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shadowkatJust finished attending my congregations' book discussion of "How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibrham Kendi". It was an interesting discussion - although I wish it was with a more diverse crowd, most of the attendees were old white people. Many of which were older than me.
Old White Lady: I heard Jared Kushner state once that blacks need to accumulate more wealth and we need to help them. Don't kick me for mentioning him - I don't like him but he had a good point.
[It took me a moment to place him - it always does, I get the name confused with the actor who replaced Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men. When I did, I thought, oh god - lady, you've just derailed the discussion. People are going to rank on Kushner. Not that I blame, I despise Kushner, I despised him before everyone else knew who he was - he ripped my brother off financially.]
Another old white lady: Seriously, we're discussing black culture? Why are we doing that?
Moderator: I posed the question because I thought it would make for an interesting discussion.
Black guy: I take exception to the statement that blacks are better if they accumulate wealth. My heart is beating really fast right now and that bothers me.
[I thought, yeah I'm not surprised. Also you have a nicer apartment than mine...so it's not like you haven't.]
Then...whenever anyone used the word "we" - the moderator would jump in and ask what they meant by it.
ME: In general sense of the word - everyone on the planet, no exceptions. Considering I think everyone is racist, and everyone would be better off if they embraced and experienced cultures other than their own without judgement.
Then we talked about how using the words "race has no color" is offensive.
Old white couple: why would anyone do that? Color is beautiful. Why not see color.
I happen have a few African-American friends who would disagree with you on that. It's not so clear.
There were at least two people of color in attendance, one who spoke twice. But mainly the old white people were talking. And the same ones. We all agreed with Kendi, the only disagreements were on semantics and minor misunderstandings - mainly due to having 18 people trying to discuss a book via ZOOM. It's impossible - people don't discuss, they just tell stories. There's no real interaction or its relatively minor.
ZOOM is not the best platform for discussion. It's kind of akin to listen, wait, raise hand. And you don't really know how people are receiving what you said. There's no exchange of energy or viewing really of body language.I find it monotonous, and feel for my poor niece who has to take classes in this manner for the foreseeable future.
The Vaccine
Although it may not be for that long - the New York Times believes that people who are not in the high risk categories will receive the vaccine by late April, early May. (Which most likely means that I'll get it by my next Doctor's appointment. Gee, I can hardly wait. (Sarcasm - I don't want to get it that quickly. I'm happy to wait.) ) NYU Langone informed me by text message - that yes, they had the vaccine, but they were not providing it to clients/patients yet - they were giving it to the first tier health-care workers - working on the front-lines. And they'd inform us when it would be made available. So don't schedule an appointment for one quite yet. (My guess is I'll get it through them.) Jetblue meanwhile has put together an app - that will tell them if you've tested negative for the Virus or gotten vaccinated, prior to boarding a plane.
The Electoral College
In other news, the electoral college filed their votes. Unlike previous elections, there weren't any rogue delegates this go around. (Not that there are that many to begin with - the parties tend to nominate loyal delegates, and long term party members.) But the reason there aren't any is the swing states, where they resided, passed laws forbidding it. (They did that after 2016, when it became an issue - the Republicans actually were the ones who pushed for the laws - so it wouldn't happen again.)
In addition - Mitch McConnell - the Republican Senate Majority Leader (who seriously, makes me miss Bob Dole), in a nice twist, finally congratulated Biden on his win and accepted Joe Biden as officially the next President.
He thanked the 45th and his henchbuddy for their service. (So that pretty much is the ball game, folks. Not that the 45th will accept it - he needs money. So he'll continue to tweet, resist, and bully until they drag him and his cronies out of the White House screaming. Why? He needs the money - and he's raising a lot of money playing this game. I swear that man has taken "negative advertising" to new heights. Proving that you can raise over 400 million dollars by being an asshole.)
Congress is attempting to pass an economic stimulus bill before break to keep the country going. To do so, they've had to remove the two controversial items - state stimulus and legal immunity for businesses, this is so they can get a bill passed that will provide funding for vaccine distribution, testing, and unemployment benefits. (Hence the reason the Republicans in Congress are pussyfooting around the Doofus.)
