means they want more government, doing more for them, taking money from others and giving it to them. That is the heart of the 47%. Then you have the masses of people that work for the government. I was a teacher. I know how it goes. You can’t get fired no matter how poor a teacher you are. Teachers are part of the 47%. So are the clerks at the government agency that you went to in order to straighten out a mess they created. Does IRS sound familiar? Do they have a DMV where you live?
Right now the swing votes are liking what President Trump is doing. It may last long enough to bring victory for America in November but if they sniff the wind going against them, all bets are off. The media is pumping the current concern over the China Virus and pushing for panic. Of course the solution will be more government.
The masses tend to be sheep whether they register Republican or Democrat. They tend to listen to their favorite talking head and decide on that information. For example, they know that public education is not doing the job. At the same time they approve of their local school. I guess they figure they have the only school in the country that is giving a well balanced education. They never look at the text books. They never compare them to the ones from a few years ago.
One of the scariest statements I have ever heard: Every country has the government it deserves. It is attributed to Joseph de Maistre but keep in mind that he was a Frenchman who lived through the Reign of Terror and Napoleon.
homo unius libri
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Opus 2020-043: Another Eternal Question
Is there anything that Joe Biden can say that will stop Democrats from voting for him?
Asking for a friend.
homo unius libri
Asking for a friend.
homo unius libri
Opus 2020-042: Sympathy, Not!
I must admit that there are times when I have a moment of sympathy for Democrats going to the polls. Maybe a better word is pity. I have been there. I remember elections where I was forced to choose Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney. I remember 2016 where there was a rich field of qualified men running and I was forced to vote for Donald Trump. At least the last time the results were far better than I could have hoped.
I look at the field of Democrats running for president and the only one that has any redeeming qualities is Tulsi Gabbard. At least she loves America even if she is wrong on so many issues. How depressing is it to be forced to chose between a man on the verge of dementia and a cynical Communists. Wow.
My feelings begin to harden though when I remember that these are the people who keep bringing us Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and all those other members of congress who have never had a real day job and have amassed incredible wealth by bleeding the taxpayers. How can anyone who has ever had to wipe human poop off their shoe in San Francisco ever vote for a Democrat again?
If you believe morality is defined by being faithful to your marriage and feel that abortion stops a beating heart then you need to make sure that you vote to make sure that the clock keeps ticking. Don’t worry about turning it back. Keep it going.
Vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
I look at the field of Democrats running for president and the only one that has any redeeming qualities is Tulsi Gabbard. At least she loves America even if she is wrong on so many issues. How depressing is it to be forced to chose between a man on the verge of dementia and a cynical Communists. Wow.
My feelings begin to harden though when I remember that these are the people who keep bringing us Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer and all those other members of congress who have never had a real day job and have amassed incredible wealth by bleeding the taxpayers. How can anyone who has ever had to wipe human poop off their shoe in San Francisco ever vote for a Democrat again?
If you believe morality is defined by being faithful to your marriage and feel that abortion stops a beating heart then you need to make sure that you vote to make sure that the clock keeps ticking. Don’t worry about turning it back. Keep it going.
Vote the suckers out.
homo unius libri
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Opus 2020-041: Election 2020: Time to Put Down the Popcorn
If you agree with me I hope you voted yesterday. If you don’t then I am less concerned.
In some ways the primaries are more important than the general election. This is where you get the best chance to knock off the ingrown incumbents and get some real Americans into office. It is hard to do but there are a lot of RINOs that need to find day jobs. It may not help their day job employer much but it will certainly benefit the country. In places where there are enemies of liberty such as Pelosi and Schiff you need strong candidates to take them on in the general election. We only had one office that this would apply to in our precinct and we went with the opposition in the primary. He didn’t really have a chance but it was worth a try.
The general election is coming. If you disagree with me on the issues then I really hope you get caught up in your Hallmark movies and forget to leave the house. This election is too important for me to advocate snowflake voting. If you understand the insidious nature of Fake News and are angry about the way the major sources of information are trying to manipulate us then get out there and work at voting the suckers out.
Keep in mind that there are also a lot of other things we will be voting on. I think most states have judges coming up for the vote. Cities and counties are electing people to make decisions about daily life. There will probably be initiatives or whatever you call them in your area that need some thinking. It isn’t just about re-electing Donald Trump. Coat tails are important.
For many of us it is on to November, for the rest vote carefully in your primaries.
homo unius libri
In some ways the primaries are more important than the general election. This is where you get the best chance to knock off the ingrown incumbents and get some real Americans into office. It is hard to do but there are a lot of RINOs that need to find day jobs. It may not help their day job employer much but it will certainly benefit the country. In places where there are enemies of liberty such as Pelosi and Schiff you need strong candidates to take them on in the general election. We only had one office that this would apply to in our precinct and we went with the opposition in the primary. He didn’t really have a chance but it was worth a try.
The general election is coming. If you disagree with me on the issues then I really hope you get caught up in your Hallmark movies and forget to leave the house. This election is too important for me to advocate snowflake voting. If you understand the insidious nature of Fake News and are angry about the way the major sources of information are trying to manipulate us then get out there and work at voting the suckers out.
Keep in mind that there are also a lot of other things we will be voting on. I think most states have judges coming up for the vote. Cities and counties are electing people to make decisions about daily life. There will probably be initiatives or whatever you call them in your area that need some thinking. It isn’t just about re-electing Donald Trump. Coat tails are important.
