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Cool… But Not…

Last night Jesse was on full patrol.

About 1:30 a.m. he began pacing the length of the house and looking out the front window. Then he started barking. It was his “I don’t like this Dad” bark. Actually kind of a scary sound.

Since him barking at all is rare, I got up to figure out what was going on.

He really wanted out. It wasn’t to go to pee, he wanted to get to the fence then he really started barking at whatever he thought he saw, and he was not joking around.

I’m sure the neighbors really appreciated the noise. Oh well…

I never did see what he was concerned about. After a few minutes he came back inside but didn’t really settle down for about a half hour. I went back to bed.

Then at 3 a.m. He got concerned again. This time I didn’t let him out, instead we both stood at the front window looking out, trying to see what was going on. He barked a couple of times but not like the 1:30 event.

I don’t want to tell him no when he does this. He’s doing his job and he’s protecting me. At least that what he thinks. I’ve noticed that if I’m there beside him, he’s calmer and looks up at me to see if I’m concerned.

I still didn’t see what he was concerned about. After 5 or 10 minutes, I went back to bed. He joined me, he laid on the foot of the bed where he could easily see the bedroom door and the sliding door, but was very much on guard.

He made rounds through the house hourly until dawn.

I wondered if perhaps it was the crazy lady wandering the neighborhood. She’s been known to do that. Saturday evening, she showed up at the front door. So It wouldn’t have surprised me.

On Saturday she acted like she expected to be invited in. Jesse was sitting by the front door and I had the door braced closed with one foot.

She apologized for assaulting me several years ago. She described it as pushing me. The photos of my shoulder where she punched me tell another story. Her bony fist left a clear fist shaped bruise on my upper pectoral muscle.

I didn’t correct her, I just wanted her to go. Her mouth appeared to have smeared blood all around her lips. I suspect it was from bleeding gums which were evident as she spoke. There was also something about her eyes, even now I can’t put my finger on it. 

Then she wanted to pet the puppy. Again, I suspect she was trying to talk her way into the house. I told her no, that Jesse would possibly bite her. I doubt it, but he doesn’t like her so I figured it was better to be safe. Besides, I trust Jesse’s judgement about people.

This morning I ran into another neighbor while Jesse & I were on our walk. He said he thought a bear had been in the neighborhood last night. He’d had to clean up a trash can.

That makes sense. Jesse doesn’t know what to make of bears.

I’m glad to know Jesse was concerned about the right sort of thing. On the other hand I’ve been like the walking dead this morning. I think a nice long nap is in my future.

Have a great day.

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Been out of it for a bit

We had a fire over the hill. Nothing threatening to my town, but the smoke during the evenings backed up against the mountain and irritated the heck out of my sinuses.

Nothing abnormal there, however this time I got a bit of a sinus infection, and just as that was clearing my ears got plugged with an infection. Even that wouldn’t be a big deal or even really out of the ordinary. With me, getting one usually leads to the other.

But… combine those two things and the brutal heat wave… Well, let’s just say I’ve been napping A LOT. I haven’t felt like doing much of anything. Neither has the dog. He sleeps most of the day when it’s hot like this.

I was able to muster enough energy to bathe him. He generally doesn’t like being wet but I think he’s figured out that when it’s this hot, being wet and having lots of attention even though the “Evil Hose” is pointed at him isn’t completely terrible.

The first bath he was really not happy with me. The second bath, after I’d toweled him off he got the Zoomies and we played a bit while he was drying off. By “Play” I mean I’d throw the ball, he’d bring it back and I’d brush him for a few minutes then I’d have to throw the ball again. It’s possible that he knows I haven’t been feeling well and decided to go easy on me. I’m curious to see what he’ll be like after I bathe him for the third time.

It seems as if he’s figuring out that I’m not mad, and just trying to make him feel more comfortable. He’s shedding a lot right now, I don’t know if he’s prepping for Winter or if he’s adapting to the heat.

I haven’t been paying much attention to the news. I did see some report that Gabbert released something that appears to point to corruption against Trump from the CIA/FBI/Clintons, and possibly the Obama administration. I haven’t had the energy or interest to dig through it.

At this point all they do is investigate. I’m not going to be impressed until I see the perpetrators on their knees begging for mercy. I’d probably be greatly amused to see congress surrounded by people with pitchforks and torches. I’ve gotten tired of “revelations” that lead absolutely nowhere.

I heard something about Trump threatening to federalize D.C. in an attempt to quell the out of control crime. That would be interesting. Not sure how or if that would work, but it would sure be “Must See TV”.

