CANNABIS & OLD FOLKS -- FALL -- NEWFOUNDLAND

 REPUBLIC -- "If you can keep it."  [Democracy]

        Accountability for Jan. 6 insurrection

U.S. Select House Committee on Jan. 6th Hearings continue in the fall.

QUESTION:  Are there "echoes" we can observe in recent years and now of what preceded the Holocaust as shown in the new PBS Ken Burn's three program series with that title? 

SEPTEMBER SONG -- Ray Conniff's arrangement.

     Harry James Orchestra's triumphant tour of Japan in 1964.

Fall, my favorite season has arrived along with a week or so of cooler temperatures but summer is sneaking back this week to give us high 90' s to 100+ F (37+ C) here in Southern California, U.S.  I'm not complaining as I read about hurricane Fiona tearing through Newfoundland where WiseWebWoman ("Other Side of Sixty" Blog HERE) whose last writing featured photos of her beautiful St. John's city.   I await to read news from her after the storm hoping her city is spared.  Meanwhile, click on this PBS 9/24 report.

My Fiberoptic internet installation updated from my previous blogpost about our community finally receiving this speedier connection -- I have now been able to see how much faster it is when downloading, then installing Apple tech data.  This task was completed in only a few minutes compared to up to an hour or more required previously.  

Cannabis use is a topic that has periodically come to the forefront in our city ever since ..... "California became the first state to allow medicinal cannabis use when voters passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996.  Today, cannabis is legal in California for both medicinal and adult (recreational) use."  Laws and regulations HERE

Our residents like some other cities have resisted allowing such businesses selling Cannabis.  Now our City Council voted to place a measure on our November ballot seeking to establish a tax on businesses that sell, deliver, test, distribute, manufacture, process, and cultivate cannabis in our city.  It sets gross receipts tax rates for the sale of cannabis and hemp sales in the city.  There would need to be many further actions including some involving the public before any businesses could setup here.

Subsequently, following an educational presentation to our city council, a business existing in a nearby community established by a retired nurse and her daughter, who is also a nurse working in hospice offered that information to the public.   The nurse daughter has taken specialized training studying cannabis so provided in-person and virtually, an educational session on the substance.  They also sell cannabis and counsel purchasers on its use.  I chose to take the virtual session though at the one on site they shared some actual items for individual examination.

They presented filmed testimonials of a few cannabis users for various medical problems, discussed side effects including noting with use short term memory problems could occur which I wouldn't welcome.

It is not my intention to influence anyone to use or not use cannabis.  I've not used cannabis, but I do support controlled research especially for medicinal use which finally began some years ago.   I do think seeking the latest information on cannabis would be most appropriate before using the product, including consultation with a knowledgeable person such as this nurse appears to be.

The use of cannabis continues to be federally illegal.   The Center of Disease Control (CDC) position on cannabis you may read HERE.  Various reliable medical internet sites also provide detailed information.  

Meanwhile, I've found the anecdotal reports of those who have used the various cannabis products being legally sold now to be of interest.

Cannabis use for medicinal purposes was a discussion topic on Ronni Bennett's "Time Goes By" blog.  "Marijuana and Old Folks" she wrote about 1/31/2020 describing her views with many of her readers sharing their own perspective and experiences. You may read that blog post HERE.   (Note:  A direct link does not work I discovered after publishing this post.  You must scroll down to Categories on that  right side bar home page, click on Health,  next you scroll down that last page of blog post title listings for the blog title above.)

The use of cannabis continues to be controversial with some unresolved concerns.  I would consult with my doctor regarding use in case there could be conflicts with other medications.   Attitudes have obviously softened allowing selective use medicinally and recreationally in some locales.  Check for what is legal where you live if you are interested in cannabis. 

WETNESS -- TESTIMONY -- MADNESS

A strange experience occurred here a few days ago.  That wet stuff that falls out of the sky we’ve had for days suddenly ceased.  There has been this golden glow --  blindingly bright yellow rays from the sky during the day,  causing me to feel warmth on my body when I’m outdoors -- though the air is still colder than our typical 69 degree average temperature this time of year.    