On FB one of the Lawyers for Good Government made a fool out of himself asking everyone to sign a petition to boot the Congressional Senators and Represenatives from office. Yeah, kind of difficult to do since all of those Senators and Representatives were elected to their office. We can't just petition to get rid of them because we want to - it doesn't work like that - nor should it. Makes me wonder about some of these lawyers...did they skip the administrative and constitutional law courses? Or just basic American Government class? Most of them were snarking in response to the idiot's post, which I understood, I had to restrain myself from doing it as well.
Crazy workplace
At work, I was trying to update a contract on the Comptroller's site, but it wouldn't let me in. So I contacted IT.
IT: We're going to need more information before we can help you. Please provide the full name of your company, tax id or federal tax id.
Me: I work for a State Agency (State Agency Name) and as such, it's tax exempt. There is no tax or federal tax id.
I'd understand if I hadn't listed my agency in the previous email, but I had. Plus said agency and the Comptroller's Office were in the paper this morning.
Oh speaking of reporting..
Manager #1 (aka Breaking Bad): Any items for the board.
Me: I don't have anything.
Manager #2 (aka Tahani): Any items for the board from January to April.
Me: No.
Tahani: Anything from April to June?
Me: No. Or not unless someone assigns me a project that requires it.
Tahani: Understood. Thank you.
I'm starting to wonder about my management. They've sent me any number of reports to fill out and update every two weeks - with basically the same information over and over again in different formats. Then they have staff meetings once a week asking for it again. Are they incredibly bored? Or just unorganized?
Apparently I'm not the only one wondering about them. So too is the State Comptroller's Office - who recently audited Crazy Org and determined that there were unnecessary cost overruns, and projects unnecessarily delayed due to Executive Decisions to ignore protocols and procedures put in place to ensure they did run smoothly. (Ie. Management (for reasons that escape me) decided to speed up the process by forgoing scopes of work, estimates, project schedules, and kick-off meetings. ) This got picked up by local newspaper, Newsday, which covers all of Crazy Org's missteps.
At the last Town Hall meeting - it was strongly hinted that Crazy Org was considering consolidating some of its management functions. I may end up with new bosses. Who knows.
Winter Storm Gail
Well, they are all freaking out over a winter storm tomorrow. The first during the pandemic. New York acts like it is about to get hit by a hurricane. It's a nor-easter, so close, I guess. Most of it will be tomorrow night and Thursday.
The Mayor stated that schools would be open. But if they close - it's just a remote learning day. (I honestly don't understand why they can't just close them - it's not like people can't do it remotely at the moment. Safer for all concerned during a snowstorm and a pandemic.)
During Zoom Book Discussion - the old white ladies didn't understand why the city was closing indoor dining - when it wasn't really causing the spread. (Actually it's not clear - hence the reason they are doing it. But I decided it wasn't worth taking up time during the book discussion to argue it with them. Also, I don't see how outdoor dining in wooden huts during the winter is any safer - it anything it's worse - no real ventilation, closed space, and plastic walls. )
Meanwhile, crazy org sent out safety notices, letters and work orders. Telling folks how to conduct themselves - if they have to be at the office, working indoors in confined spaces, etc.
Working in a major transportation agency in a huge global city during a pandemic is ...an interesting experience. You get to see how a city functions in a crisis and all the variables and frustrating details, up close and personal. So far? Every book that I've read dealing with this sort of thing - got it really wrong. I've read a lot of books on it, it's a big story kink of mine. I love disaster movies for this reason. I like to see people figure their way out of pandemics, disasters, etc.
I keep flirting with going back to school to get an Masters and PHd in urban policy and planning. But I can't really afford it. I could look into having crazy org sponsor it - since it does fit. But I don't like school. I have no patience for tests, quizzes, and lectures. Research papers and presentations - I don't mind - I see a point to those. And they are kind of fun. Tests? Waste of time. I won't take them any longer. And if I ever teach? I won't give them.
Anyhow because of the Winter Storm coming...I took a walk at lunch around my block and after work around the block. Both were quick little walks.
