Today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
For me, today is a day of silence. Those of us who were alive and old enough to remember may choose to mark this day in our own ways.
Have a peaceful weekend.
Random Ideas, Comments & Thoughts, Sometimes Political, Sometimes Adult… Hope you don't choke.
Today is the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
For me, today is a day of silence. Those of us who were alive and old enough to remember may choose to mark this day in our own ways.
Have a peaceful weekend.
…for the other shoe to drop?
I’ve been feeling like that for months.
It feels like being a kid waiting for your Father to get home to beat your ass for doing something you shouldn’t have done.
I suppose a more polite way of saying that would be a reference to the sword of Damocles. (If you don’t get that one look it up.) Perhaps a reference to Poe’s Pit & Pendulum would work better?
To be sure, this summer has been a pain in my ass personally. But it’s also been a mess nationally and internationally.
Hurricanes, Floods, Continuing and mutating pandemic, The show trials over the Jan 6th (mostly peaceful protests, hey they didn’t burn the capital down. Just sayin.), Afghanistan (Now we know why Biden has kids, he didn’t know how to withdraw… I couldn’t resist,) Poor economy, Rising Prices, etc. etc. etc.
Tuesday morning there was a report in Breitbart where an epidemiologist reviewed grants associated with St Fauci of the mask, and concluded that in fact some 600K did fund “Gain of function” research in Wuhan. The material was released under the FOIA.
Technically, this information is a smoking gun. Fauci broke the law. Federally, gain of function research is forbidden.
It’s possible, Fauci may have skirted the law, by approving grant money. Then Fauci lied to Congress about it, denying that any funding went to Wuhan for such research. He’d have been better off simply admitting that without his knowledge, the funds were misused and that the grant had been terminated.
Fauci has always been about gain of function research throughout his career.
On the one hand I can kinda see it from the standpoint of learning what may happen, and then doing the research to have countermeasures in place. On the other hand, I think I agree more with folks who say that gain of function is simply too dangerous. If COVID-19 is any indicator, I’d say that we have proof of the latter point.
I hate like hell that I believe Fauci will skate on all of this. I no longer have faith that our Justice system is remotely impartial. It’s been made very clear if you’re a darling of the administration (or a family member) there are no consequences. If, on the other hand you’ve demonstrated any opposition to the administration you’re going to be hunted down like a rabid dog.
Yet, with all this, it still feels like I’m in the corner of my bedroom waiting for Dad to come home. “This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you son…” I knew that was bullshit at 8 years old, it’s no less bullshit now.
In fact my Dad and I had a good healthy laugh over that particular comment as adults sipping scotch. I told him I called bullshit, and he just laughed.
“Yep Son, it was bullshit, but your ass was such a small moving target I’d end up with strap marks on my legs too. You’ve got to nonetheless, concede that you’re the man I’m proud of today in part because of me busting your butt.“
He was right. I admitted it to him right then and there. We poured another drink and talked about all kinds of things as Men, not father and son.
God, how I’d enjoy talking with him now! If only to hear his take on why I’m feeling like I’m waiting for doom.
Thinking about that conversation though, still puts a smile on my face. The hangover the next day was even worth it.
I just wish I could get past this feeling…
As we come up on the 20th anniversary of September 11, I find myself wondering if that’s the thing. Perhaps it’s just that it’s been 20 years.
I’m sure Biden will attempt to make some speech. Sadly, no matter how well written that speech will be, if he goes off the rails, or if some jackasses shoot up a crowd or set off a bomb to mark the date, I wonder if that could simply be the flashpoint of what’s bugging me.
There are just so many division points between so many groups in America today. Those points are in my mind metaphorical powder kegs. Half the country seems to be violently opposed to the other half of the country for one reason or another. Is what I’m feeling a subconscious recognition of how angry, stressed, and ready to blow, we as a people are?
Or is this feeling simply a sign of my frustration at the job search and my worry over paying my bills?
I’ll admit I think we should flatten Afghanistan with carpet bombing.
