Rockin' Flower Wednesday Wanderings; Keeping Your Distance 47

This is an artificial flower in Benjamin's study.  It rocks, sways back and forth 24/7.  I tried to upload a video that would show you this,  and I failed.  I couldn't figure out how to transfer it from my phone to the blog.   Probably if I gave it enough time I could figure it out...but, oh, well.  Not today.

So, trust me.  It be rockin'.

How are y'all feeling this glorious Wednesday?

Truth in numbers:

The number of reported cases in Georgia has been declining, looking at seven-day numbers.  The past three weeks have gone from 19,826 to 17,392 to 14,218.  I feel like this is due to - more mask-wearing in the state, and to fewer tests being administered.  There has not been a substantial decline in positivity rate, each day usually hovering between 10 and 8% - you need to get to below 5% for contact tracing to be effective.

The number of deaths has remained high, 498 to 426 to 476.  Deaths are a lagging indicator, so if cases continue to decline, maybe deaths will too.

Where are the cases?

Cases across the country, including Georgia, are increasing most at college campuses and public/private schools.  This is disturbing to me, as Benjamin's college is no exception.  The University fought valiantly, with mask and social distancing restrictions.  They have done a lot of things right.  BUT that did not stop them from developing hundreds of positive tests.  Students go off-campus and participate in large house parties and other crowded social events, without wearing masks or giving a damn about anyone else (no, Benjamin does not participate in these).  The college President has had to intervene and threaten those who participated with disciplinary action, including the possibility of suspension.  Since saying that, the number of positive cases at Georgia College has declined tremendously.

There are cases in public schools.  Alison's office has had positive cases, including one recently of someone who worked with her, assisting her department,  I am quite angry.  Why?  MASKS ARE NOT REQUIRED AND NOT EVERY ONE WEARS ONE.  

Should schools be opened?  If the proper measures are taken, including mask-wearing, social distancing, and contact tracing, yes, I think it's worth trying.  THAT'S NOT WHAT MOST SCHOOLS IN THIS AREA ARE DOING

I am so angry at the anti-maskers right now.  I can't even begin to articulate it without losing control of my emotions.

Well, we're all going to get it eventually

You've got to be kidding me.  That's the attitude of some around me, and it's disgusting.

You really want to shoot for herd immunity and leave some TWO MILLION Americans dead?  

You really want to risk that many people on a strategy that may not work because we know NOTHING about reinfection or how long immunity may last?

Yes, it's true.  Many get mild symptoms.  80% or more never have to go to the hospital.  And of those, only a fraction go to ICU.  And 2 to 4% who contract the virus die.  Are those acceptable numbers to you?  

I mean, really.  Are you a Vegas gambler?  Maybe you can play the odds.  Maybe your family will get it and they'll all be mild cases.  Is that what you're willing to do?

ARE YOU WILLING TO PLAY COVID-ROULETTE WITH YOUR FAMILY'S LIVES???

Let me answer for myself - 

Hell No!

Double Triple Hell No!

But I don't get a choice.  Alison and Benjamin are both subject to whatever anti-masker covidiot that comes near them.

I hate their attitude - Do not interfere with my right to infect you!

I apologize. I meant to cover more topics.  It's just hard to do when the lives of your family members are at stake.

Special for the OHC Writer's Guild

 I regret to inform you that I am resigning from any leadership position in the OHC Writer's Guild.

This is a recognition of an already undergoing reality.  I have not led well for quite some time, and I do not want my lack of proper leadership to further hurt the organization.

I do not wish to the Guild disappear, but I don't think I'm the proper person to guide the group to better health,

I would like to continue as a regular member and assist where I can, but I can no longer be in charge of arranging meetings, and in leading those meetings.

I am passionate about writing and look forward to sharing my writings, and reading/helping with other writers.

If you wish to take the reigns of leadership, please see Carla Cornett King, Executive Director of the OHC.  You may wish to also coordinate with the Waycross Ware County Library.

I love you all,  Starting this up and working with the group has been one of the great joys of my life.

