Drifting Fate

Here is a two minute video on YouTube  stemming from an interview (or at least a dramatization of an interview) with George Orwell, author of Animal Farm and 1984 . The words are well known, but, as the years pass, they become ever more poignant and more on point. A bit of thought, not a lot, but a bit, is required to think about how to heed such words.  From there will stem a tree of ideas, branches going every which way, but buds green with freedom and not red with the blood of Communism/Fascism/Totalitarianism. Yes, blood may be inevitable, it so often has been in the human struggle throughout history, but if it so, is this not why we teach (taught?) values clarification and the idea of triage to our middle-schoolers?  I suppose I live in the past, but, if blood is to be spilt better theirs than ours, better mine than yours, and, yet, better none at all if freedom can be secured without it. It's not like we haven't been warned...

The blog, Truth and Lies About the Corona Virus , is a bit long, but it's essential reading, especially for those of your gripped in fear of the disease or on the fence about what to do next. Read it and share it.  I'm not going to post the text here - too long, but have provided the link and encourage everyone to read it.

This "quarantine" was intended to "flatten the curve".  Mission accomplished.  Now, get out of our way so we can fix the damage done by you, the politician. It was never about making sure no one ever caught the virus.  In fact, for herd immunity to work, the majority of people need to be exposed and build anti-bodies against the contagion.  We are prolonging the inevitable by keeping people locked down and businesses closed.  Once everything opens, there will be a spike in COVID-19 cases, and that is OK. The greatest threat to America and the world right now is not the virus, it is the transfer of power from the people to the politicians.  It's transferring because we are all obeying orders which are schizophrenic (release murders and put paddle boarders in jail) and downright illegal (where does the Constitution list who is "essential" and who is not?). Historically and Biblically, the sick were quarantined while the healthy went about the busin

For years, there has been a debate in America about what would happen if tyrannical minded politicians were able to grab the reigns of power and use the police/law enforcement as a domestic military force. Now, outside of local natural disasters, we have an idea playing out on a national scale. Our prediction has long been that as the social construct begins to fall apart, the police would end up in the cross hairs even more than the politicians who dictate what the police focus on, as wrong as that is.  That's not a threat, promise, or any vindictive motivation, it's a forecast, a prediction, a reading of the metaphorical chicken bones and tea leaves. We've received much negative criticism for this over the years as if we have prognosticated such action when that is the opposite of what we want.  It's a prediction followed by a solution... police yourself. Sadly, with each natural disaster (think Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans), the police become more bold i

China, amidst strong world condemnation for falsifying the number of deaths in Wuhan, recently released new numbers. The amount dead almost doubled, but considering this is the epicenter of the pandemic, less than 4,000 deaths in a city of 11,000,000, it’s still hardly credible. Either they are still lying (very possible), or its just more evidence of extreme over reaction on everyone’s (ok, not Sweden’s) part. Let's pretend for the moment the numbers a real, in Wuhan, 4.6% of the population caught the virus. Of those. 7.7% died.  But that means the death rate to the overall population is currently .035%. Meanwhile, South Korea reports that about 2% of those who had COVID-19 test positive a second time within a month of initial recovery. They say these people are not nearly as contagious as an initial case and the only some show even mild symptoms. While doctors are choking teenagers for not properly social distancing, the world actually seems to be handling this pretty wel

The following is from the "Come and Make It" blog, which I know nothing about, and found it following links, so who knows how I got there. Anyway... I obviously have a connection to the Philippines through my wife, but it’s also an interesting window on a number of levels: 1) They have traditionally been very pro-America due to being a protectorate as a result of the Spanish-American War and having been treated and well educated to Western standards. 2) They are an Asian nation who is 2nd World, so they are a good gauge for the entire region, much better than industrialized, 1st World Japan 3) The current president is a train wreck authoritarian which helps us gauge how such an approach works on American ideals.  In one word, “Beware”. 4) They are fighters.  While primarily a blade culture, they have fairly loose gun laws for citizens and aren’t afraid about personal repercussions when it comes to making a point and standing up for what is right.  This is fue

In a recent article on Fox News , it was reported that California, Oregon, and Washington have come together in an exclusionary pact on how they will re-open their economies.... somehow together, yet somehow not hinder "state-specific plans."  Together, but separate, I guess. Trump has Tweeted, correctly, that it is the President's call on this.  For one, it only makes sense that 50 interconnected economies are really one large economy and each ship needs a single captain, not 51 different captains. Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump · 9h For the purpose of creating conflict and confusion, some in the Fake News Media are saying that it is the Governors decision to open up the states, not that of the President of the United States & the Federal Government. Let it be fully understood that this is incorrect.... 37.1K 30.1K 122K

If the virus can be kept at bay and enough work done at home to satisfy the boss, these days may be gifts for a lot of you. I've mentioned it before, but you can choose to binge watch some mindless sludge of a TV show (the one with tigers in it which is such the rage right now just proves my point), or, you can use the time to discover real entertainment and knowledge. In that vein, I, like every other blogger out there, am going to make a reading list for your consideration. First up, The Hobbit   by J.R.R. Tolien. If you have somehow missed reading it until now, please don't rely on the movie, not even the animated one from the 1970's.  The book is oh so much better.  Follow Bilbo Baggins on the adventure that brought fantasy to the modern era. From delightful fiction to horrific non-fiction, The Great Influenza   by John Barry.  Paperbacks are currently out of stock (I wonder why?), you can certainly get along with the Kindle version.  Read and learn about h