Vice President Vance said on one of the talk shows ‘You’re going to see a lot of Democrats Indicted’ To him I’d say, “Mr. Vice President, don’t be a tease”.

Today, is the first day that I’m feeling anywhere near “normal” I’m just exhausted now but don’t feel like dog poop. So I’m counting that as a “Win”

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OMG! Just saw two ads for streaming TV

Hulu, has a “New” package which includes news and local channels that costs ~$89 a month, and DirecTV is offering a better priced package, but it’s still not al la carte.

The DirecTV option is actually better, but DAMN! They’re charging what they once charged for the basics where you had a dish on your roof and they provided the DVR. Hulus pricing is obscene. Spectrum cable provided all the channels + internet service for about that same amount just 3 years ago.

The difference? Now you’re paying for the internet service separately + their streaming fees.

Meaning that you’re still paying about the same price for channels that you don’t really want to, or never watch. “BET”? When was the last time you even noticed what they were running? I guess some households watch it, but really? Most channels in their “Lineup” aren’t that interesting.

I think the streaming companies and cable companies really aren’t getting it. If a household only watches 5 or 10 channels, it’s not worth it. Especially if that same household can get those channels via streaming or over the air for free.

What these folks need to do, is say, “For $30 you can pick 10 channels.” I’d probably go for it since I’m in a blind area and can’t see Mt Wilson. Let me pick the local channels, that’s like 5, then let me pick other channels that I’d be interested in.”

That’s value!

Instead it’s another bait and switch that has you paying over a $100 per month just to get the 10 channels of 500 that you actually watch. Only now, all they have to do is connect their output to the internet and verify you’re a subscriber. They don’t provide anything in the way of hardware, or cabling.

Sadly, there will be people that pay the fees thinking they’re cutting the cable & going to save a few bucks.

I suppose if you already have internet that you’re paying for, and you’ve got a DirecTV box or two, you might save a few dollars but honestly is it worth it?

If I lived on the other side of the mountain, I’d be getting what little TV I watch using an antenna. As it stands right now, If there’s breaking news, I can use one of the local stations free streaming app.

During the hurricanes last year, I was streaming a live news feed out of a TV station in Florida via their app. Their coverage was much better than the LA coverage, and surprisingly the live coverage out of a Lexington, KY TV station was even better. Both those options were free.

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Oh Great! I’m not sure that I’m comfortable with this.

President Trump announced a new health data transmission program today.

On the one hand, that’s kind of cool. In theory, transferring your medical data records could come down to simply authorizing access. Trump also said that the data wouldn’t be in a central database, which means that they’re talking about an actual transfer of data and in theory, the deletion of that data from the source system when it’s transferred to a new doctor.

If that’s how it works okay, but I know that there’ll be backups and that somehow patient data won’t be deleted from one system when it’s transferred to another system. My concern is that the data will end up exposed in a data breach.

Another concern is the insurance implications. I was once told by a doctor that I trusted, not to reveal too much about family history, because if he put the data in my records, which were shared with the insurance company I could find my insurance rates greatly increased on the possibility that I might illustrate those same problems.

If all the medical data is available and concentrated (including misdiagnosis) into one medical file, it could be misused by insurance companies to unfairly raise your personal healthcare insurance rates.

Trump said if you want to opt out you can. Maybe I’d believe him, if it wasn’t for Obama saying, “If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor.” Which actually wasn’t the truth.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it is a great idea for the patient to be in control of their data. The potential for abuse of that data is where I’m concerned.

The other thing this new system is supposed to do, is get rid of the doctor’s clipboard. Shit! I’ve been to, and left doctors, who spent the entire appointment staring at their computer screen instead of looking at me, the patient.

If the doctor isn’t going to actually interact with me, personally as in, actually listening to my heart or lungs, then what’s the point? I might as well not physically be in the office. Perhaps, part of this will involve remote telemetry so that in the future, physical office visits won’t be necessary at all. If we get to that point then the only interaction we’ll need will be with the ER / Hospital staff. Individual doctors will be a thing of the past.

In theory, an AI with remote monitoring, and occasional bloodwork results could be just as efficient (perhaps more so) than a human doctor. Based on constant remote monitoring, an AI might be able to anticipate a problem and direct the patient to the appropriate medical facility before a disease process became debilitating.

My 3 year old Apple Watch collects a wide variety of data now, that it sends to my phone. That data can, at my option be shared via print or email with a medical professional.

