Day #85 of Self-Imposed Isolation
Jun. 10th, 2020 05:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatSigh.
1. I went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions, and everything but my contact lens solution - which I forgot. I always forgot something. Last round it was shampoo. Also they have stuff locked up and no way to get to them, so I have to go with substitutes. Did find Charmin - which I snagged, because I am still tramautized by the "Great Toilet Paper Shortage". Also hand soap, hand sanitzer (a small squirt thing of it), dishwashing soap (it's back!), allergy meds, two things of Tynenol Sinus Congestion Headache (it's also back! they were out of it for months and I had to make due with Advil Sinus Congestion - which is not as effective), a bottle of water, and of course, chocolate. I'm getting some delivered tonight and tomorrow - but I had run out. Chocolate is the only sweet I've really been doing. And when I have a little the headache goes away, so there. There was, however, no lysol or clorox or any disinfectant wipes to be found. Oh well, I have two canisters of bleach - I can make my own - I prefer the other though.
I'm less worried about the high blood pressure. I've decided the gauge is broken - it's an electronic, self-pumping gauge, and lately its gone nuts. In that it won't stop pumping air until it cuts off my circulation.
Also it keeps showing error messages. I think the computer inside it is screwed up. I'd get a manual gauge - they are available on Amazon from Paramed, but I've no clue how to use or read it.
Anyhow - they've managed to make the interior of the pharmacy safe enough - except for the people who like to camp out in an aisle and stare at a product or products for twenty minutes. I kid you not. There were three women staring at Downey Fabric Softener for twenty minutes. I gave up and asked them to excuse me as I walked past and around them to get things. They were still staring at the Downy Fabric Softener when I finished shopping and was leaving the store - so for more than thirty minutes.
Honestly, it's fabric softener. Not that complicated - nor do you need it. (I don't use it - it wears out clothing.)
Outside was a different story. No line or crowd this round - but we did have the dirty old men congregating on the benchs near the food trucks. Some appeared to be construction workers, some homeless - hard to tell.
There are two food trucks now, used to be one. And some were wearing masks, some weren't.
But I'm less terrified of the folks not wearing them, and calmer about the whole thing now - in part, because we have 1-2% infection rate in the city at the moment. And it's sunny, and I am wearing a mask, and I'm not near them that long - and quarantine fatique.
2. Crazy Workplace
At the staff meeting today, Boss felt the need to vent. And without going into the gory details, managed to stress out and confuse the entire department.
He asked if there were questions. Silence. He pestered us into asking. Two of us tried at the same time - then backed up. Cubical mate (I thought it was Chidi as did my boss, but it turned out to be Cubical mate) ceded the floor to me. So I asked my question and basically got shot down. I was very happy it was a teleconference with no video. Then Cubical mate was asked what his question was - which turned out to be the exact same question that I asked. After that...the administrative support asked a question - and it was basically, what about.... do you know or am I right in assuming we should reach out to someone else about this?
Boss: You are the brightest person in the room. Excellent question.
Admin: So I'm right - we have to reach out on our own.
Boss: Yes. But don't mention my name. Go do that. Your managers can only do so much on our own.
Sigh. He's lucky this was by teleconference. If it were in a conference room, he'd have seen a lot of nasty looks.
Honestly, I've no idea who to reach out to or complain to, or if it would even matter. No one listens to me. I've zero power. At the age of 53, I've kind of come to accept this fact with a modium of grace. All I can control is how I react to things.
Right now? I'm going with the one day at a time approach to life.
Anyhow, I managed to go from loving my Governor to hating him within the space of twenty minutes. I have a love/hate relationship with the Governor of NY. When it comes to everything BUT crazy agency, I like him. But when it comes to Crazy Agency, I want to strangle him. I'm guessing my co-workers feel exactly the same way.
3. Black Lives Matter
Progress is being made in regards to reforming and possibly defunding the police. By the way - this is not really Federal Government issue, it's something that you have to do on a local and state government level - which is why people in all fifty states are protesting about it.
Also, defunding the police doesn't mean what most people think it does. I didn't know what it meant either, until I found a few definitions and good descriptions of it. They need to be more precise with their terminology, but when someone tries to point it out to them, they get all self-righteous and nasty. [Some day I'd like to teach a class on how to do human rights advocacy - honestly, you are not trying to persuade the people who agree with you, you are trying to persuade the ones on the fence, not sure, ambivalent, or undecided. Go too far - you alienate them. Rev. Al Sharpton alienates the people he wants to convince. You can't bully somebody into agreeing with you, attacking them isn't going to change their mind - it doesn't work that way. All you'll end up doing is alienating them from your cause.] That said, there are some very bright women involved in this movement, many who learned a thing or two from Me#Too and the Women's March - and are applying it. They've pushed back on the violence, and pushed for non-violent protests. There's also a few very bright men involved. They are all much younger - and much smarter. And they are the ones who have managed to define "Defund the Police".
