JUST SOME POSTS

  Dr. Malcolm Kendrick is (as he describes himself) a Scottish MD, author, speaker, and skeptic. He is one of the folks that I "follow" and read fairly regularly. His take on the Covid-19 pandemic was one that I digested as I came with my own opinions early on. This post he just did sums up where we are and how we got here: https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/ It is a long read, but well worth it if you want to know the truth. The Covid-19 pandemic has been turned into nothing more than a political tool at this point. Almost all responsible scientific and medical-type folks have come to the conclusion that the world screwed up royally and caused severe disruption of the entire economy as well as the well-being of the population.  Please read his comments at the link above. (there are many other great reads here as well) No more needs to be said.

The irresponsible reporting of the Covid-19 pandemic is getting ridiculous. If there are any of you out there that don't believe the reporting is no more than a way to generate panic and sow distrust of the government's handling of the crisis- here are some charts for you from the CDC. (taken from screenshots of the site today 7/24/20) First, the figures that all the reports are fixated on: (the growth in cases) You can see that the number of cases is growing quite a bit of late! The reporting on that number is correct. Now the one that matters: (deaths) I do my best not to participate in hyperbole, so I will mention that the deaths are not immediately reported and/or recorded. So, the figures after 7/4 on the chart will go up some for sure over the next weeks as these numbers come in. However, you can see the deaths are dropping almost exactly inversely to the cases! Even if the death rate was remaining the same, the overall number would be rising! (a percentage of a large num...

I will start this post by stating a emphasizing that I in no way am condoning the actions or outcome of the police officers in the George Floyd death in Minnesota or any of the other events that have caused outrage and outcries in recent memories. The policeman that held Mr. Floyd down should be charged with murder or whatever the most serious charge(s) that can be applied to the case. The other officers that were involved should be charged with accessory to whatever the charge is. There was no reason for Mr. Floyd to be treated in that way. I will leave it at that. I wanted to mention something that has been percolating in my head with the Covid-19 issue and now with this incident in Minnesota - that is one of perspective. If you have read any of my previous posts since late February was trying to address the issue of perspective. The news media has done nothing but hype the deaths and infection rate along with the most dire of predictions since the Coronavirus reports of mid-February...

Just Days Before Christmas Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the land, People were losing their minds over a new tax plan. Their concern is too much money Might remain with the rich. Not even sure who gets what, they decide just to bitch. Of course, when people are asked who the rich might be Basically, they say, “anyone that has more money than me”. Our worries of government and taxes and such, really don’t help advance mankind much. To concern ourselves with where capitals might be In some faraway land that we’ll probably never see. Is a waste of our efforts, And can cost us our minds. We should just try to be more understanding and kind. We can help one another not elected people on a hill. No matter the rhetoric or passage of a bill. Tis the season to be jolly, And to love one another. To treat all we meet like a sister or brother. Kindness is not made by legislatures afar. But comes from our hearts And...

Well, against the wishes of the authorities and my handlers, I ventured out into the world today to do some shopping. As is usual for me, I had an epiphany whilst walking through the grocery store - in the Toilet Tissue section to be precise. (for those of you that are unclear on epiphany and see the reference to toilet tissue - no, no, no. Epiphanies are mental. They can be messy, but all on the inside) We as a people, or most of us, well - some of us; are working towards a better tomorrow - Better schools, lifestyles, equality, lower prices, bigger portions, better tasting fish, WORLD PEACE! We don't have a prayer. We cannot figure out toilet tissue (or as I will call it going forward - TP) When did buying TP become a MATH PROBLEM?!? You look at a package and it says: 6 rolls = 8 (hmm, ok) Then, next to that is one that says 6 rolls = 12! (my, my) Now they look approximately the same, granted the 6 = 12 may look a tiny bit larger, but...! The only definite difference is the pri...

