SIGNIFICANT DATES, VACCINE, NON-PROFIT NEWSPAPERS

 LESS THAN A COUPLE WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS 2020

The U.S. Government Election Officials report:

"The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history."

Significant Past Date .....

December 8, 2020:  Safe Harbor Deadline -- States had to choose electors to be accepted by Congress; voting disputes had to be resolved.

Personal POV .....

The present White House occupant still continues his efforts which very much resemble those of someone trying to stage a coup in his desperate attempt to stay in office as U.S. President for another four years in any way possible, legal or otherwise, despite having lost both the popular and electoral college votes.

Just when it seems he could sink no lower in the tactics he would employ to achieve such a travesty of justice, he descends even deeper into the morass of his behavioral cesspool to establish himself in what appears to be an effort to convert our nation to an autocracy, thus destroying our democratic republic, betraying his oath of office and the U.S. constitution.

Tragically for our nation in this effort many of his cult-like supporters have mindlessly accepted his falsehoods, fear of socialism, other bizarre conspiracy tales as fact -- apparently so confused they are no longer able to discern truth from fiction.

Other Significant Countdown Dates Reminder .....

December 14, 2020:     Electors Convene and Vote in D.C.         Be alert for possible efforts to coerce Congress to alter electors legal votes.

January 5, 2021:        Georgia runoff election for 2 Senate seats -- results will determine control of the U. S. Senate

January 6, 2021 at 1 pm: The vote will be finalized and certified in a joint session of Congress.

January 30 20, 2021 at noon: The President is inaugurated.

Pandemic:

--My city's Covid-19 infection reached the fourth highest new case rate in Los Angeles County this past Friday                            -- L.A. County ICU hospital beds available are continuing to dip down, currently at 5.3% as I write this Saturday night 12/12.                --for those with other medical requirements including from surgeries  beds may not be accessible.

--One nearby local hospital official reports in our local Courier newspaper,"we are in internal disaster mode."

Pfizer Covid-19 first shipment to Los Angeles County of 327,000 vaccines will occur Sunday, 12/13.                                     --The first hospital to receive the vaccine is Cedar-Sinai prepared to store in their required deep freezer.                                  --One-half dozen hospitals will receive the Pfizer vaccine.            --Vaccinations will be administered to health care personnel and residents in long term care facilities. 

--The first shots are expected to be given Monday, 12/14.              --A second shot will be required in the future to complete virus antibody resistance.                                                   --Anti-body immunity development will take several weeks after both shots received.                           

-- Long Term Care facilities in my city will be among the first including the one I had most recently served who report expecting to receive the vaccine and begin inoculations Monday, 12/14.

Local newspapers going out of business in cities are a concern I've previously written about. They are referred to as legacy media in the net lingo of today.  The term means media that is considered "old" which newspapers are considered to be as are radio, and television; also applies to Web sites using outdated technology.  Netlingo says: "With legacy media, the receiver does not contribute or interact with the content and remains totally passive."

Newspapers are important because they tell us what is going on in our town.  Local reporters also keep us informed about our local government and what officials are doing affecting all of us.  This can be positive actions officials take, reveal information we might want to change, and even be a deterrent to instances of official corruption.

Also, Pewtrusts.org reports: "Covid-19 is crushing Newspapers, Worsening Hunger for Accurate Information."

A year ago Salt Lake City's Tribune became the first legacy newspaper to adopt a nonprofit status as described in this NPR article in an effort to adapt and survive which has been successful to date.  

My city's local newspaper, Claremont Courier, has been struggling to survive also.  I've maintained my subscription which is now only weekly, also receive their Net highlights.  The Facebook page I prefer to not access but is available which my adult children can appreciate who live in other states.  The original publisher's son who was in the newspaper business on the east coast became the editor some years ago but his parents are now deceased.

Peter Weinberger, who is that publisher is in the process of sustaining our Courier's life by converting our newspaper to nonprofit status much like the Salt Lake paper has done.  The Courier is three months away from adoption of this transition if the IRS accepts their application.  They expect to accomplish this reinvention by Spring 2021 which pleases me immensely.  I also learned in the recent update my neighbor is intimately involved through a tech company he founded in aiding with this process.

Do you have a local newspaper where you live, perhaps one that didn't survive or has adapted to the Net so you can keep your finger on the pulse of your community?  

I think this is vitally important to insure good government starting at the local level, a critical element in our democracy.  Maybe your life is such that you have less focus on these matters which may need to occur for some of us, especially in our aging years.  What do you think and how do you learn about what's going on where you live or are you caught up with other matters in your life? 