Sincerely,

Tom Strait

Super Fascist Fun Time: Saturday Political Soap Box 249

 

Once again, the saddest and most inevitable law of American politics -

The Empire Strikes Back

The forces of privilege will always marshal intimidation and fear in their favor.

What is wrong with the picture above?

It is a violation of our medical standards.  People are gathered in a tight space with very few masks and no social distancing.  And, except for those who might get close to the precious leader, NO TESTING.

They are trying to communicate that the COVID-19 crisis is over, that it is now safe to cavort about our regular business.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Not only is this bad in and of itself (just ask the ghost of Herman Cain), but it will encourage others to take these risks.  As a result, our first wave will continue to thrive.  We may not know when the second wave will hit because we're still drowning in the first wave.

Still, some will see this image and draw strength from it.  The Americans who are swayed by fascistic imagery may be a minority, but as 2016 demonstrated, it does not take a majority to win.  Just pick off the right states, discourage and suppress the voters you don't like, and you could still find yourself on top.

It is a violation of the Hatch Act.

You are absolutely, unconditionally NOT supposed to use the White House or other federal agencies and resources as a prop.  Whether the Hatch Act covers the President is, unfortunately, debatable in this twisted society of ours, but is not debatable that other federal employees CANNOT be used to help the President pull this off.

I was horrified to find that some reporters were saying even if this was illegal, the visuals were good.

I mean, WTF???????

Wrong is wrong!

Nevertheless, for those who clutch to grotesque displays of power, of twisted trotting out of misplaced patriotism, of putting the libtards in their place, of responding to messages of fear (You think I made things BAD?  Biden will make them WORSE!), this was a triumph.

Yes, the speech was long and boring and filled with lies.  He's a lousy teleprompter reader.  His tiny hands had to clutch the podium for dear life.  He sweated like he was a fat man in a Swedish sauna.

And yet...

It wasn't about any of those things.

It was about the optics.

The optics that said - 

Covid-19 is over.

I am in charge, here at the White House.*

It is unpatriotic and dangerous to support anyone else.

My fellow anti-Trumpers, I know you are the vast majority of those who read this, and I know last week and the DNC Convention filled with hope.  And I am not asking you to despair.  But we have to recognize this fundamental reality -

The Empire Always Strike Back

Yes, 45 to 50% of the American people would never, ever vote for Trump under any circumstances.  And sadly, 35 to 40% will vote for Trump no matter what.  But there are 10% or so who float, and I fear what they may do.  I fear it greatly.

The Trump Convention was a disaster, a nepotistic lie-a-thon.  But that may not be what the 10% saw.  Some of that group may have seen the trappings of the White House and ooohed and ahhed.  Some may have seen the crowd and thought - hey, that COVID-19 thing is OVER!

I was going to go on with some of the disastrous polling switch going on with Black Lives Matters, but that would easily double the length of this, so I'll have to address that separately soon.

Just be aware of this equation that the Trumpists are converting the floating 10% to -

BLM + Protestors = Rioters + Property Damage

Nothing could be further from the truth, but since when has truth mattered to Trump and his lackeys?

Settle in, my friends.

We are in for a very bumpy ride.

History of the Trap Vol. 2: Chapter One - Justice Trapped Part 2

 

2

 

At first, I did not know the severity of Wilbur’s injuries.  Maybe he would not get to say anything.  Maybe he would die and leave at the mercy of Granite and Pelley.

He did not die.  At least, not at this time.  To my surprise, not only did he state that it was Mark Granite that had slashed him, but that he had overheard Mark confessing to the murder of Lisa Carlton.

Mr. Tate was not happy, but he had little choice.  His chief student ally had been exposed as a killer, and he knew he could not cover it up.  There would at least have to be a trial.

Another trial.  I didn’t think I could get through that again.  But Doctor Duncan, as I learned the hard way, the Trap always challenged what you could or couldn’t do, always pushing the threshold of what you thought you could survive.