As most of you know, my wife passed away last May from a rare neurological disease called MSA. One of my goals in life is to offer support to those patients, caregivers, and families affected by this rare, fatal illness. The American Academy of Neurology has a film contest each year where they pick a short film made by individuals about support for brain disease research. Entries are submitted to You Tube and a winner is selected by popular vote. The film is then shown at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting. This would really be important to help with MSA as it is very rare and still unknown to a lot of doctors and other medical personnel. I know this from personal experience. There is a film featuring a MSA patient that is entered in the contest this year. I would ask that you register, watch, and vote for the film. Even if you do not want to vote, please go watch the film. It will show you what MSA patients like my wife, go through with this illness. Please help mak...

One good thing about having done this now for over four years (!!) is that I have written about most everything common to our lives. With an election cycle in full swing I was going to write some election "stuff". However, I did a lot of it in 2007/8 and again in 2009/10 for the last two elections. So, to take advantage of that "work" I am just going to reference those posts. Some are attempts at humor and some are deadly serious. Here we go: My first "election" post. An attempt at humor about elections and the parties: http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2007/12/party-party-party.html Then a follow up to the same blog: http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/04/more-partying-and-such.html This one gets into specifics, some about the 2008 races: http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/10/this-one-gets-political-even-if-you-get.html This is the next post after the one above. Clarification and details: http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/10/follow...

Well. we did it. An incompetent congress, directed by an incompetent president has taken our national debt to a whole new record! Sometime this week (as I write this on Dec 23, 2011) our national debt has exceeded our GDP. Now some of you do not know what a GDP is. (some of you don't care, but then you shouldn't be reading this - move on to some of my light hearted ones - they get all the hits anyway). GDP, or Gross Domestic Product is the total of the value of all the goods and services produced/performed in the U.S. combined with the value of all the goods produced and exported, minus the value of the goods imported. Or,  GDP = private consumption + gross investment + government spending, + (exports - imports).   There are other ways of measuring GDP, but in theory at least they should all add to the same number. What really bothers me is this travesty occurred while Congress was battling over extending a social security tax suspension for two months. TWO FREAKIN' ...

I am sure all of you have heard someone in the last year comment about how America doesn't make anything anymore. You may have even said it yourself. I have come across some interesting figures (at least to me - I love numbers!) about that. What if I told you that manufacturing output, measured in dollar value, was at its HIGHEST in 2010. OK, I am telling you that. It's true. The U.S. manufacturing output was a record 1.7+ trillion dollars last year. How is that possible? We don't make anything anymore! (FYI, I have found some other figures that show the manufacturing output for the U.S. much higher - over $2.3 Trillion last year. So, it may be even "better" than I have presented. I am going with my original research however. I did want you to know.) First, obviously we do make "things". One of the reasons that people feel that we don't is the fact that there are a LOT less people employed in manufacturing jobs than there were even at the turn ...

I am worried about one other aspect of the economic crisis we are in currently. It seems to have diverted attention from the man made global warming nuts and their attempt to take over the world's economy in the name of  "saving the planet". It bothers me when I see people mentioning their "carbon footprint" or reducing their CO2 emissions. I am all for taking care of our planet. But, this idiotic notion of anthropogenic warming of our atmosphere is rapidly becoming accepted. It is said if you repeat a lie enough it will become accepted. That is what is happening here. I have done many posts on this blog about global warming. I have links and quotes from many sources that show how this "accepted, proven science" is neither accepted nor proven. Here is a link to a letter sent to the U.N. Secretary General from 100 scientists asking him to get the U.N. to back down - http://www.middlebury.net/op-ed/un-signatories.html The final signatory is the...

I am writing this on the tenth anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001. I have been watching some of the news coverage of the memorial service and reading some of the articles and such in the news and around the internet. First, I want to make sure that those reading this know I am very, very sorry for the families and friends of those that lost their lives that day and in the next few that followed. The horror of the towers being struck and then falling, combined with the uncertainty of any attacks still to come made that day a hell for anyone old enough to realize what was going on, especially anyone with loved ones in harms way that day. I sincerely hope that all of those affected that day have gotten or will acheive some peace in their lives. Those of you that have read more than a post or two of this blog know that is not all I have to say. So, here is what motivated me to write this post, other than the sadness of the memorial ceremonies - I am VERY suspect and d...