For many of us it is on to November, for the rest vote carefully in your primaries.
homo unius libri
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Opus 2020-040: On the Street: Not in My Back Yard
I finally managed to get out of the house and do some shopping. After seeing pictures on the internet showing empty grocery shelves I wondered if it was happening here. I went by a dollar store and a large HEB, the local grocery store chain.
The dollar store had a few shelves that were a bit sparse but it has been that way for months. It was not even close to being stripped bare. The HEB showed no signs of panic buying. I will admit I did not go down every aisle but there was plenty of everything in the ones I traveled.
Shortages tend to be the result of panic more than a lack of enough. I remember when my family was in Hawaii and heard that a hurricane was coming to wipe out the island. I was still on the mainland when this was happening. They stocked up on all kinds of things. I think the stores started running out of certain items. Then when the hurricane arrived with a whimper they returned most of it. It must drive the stores crazy.
So my unofficial report from central Texas is that there is still plenty of food to go around. That does not mean that working on having a deep pantry is a bad idea. It is always a good idea. It is the panic buying that needs to be put on hold.
homo unius libri
The dollar store had a few shelves that were a bit sparse but it has been that way for months. It was not even close to being stripped bare. The HEB showed no signs of panic buying. I will admit I did not go down every aisle but there was plenty of everything in the ones I traveled.
Shortages tend to be the result of panic more than a lack of enough. I remember when my family was in Hawaii and heard that a hurricane was coming to wipe out the island. I was still on the mainland when this was happening. They stocked up on all kinds of things. I think the stores started running out of certain items. Then when the hurricane arrived with a whimper they returned most of it. It must drive the stores crazy.
So my unofficial report from central Texas is that there is still plenty of food to go around. That does not mean that working on having a deep pantry is a bad idea. It is always a good idea. It is the panic buying that needs to be put on hold.
homo unius libri
Monday, March 2, 2020
Opus 2020-039: Headlines: The Field Thins
Be honest now.
How many of you thought the announcement that Mayor Pete was withdrawing from the race was a post starting at Babylon Bee?
I see those hands.
I am relieved because I feared being forced to learn how to pronounce his name.
homo unius libri
How many of you thought the announcement that Mayor Pete was withdrawing from the race was a post starting at Babylon Bee?
I see those hands.
I am relieved because I feared being forced to learn how to pronounce his name.
homo unius libri
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Opus 2020-038: Headlines: Still Wagging the Dog
The current tail that is wagging the dog is the virus named after a popular beer.
The numbers are usually used just like anything else in the news, to advance an agenda. What is the major agenda of the newsrooms? To bring down Donald Trump and thus get the United States back on its track to mediocrity. Think about some things as you read the Panic Stats.
There is a good chance that all the numbers you hear are basically Fake News. That can go either way. They could be covering up the really bad news. It is just as likely that they are massaging the reports to advance The Agenda.
What if the numbers you are hearing are close to accurate? It is still no cause to panic. We need to keep in mind what is “normal”. My understanding is that in the United States it is not considered unusual to lose 30,000 people to flu each year. A quick Google search taking us to the CDC tells us that in 2017 we lost over 55,000 to influenza and pneumonia. Something called “chronic lower respiratory diseases” take 160,000 more. To each of those families it is a tragedy. To the rest of us it is the gamble of being alive. Things will need to get really bad to warrant a panic response. Consider that China’s population is 1.386 billion compared to our 327 million. The numbers we are hearing are a bad day by drunk drivers on the freeway.
But of course the media and Progressives* don’t want you to be calm. They want you to feel you need the government to “do something”. Usually that something means more regulation and less liberty. You are already beginning to hear the mantra about the stock market and the economy. Somehow this will all be Trump’s fault.
It is really strange when you have one political party wishing for disaster so they can advance their agenda.
The primary elections are upon us. November is coming. Make sure that you vote based on a need to vote out the suckers that hate America and all us deplorables.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
The numbers are usually used just like anything else in the news, to advance an agenda. What is the major agenda of the newsrooms? To bring down Donald Trump and thus get the United States back on its track to mediocrity. Think about some things as you read the Panic Stats.
There is a good chance that all the numbers you hear are basically Fake News. That can go either way. They could be covering up the really bad news. It is just as likely that they are massaging the reports to advance The Agenda.
What if the numbers you are hearing are close to accurate? It is still no cause to panic. We need to keep in mind what is “normal”. My understanding is that in the United States it is not considered unusual to lose 30,000 people to flu each year. A quick Google search taking us to the CDC tells us that in 2017 we lost over 55,000 to influenza and pneumonia. Something called “chronic lower respiratory diseases” take 160,000 more. To each of those families it is a tragedy. To the rest of us it is the gamble of being alive. Things will need to get really bad to warrant a panic response. Consider that China’s population is 1.386 billion compared to our 327 million. The numbers we are hearing are a bad day by drunk drivers on the freeway.
But of course the media and Progressives* don’t want you to be calm. They want you to feel you need the government to “do something”. Usually that something means more regulation and less liberty. You are already beginning to hear the mantra about the stock market and the economy. Somehow this will all be Trump’s fault.
It is really strange when you have one political party wishing for disaster so they can advance their agenda.
The primary elections are upon us. November is coming. Make sure that you vote based on a need to vote out the suckers that hate America and all us deplorables.
*(Liberals, educators, socialists, communists, elites, Rinos, Democrats, leftists, Never Trumpers, etc)
homo unius libri
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