Wilbur Jones was arrogant and conceited.  He thought very highly of himself and very little of me.  But Wilbur was also a stickler for rules and authority.  He could not abide what Mark had done.

So, this trial had something the other did not – a clear and credible witness, one not shaken by the threats of Mark and his supposed allies.

Crossing Streams: Keeping Your Distance 46

 Ghostbusters tried to warn us.  Don't let the streams cross!

Fortunately, Marco arrived before Laura, and Marco was at Tropical Storm level when it hit.  Maybe Tropical Depression.  Or Tropical Manic-Depressive.  I get confused.

Laura, on the other hand, is building towards major Hurricane status.  Currently, it is projected to hit Category 4, and land in Louisiana/Texas at Category 3.  That's pretty intense.

The hotter Gulf waters are contributing to the strength of hurricanes, but I'll let others debate by how much.  

I pray for the safety and well-being of those in its path.

One more joke:

I just feel like if you’re going to have two hurricanes/tropical storms in a row to the same basic area, and the first one is named Marco, the second one should be named Polo.

That's a meme I put on Facebook.  Yeah, got a lot more likes than when I post a blog post from THe Strait Line.  Yep.  I can't even compete with myself.

----------------------------------

Ok.  One more joke -

Ok.  That one's not as funny anymore.  Id love to continue to satirize him, but good Lord, he is such a dangerous and hostile man.

I've seen very little of the Trump coronation, but in my defense, I watched very little of the DNC convention  - at least directly.  Some of the speeches I saw on YouTuber later.  Ok.  I watched maybe 25% of the DNC convention.  My favorite part was the roll call vote, where the voting for each state and territory was done from their state/territory.  

I saw a little of Kimberly Guilfoyle screaming.  She's like Donny Jr's mistress or some such thing? I don't know.  I lose track.  I do have one special thing to point out to her - you're not a first-generation immigrant if your family is from Puerto Rico.  All Puerto Ricans are already Americans.  Puerto Rico is a part of America.  People like our racist President treat Puerto Rico like crap, but that doesn't mean they're not American.

Territorial status should not be a 21st-century thing.  Make them a state or set them free.  

-------------------------------

My fiction writing thing is not going well.  I've written a bit more, but I'm still having trouble with schedule regularity.  That may be just an excuse.  I may just not have it in me anymore.

I have a completed novel, The Extra Credit Club.   I sent it out to somebody two months ago, and I haven't heard anything, not even an acknowledgment they received it.  I hate querying and promoting myself and all that crap.  I guess I'm going to have to buck up and decide what to do with it.

In re-reading the books I have so far, Here Comes Tommy is okay but filled with typos.  Adventures in Time and Space has some, but mostly it's just thematically fractured.  History of the Trap Vol. 1 is my best seller (a truly relative term) - it has typos but I think it tells a pretty good, fast-moving story. 

My best, however, is Crowley Stories: Swamp's Edge.  It still gives me the shivers when I read it (not due to being scary, but being scary good).  And yet ... it's been a lead balloon.  Very few purchases, even fewer reviews.  I wish I could engage more readers for it.

---------------------------

Family?  Doing pretty good - COVID-19 creeps closer, as schools start up and so many around here are anti-mask extremists.

My health?  Not bad.  Exercise good, including mowing the lawn with a push mower with defective power steering and no Benjamin to help.  I like food, however.  I like it all too well.

TV?  Watching Season 3 of GLOW, enjoying movies like The Peanut Butter Falcon. I've seen the first season of The Magicians and soon should start Season 2, which is the first season that my son, Greg, worked on.

And my introversion continues to accelerate.  It's going to be very difficult to re-engage when it is once again safe to do.

Wanderingly yours,

T. M. Strait

One Issue to Rule Them All: Saturday Political Soap Box 248

 

What the hey?  Starting a political post with a LOTR* nerd meme?

I guess it tangentially relates to what I have to say, but...caught your attention, eh?

When I go back into The Strait Line Wayback Machine, I see that in prior major elections, I made at least some attempt to post about the issues before us, and less about the candidates and their personality.

