![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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 02:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-12-16 02:39 pm (UTC)1. Get one Member of the House and one Senator to object (that's the minimum) to the electoral votes from WI, AZ, and GA.
2. The House and Senate then vote separately on the challenges. If they agree, that's the decision. The Trumpies expect the House to vote to deny the challenges but hope the Senate will vote to accept them.
3. In that case, they need a competing slate of electors. Rs in the various states have been "electing" competing slates (none of them official).
4. If there are competing slates, the one certified by the state governor controls.
5. Have the Supreme Court rule that #4 is unconstitutional and that only the state legislature has the power to certify. Believe it or not, there is some chance the Court would do this.
6. The Rs control the state legislatures in WI, AZ, and GA. Have them vote to certify the phony Trump slate.
7. If they do so, the electoral vote ends in a tie and goes to the House. The House would vote by states, not by individuals. The Rs control 26 state delegations even though the Dems have an overall majority. The Trumpies count on those Rs to give the election to Trump.
Now, this may all sound like crazy stuff to you or to any sane person, but it is their plan.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-16 02:41 pm (UTC)It's not expected until closer to 6pm today. But various folks (not me) in my agency are stressed over it - they always are. Doesn't matter how big the storm is - they go insane over it. You'd think it was the storm of century or something. LOL!
Only difference is I don't have to be around them while they are stressing over it. (Plus side of working remotely is I no longer have to deal with others stress in the workplace. I can be oblivious for the most part.) Well that, and I don't have to travel - like previous years. If it weren't for the pandemic - I'd be worrying about getting to Hilton Head on Thursday or Friday, and be annoyed the storm hadn't hit earlier. Now? I can just sit back and enjoy it.
I still want snow for Christmas, but this will probably gone by then.
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.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-16 03:02 pm (UTC)1. Get one Member of the House and one Senator to object (that's the minimum) to the electoral votes from WI, AZ, and GA. [ The Senate Majority Leader - Mitch McConnell is privately pleading with his cohorts not to do that. It's political suicide. He is trying to win Georgia. And if he doesn't he wants to be able to move forward.]
2. The House and Senate then vote separately on the challenges. If they agree, that's the decision. The Trumpies expect the House to vote to deny the challenges but hope the Senate will vote to accept them. [See above regarding McConnell.]
3. In that case, they need a competing slate of electors. Rs in the various states have been "electing" competing slates (none of them official). [ Various state legislatures have stated that Biden won and they won't overturn it. Also they said they don't make that decision, the electors do.]
4. If there are competing slates, the one certified by the state governor controls. [It's the law in various states constitutions that this is the process.]
5. Have the Supreme Court rule that #4 is unconstitutional and that only the state legislature has the power to certify. Believe it or not, there is some chance the Court would do this. [That would be against State Rights and we have "states rights" justices right now, who already refused to hear Trump's challenge. They said the electoral college ruled. They don't care about Trump. The only two who were interested in hearing the case - were Bush appointees. If they voted it was unconstitutional - then they risked Democratic legislatures doing the same thing in the future. Also, it would put the electoral college in question. And go against State Constitutions, with no clear US Constitutional Law precedent. These guys have tenure - they are going to be on the bench a while - its in their best interest to uphold the results.]
6. The Rs control the state legislatures in WI, AZ, and GA. Have them vote to certify the phony Trump slate. [ And all of them told the Trump campaign that they wouldn't agree to it. Also it's not close in Wisconsin. And Arizona and Georgia isn't enough for Trump to win. ]
7. If they do so, the electoral vote ends in a tie and goes to the House. The House would vote by states, not by individuals. The Rs control 26 state delegations even though the Dems have an overall majority. The Trumpies count on those Rs to give the election to Trump. [ See all of the above. He can't win - without causing a Civil War. Also it would set a precedent that the Supreme Court doesn't want. You might argue Gore vs. Bush but that doesn't apply here - for one thing Gore contested the results, not Bush the determined winner. Also the results in contention were in Florida, which did have issues and there was potential evidence of fraud. But the Democrats claimed the fraud, not the Republicans. And they failed to prove it to the Supreme Court's satisfaction. Then Hillary's supporters attempted to contest in 2016 - but again, that was different - she had the popular vote, and there was uncertainty, they didn't get anywhere - which is why she wisely conceded. In Trump's case - there is no evidence of fraud. His claim has been thrown out of every single Federal court, and appeals court, with prejudice - (the judges basically told the Trump campaign that they were embarrassing themselves and this was a waste of time and money), every single State Legislature, including the Secretary of State in Georgia, all Republicans, told the campaign that they'd lost, deal with it. Attorney General Barr - who is an ass and a conservative - told Trump there was no evidence of fraud, and he lost. The states that are under contention fought Texas who tried to bring it to the Supreme Court, who refused to hear or even look at Texas' case. So, if there's a chance it's a very very very slight one.]
I know it feels like logic has lost, but if you look at everything that has happened carefully, it really hasn't.
no subject
Date: 2020-12-16 03:22 pm (UTC)Whether the Rs will all accede to McConnell is harder to say. It just takes one lunatic and the Senate has an oversupply of lunatics. The vote will then be public and they'll have to go on record. A lot of them are nuts enough to posture for the crazies and at some point there could be pressure to go along.
The plan heavily depends on the Court ruling that the legislatures MUST be the ones to certify. If forced to vote, all 3 of the key legislatures are overful of crazy Rs and might do it.
Will the Court do this? Hard to say. The argument was originally made by Rehnquist in his concurrence in Bush v Gore. Thomas signed on to that dissent so we know his view. Kavanaugh made the same argument in the PA case they heard just before the election (Boockvar). Roberts came pretty close to the same argument in Arizona Legislature v Arizona Election Commission, though I suspect he'd back away from it now. That leaves Gorsuch, Alito, and Barrett. The latter 2 are crazy even for Rs, so I'm sure they'd do it. I'm not sure about Gorsuch, but it's a shockingly close call.
WI was very close (closer than in 2016). You're thinking of MI, maybe. The 3 key states were decided by just 43,000 votes total. That's how close we came to having Trump re-elected despite Biden's overall margin of 7 million.
This isn't a case of fraud. Congress can't decide the fraud issue, and they don't need to. They only need to decide which of 2 "competing" slates to accept. There's no appeal from that and no court can overrule them. The only issue for the Court would be the legal one of "must the state legislature give the certification?".
None of this is to say that I think the plan will *work*. It's a crazy plan. I'm just describing what they intend based on what they've said. I rather think it will fall apart like most of Trump's "plans". I'd give them the same odds I'd give me of getting a date with Reese Witherspoon.