PANDEMIC SENSE AND NONSENSE

Things are settling down and reopening up. Although the coronavirus is still with us, we can sit back and wonder about the pandemic sense and nonsense that occurred. A lot of decisions were made by different elected officials all over the country, that didn’t seem well thought through. Here in the heartland, ordinary people don’t always agree with what has gone down.

Congress hurried up and passed a massive stimulus bill that benefited some people far more than others. The strangest thing was the stimulus checks. Anyone who filed a tax return for less than $75,000 received tax free money that wasn’t based on need or cost of living. $1200 won’t go very far in San Francisco, but it could pay for a lot of rent and groceries in small town, America. Same thing with the unemployment benefits. $600 a week plus state unemployment will go a long way in some parts of the country. In fact, it’s proven to be a disincentive for restaurant employees’ returning to work. Consequently, a lot of tax payer money has gone to people who really don’t need it at all.

.Restaurants and bars have been allowed to open for a couple of weeks in our city. They must follow certain social distancing guidelines but at least you can be served a meal that you didn’t have to cook or send for. This coming week, our library will finally be allowed to open their doors. Does this seem a little strange? Why are libraries so far down the totem pole? They should have opened before bars and hair salons.

Libraries are at the heart of any city. Books feed the soul, and will get you through tough times. I can remember growing up in the post depression years during World War II. Everything good was rationed. You couldn’t’ even buy ice cream—it had to be sherbet, unless you made it yourself. But the highlight of my week—starting at age six—was my weekly trip to the library. A good book will take you to far away places, and show you how people in other times or in different countries think and feel. Nothing can replace books. Certainly not a bottle of beer or a plate of spaghetti eaten at a restaurant.

Mask wearing was another thing. First, we were told it didn’t help to wear a mask. Then, about a month later, all the scientists were telling us we should wear masks, after all. It’s no wonder so many people refuse to wear one.

When things settle down, we’re going to look back at some of the decisions that were made and scratch our heads. Mayors are criticizing governors, and governors are criticizing the president. The politicians are all busy pointing fingers and placing blame. But the truth is, everyone has been floundering in a sea of the unknown. Common sense went out the window

June 3, 2020June 3, 2020

POLLSTERS: DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL ME

Do you believe in polls? Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. Like most people, I believe what I want to. If I see a poll favoring my candidate of choice, I’ll hope it’s right. On the other hand, if a poll favors a disliked candidate, I’ll doubt its accuracy. When I am asked to take part in surveys and polls, I always decline. Pollsters: don’t ask my opinion, don’t tell me your skewed results.

Most polls are conducted via cell phone or landline. Those are possibly the most irritating calls one could receive. Anyone with common sense refuses to answer calls from an unfamiliar phone number. Consequently, A poll based on the opinions of those who do answer doesn’t really tell me anything.

Many polls are taken over the internet. Poll takers and politicians invade my Facebook, Twitter, and Email accounts. If I log onto various online news reports, I’m often interrupted by a question about Donald Trump or Joe Biden.

The bad part about answering a survey or poll is that you’re now on someone’s sucker list. First, you will be inundated with requests for contributions. Next, you’ll receive numerous newsletters and e mails meant to alarm and enlighten you .

How do these people get access to my social media? I’m tired of spending so much time deleting them. I click on unsubscribe, and beg them to leave me alone, to no avail.. No, I don’t want to hear from their relatives, either.

Back to the accuracy of polls. A poll is just a picture of what people are saying or thinking on a particular day. Voters are fickle. They can easily change their minds the next week or month, depending on current events. For example, the coronavirus pandemic. Or the protests after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis..

Every day, the polls tell us which candidate is favored, disliked, or disapproved of . But you know what? I’d just as soon believe the odds coming out of Vegas.

Pollsters: Stop calling me during dinner, or any time at all. Discontinue invading my social media online. Don’t ask what I think or tell me how I feel..

May 20, 2020May 20, 2020

Pelosi body shames Trump

As a dietitian, I had to agree with Nancy Pelosi when she went on TV saying that Trump is overweight. But is she qualified to say he’s “morbidly obese?” That’s the term for a medical condition, and I don’t think she has a license to practice. Anyway, I thought that body shaming was verboten in our modern society. Popular magazines like “People,” frequently interview overweight celebrities who describe the trauma when they were teased about their weight. Peloisi hit below the belt( as my Mother used to say) when body shaming Trump. Has he mentioned how many face lifts and botox treatments she’s had?