This was certainly true in 2008** and 2012. There was some shock over McCain's terrible Vice President pick, and again with Romney's. But for the most part, I tried to post about the major issues ahead of us.  I made a deliberate decision in 2012 to post a series that dealt with major issues one at a time, and not much about condemning Romney as a person.  I thought that McCain and Romney were wrong on many issues, but I didn't fear them as individuals.  I may disagree with them, but I did feel like they cared about the country and its people.

In 2016, I was stunned and horrified at the Republican's selection of Donald J Trump, a dangerous man unfit for any public office, much less the Presidency of the United States.  This led to more posts warning my conservative friends that this was not a choice they should make, for the sake of the country and the entire planet.  Nevertheless, if you search, you can still see I had posts discussing major issues.

Not so this time.

Yes, I still feel strongly about many things.  Faithful readers will know the litany:  Medicare For All (universal health care, if you prefer), $15 minimum wage, Green New Deal, common-sense gun legislation, LGBTQ rights, police reform, the end of voter suppression, a return to international diplomacy, protecting and improving public schools and more accessible higher education, removing the cap on Social Security contributions, a better tax system.  All of these are important.  And if we don't move on some of them, especially climate change, it will endanger the entire planet.

These are all important, and I have no doubt that a Biden/Harris administration will get us at least discussing them.  Unfortunately, there is one issue that, uh, TRUMPS them all.

That issue is

A RETURN TO DECENCY

We must first and foremost remove the narcissistic bully who is destroying everything great about America.

Everything else pales next to that.

I can't list everything he has done.  That would take volumes.  Every day he breaks apart the norms and institutions that have bound us together.

Biden may not be the progressive dynamo I want him to be.  But there is one thing that he undeniably is, and that is DECENT.  He is empathetic.  He is caring.  He wants to work to solve American problems, and his ego is not so big that he refuses to listen to others, including the best advice from medical and scientific experts.

His first instincts will not be to ban others based on religion or race. 

He will not build walls as a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform.

He will not abandon allies and let them die, like Trump did with the Kurds.

He will not separate children from their parents, or put them in cages.

He will not call Nazis very fine people, or praise QAnon.

He will not cooperate and collude with foreign governments, as Trump has done with Russia.

He will not try to bully other countries into granting him personal favors.

He will reach across the aisle and work with Republicans (I remain skeptical as to how well that will work, but I know Biden will try, as Obama did).  Although he may rightfully talk ill of Trump, he is not going to turn Republicans into the enemies of the people, as Trump does with Democrats.

He will stop messing around ignoring the devastating COVID-19 virus, spreading rumors, refuting science, trying to pretend that having 4% of the population and 25% of the cases is a success, and instead deploy the full force of the federal government to get us over it and SAVE AMERICAN LIVES.

He's not going to obstruct justice or be swamped by a web of criminal and semi-criminal enterprises.

He's never going to say, "I take no responsibility at all!"

The most crucial thing Biden has said came in his universally praised acceptance speech - 

"But while I will be a Democratic candidate, I will be an American President."

Yes, it's true.  Politicians say a lot of things.  There is often puffery, exaggeration, and outright lies.  But on this statement, I believe Joe Biden.

Unconditionally and absolutely.

Let's return to decency.

Let's give Biden/Harris the landslide they deserve.

*LOTR refers to Lord of the Rings.  Yes, in addition to politics, I am a big old nerd.  Deal.

** Truth is my blog wasn't operational until 2009, but nevertheless, my early posts were more issue-oriented, and in 2008, the way I wrote in other places or talked to others was more issue-oriented.

History of the Trap Vol. 2: Chapter One- Justice Trapped Part 1

 

Part One

Restoration

Chapter One

 

Justice Trapped

 

1

 

I don’t like to run.  It’s not something I enjoy, nor am I particularly good at it. I have zero stamina, and even the shortest sprint can leave me panting desperately for air.  Artie loved to do cross country, but not me.  I tried out for the football team during my Freshman year, and when I found out the first practices were all running, I quickly switched to acting, trying out for a play that the Drama Department was casting.