What it means is minimilize the police or don't overfund them. Distribute the funds and their roles to the correct agencies. Such as domestic disputes - handled by social services, and domestic violence services. Child abuse and child welfare issues - child protection services. Homeless? Homeless outreach and mental health institutions. Hand Sanitizers and face masks - the department of health.
The police should just deal with crimes and the resolution of crimes, and they should be held to a higher standard.
And, it should be noted that post-9/11 the police force was given a bit too much power and funding. Why? They were also being used as an anti-terrorist organization. I know, because I remember seeing how things changed post 9/11, we would have police drills daily. Sometimes weekly. I remember working in Mid-Town around 2004-2007, and we'd see these police parades. They'd run about the city, congregate in front of the buildings I worked in - one in Bryant Park and later One Penn Plaza, and do drills. Also, commuting? I'd gotten used to seeing cops on the subways and trains with their guns and batons hanging from their belts, not to mention the military standing guard with huge guns across their chests at various major train terminals. The cops also often were doing bag checking in and out of the subways - every time there was a terrorist threat. This didn't happen prior to 9/11.
Now, might be a good time to go in the opposite direction. COVID-19 has kind of killed international terrorism. Domestic terrorism not so much - that's what Black Lives Matter is attempting to combat, the rise in police and Federal supported domestic terrorism. The police escorted the Neo-Nazi's and KKK through town for example.
Anyhow some good news. New York Repealed 50-A today, which is the law that prevents police disciplinary records and infractions from being released to the public.
Denver, Colorado went even further... Colorado State Senate passes Police Reform Bill 32-1. The lone dissenter was from a rural district and felt the bill didn't address rural issues.
I see a fight brewing on the horizon between urban vs. rural rights. The areas hardest hit by COVID were the urban areas, and the rural areas weren't all that sympathetic and also lost a lot of income as a result. By the way, the electoral college vs. popular vote is also a rural vs. urban issue. And the Republicans for the most part - win in rural and suburban areas.
Having lived in both rural, suburban and urban areas, and having family members in all three - I kind of get the issues. Also rural areas by and large tend to be more racist and more libertarian. They want less Federal government, and are big on gun rights. While urban voters tend to be more liberal, less racist, and more socialist - and want more Federal government and social programs. The needs are different. And both sides think their way of life and views make the most sense and are morally superior. Humans are nothing if not consistently self-righteous, it's a trait that I particularly despise in the human race, but alas, it's in us all. So there must be a reason for it. Moral self-righteousness does have its uses - the black lives matter movement most likely would not happen without it.
Anyhow, I'll take the good news wherever I can find these days. I'm also rather pleased by the fact that Europe has began removing statues of racist assholes - in solidarity with the US, who did the same thing. And
there's monks marching in Australia under the banner Black Live Matter. Yay!
My neighborhood is doing their own little batches of protesting. There's a group that has set up shop on the corner of Church Avenue and Ocean Parkway, much to the considerable annoyance of the people who live near there. Apparently they are fairly noisy, with the banging and the honking and one poor woman is getting migraines and respectfully asked them to move it somewhere else. Of course she got attacked for making the request - because people are filled with self-righteous rage and refuse to look outside of it. Honestly, folks, how hard would it be to move it to the center meridian and do it earlier in the day? Or to the park? Or along the sidewalk in front of Greenwood Cemetery? Away from the residences? But I chose not to make any suggestions. I'd get attacked. It's not worth it. But I felt for the poor woman - I've had migraine headaches, I've been struggling with my own, it's not a pleasant experience. (Kind of like being seasick, but a thousand times worse.)
I'd go protest with them - but for two things, 1) I'm still afraid of the virus, and 2) I don't want to give the residents migraines. It's not the residents fault that the police are racist assholes. Many of the residents are people of color.
I like the Fort Hamilton Triangle Protest idea better - it's away from the residences - but alas, too congregated for my sense of safety.
4. COVID apparently is no longer interesting...it should be, it's still out there.
The NY Times had a really interesting analysis on it. They Compared Various Death Tolls Around the World to Other Historical Natural Disasters Around the World - Putting it mildly? COVID is right now the worst. It rivals the 1918 Spainish Flu. And we're not even through it yet.
Harvard Medical Doctor projected another 100,000 American deaths by the end of the summer. I think he's right. People are selfish, thoughtless and stupid when it comes to viruses. Apologies to all the horror film makers out there - yes, people will do that. Who knew? The horror film makers apparently.