                                                                  

NETWORK NEUTRALITY -- DISTRESS -- LANGUAGE

NET NEUTRALITY

Updating my earlier posts reports HERE about California enacting network neutrality rules to ensure equal internet access, our Governor Brown has signed the bill.  Immediately afterward the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit in an effort to stop the bill which you can read about HERE.   

California experienced the dangerous effects of not having the protections of network neutrality during a major fire this year, so once again this President and his political party betray the best interests of ordinary people – could even threaten our safety and security.

DISTRESS

We live in increasingly troubling times for preservation of our individual rights as guaranteed by our democratic form of government’s constitution.   Once more our current government majority leaders have betrayed their responsibility to the American people.  

The serious matter of a lifetime appointment to our Supreme Court for any individual should warrant a thorough vetting and investigation when viable allegations are made questioning a nominee’s testimony before an official committee.   An adequate time period to search for the truth in this recent instance with nominee Kavanaugh was denied which our President could and should have prevented.  Even the Senate Committee should have specified this reasonable requirement.

The President’s failure to act in the interest of insuring our Supreme Court Justices are free of political bias, not to mention questions of mendacity related to their personal behavior, reveals his continued systematic undermining of the credibility of the other branches of our government in favor of Executive Branch excessive control.   

Most Congressional members of the political party which he represents collude with him which serves to perpetuate divisiveness rather than unification of the American people.   Foreign nations with dictator regimes, such as Russia, China and North Korean, increasingly Poland, Turkey, must welcome such democracy weakening actions as our President becomes more autocratic – like them.    

LANGUAGE    

Relating my language translation experiences in my previous post prompted more recollections. 

Years ago when serving one local hospital we could access by phone a translator for a three way process – therapist, translator, patient.   I tried it but this was of limited value and could not be used effectively for services my profession provided in most regular intervention processes.   I determined coordination with a family member to be present for translation assistance was best.  

Sometimes if staff members who spoke the needed language were available they could assist, but they did so voluntarily in the moment as they were still responsible for their regular work assignment.  Total communication using speech, all non-verbal means including gesture, printed words, pictures were used – whatever helped.  

During some of my hospital years I encountered a variety of languages, the more common, Spanish, German, including some of the less common European, Asian, Arabic, Iranian and additional languages.   I thought of how I might feel being ill in a country where people did not speak my language, might not have anyone traveling with me and what would help me cope.

Some years I served a number of skilled level facilities providing rehabilitation services.    I recall my first ever encounter with a Spanish speaker and the only words that came to my mind as I walked down the hall toward her room were that song “Be’same Mucho”.  English translation is “Kiss me, now.”   There was no time for advance planning as I had just been told I needed to see her.  

In a well-intentioned effort to comfort this lovely grandmotherly type lady in her own language, since she had been surrounded by only English speakers, I managed to offer a brief Spanish greeting, smile and then talk-sang the song title words.   She gave me the strangest apprehensive look.   She hesitantly cooperated for an oral motor functional examination with my using gesture and eliciting imitation.  

Her bilingual daughter eventually arrived to translate allowing me to explain my earlier behavior.   Ever after what limited contact was needed this dear grandmotherly lady and I exchanged lots of laughs over this “loco Gringo’s” behavior. 

Have you ever had complications, humorous or otherwise, trying to understand or communicate to someone whose language was different than your own?    

COMPLICATIONS ON EARTH AND IN THE UNIVERSE

Seems every day this past week my schedule required my arising earlier than I’ve wanted in recent years.    So, I was pleased to go to bed last night knowing I could sleep in the next morning if I so chose.  Now that’s what I call a real retirement benefit – arising and retiring as early or as late as I want most days, especially true with no one else in the household requiring my attention. 

My waking hours do generally include seeking news of the latest happenings in the world around me.   I’ll know I’m ready to depart this existence if the day ever comes when I cease having such interests.  While I care deeply and am committed to issues, my emotional state remains stable, unlike what some describe experiencing as a reason to reject following current events. 

Here’s my perspective, opinion, also rhetorical questions possibly injected with a sarcastic twist on a few recent events.

If you’re one of those individuals who just can’t tolerate any more reference to the current state of affairs, then you may want to skip down to where I transition into thoughts about outer space communication complications.  

Internationally, our erstwhile U.S. leader continues his efforts to disrupt positive relations with our European allies with words that seem to promote his despot idol -- if his actions at the recent Helsinki summit are any indication.    As if that isn’t enough, his recent Putin summit meeting and paltry excuse citing a supposed innocent language mistake for denigrating our country, coupled with his failure to consistently publicly condemn Russia’s admitted efforts to disrupt our elections, our leader again could be thought of as betraying the American people’s best interests.  Maybe our leader needs to review the oath and allegiance he took when assuming his elected office.  

