April 2020

China Goes Viral

Published on
/
China goes viral

*The global economy has suffered and enormous punch to the gut, and the economies of many nations are coughing and wheezing while dozens of their citizens perish. The culprit in this calamity is the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The origin of this pandemic (empowered by the global economy) has been traced to the city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, China, where it emerged in December of 2019.

Actually, according to Helen Davidson of “The Guardian,” COVID-19 was first detected on November 17 of 2019, and by March 13, 2020, had killed 4,702 people. The Chinese government only admitted that there was human-to-human contact on January 21 of 2020. Doctor Ai Fen of the Wuhan Central hospital lost four of her fellow doctors to the virus and is guilty of “criticizing hospital authorities for suppressing early warnings of the outbreak.” To further add to the global mayhem, Dr. Fen and whistleblower ophthalmologist Li Wenliang were risking their jobs as well as detention to reveal to the public about the conditions in Wuhan. The global economy advances (and kills) everyone equally, if not for the preparations by their nation. Keep Reading

Covid-19: The Chicken or the Egg

Published on
/

*What came first is debatable when asked about the chicken and the egg. However, when we ask what happened first, labor or corporations, the answer is labor.

The president has claimed, “I am facing the biggest decision of my life.” He is referring to getting people back to work as our economy has taken a big hit because of the pandemic. Many of us were not around during the Great Depression when people were out of work; there were food shortages, confusion, health risks, and more. None of us want to repeat that era. As Americans, we must support cautious and well thought out legislation on the mobilization of our economy.

Living in a Democracy claiming freedoms has been one of the many issues creating issues on our health care providers, enforcement, getting to solutions, and understanding the impact and meaning of a pandemic. Keep Reading

Trump Derangement Syndrome & COVID-19

Published on
Trump Derangement Syndrome is real

*As someone with a well known reputation as being an avid Trump supporter in my building, and in my neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, I have come under attack with some frequency from Trump haters, and the tone has been more civil than it might otherwise be, given my also known reputation to speak from the diaphragm with lots and lots of facts, and my absolute willingness to get mean if treated meanly.

Indeed, I am happy to reveal a razor sharp tongue to those who seek to shout me down with that nasty brand of viciousness so common among those suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS), and I win every damn time.  I also was physically attacked by one man in the neighborhood, once, and he went from a hospital bed straight to a jail cell.  He now steers very clear of me here in the ‘hood.  Seriously, I am not to be touched, at all, ever.  There are some who know of this altercation, word spread a bit, and deference ensued among insiders.

As we face this COVID 19 infectious disease, however, the tone has changed for those who have chosen to attack more vehemently.  I have been lashed out at a handful of times.  Words like “this is going to do him in, mister, and only fools still support him” and “I hate this president, and any sane person would too” have been hurled in my direction, uttered very loudly. Keep Reading

Yellow Lanterns Welcoming Spring

Published on

*A magnificent plant called yellow lantern is flowering along the west coast. It’s a vibrant vernal beauty.

These western inhabitants thrive in rich mucky, wet swamps near red alders, Sitka spruce, western redcedars and grand firs.

Yellow Lanterns
It’s exhilarating to see these bursting Sitka oxygen-makers. Image credit: Reese Halter

Keep Reading

COVID-19: The Clear and Present Threat to Military Families During This Crisis is Not the Virus

Published on
/

*Too many veterans and their families aren’t mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared for the difficult days ahead. Since the spread of COVID-19, we’ve heard from hundreds of military families who are afraid – not of catching a virus – but of the long term damage this crisis will have on their lives.

They’re afraid they’ll turn to older ways of coping with their challenges as the stress of this crisis looms over them. Many nationwide closures have affected support groups such as alcoholics anonymous (AA), and other key outpatient services due to government action to limit large gatherings. People are overwhelmed with financial buckling, uncertainty, school cancellations affecting their children, and being closed off from normal routines. Keep Reading