And this was the sign out front of the Jewish Recreational Center and School:
Old White Lady: I heard Jared Kushner state once that blacks need to accumulate more wealth and we need to help them. Don't kick me for mentioning him - I don't like him but he had a good point.
[It took me a moment to place him - it always does, I get the name confused with the actor who replaced Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men. When I did, I thought, oh god - lady, you've just derailed the discussion. People are going to rank on Kushner. Not that I blame, I despise Kushner, I despised him before everyone else knew who he was - he ripped my brother off financially.]
Another old white lady: Seriously, we're discussing black culture? Why are we doing that?
Moderator: I posed the question because I thought it would make for an interesting discussion.
Black guy: I take exception to the statement that blacks are better if they accumulate wealth. My heart is beating really fast right now and that bothers me.
[I thought, yeah I'm not surprised. Also you have a nicer apartment than mine...so it's not like you haven't.]
Then...whenever anyone used the word "we" - the moderator would jump in and ask what they meant by it.
ME: In general sense of the word - everyone on the planet, no exceptions. Considering I think everyone is racist, and everyone would be better off if they embraced and experienced cultures other than their own without judgement.
Then we talked about how using the words "race has no color" is offensive.
Old white couple: why would anyone do that? Color is beautiful. Why not see color.
I happen have a few African-American friends who would disagree with you on that. It's not so clear.
There were at least two people of color in attendance, one who spoke twice. But mainly the old white people were talking. And the same ones. We all agreed with Kendi, the only disagreements were on semantics and minor misunderstandings - mainly due to having 18 people trying to discuss a book via ZOOM. It's impossible - people don't discuss, they just tell stories. There's no real interaction or its relatively minor.
ZOOM is not the best platform for discussion. It's kind of akin to listen, wait, raise hand. And you don't really know how people are receiving what you said. There's no exchange of energy or viewing really of body language.I find it monotonous, and feel for my poor niece who has to take classes in this manner for the foreseeable future.
The Vaccine
Although it may not be for that long - the New York Times believes that people who are not in the high risk categories will receive the vaccine by late April, early May. (Which most likely means that I'll get it by my next Doctor's appointment. Gee, I can hardly wait. (Sarcasm - I don't want to get it that quickly. I'm happy to wait.) ) NYU Langone informed me by text message - that yes, they had the vaccine, but they were not providing it to clients/patients yet - they were giving it to the first tier health-care workers - working on the front-lines. And they'd inform us when it would be made available. So don't schedule an appointment for one quite yet. (My guess is I'll get it through them.) Jetblue meanwhile has put together an app - that will tell them if you've tested negative for the Virus or gotten vaccinated, prior to boarding a plane.
The Electoral College
In other news, the electoral college filed their votes. Unlike previous elections, there weren't any rogue delegates this go around. (Not that there are that many to begin with - the parties tend to nominate loyal delegates, and long term party members.) But the reason there aren't any is the swing states, where they resided, passed laws forbidding it. (They did that after 2016, when it became an issue - the Republicans actually were the ones who pushed for the laws - so it wouldn't happen again.)
In addition - Mitch McConnell - the Republican Senate Majority Leader (who seriously, makes me miss Bob Dole), in a nice twist, finally congratulated Biden on his win and accepted Joe Biden as officially the next President.
He thanked the 45th and his henchbuddy for their service. (So that pretty much is the ball game, folks. Not that the 45th will accept it - he needs money. So he'll continue to tweet, resist, and bully until they drag him and his cronies out of the White House screaming. Why? He needs the money - and he's raising a lot of money playing this game. I swear that man has taken "negative advertising" to new heights. Proving that you can raise over 400 million dollars by being an asshole.)
Congress is attempting to pass an economic stimulus bill before break to keep the country going. To do so, they've had to remove the two controversial items - state stimulus and legal immunity for businesses, this is so they can get a bill passed that will provide funding for vaccine distribution, testing, and unemployment benefits. (Hence the reason the Republicans in Congress are pussyfooting around the Doofus.)