Nevertheless, Doctor Duncan, I ran.  I had no choice.  My life was at stake, as hopeless as it seemed.  Because chasing me down was the state track champion, Mark Granite.

I raced to the door leading out of the equipment room, the one that would lead me to the hall separating the gym and the locker rooms.  I flung it open and felt myself being pulled back.  Mark had grabbed the back of my shirt, pulling me towards him.

My heart pounding, my blood surging, I didn’t think.  I reacted with pure instinct.  As I was pulled toward him, I came in faster than he was expecting.  He had his bloodied knife held high, ready to plunge into me, and I reared my elbow up, smashing into his nose with all the force I could muster.

He screamed in pain.  “You Martian freak! I’m gonna make you suffer!”  He said this while grabbing his nose, blood spurting, reddening his left hand.  He started to shriek more, but I didn’t stay.  I took off into the gym hall, screaming, “Help! Help!”

Before I could make it to the student lobby, where even if no one was up, I might make enough noise to attract attention in the nearby sleeping rooms, or some of the night staff of our makeshift medical center, before all that, the fastest man on campus caught up with me.  He flung me between a row of lockers.

He loomed over me, his eyes aflame, his mouth in a sneer as blood dripped into it, his teeth a bloody red, the corpuscles dripping from his chin.  Worst of all, the knife was still in his hand, still coated in Mrs. Forsyth’s blood.

I did my best to crab crawl away, but my brain’s impulses were not connecting to my legs, and I could only move inches.

“Know this before I kill you,” said Mark Granite. “I’m going to kill your father, just like I gutted your girlfriend.  Then I’m going to take your sister back to our party room, and we’re all going to…”

“Mark!  What the heck’s going on?”  From out of nowhere, it was Wilbur Jones, my student council nemesis, our popular academic and athletic leader, standing at the beginning of the locker row.

At this point, had Mark Granite not lost his cool, if he had any hold on rationality, he might have been able to squirm out of his situation.  He could have somehow pinned the murder on me, could have lied his butt off.  It might not have worked, but given how he had gotten away with Lisa’s murder, given his connections and protection to Mr. Tate (our new principal, replacing my father), maybe he could defy the odds again.

Instead, he screamed out at Wilbur and slashed the knife at him, leaving a massive slash across Wilbur’s torso.

I looked at this awful sight in horror, still unable to move.

“Oh, my god, Wilbur!  You’re bleeding!”  Three of Wilbur’s friends came up.  All of them had been using the gym late at night, trying to get in some weight lifting and resistance training (I didn't understand this at the time, but it’s what I found out later).

Wilbur fell back, but his friends caught him.  He pointed down the row of lockers. “He…he…cut me.”

One of his buddies, Paul Buckman, said, “Marty Martian?  Marty did this?”

Mark tried to tame his blood lust enough to think his way out of this terrible box.  “Y-yes!  It was Marty!  He did this!  You know how much he and Wilbur don’t like each other.”

They looked at him skeptically, observing that it was Mark that was holding the knife.  A light went off, and Mark realized his error.  He held up the knife.  “I just took it from him! See!”  He held it higher for them to notice.  “Now, he can't hurt anybody else.”

One of Wilbur’s buddies had the sense to leave.  “I’m getting help from the nurses!”  The other two stayed with Wilbur.

“N-no,” Wilbur croaked out.  “T-that’s not what…”

“Now, are you sure, Wilbur?”  He looked coldly at him.  “Think carefully before you speak.  You don’t want to say anything you’re not sure of.”

The implication was clear.  Mark had the connections and ability to carry out threats that could make Wilbur’s life a living hell.

So, we reached another make or break moment.  Wilbur held no love for me, nor I for him.  It would be so easy to throw me under the bus, become triumphant in our long-running rivalry.  Wilbur’s friends would echo whatever he said.  Mark and Robert would testify against me.

What would he say?