Nationally, reuniting some children with their parents who have been seeking asylum slowly continues.  This follows what has been suggested as one of our leader’s efforts to desensitize citizens into gradually being more accepting of immoral actions, such as the inhumane treatment of others of whom he doesn’t approve -- much as autocrats or dictators do.  Amazingly, some people continue efforts to rationalize this and other of our leader’s illogical behaviors as if his motivations are genuinely intended to be in the best interests of our nation, ordinary citizens and humankind. 

Are citizens justified in asking if our leader’s conflicting words alternately disparaging then supporting our national security agencies actually exhibit treason-like behaviors? 

By kowtowing to the dictator that he admires, while subverting citizens confidence in our intelligence agencies, is our leader behaving in a traitor-like manner? 

Do we want to offer the hospitality of a White House Meeting to a dictator who has meddled and continues to interfere in our elections as our leader has proposed?      

Our Fourth Estate providing factually supported news continues to need our support to remain a bastion of power protecting our constitutional freedoms and democratic republic.  Meanwhile our leader harps on fake news, when he is the one regurgitating such most of the time, to instill confusion and undermine citizens confidence in our form of government.    He has repeatedly offered alternate facts/falsehoods so much, or claims misinterpretation,  that thinking people conclude everything that comes out of his mouth needs to be verified from other dependable sources.   

Verifying media integrity to avoid those with a history of biased reporting such as is alleged against Fox TV, for example, is wise (consider Rupert Murdoch's ownership, his agenda, association with DJT).  Differentiating between fact and opinion, and verifying the reliability of our news sources continues to be critical.  Facebook and Twitter have reportedly been found lacking and, in fact, sources of seeding much dissension adversely affecting the thinking of some of our citizens.   

California courts have ruled the measure a billionaire venture capitalist promoted to divide our state into three states will not be on our November ballot.  The justices wrote in unanimity:

"We conclude that the potential harm in permitting the measure to remain on the ballot outweighs the potential harm in delaying the proposition to a future election."

Locally, our city senior services have continued to proceed with plans to offer an interest group I proposed earlier this year.   I have unexpectedly become involved in the planning when a number of people responded favorably to the idea.   Subsequently, a survey has revealed enthusiasm for a variety of related topics for exploration.   I may well become involved in a facilitating role though I hadn’t planned to assume any group responsibilities since retiring.   I’ll share particulars later as this activity continues to develop for scheduling to begin later this summer leading into fall/winter.  

Reflecting on the divisiveness fostered and admitted by Putin to disrupt our previous election which Russia is continuing according to our National Intelligence figures, (other than the Homeland Security person who parrots our leader's mendacity), I’m hoping that many of our citizens, especially the Congress, will re-examine their support of our leader's positions and think primarily of preserving our nation’s freedoms.  Maybe they need to review the oath of office they took.  

My thoughts go quite far afield sometimes.  Thinking of some people division-inclined on earth, but who are open to the prospect of finding and interacting with life on other planets in space.   I wonder how they would react if life was found somewhere out there?   How intelligent would that life be?  

The idea is incredulous, I think – for example, we earthlings in the U.S.  have numbers of people who resist languages other than English being spoken here, unlike the multi-language speakers welcomed  in many other nations.   Can you imagine that divisively-inclined U.S. group encountering creatures who are possibly of different shapes, colors, and who knows how they might communicate, or what other differences might exist, expecting to establish good relations with outer space beings? 

Do you ever consider the possibility of life elsewhere and how we would react?  

I feel very magnanimous and desirous of offering friendship ..... and then I remember one of my favorite Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone" episodes, "To Serve Man".  If you don't know the story an Internet search will reveal links to view the program.  Also, you can click this Wikipedia link for story specifics,  but spoiler alert if you plan to watch the show, don't read about it first.

Music sets the mood.  I just had an eerie thought, do you suppose our current leader haunts a corner of that world?

BUGS--GERMS -- SOCIAL NETWORKS -- BASEBALL

BUGS …. Germs ….. of some unknown variety,  do play havoc with our lives sometimes.  Who knows where they come from, or even what they are.   They just do their nasty little thing disrupting daily life for however long -- sometimes causing us to wonder if they’re serious enough to call 911 for emergency transport to the hospital, or if this is one more situation we can just tough out.  

Well, clearly I’m here, so guess I made the right decision remaining at home.   Only a couple or so of those days had instances of my pondering where it was best for me to be.    I did always keep my phone with me, just in case.    I managed to stay on my feet long enough to get around for needed nourishment, to take care of business, to drink plenty of water, and sleep as I could.   The microwave and prepared soups I try to keep on hand were real convenient.  