On FB one of the Lawyers for Good Government made a fool out of himself asking everyone to sign a petition to boot the Congressional Senators and Represenatives from office. Yeah, kind of difficult to do since all of those Senators and Representatives were elected to their office. We can't just petition to get rid of them because we want to - it doesn't work like that - nor should it. Makes me wonder about some of these lawyers...did they skip the administrative and constitutional law courses? Or just basic American Government class? Most of them were snarking in response to the idiot's post, which I understood, I had to restrain myself from doing it as well.
Crazy workplace
At work, I was trying to update a contract on the Comptroller's site, but it wouldn't let me in. So I contacted IT.
IT: We're going to need more information before we can help you. Please provide the full name of your company, tax id or federal tax id.
Me: I work for a State Agency (State Agency Name) and as such, it's tax exempt. There is no tax or federal tax id.
I'd understand if I hadn't listed my agency in the previous email, but I had. Plus said agency and the Comptroller's Office were in the paper this morning.
Oh speaking of reporting..
Manager #1 (aka Breaking Bad): Any items for the board.
Me: I don't have anything.
Manager #2 (aka Tahani): Any items for the board from January to April.
Me: No.
Tahani: Anything from April to June?
Me: No. Or not unless someone assigns me a project that requires it.
Tahani: Understood. Thank you.
I'm starting to wonder about my management. They've sent me any number of reports to fill out and update every two weeks - with basically the same information over and over again in different formats. Then they have staff meetings once a week asking for it again. Are they incredibly bored? Or just unorganized?
Apparently I'm not the only one wondering about them. So too is the State Comptroller's Office - who recently audited Crazy Org and determined that there were unnecessary cost overruns, and projects unnecessarily delayed due to Executive Decisions to ignore protocols and procedures put in place to ensure they did run smoothly. (Ie. Management (for reasons that escape me) decided to speed up the process by forgoing scopes of work, estimates, project schedules, and kick-off meetings. ) This got picked up by local newspaper, Newsday, which covers all of Crazy Org's missteps.
At the last Town Hall meeting - it was strongly hinted that Crazy Org was considering consolidating some of its management functions. I may end up with new bosses. Who knows.
Winter Storm Gail
Well, they are all freaking out over a winter storm tomorrow. The first during the pandemic. New York acts like it is about to get hit by a hurricane. It's a nor-easter, so close, I guess. Most of it will be tomorrow night and Thursday.
The Mayor stated that schools would be open. But if they close - it's just a remote learning day. (I honestly don't understand why they can't just close them - it's not like people can't do it remotely at the moment. Safer for all concerned during a snowstorm and a pandemic.)
During Zoom Book Discussion - the old white ladies didn't understand why the city was closing indoor dining - when it wasn't really causing the spread. (Actually it's not clear - hence the reason they are doing it. But I decided it wasn't worth taking up time during the book discussion to argue it with them. Also, I don't see how outdoor dining in wooden huts during the winter is any safer - it anything it's worse - no real ventilation, closed space, and plastic walls. )
Meanwhile, crazy org sent out safety notices, letters and work orders. Telling folks how to conduct themselves - if they have to be at the office, working indoors in confined spaces, etc.
Working in a major transportation agency in a huge global city during a pandemic is ...an interesting experience. You get to see how a city functions in a crisis and all the variables and frustrating details, up close and personal. So far? Every book that I've read dealing with this sort of thing - got it really wrong. I've read a lot of books on it, it's a big story kink of mine. I love disaster movies for this reason. I like to see people figure their way out of pandemics, disasters, etc.
I keep flirting with going back to school to get an Masters and PHd in urban policy and planning. But I can't really afford it. I could look into having crazy org sponsor it - since it does fit. But I don't like school. I have no patience for tests, quizzes, and lectures. Research papers and presentations - I don't mind - I see a point to those. And they are kind of fun. Tests? Waste of time. I won't take them any longer. And if I ever teach? I won't give them.
Anyhow because of the Winter Storm coming...I took a walk at lunch around my block and after work around the block. Both were quick little walks.
And this was the sign out front of the Jewish Recreational Center and School:
no subject
Date: 2020-12-16 09:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-12-16 02:42 pm (UTC)I didn't think about that. But you're right. They might as well have called it Force or Storm. LOL!
I think they are running out of names. Or someone has an off-beat sense of humor.