This weather situation continued a whole week before more of that soggy wet stuff descended.   I learned it’s called rain.   Some home owners are experiencing hillsides threateningly sliding away from their house foundation.    In the past two months Santa Anita Racetrack, down the freeway in Arcadia, reports twenty horses have died, or had to be put down, raising concern that the rain's effects may be a causative factor.  They refurbished the race track, but news reports as I write this are that another horse was injured in such a way it had to be be put down after the most recent race. 

The good news is so much rain has fallen our drought is officially over, but at least two more strong storm systems are coming.   So those of you living east of Southern California get prepared, more “chilly wetness” of one kind or another may soon be coming your way. 

* * *

What a surprise ... to learn in recent Congressional testimony our Prez is alleged to be a cheat, liar and con man ... would never have guessed.   Isn’t he just a real estate developer, trying to make a buck?   He wouldn’t .....

-- give priority to his personal business interests over that of our nation, would he?

-- compromise our national interests with autocratic dictators of countries dedicated to undermining our form of government, would he?

-- attempt to alter our democratic system to become a dictatorial-type leader, would he? 

--  lie profusely to confuse people, would he? 

--  try to disparage our journalistic free press to undermine this system check designed to protect our democracy, would he?

--  be guilty of committing all the reprehensible behavior he accuses everyone else of doing, would he?  

* * *

If the madness is getting to you, just turn off thoughts of the world and tune into this classic Criterion Collection movie I laughed through the other night to release a few of my mind/body healing endorphins:

“It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World” – a madcap movie that elicited gut-wrenching laughter when I first saw it years ago and still elicits laughs from me today.   Some of the funniest most prominent comedians with other celebrities of the day appeared in cameos and slapstick sketches that defied common sense, with a plot revealing how greed can creep into some lives -- even those in respected positions.   That could never happen today .... could it?  

WHIZZING -- SUPER BLOOM -- PREZ CANDIDATES

Life is whizzing along here even though my personal speed would better be described as a mite slower than a whiz.   We’re having one rain storm after another at my elevation -- but snow continues covering the surrounding mountains creating a picturesque scene.    Storm damage has blocked access to Mt. Baldy, a recreation area above my city. 

The L. A. Times provides some revealing photos and links of other ski and snowboarding areas popular with So Cal residents.

I do regret what residents are experiencing who live further away from me that you may have seen featured in news stories.  Many are reported to be having “evacuation fatigue,” at home between storms, then being told personal safety requires they leave their home one storm after another.      

Those communities  are being subjected to flash floods washing out roads, sweeping away soil and buildings, destructive mud slides where the fires devoured hillside vegetation, beaches and structures eroded  – all threatening homes and lives.   Even in some otherwise unaffected areas the soil has become so saturated that long-standing trees are unexpectedly uprooted, falling onto cars and houses even after storms, resulting in lives lost.    Mostly,  none of this destruction is occurring in the general area where I live.   

* * *

Family living in the Midwest Great Lakes area and on the East Coast are reaping the consequences of stormy weather we send their way, plus they report experiencing what sweeps down from the north to be Antarctic-like. 

One family group reports the understatement of the year, that their weather had been a bit “brisk”, but my young grandson delights in having snow days with no school.    Further east, that family group relishes being in a bit of a pocket protecting them from the worst of the weather seen further north in D.C. and Boston, but still unusually icily freezing.  

Unfortunately, my granddaughter, working and needing to study for professional certifications, was incapacitated for the second time this season by some “bug” thriving in that weather  --despite her having had the flu shot.  Why are such “bugs” so hardy and we humans aren’t?

* * *

Super Bloom is the Spring promise all this rain brings us.    A very few of my various Poppies are beginning to flower in the parkway.   Wild flowers blooming en masse after these winter rains on what has appeared to be barren desert through our dry years is a spectacular sight to behold.   I unexpectedly enjoyed such a colorful vision one spring, years ago in Arizona.  We can expect such blooms this year in our  Southern California landscape.  

