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Busy couple of work days. But, I completed revising my contract and got it off to my new manager today.
Ah, a four day weekend! Huzzah! Does a happy little dance. I'm tired of work, I want a break from it.
Juneteenth
Today, Crazy Workplace informed us that all offices would be closed tomorrow - in recognition of Juneteenth, which falls on a Saturday this year, so we're getting Friday off. [Apparently boss was wrong when he told us yesterday that the office would be open on Friday, but no one should work on that day. I'm guessing someone at the top - determined that the offices should be closed and it should be recognized as full holiday just like the 4th of July or Memorial Day or Columbus Day or Christmas. Which of course it should.] Juneteenth was declared as a State Holiday last year, and today, it became a Federal Holiday. Congress, with the exception of fourteen racist representatives who are afraid of Critical Race Theory being taught in schools (basically they are afraid their kids will call them racist bigots, which of course they are), it was passed unanimously by everyone. It would be nice if the four dissenters were voted out of office - but I'm not holding my breath.
President Biden signed legislation enshrining June 19 as the national day to commemorate the end of slavery. It goes into effect immediately, despite opposition from 14 House Republicans. Federal workers will get a paid day off, but New York City’s workers will not this year, despite Mayor Bill de Blasio’s promises. [Source NY Times Briefing, and a Live Briefing that broke into my soap opera today.] See? It pays to be working for New York State and not New York City. The State Workers get the day off, along with my agency, but we're under the Governor, not the idiotic Mayor.
I suppose I should pause here and explain Juneteenth. ( for those who have no clue what this is )
***
For my little holiday tomorrow - I've decided to check out the Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn, and if time permits, maybe visit the Brooklyn Museum of Art, which is next door. I am going to make an "excursion". The first one outside of required "errands" - such as doctors appointments, work related stuff, and the vaccine. This is the first "fun" excursion.
I'm branching out of my little bubble. Let's see if I actually follow through and don't wimp out and become an armchair potato. (I don't own a couch.)
I'm taking a four-day weekend. Also have June 21 off.
**
COVID
NY is making me nervous - it's lifted almost all the commercial restrictions.
( Read more... )
I don't know. I like China and New Zealand's approach - wait until you don't have any cases or deaths or hospitalizations, then lift the restrictions. But apparently they are impatient. I've noticed that Americans are very impatient.
( by the numbers )
Not satisfied with just a vaccine, the US is investigating an antiviral pill similar to what is used with influenza, H.I.V. and hepatitis C.
( Read more... )
* California is giving away 50,000 free tickets to Six Flags theme parks for residents who get vaccinated, KTLA reports. - yet another bribe.
* The coronavirus is surging in Missouri’s tourist region. [Again? This happened last year at this time. You'd think they would learn? ]
* With the "Summer" Olympic Games just over five weeks away, Japan is relaxing emergency measures in Tokyo and other areas as the virus recedes. [I'm curious to see if this works, they had Olympic swimming trials on television last night - I didn't watch, but they had them.] Japan is "determined" to have those Olympics - Coronavirus? What Coronavirus? We're not going to let a pandemic stop us!!
* The U.S. Embassy in Kabul locked down after being hit by a virus outbreak that is surging across Afghanistan. [ Poor Afghanistan - first the Taliban, then the War, and now a Virus. I'm amazed there are people still in Afghanistan. Look at it this way - however bad you think your life currently is? You could be living in Afghanistan.]
* No, the sudden collapse of the Danish soccer player Christian Eriksen during a game at Euro 2020 was not caused by a Covid vaccine. [LOL! People are silly. The vaccine is safe. Another article - stated it was due to a heart condition.]
* “Springsteen on Broadway” is returning, but not for theatergoers who haven’t had F.D.A.-authorized vaccines. [Hmm, I should check it out. But I'm also admittedly not that into Springsteen. He mumbles and I tried watching his show on HBO and got bored. There's a select few artists I'd pay to see perform - he's not in that group. But it is admittedly tempting - I miss live theater. Maybe I can convince Wales to try Shakespeare in the Park?]
* Covid proved that the C.D.C. is broken, writes The New York Times Magazine. Can it be fixed? [One would hope. Trump and the idiotic Republicans broke it. It shouldn't be that hard to fix it.]
* A Canadian couple who flew to a small Indigenous community in January to get vaccinated pleaded guilty to violating local virus restrictions. [Sigh. See, there is a penalty for being a selfish asshole.]
* A New Yorker writer reflects on the joys of eavesdropping during the pandemic. [ How exactly are people eavesdropping? I did it on subways. But I'm in an apartment and don't hear anyone. Do people have thin walls? I got curious so checked it out...( Read more... )]
***
In other news..
In case you've not already seen this via your social media friends and family members, like I have...the American West is on fire again. Surging temperatures from Missouri to California. A head-hunter asked if I wanted to move to Sacramento for a job opportunity - I said no thanks, prefer to stay here. I don't like Sacramento. The only cities in California that I like are along the coastline, which is wickedly expensive. Also you have to drive in California - this would be a problem. I mentioned this to mother the other day, and she advised that it was very hot out there. She'd gotten the news from various family members who live out there. The temperatures are far above 100 degrees. One of my college buddies on FB reported that temperatures this week in Phoenix, Arizona were 110 F, 115 F, and 118 F - that about 45 degrees C or above.