I have to confess to not being as dedicated during this time I’ve not posted as others who write.  I just laid around in bed some of those days this past week, didn’t always dress, sometimes lounged in the recliner with eyes closed while allowing the TV to babble on, and at least daily texted my children as they had long ago requested I do in any such circumstance.   Then, I tested my endurance for a few days with increasingly longer trips out on errands. 

I could have resumed writing here sooner, but I just couldn’t enthusiastically center my thoughts on any one of a never-ending number of topics continuing to emerge in our unsettled U.S. and world news – much less explore in writing some of life’s other fascinations.    However, there are some matters which have caught my attention that are worth following in future news as they could portend troublesome influences in the quality and truthfulness of our news dissemination -- what is true and what is fake. 

SOCIAL NETWORKS

The digital social networks are finally being revealed to be of concern as we’re officially learning in Congressional Committee testimony given from Facebook, Twitter and Google corporate representatives.   Users of those free services are the product being sold, in case anyone doesn’t recognize that fact.  And purchasing their attention is what was done....by Russian bots…..who gifted them with content designed to create division, foment violence with controversy and lies, spread fake news -- the intent being to influence their readers, our elections and undermine the integrity of our system of government.  

Questions every citizen should ask:

--  why has our current President been so willing to accept a foreign nation’s interference in our election – that nation being Russia, recognized by national security forces as an adversary at best?

--   why has our current President been so reticent, even resistant, to investigating Russia’s interference in our election  – he certainly hasn’t pressed that matter?  

--  why doesn’t our current President regard interference in our election process a threat to our nation’s security – this fundamental basis for our form of government?

--  why doesn’t our current President who wants to build a wall, restrict entry into our country by select peoples, and increase our military might for protection not care enough to protect our form of government from this “invasion”?

--   why did our current President swear allegiance to the U.S. Constitution if he isn’t dedicated to protecting the validity of our voting system?

The  Presidential oath to which our current President swore includes these words: 

“…will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

BASEBALL

The 2017 World Series of Baseball final game will be played later tonight.  

This has been an exciting series -- lots of action -- bases stolen -- base runners thrown out -- the most home runs in a World Series -- some great pitching and some less so -- an instance of bad behavior -- some players with hair to spare (think redhead) -- and what would baseball be without lots of chewing and spitting!  (at least they've given up tobacco and snuff)

Emotional cords are pulling on fans heart strings for both the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

I can't be unhappy whoever wins, but will root for our California team.

Don't tell anyone, but I've been stuck with a soft spot in my heart for the Cleveland Indians ever since they last won a pennant in 1948.

FISHY -- TWO DIFFERENT MEANINGS -- SHARKS

FISHY BEAUTY

Fishy can be beautiful.  I was surprised and delighted to happen on to this amazing video of a male puffer fish’s courting efforts to attract a female.  I had no idea a fish could design such a spectacular creation in moving waters on the ocean floor --  as you will see with the overhead view at the conclusion of this 3:12 min. video.

   

FISHY

There are lots of fishy goings-on at our U. S. Governmental level of which most of us are aware.   Nobody has been walking on water across the Potomac as some might lead us to believe they are capable of doing – especially this administration’s leader.  How do we believe a documented habitual liar though he repeatedly espouses exclamations like “Believe me!”  “Trust me!” to quote a few?  

Yet our President environmentally betrays the health and safety of United States citizens as evidenced by withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Accords.  Much of his justification speech for doing so has been countered with contradictory facts and figures in this USA Today article.   There are more ways to protect the American people than just guns, bombs, military interventions and trade bullying which seem to be his limitations.

Meanwhile our U.S. President appears to be leading our great nation to declining status domestically and internationally.

   

Periodically, this master of mendacity, divisive actions, and isolationism bemoans division in our country as he simultaneously describes himself as being a truthful unifier.     Delusions of grandeur must prevail in his mind,since his actions can be interpreted as being designed to degrade trust in our democratic system.  We might wonder what is his true agenda?  Reminds me of a popular song heard a few decades ago:  “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”.   

BIG FISH 

Climate warming of oceans continues to see our Southern California coastal waters influencing sea creatures lives.  Sharks surprisingly have been lingering along our shores weeks longer than usual and much closer to the beach. 

This Euro News video shows paddleboarders next to 15 great white sharks as authorities warn beachgoers.  

Dana Point is an area friends and I enjoy visiting but usually we view the Pacific Ocean and it's inhabitants from the shore -- whales breaching, dolphins leaping. 

"About 15 great white sharks showed up off Capistrano Beach in Dana Point, California, some coming very close to shore into less than 5 feet of water at times."  Shared by Mark, Orange County Outdoors