I’d love to see this administration and much of Congress on trial for corruption and wrongdoing. But I’m not ready to join a militia, white supremacist group, or do anything that is outside of the laws that we’re all supposed to abide by. I keep hearing my Mother, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.“
I keep hearing in the back of my mind, “Everybody Knows” by Leonard Cohen. Although I like the rendition by Sigrid better than the original.
"Everybody Knows" Everybody knows that the dice are loaded Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed Everybody knows that the war is over Everybody knows the good guys lost Everybody knows the fight was fixed The poor stay poor, the rich get rich That's how it goes Everybody knows Everybody knows that the boat is leaking Everybody knows that the captain lied Everybody got this broken feeling Like their father or their dog just died Everybody talking to their pockets Everybody wants a box of chocolates And a long stem rose Everybody knows Everybody knows that you love me baby Everybody knows that you really do Everybody knows that you've been faithful Ah give or take a night or two Everybody knows you've been discreet But there were so many people you just had to meet Without your clothes And everybody knows Everybody knows, everybody knows That's how it goes Everybody knows Everybody knows, everybody knows That's how it goes Everybody knows And everybody knows that it's now or never Everybody knows that it's me or you And everybody knows that you live forever Ah when you've done a line or two Everybody knows the deal is rotten Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton For your ribbons and bows And everybody knows And everybody knows that the Plague is coming Everybody knows that it's moving fast Everybody knows that the naked man and woman Are just a shining artifact of the past Everybody knows the scene is dead But there's gonna be a meter on your bed That will disclose What everybody knows And everybody knows that you're in trouble Everybody knows what you've been through From the bloody cross on top of Calvary To the beach of Malibu Everybody knows it's coming apart Take one last look at this Sacred Heart Before it blows And everybody knows Everybody knows, everybody knows That's how it goes Everybody knows Oh everybody knows, everybody knows That's how it goes Everybody knows Everybody knows Written By Sharon Robinson & Leonard Cohen
The weird thing is that I haven’t heard that song in a while. Let’s face it, it’s dark and not something that anyone who’s the least bit depressed should listen to. It is however, a good song.
I guess I’ll go back to banging my head against the employment wall and just wait & see what happens next.
When the wheels come off this bus, it will be spectacular.
I am curious to see what happens in the Newsom recall. I have no doubt that he’ll retain office. I’m absolutely sure that we’ll never know if he retains office legally or by nefarious means.
I say that, because these days who do you trust?
Hope everyone had a good Labor Day.
It was quiet here, thankfully. We didn’t even have the usual garage sales. That was a bit strange, but it meant that the neighborhood was quiet.
Even the crazy folks on the next block weren’t screaming obscenities or arguing with the voices in their heads.
I was forced to be quiet because I’m nursing a bum knee. It’s getting better but only incrementally. On the plus side, if I stay off it I’m not in pain. That means I can, in a mostly guilt free way sit on my butt. Even the dog has figured out that something is very wrong with dad.
Yesterday, I got antsy and used my chain saw to help a neighbor, (who’s just recovered from knee surgery,) thin out some plants that grow between our properties. I heard him trying to get his chain saw running several times, to no effect. He was grumbling but not cussing about it. I figured that the neighborly thing to do was help out.
It was nice, he totally got that I’d be moving slow and was content to point out what he wanted to cut down, then let me get situated and do the cutting. He handled removing the material.
It worked out well. I really needed to be outside being productive, if only for a short while. I only paid a small price for being up and active. Spending the rest of the late afternoon with my knee up.
I know, we’re not supposed to “work” on Labor Day but ehh I needed to do something.
We’re already seeing signs of Fall. Some of the trees are just starting to change. On the one hand that’s nice because it means that it will start cooling off and usually brings the fire season to a close. On the other hand, it means time’s getting short for me to get summer projects done that have been delayed due to various injuries and disasters here at home.
I’ve got maybe another month and a half to get some caulking & painting done before the paint won’t setup correctly due to temperature swings. Much as I hate to do it, I may have to force the knee into service a little before it’s ready.
Have a good short week.