I finally have something to say. Like a lot of the news and the news reporters, I am going to comment on the national debt, debt ceiling, and related. First - if you think the current problem is a Republican problem - you are WRONG! Second - if you think this is a Democrat problem - you are also WRONG! One thing I can say about today's politicians, for the most part they are all clueless. The only thing that appears to be motivating most of them is getting re-elected. There is enough blame to go WAY beyond party lines. One aspect of the debt ceiling/national debt discussion that bothers me is that most average Americans seem only to be concerned about the problem in relation to any monies they get from the government being cut off. This is the problem people! Remember the base rule - THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT MONEY!! It still angers me beyond words when I hear a reporter, politician, or anyone else talking about "federal funds", or "state money". (but that i...

Considering my lack of enthusiasm and the fact that I like this post and think it still makes the point - I am going to reprint this post again. This is from 2009 and last year. In 2009 I had a technical error and this did not get posted until after the 4th. Last year it was up. Happy 4th of July! U.S.A.! Become engaged with politics. Write or call your elected officials and make your feelings known. I do not know many people today that think the country is on the right track regardless of their political leanings. Remember, the government works for US! Here is the post - I am an American. Like the majority of those living in this country, I was born here as were my parents and their parents. Like the great majority of those living in this country, my ancestors were not born here. A direct descendant on my paternal side immigrated here in 1789 from England. However, I am not an English-American or even a European-American. It bothers me to see people described (by self or ot...

For those of you that have not been to my other blog ( www.livingwithasnowman.blogspot.com ) you may wonder why there has been a lack of posts here. That blog is/was about the journey that my wife Carol and I were travelling with her disease - Multiple System Atrophy. Carol passed away on May 30th. I have been dealing with the pain and loss and have not been too politically or socially motivated. I plan to continue here, I am just not sure exactly when I will be motivated again. Just remember - There is no government money. Scott

In honor of the big wedding today - here are some that did not go as well...

I see you sometimes as you were laughing, not crying. walking, not lying. doing, not trying. living, not dying. I see you mostly as you are sitting, not walking. quiet, not talking. with death stalking. But, I see you sometimes as you were.

I was just reading some of my posts from the beginnings of this thing over three and a half years ago. Wow! Here is one that is definitely different from the latest I have done. http://justsomeposts.blogspot.com/2008/01/memories.html Check it out. I am not all politics and such.

I cannot let this continue without a comment. The idiocy that is coming from Washington and the media about this "Government Shutdown" and the budget is ridiculous! Here are some facts: 1) the Congress (specifically the House of Representatives) is required by law to submit a proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year by April of the current year. The key here is "required by law". The Democrats were in charge of the congress for all of 2010. The current fiscal year (2011) started October 1st (don't ask me why, but the Federal fiscal years all run from Oct 1st through Sept 30th). The House (CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS) did NOT submit a suggested budget. Neither the Senate nor the President (both CONTROLLED BY DEMOCRATS) asked them to do so. 2) in JUNE of 2010 Nancy Pelosi's (the Speaker of House at the time) Chief of Staff said not only had they not submitted a budget, but did not plan to do so (even though it is REQUIRED BY LAW!). When the new year came a...

I know it has been a while. As I have said before, the lack of posts here is not because I have nothing to write; but because I have too much. Life has been busy, so taking the time to clear a thought and post it is sometimes hard. Just a quick (I think, we will see after I finish writing this if "quick" really applied) thought or two on our country and the financial mess we find ourselves in. Now, if you do not think the country is in a financial mess, or the only problem is we don't tax those evil rich people enough - you might want to just move on to a blog about puppies or apple fritters. Otherwise, let's go! The United States (as most countries on earth) is what I consider to be bankrupt. We as a nation are continually paying out and promising to pay out much more than we are taking in. Now, legally the U.S. is not bankrupt because no debt has been defaulted on and the U.S. still has a credit rating that allows it to borrow money to cover these pay outs. Howe...

The more I read what this man wrote, the more I am awed by him. I would love for him to be around today to talk to the politicians and the voters. Here are a few of my favorite quotes: I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world. My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. Thomas Jefferson