This Death Valley Super Bloom from 2016 from a YouTuber provides a view of what we might see.

* * *

Cautionary alert for the politically sensitive.....

More and more candidates are declaring an intent to run for President in 2020.   Clearly no one person will meet the criteria desired by everyone.   Judging by our last national election’s results we may be lucky if the candidate receiving the majority of votes doesn’t get thwarted again by the Electoral College putting in office the person receiving the least votes.  

Perhaps to effectively compete all political parties should field a similar type unqualified candidate,  much like the one we have in office now, unless enough voters have concluded a change is needed.

A friend has sarcastically suggested voters should seek a Used Car Salesperson to be their candidate.   That profession is too frequently scapegoated and maligned in my view.    Many of their practitioners are of much higher ethical and moral quality than the person occupying the WH presently appears to demonstrate.    I tend to think we should give consideration to a showy “flim flam” person, perhaps a mesmerizing evangelical-like cult-type leader who asks only that we trust him or her and believe everything they say -- made-up statistics, blatant lies and all. 

We could resurrect from the past the “snake oil” salesperson who travelled the rural areas with his cart of magic potions, rather than our choosing even an ordinary “con man” of today for which some might be willing to settle.  Of course, today the cart some use has been replaced by Twitter and Facebook. 

Almost daily I hear of another Prez candidate coming out of the woodwork -- hints of more expected to emerge.   There truly will be someone to appeal to every possible group in our nation.  I do hope the votes aren't so split that we end up with some incidental group the sum of all our other groups would never have elected.  Our current leader has made people realize that just any ol’ person could be elected, so those from all walks of life are going to make a run at the office.  

I have no comments to make about any of the candidates presently --  preferring to wait to see how this all shakes down – who’s left after the sifter is shaken.   But I’m not too keen on millionaires as they seem to be more focused on self-interest, if our current leader’s apparent operation is any indication.  My best thought presently is that we might consider selecting a homeless person who needs a job and place to live to occupy our White House.   Whadda you think?

NET NEUTRALITY --- HEAT WAVE

FCC RECONSIDERS NET NEUTRALITY

Issues swirling around our government distract us from Internet concerns. 

On July 12^th dozens of major websites and organizations are joining in an internet-wide day of action to prevent a possible FCC wrong decision in undoing the previous ruling to insure net neutrality.  Your comment to the FCC is a first step needed with this link at Demand Progress as one way to express your view.

If net neutrality protections are removed the previous rules of access will be violated to the detriment of smaller business users and ordinary people is the concern of many and one I have shared.     

SlateMagazine explains this complicated issue including:

"Most would generally agree that net neutrality is about preserving the internet as an open platform where newcomers play by the same basic rules of access as giants like Google and Netflix.  The internet is more than just a content channel.  It's also a platform for innovation that creates new jobs, new economic demands and benefits, new opportunities for democratic participation, and new applications.  The challenge here is to protect users from censorship, while also maintaining the internet as a vibrant and open platform for innovation."

Can we trust that net neutrality will be preserved if the rules insuring it are removed?

HEAT WAVE -- SO CAL CLIMATE CHANGE UP DATE 

Heat temperatures are breaking records in three digit figures here in Southern California, more typical of later in the summer than now in early July.  

Many residents are feeling a bit more miserable because our usual dry heat has high humidity with monsoon flow.  

Heading east from Los Angeles County to Palm Springs the temperatures have been even hotter into the teens. 

Firefighters are being kept busy putting out brush fires before they get out of hand threatening homes.

Power outages occurring in some of our valleys due to a variety of reasons serve as a reminder of how vulnerable we're told our power grid is putting us at risk when our power system is disrupted. 

Keeping cool, I move between my air conditioned house to similarly cooled auto and grocery stores or other businesses, so don't linger long in the heat.  Carrying a water bottle  in my car is routine for me year 'round but especially now.  We're susceptible to dehydration at any age, but I think more so as we get older.   

Here are a couple of grumpy old men noting a heat wave in their environment.

Grumpy Old Men Having a Heat Wave - YouTube by burnettjr-2