I leave you with...
1. I went to the pharmacy to pick up the prescriptions, and everything but my contact lens solution - which I forgot. I always forgot something. Last round it was shampoo. Also they have stuff locked up and no way to get to them, so I have to go with substitutes. Did find Charmin - which I snagged, because I am still tramautized by the "Great Toilet Paper Shortage". Also hand soap, hand sanitzer (a small squirt thing of it), dishwashing soap (it's back!), allergy meds, two things of Tynenol Sinus Congestion Headache (it's also back! they were out of it for months and I had to make due with Advil Sinus Congestion - which is not as effective), a bottle of water, and of course, chocolate. I'm getting some delivered tonight and tomorrow - but I had run out. Chocolate is the only sweet I've really been doing. And when I have a little the headache goes away, so there. There was, however, no lysol or clorox or any disinfectant wipes to be found. Oh well, I have two canisters of bleach - I can make my own - I prefer the other though.
I'm less worried about the high blood pressure. I've decided the gauge is broken - it's an electronic, self-pumping gauge, and lately its gone nuts. In that it won't stop pumping air until it cuts off my circulation.
Also it keeps showing error messages. I think the computer inside it is screwed up. I'd get a manual gauge - they are available on Amazon from Paramed, but I've no clue how to use or read it.
Anyhow - they've managed to make the interior of the pharmacy safe enough - except for the people who like to camp out in an aisle and stare at a product or products for twenty minutes. I kid you not. There were three women staring at Downey Fabric Softener for twenty minutes. I gave up and asked them to excuse me as I walked past and around them to get things. They were still staring at the Downy Fabric Softener when I finished shopping and was leaving the store - so for more than thirty minutes.
Honestly, it's fabric softener. Not that complicated - nor do you need it. (I don't use it - it wears out clothing.)
Outside was a different story. No line or crowd this round - but we did have the dirty old men congregating on the benchs near the food trucks. Some appeared to be construction workers, some homeless - hard to tell.
There are two food trucks now, used to be one. And some were wearing masks, some weren't.
But I'm less terrified of the folks not wearing them, and calmer about the whole thing now - in part, because we have 1-2% infection rate in the city at the moment. And it's sunny, and I am wearing a mask, and I'm not near them that long - and quarantine fatique.
2. Crazy Workplace
At the staff meeting today, Boss felt the need to vent. And without going into the gory details, managed to stress out and confuse the entire department.
He asked if there were questions. Silence. He pestered us into asking. Two of us tried at the same time - then backed up. Cubical mate (I thought it was Chidi as did my boss, but it turned out to be Cubical mate) ceded the floor to me. So I asked my question and basically got shot down. I was very happy it was a teleconference with no video. Then Cubical mate was asked what his question was - which turned out to be the exact same question that I asked. After that...the administrative support asked a question - and it was basically, what about.... do you know or am I right in assuming we should reach out to someone else about this?
Boss: You are the brightest person in the room. Excellent question.
Admin: So I'm right - we have to reach out on our own.
Boss: Yes. But don't mention my name. Go do that. Your managers can only do so much on our own.
Sigh. He's lucky this was by teleconference. If it were in a conference room, he'd have seen a lot of nasty looks.
Honestly, I've no idea who to reach out to or complain to, or if it would even matter. No one listens to me. I've zero power. At the age of 53, I've kind of come to accept this fact with a modium of grace. All I can control is how I react to things.
Right now? I'm going with the one day at a time approach to life.
Anyhow, I managed to go from loving my Governor to hating him within the space of twenty minutes. I have a love/hate relationship with the Governor of NY. When it comes to everything BUT crazy agency, I like him. But when it comes to Crazy Agency, I want to strangle him. I'm guessing my co-workers feel exactly the same way.
3. Black Lives Matter
Progress is being made in regards to reforming and possibly defunding the police. By the way - this is not really Federal Government issue, it's something that you have to do on a local and state government level - which is why people in all fifty states are protesting about it.
Also, defunding the police doesn't mean what most people think it does. I didn't know what it meant either, until I found a few definitions and good descriptions of it. They need to be more precise with their terminology, but when someone tries to point it out to them, they get all self-righteous and nasty. [Some day I'd like to teach a class on how to do human rights advocacy - honestly, you are not trying to persuade the people who agree with you, you are trying to persuade the ones on the fence, not sure, ambivalent, or undecided. Go too far - you alienate them. Rev. Al Sharpton alienates the people he wants to convince. You can't bully somebody into agreeing with you, attacking them isn't going to change their mind - it doesn't work that way. All you'll end up doing is alienating them from your cause.] That said, there are some very bright women involved in this movement, many who learned a thing or two from Me#Too and the Women's March - and are applying it. They've pushed back on the violence, and pushed for non-violent protests. There's also a few very bright men involved. They are all much younger - and much smarter. And they are the ones who have managed to define "Defund the Police".