I suspect no one feels sorry for Trump, because he’s brought it on himself. He’s a master at putting down his critics with childish nicknames like “Crooked Hillary,” “Sleepy Joe.” Anyone who disagrees with him is fair game. But I never thought Nancy Pelosi would get caught up in the madness.

She gleefully celebrated his impeachment, but still tried to appear somewhat dignified. She’s always taken the stance of moral superiority when it comes to Trump. Why, then, would she stoop to his level? 70% of Americans are either overweight or obese. I’m wondering how those voters will react to a privileged, California Congresswoman body shaming the president during the covid-19 outbreak.

I never knew much about Trump until he ran for president, so I don’t know when his weight got out of control. He should probably hire a nutritionist to plan his menus. But he’d probably fire her after a week. She would undoubtedly cancel the hamburger and fries. Would he go for a fruit smoothie or grilled chicken salad for lunch? I doubt it. On the other hand, he looks and acts very healthy. (Hopefully the Hydroxychloroquine he’s taking won’t give him a heart attack.) It probably helps that he doesn’t drink or smoke. Apparently, he gets plenty of exercise on the golf course. Maybe it’s just his metabolism. Or perhaps he’s a “stress eater.” If so, he’s had plenty of stressful triggers.

Meanwhile, there are other obese people running their countries. Like England’s Boris Johnson & North Korea’s Kim Jong Um. In fact, I think Winston Churchill was kind of chubby. Most of us are acquainted with “heavies,” who are capable and sharp. She’ll probably never admit it, but I think Nancy Pelosi is going to regret body shaming Trump. I just wish that both of them would act like grown-ups.

January 10, 2020January 15, 2020

DID SOMEONE JUST BLINK?

Some of you may remember the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Nikita Khrushchev decided the Soviet Union was going to establish a nuclear missile base in Cuba. But President John F. Kennedy said we weren’t going to have enemy missiles 90 miles from home. He told the Russians to dismantle the bases. Furthermore, he told them stop sending missiles. He formed a naval blockade around Cuba, and threatened the use of military force. The Russians set sail, anyway. As a result, America held its breath for 13 long days. We were on the brink of nuclear war. Khrushchev and Kennedy were eyeball to eyeball. Finally, the Russian ships turned around and headed home. The recent conflict between Trump and Iran reminds us of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Did someone just blink?

In the Cuban Missile Crisis , America was on the brink of nuclear war — Kennedy and Khrushchev were said to be eyeball to eyeball during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

The election of President John Kennedy caused as much controversy as the election of Donald Trump. The Republicans claimed the Democrats stole the election in Chicago.

The Republicans hated Kennedy just as the Democrats hate Trump. But Kennedy had an advantage. The media adored him, That changed in 1961, after the Bay of Pigs fiasco. 111 Americans were killed, and 1100 taken prisoner. Now, public opinion turned. Many Americans thought Kennedy was “dangerously incompetent,” as Joe Biden might say.

But Kennedy turned defeat into glory after the Cuban Missile crisis ended. At last, he was seen as a strong leader. By the same token, many Americans now believe Trump is a hero after eliminating Iran’s terrorist General Soleimani.

In ordering the killing of Soleimani in Iraq, President Trump took a bold risk. But, no Americans died in Iran’s subsequent missile attack on a US base in Iraq. Will Trump go down in history as a strong leader? Did someone just blink? Or was the confrontation with Iran a fiasco? Only time will tell.

October 9, 2019October 9, 2019

THANK YOU, DANCING WITH THE STARS

Each morning upon awakening, I pick up my i phone The first thing I see. before unlocking the phone, are messages about all the unpleasant things going on in the world. My stomach is churning with anxiety even before getting out of bed. It continues all day and up until bedtime. Is it any wonder I have occasional nightmares? But last night’s television program offered a respite from all the bad news. Thank you, Dancing With The Stars, for a good night’s sleep, and sweet dreams.

Dancing With the Stars is America at it's best — MANY CONTESTANTS ON DANCING WITH THE STARS ARE WAY OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE.

What I love about Danicng With The Stars is its lack of perfection. Some of the contestants are awkward and out of shape. Many are way out of their comfort zone. But they’re gamely trying their best not to make a fool of themselves. Isn’t that where most of us have been at one time or another in our lives?

Dancing With The Stars has come a long way since it’s first season. Then, it was mostly about the dancing. The sets and costumes weren’t so spectacular. Later, they went through a time when the women were half naked in their revealing costumes. My husband liked that, but I thought it not so good for younger kids who might be watching. Now, they’ve gone all out with gorgeous, glittering costumes and glamorous sets. It’s like watching a Broadway show.