( Read more... )
[Well it's not like we didn't have plenty of warning - that this would be the result of climate change.]
* Say what you will about Biden (I kind of like him actually - he's a breath of fresh air after the last guy, but anyone would be - the bar was set so low with the last President, that Biden just has to show up, smile, and wave), he's excellent at foreign policy (which again, after the last guy, we desperately need). I'm not surprised - that's what Obama had him doing. Biden was a working VP. In matter of a couple of weeks, he's managed to renter the US in NATO, heal the US's frayed relations with its allies, and enter into a kind of detente of sorts with Russia. He basically told Russia - we'll never be friends, but if you stop misbehaving and being the bad guy, maybe we can work together.
( Read more... )
* Bats may be ruining prehistoric cave art with their droppings.
( Read more... )
* Okay, comedy is really subjective, isn't it? 21 Best TV Comedies of the 21st Century - going through the list made me realize that I don't like most of the comedies of the 21st Century - mainly because they are all mean-spirited embarrassment style comedies - that make me cringe and want to leave the room. Cringe-inducing comedy doesn't make me laugh - it makes me change channels.
( Read more... )
* Senator Chuck Schumer (my state Senator, and the Majority Leader of the US Senate) tweeted that he'd pushed the People's Voting Rights Act on to the Senate Floor. I tweeted back - "So how you are going to get it past the fillibuster and West Viriginia?" Then I read Heather Cox Richardson (a political science prof's analysis of the news and situation tonight) - apparently West Viriginia aka Manchin has come up with a rather winning Voting Right Proposal - that Stacy Abrahms supported, but the moment she did all the nasty old as dirt whit boy Republicans threw a hissy fit and refused to support it because she did. (And they don't consider themselves racist??) Anyhow...it's still playing out. Manchin is also in favor of weakening the fillibuster and has made suggestions on how to do so, without doing away with it. My guess is the fillibuster will be stripped of its power before the end of the year, and with it theRacist Republican Party. Manchin, the Senator from West Virigina is actually fairly pragmatic. He's not an extremist, in a sea of extremists.
(Surprised by that.)
***
Enuf. Time for bed. Hope someone enjoyed reading all of that. I feel at times like I'm hosting the blog version of "Good Morning, Vietnam" except it's "Good Evening, World or Whomever Happens to be Reading..."
Here's a picture to reward your efforts...or not as the case may be.
Ah, a four day weekend! Huzzah! Does a happy little dance. I'm tired of work, I want a break from it.
Juneteenth
Today, Crazy Workplace informed us that all offices would be closed tomorrow - in recognition of Juneteenth, which falls on a Saturday this year, so we're getting Friday off. [Apparently boss was wrong when he told us yesterday that the office would be open on Friday, but no one should work on that day. I'm guessing someone at the top - determined that the offices should be closed and it should be recognized as full holiday just like the 4th of July or Memorial Day or Columbus Day or Christmas. Which of course it should.] Juneteenth was declared as a State Holiday last year, and today, it became a Federal Holiday. Congress, with the exception of fourteen racist representatives who are afraid of Critical Race Theory being taught in schools (basically they are afraid their kids will call them racist bigots, which of course they are), it was passed unanimously by everyone. It would be nice if the four dissenters were voted out of office - but I'm not holding my breath.
President Biden signed legislation enshrining June 19 as the national day to commemorate the end of slavery. It goes into effect immediately, despite opposition from 14 House Republicans. Federal workers will get a paid day off, but New York City’s workers will not this year, despite Mayor Bill de Blasio’s promises. [Source NY Times Briefing, and a Live Briefing that broke into my soap opera today.] See? It pays to be working for New York State and not New York City. The State Workers get the day off, along with my agency, but we're under the Governor, not the idiotic Mayor.
I suppose I should pause here and explain Juneteenth. ( for those who have no clue what this is )
***
For my little holiday tomorrow - I've decided to check out the Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn, and if time permits, maybe visit the Brooklyn Museum of Art, which is next door. I am going to make an "excursion". The first one outside of required "errands" - such as doctors appointments, work related stuff, and the vaccine. This is the first "fun" excursion.
I'm branching out of my little bubble. Let's see if I actually follow through and don't wimp out and become an armchair potato. (I don't own a couch.)
I'm taking a four-day weekend. Also have June 21 off.
**
COVID
NY is making me nervous - it's lifted almost all the commercial restrictions.
( Read more... )
I don't know. I like China and New Zealand's approach - wait until you don't have any cases or deaths or hospitalizations, then lift the restrictions. But apparently they are impatient. I've noticed that Americans are very impatient.
( by the numbers )
Not satisfied with just a vaccine, the US is investigating an antiviral pill similar to what is used with influenza, H.I.V. and hepatitis C.