What it means is minimilize the police or don't overfund them. Distribute the funds and their roles to the correct agencies. Such as domestic disputes - handled by social services, and domestic violence services. Child abuse and child welfare issues - child protection services. Homeless? Homeless outreach and mental health institutions. Hand Sanitizers and face masks - the department of health.
The police should just deal with crimes and the resolution of crimes, and they should be held to a higher standard.
And, it should be noted that post-9/11 the police force was given a bit too much power and funding. Why? They were also being used as an anti-terrorist organization. I know, because I remember seeing how things changed post 9/11, we would have police drills daily. Sometimes weekly. I remember working in Mid-Town around 2004-2007, and we'd see these police parades. They'd run about the city, congregate in front of the buildings I worked in - one in Bryant Park and later One Penn Plaza, and do drills. Also, commuting? I'd gotten used to seeing cops on the subways and trains with their guns and batons hanging from their belts, not to mention the military standing guard with huge guns across their chests at various major train terminals. The cops also often were doing bag checking in and out of the subways - every time there was a terrorist threat. This didn't happen prior to 9/11.
Now, might be a good time to go in the opposite direction. COVID-19 has kind of killed international terrorism. Domestic terrorism not so much - that's what Black Lives Matter is attempting to combat, the rise in police and Federal supported domestic terrorism. The police escorted the Neo-Nazi's and KKK through town for example.
Anyhow some good news. New York Repealed 50-A today, which is the law that prevents police disciplinary records and infractions from being released to the public.
Denver, Colorado went even further... Colorado State Senate passes Police Reform Bill 32-1. The lone dissenter was from a rural district and felt the bill didn't address rural issues.
I see a fight brewing on the horizon between urban vs. rural rights. The areas hardest hit by COVID were the urban areas, and the rural areas weren't all that sympathetic and also lost a lot of income as a result. By the way, the electoral college vs. popular vote is also a rural vs. urban issue. And the Republicans for the most part - win in rural and suburban areas.
Having lived in both rural, suburban and urban areas, and having family members in all three - I kind of get the issues. Also rural areas by and large tend to be more racist and more libertarian. They want less Federal government, and are big on gun rights. While urban voters tend to be more liberal, less racist, and more socialist - and want more Federal government and social programs. The needs are different. And both sides think their way of life and views make the most sense and are morally superior. Humans are nothing if not consistently self-righteous, it's a trait that I particularly despise in the human race, but alas, it's in us all. So there must be a reason for it. Moral self-righteousness does have its uses - the black lives matter movement most likely would not happen without it.
Anyhow, I'll take the good news wherever I can find these days. I'm also rather pleased by the fact that Europe has began removing statues of racist assholes - in solidarity with the US, who did the same thing. And
there's monks marching in Australia under the banner Black Live Matter. Yay!
My neighborhood is doing their own little batches of protesting. There's a group that has set up shop on the corner of Church Avenue and Ocean Parkway, much to the considerable annoyance of the people who live near there. Apparently they are fairly noisy, with the banging and the honking and one poor woman is getting migraines and respectfully asked them to move it somewhere else. Of course she got attacked for making the request - because people are filled with self-righteous rage and refuse to look outside of it. Honestly, folks, how hard would it be to move it to the center meridian and do it earlier in the day? Or to the park? Or along the sidewalk in front of Greenwood Cemetery? Away from the residences? But I chose not to make any suggestions. I'd get attacked. It's not worth it. But I felt for the poor woman - I've had migraine headaches, I've been struggling with my own, it's not a pleasant experience. (Kind of like being seasick, but a thousand times worse.)
I'd go protest with them - but for two things, 1) I'm still afraid of the virus, and 2) I don't want to give the residents migraines. It's not the residents fault that the police are racist assholes. Many of the residents are people of color.
I like the Fort Hamilton Triangle Protest idea better - it's away from the residences - but alas, too congregated for my sense of safety.
4. COVID apparently is no longer interesting...it should be, it's still out there.
The NY Times had a really interesting analysis on it. They Compared Various Death Tolls Around the World to Other Historical Natural Disasters Around the World - Putting it mildly? COVID is right now the worst. It rivals the 1918 Spainish Flu. And we're not even through it yet.
Harvard Medical Doctor projected another 100,000 American deaths by the end of the summer. I think he's right. People are selfish, thoughtless and stupid when it comes to viruses. Apologies to all the horror film makers out there - yes, people will do that. Who knew? The horror film makers apparently.
I leave you with...