The problem is, most doctors are completely unaware of this ability, few think to ask for it, and most are quite surprised when the patient can answer questions like, “How are you sleeping?” With a pretty accurate number of hours slept and changes over time. In my case, I can give a doctor literally years of BP data, exercise data, weight variations, medication compliance, O2 saturation, and all kinds of other data. Shortly, there will be more exercise data and variety because I’m likely going to join a gym. A lot of gym equipment has the ability to sync your effort on the equipment to the heart rate, respiration, and other data, devices like the Apple Watch collects. The data from the gym equipment increases the depth and quality of the exercise information.

While that’s very cool and can be used to guide my exercise routines for better results I don’t know how much I’m going to be sharing with a doctor. As a rule, I answer the questions they ask and nothing more. So obviously, I’m not opposed to having the data available, I’m opposed to that data being used to rate my worthiness for insurance, or treatment.

I’d hate for medical care to become regulated based on your medical telemetry. That sounds a whole lot like the social credit scores in China and I’ve got some fundamental issues with that system.

I’m going to reserve judgement until the new agency, regulation, law, or whatever gets rolling. But I’ll be watching it closely.

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Accusations mean Death? Hmmm. I thought the media and Democrat representatives said that didn’t happen…

Tuesday on MSNBC’s “Deadline,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) said someone will die because President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of treason.

Oh, how they change their tune. If the Democrat politicians would just stick with one narrative, I’d look much more favorably upon them.

A mere year ago, Democrat politicians were telling anyone who would listen, that their rhetoric against Donald Trump was not responsible for the repeated attempts on his life. They essentially washed their hands of the matter then put out a few statements saying the condemned political violence, but didn’t stop with their rhetoric.

1 year later, a Democrat politician says that because Trump accused Obama of treason (with apparently credible documentation according to DNI Gabbert) that someone will die.

Give me a break.

Unless he’s suggesting the members of the Obama Administration are going to be Arkancided.

Hillary Clinton once said if the powers that be, took her into court for the things James Comey had evidence she’d done during her tenure as Secretary of State, she’d take half of Washington D.C. down with her.

One way she could avoid being taken to prison would be to eliminate anyone in the Obama Administration that led back to her. Could it be that Rep. Himes is worried he’ll commit suicide by shooting himself a few times in the back of the head?

If Obama did actually order the intelligence community to create, leak, and publicize the Russian Collusion hoax in an attempt to either install Hillary as President or to undermine President Trump’s term in office then there is clearly some wrongdoing.

The question is, to what extent is the wrongdoing? Does it rise to the accepted legal definition of Treason? If it does, then the ONLY penalty is death.

I think it’s the only crime the US Constitution specifically calls out and the only penalty for that crime is death.

Which by the way is why I was so opposed to politicians, the media, and people in general calling Trump and his administration traitors. That’s a word that you do not throw around lightly, ever!

I rather suspect that many of the things we’ve witnessed in the past 16 years could conceivably be treasonous, but do they rise to meet the legal definition?

Biden throwing the borders open as he did, was not in the best interest of this country. Is that Treason? Is Biden immune to prosecution for doing it as a sitting President? Probably. Was he doing it to destroy the Republic, or was he foolishly following what he was told to be the correct course of action?

As much as I detest Biden I’d like to believe that he was simply a misguided, dementia ridden old fool.

Now, the people behind the throne… I’d like to see if they knowingly did what they did just to pander, or for more nefarious purposes. I’d very much like to do away with the “AutoPen” because as has been demonstrated there’s too much room for such a thing to be misused.

If the people in the Biden Administration were working to undermine or overthrow our Republic, and using Biden’s infirmity to do it, is that Treason? If so, then the DOJ has a constitutional duty to try and execute them for it. I doubt even the Supreme Court would disagree. Well, Jackson would, but she’s a leftist and pretty darn predictable. 

If Obama’s actions are Treason, then what? If he’s tried, found guilty and shot on The Capital steps, what does that mean for the country?

Would the execution of St. Obama cause cities like NY, Chicago, LA, and others to be burned to the ground? I’m betting the answer is yes.

Which means that once again, Justice and even The Constitution would be thwarted due to the color of a person’s skin.

On the one hand, I want Justice. On the other hand Obama shouldn’t be a martyr. Perhaps Trump could commute the sentence in the best interest of the country.

I’ll be curious to see if Obama gets off because even though what he’s accused of doing is certainly unethical, possibly illegal, he did it as a sitting President.

This whole matter, if true, really puts the Democrats that want to try Trump for document mishandling and declassifying documents as a sitting President in a heck of a bind.

Just how far does Presidential immunity go?

They can’t try Trump and not try Obama.

I’m absolutely sure they’ll give it their best shot.