Best of all, for two hours, you don’t have to see television shows and news reports about murder, sex, gender issues, racism, politics. Better yet, you don’t have to hear about: impeachment, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Trump, Schiff, Pelosi, Isis, Turkey, or any of the other cringe worthy words or topics that make you grit your teeth and wish it would go away.

This show represents America at its best. It takes our mind off our worries and gives us two hours of dazzling entertainment. Thank you, Dancing With The Stars.

July 26, 2019July 29, 2019

WHY DID RUSSIA DO IT, & HOW?

Now that we’ve endured endless hours of Mueller’s testimony before Congress, we know for sure that Russia interfered in our election. The question is: Why did Russia back Trump, and how ? You have to dig pretty deep to find out.

why putin hated clinton — Putin hated Clinton for interfering in his 2011 election

Back in 2011 , when Prime Minister Putin was running for President, then Secretary of State Clinton interfered with his election bid against a guy named Medvedev. It seems she bet on the wrong horse. Putin won, and he’s held a grudge against Hillary ever since. I think it’s important for Americans to understand why Putin didn’t want her to win. . https://time.com/4422723/putin-russia-hillary-clinton/

Speaking from personal experience, I can remember many Facebook advertisements slamming Clinton and supporting Trump. I saw them as spam. I was annoyed when Facebook allowed all of these unwanted posts on my page. Why aren’t they now sharing some of the blame for what happened? It was quite obvious that someone had it in for Clinton. Are we supposed to believe Facebook executives didn’t know the origin of these posts?

The media has led us to believe that Trump was doing something illegal by trying to establish a hotel in Moscow. If that is true, what about the other 3,000 American companies that currently do business in Russia? My former brother in law was with a big accounting firm that had an office in Moscow over 30 years ago. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2016/08/03/headline-halah-t/#6db933635f99

After listening to hours of tedious testimony by Mueller in the hearings this week, It seems to me that it was all much ado about nothing. As FBI agent Peter Storzok said in his famous e mail, “ I’m afraid there’s no there , there.”

Let’s stop wasting money on this investigation that means very little to the average American. Why doesn’t Congress focus their efforts on lowering prescription drug prices, cleaning up the mess at the border, improving our crumbling infrastructure, and changing the way we grant student loans?

Get to work, guys.

June 15, 2019June 15, 2019

IS FACEBOOK INVADING MY PRIVACY?

How is it that I receive all these “sponsored” posts on Facebook ? Before the 2016 election, I was getting posts about Trump almost every single day. Maybe they were part of the Russian attempt to influence the election. I always ignored them, because I considered them nothing but spam. But now, the Trump posts have disappeared, only to be replaced by posts favoring Biden. I don’t understand who is behind these posts, and why are they allowed to do this. Is Facebook invading my privacy?

WHY HAS FACEBOOK DECIDED i SHOULD RECEIVE ALL THESE SPONSORED POSTS?

OMG. Just got a post from Cory Booker, asking me to send $1 to secure his spot on the debate stage. I don’t know Cory at all; never met him, probably never will. I thought people couldn’t post on my page unless they were my friend. Cory isn’t my friend.

Here’s another one from the Democratic Governors Association asking if I approve of President Trump. If I respond Yes , will I be back on the Republican’s hit list? And if I say No, will that be a green light for all 20 Democratic candidate to start sending me requests for money? Does this mean that anyone can buy their way into my Facebook account? I’ve purposely limited my friends to a handful, because I don’t want to spend all day reading posts from a thousand so called “friends.”

Apparently, Facebook lines me up with strange people they think I would agree with. How they make this decision is a total mystery. In the last election, something made them believe I wanted to hear about Trump. It may have been the Russians, or just plain old American Republicans. I will never know. But now, the Democrats have decided I’m fair game. Overall, I would guess that someone at Facebook has decided I’ve switched parties.

I haven’t switched parties because I never belonged to one. If you read my blog, you will know that I feel free to criticize politicians from either party. My mother used to have an expression around election time: “I vote for a new set of crooks every four years.” She would be 114 years old if still alive—but her comments seem pretty up to date.

But wait. This morning, my Facebook had “sponsored” posts from Costco and Magic Chef, neither of whom have stores in my area. It looks like Facebook is so desperate for income that they’re promoting more commercials. We’re tired of seeing commercials on television, but we know that’s the price we have to pay to watch. Is it the same now on Facebook? If so, a lot of us may be deleting our accounts altogether.