( Read more... )
* California is giving away 50,000 free tickets to Six Flags theme parks for residents who get vaccinated, KTLA reports. - yet another bribe.
* The coronavirus is surging in Missouri’s tourist region. [Again? This happened last year at this time. You'd think they would learn? ]
* With the "Summer" Olympic Games just over five weeks away, Japan is relaxing emergency measures in Tokyo and other areas as the virus recedes. [I'm curious to see if this works, they had Olympic swimming trials on television last night - I didn't watch, but they had them.] Japan is "determined" to have those Olympics - Coronavirus? What Coronavirus? We're not going to let a pandemic stop us!!
* The U.S. Embassy in Kabul locked down after being hit by a virus outbreak that is surging across Afghanistan. [ Poor Afghanistan - first the Taliban, then the War, and now a Virus. I'm amazed there are people still in Afghanistan. Look at it this way - however bad you think your life currently is? You could be living in Afghanistan.]
* No, the sudden collapse of the Danish soccer player Christian Eriksen during a game at Euro 2020 was not caused by a Covid vaccine. [LOL! People are silly. The vaccine is safe. Another article - stated it was due to a heart condition.]
* “Springsteen on Broadway” is returning, but not for theatergoers who haven’t had F.D.A.-authorized vaccines. [Hmm, I should check it out. But I'm also admittedly not that into Springsteen. He mumbles and I tried watching his show on HBO and got bored. There's a select few artists I'd pay to see perform - he's not in that group. But it is admittedly tempting - I miss live theater. Maybe I can convince Wales to try Shakespeare in the Park?]
* Covid proved that the C.D.C. is broken, writes The New York Times Magazine. Can it be fixed? [One would hope. Trump and the idiotic Republicans broke it. It shouldn't be that hard to fix it.]
* A Canadian couple who flew to a small Indigenous community in January to get vaccinated pleaded guilty to violating local virus restrictions. [Sigh. See, there is a penalty for being a selfish asshole.]
* A New Yorker writer reflects on the joys of eavesdropping during the pandemic. [ How exactly are people eavesdropping? I did it on subways. But I'm in an apartment and don't hear anyone. Do people have thin walls? I got curious so checked it out...( Read more... )]
***
In other news..
In case you've not already seen this via your social media friends and family members, like I have...the American West is on fire again. Surging temperatures from Missouri to California. A head-hunter asked if I wanted to move to Sacramento for a job opportunity - I said no thanks, prefer to stay here. I don't like Sacramento. The only cities in California that I like are along the coastline, which is wickedly expensive. Also you have to drive in California - this would be a problem. I mentioned this to mother the other day, and she advised that it was very hot out there. She'd gotten the news from various family members who live out there. The temperatures are far above 100 degrees. One of my college buddies on FB reported that temperatures this week in Phoenix, Arizona were 110 F, 115 F, and 118 F - that about 45 degrees C or above.
( Read more... )
[Well it's not like we didn't have plenty of warning - that this would be the result of climate change.]
* Say what you will about Biden (I kind of like him actually - he's a breath of fresh air after the last guy, but anyone would be - the bar was set so low with the last President, that Biden just has to show up, smile, and wave), he's excellent at foreign policy (which again, after the last guy, we desperately need). I'm not surprised - that's what Obama had him doing. Biden was a working VP. In matter of a couple of weeks, he's managed to renter the US in NATO, heal the US's frayed relations with its allies, and enter into a kind of detente of sorts with Russia. He basically told Russia - we'll never be friends, but if you stop misbehaving and being the bad guy, maybe we can work together.
( Read more... )
* Bats may be ruining prehistoric cave art with their droppings.
( Read more... )
* Okay, comedy is really subjective, isn't it? 21 Best TV Comedies of the 21st Century - going through the list made me realize that I don't like most of the comedies of the 21st Century - mainly because they are all mean-spirited embarrassment style comedies - that make me cringe and want to leave the room. Cringe-inducing comedy doesn't make me laugh - it makes me change channels.
( Read more... )
* Senator Chuck Schumer (my state Senator, and the Majority Leader of the US Senate) tweeted that he'd pushed the People's Voting Rights Act on to the Senate Floor. I tweeted back - "So how you are going to get it past the fillibuster and West Viriginia?" Then I read Heather Cox Richardson (a political science prof's analysis of the news and situation tonight) - apparently West Viriginia aka Manchin has come up with a rather winning Voting Right Proposal - that Stacy Abrahms supported, but the moment she did all the nasty old as dirt whit boy Republicans threw a hissy fit and refused to support it because she did. (And they don't consider themselves racist??) Anyhow...it's still playing out. Manchin is also in favor of weakening the fillibuster and has made suggestions on how to do so, without doing away with it. My guess is the fillibuster will be stripped of its power before the end of the year, and with it the
(Surprised by that.)
***
Enuf. Time for bed. Hope someone enjoyed reading all of that. I feel at times like I'm hosting the blog version of "Good Morning, Vietnam" except it's "Good Evening, World or Whomever Happens to be Reading..."
Here's a picture to reward your efforts...or not as the case may be.
