Day # 263

It snowed today. Or tried to.



I watched a bunch of cardinals fly about during it. (They aren't pictured. It's really hard to take photos of birds with an iphone.)

Mother told me that her horrific Senator is claiming Georgia is on the brink of a CIVIL WAR over the election and the run-off election. (I deleted what I thought. It wasn't very nice.) She ranted about the evil Lindsey Graham for a bit. The man seems to be impossible to get rid of.

Georgia had a very close Presidential election, 49.08 to 49.50, and certified Biden as President. Also it has not one, but two Senate run-off elections - whose outcome could change the makeup of the US Senate. The idiotic Republican Party is terrified of socialism. I don't know why, it's already part of our country. I'm terrified of fascism and the evil Ult-Right Republican Party who seems to be taking on the characteristics of Terrorists and spews hate wherever they go.

By the way - Biden has received 306 electoral votes, which have been certified now. It's official. There's no fraud.

Today was my Dad's birthday. He turned 85.

Me: So how old are you?
Dad: How old do you think I am?
Me: I'm guessing 83 or 84?
Dad: How about 85.
Me: 85???

I can never remember how old he is. The years blur.

I got him a Penn State Sweatshirt and my brother got him some comfortable shoes with a velcro strap - so they are easier to put on. He loves them.

Today, they were able to eat lunch with their friends - and have a barbecue. With really good food. Inside their bubble or pod. They had barbecued ribs, black beans, corn, salad, and my Dad shared a red velvet chocolate cake with everyone - after they sang happy birthday to him.

He had a good day.

Crazy Company

Today at the Staff Meeting From Doom - Boss actually gave me something to do. ( Read more... )

When this is all over - my father suggests that I take an extended vacation somewhere else.

New York vs. the Corona Virus and the annoying Federal Government

The Feds still refuse to give a stimulus package to the States, who are desperate.

The Mayor, the Governor, and the head of the AFLCIO were all begging the idiotic Federal Government today for funds.

The Feds screwed NY. The Mayor reminded everyone again, what happened in February and March, as did the Governor. New York will never forgive the Federal Government for not letting it test when it asked, rather begged, in February.
( What happened in February and March )

For months now, they haven't provided the stimulus package. My agency will have to lay off 7,000 people if this continues. They are trying to avoid it. One solution is to tax second homes, gas, and online sales.

Today, the Governor held his live press briefing virtually, with the reporters calling in their questions via Zoom. It's actually better - since you can hear the questions now. Also everyone is masked, with plastic shields around them. And guests are on Zoom.

Ironic. But I'm probably living in the safest city in the US at the moment. Outside of the cities in Maine, Vermont, and Hawaii.

Staten Island, however, is in trouble. The Governor made a point today about Staten Island having the highest death rate in the state, with a rate of 25%, when it's in reality on 5% of the population.

Per the Governor's email - which is basically a summary of the briefing, NY is distributing the 170,000 doses it receives to nursing homes, healthcare workers and the National Guard.

( Governor's Email )

Oh and apparently, a humpback whale was sighted in NY Harbor recently. Less traffic = more nature.

Day 34 of the 50 day book challenge

The prompt is A Book Set in the Future.

The Three Stigmata of Palmer K. Aldritch by Philip K. Dick

In the overcrowded world and cramped space colonies of the late 21st century, tedium can be endured through the drug Can-D, which enables users to inhabit a shared illusory world. When industrialist Palmer Eldritch returns from an interstellar trip, he brings with him a new drug, Chew-Z. It is far more potent than Can-D, but threatens to plunge the world into a permanent state of drugged illusion controlled by the mysterious Eldritch.

Like most of Dick's work - it's mainly a satirical take on current societal and pop cultural trends/excesses (taken to extremes). Somewhat frightening in places, and biting in others.

Day #29 of the 60 Day Gratitude Meme

Which I'm growing weary of, as are you, no doubt.

The prompt is What bill are you grateful to pay?

Frankly my internet and cable bill, although also rent bill. And very grateful that I have health insurance. I'd be dead without it.

TV Guide provides Television Viewing Suggestions..

TV Shows to Watch if You Liked...

I tried most of them, there's a lot. And my take-away was:

*I've seen more television shows than I thought possible. I've already watched a couple of seasons of various shows on those lists.

* Some of these shows don't really resemble the others that much making me wonder about the television critics selecting them..

Also, that I may want to try the following shows:

* Northern Rescue (which looks a bit like Virgin River meets Parenthood..)
Also only one season and not that many episodes - so bonus. I'm not good at committing to things at the moment. I've yet to make it past three to four seasons of anything on streaming this year.

* Dark (the German series) on Netflix (although it may give me a headache, but it's been rec'd to me to death now)

* Crazyhead - about two girls who see demons and are hunting them (either Netflix or Hulu)

* One Tree Hill - a weird soap opera with a touch of Beverly Hills 90210 on Hulu (but too many seasons...)

* The Good Witch (may be too sappy...we'll see)

* Kipo and the Wonderbeasts, Voltron reboot, Full Metal Alchemest, and The Dragon Prince

* Ozark (Amazon?)

* Penny Dreadful (Netflix)

* Clone Wars

* Altered Carbon (assuming it hasn't disappeared from Netflix)

* The Great Pottery Throwdown

But, considering I still have to see S2 His Dark Materials, the Undoing, The Expanse, The Crown, and finish She-Rah...I don't know.

I am however glad I stopped watching The 100, since it appears they killed off all of my favorite characters and took the show into really dark places. (I stopped midway through the fifth season, I think - the one directly after the AI season. Mainly because it just kept getting darker and more nihilistic and dystopian as it went, and I just couldn't any longer...)

Oh, finally? There's awful lot of television series on. They could stop filming all television shows right this minute - and we'd still have enough to make through the next five to six years...