Item item...whose got an item

 512/21

After an absence of a long time, I am all set to return.  But it is early in the day today and I have not finished breakfast yet so I will return and hope you do so also.  Bye for now.

Sensible ideas from Jesse Ventura

This is not the latest video from Jesse but there are very important things to consider here:

Jesse Ventura on Democracy

The dum dumpy Trump

Hope I can survive this coming week but if things turn out bad on election day, I don't know what I will do with myself.  The stupidity of Trump knows no bounds as he says he can sign an executive order to deny birthright citizenship.  Even members of his own party do not agree with him on this point.  He also says that if Democrats regain control of Congress, a lot of people will lose money.  Hey, you guys are in charge and the stock market has been terrible the past two weeks and I am losing money NOW.  Also, Trump's trade tariffs are making a bigger mess of things and long term recovery will be impossible with those in place.  

Then here in San Francisco we have a huge problem with homelessness.   Now Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, is pouring millions of dollars of his own money into the Yes on C measure which will give the city more money to spend on homeless programs.  Hey guys, the welcome mat is out and homeless people around the country know they should come here where the weather is not that bad (certainly no snow or freezing weather) and getting rousted by the cops is less likely to happen here than in most cities.  Yes, the homeless need help but with the proper controls in place.   I think benefits should be limited to Bay Area people, not people who just arrived from Ames, Iowa or wherever.  Also, the mentally ill must required to undergo treatment, not a slap on the wrist after receiving a few pills. Too often people here will say "oh no,  you can't do that,  you can't force them into programs".  That is plain B.S.  That is what State Hospitals are for.  Oh wait a minute, I forgot.  Reagan closed those as governor and then gutted mental health programs as president.  Oy vey!

I hope we can get some sensible people in Congress before it is too late as this country is going down the tubes and fast.  The next president will need to make this country great again as this one is ruining it.  

It grows late as I write this and I am beginning to think a vodka/tonic might be needed before retiring so BFN.

Violence in America

Life is full of uncertainties.  Two well known ones are weather forecasting and psychology.  Who can predict with certainly that it will or won't rain tomorrow?  Who can predict with certainty that a neighbor is a maniac who harbors evil thoughts about his neighbors and will act upon his impulses.  Some say gun control is the answer to violence in this country.  It is really only part of the problem.  While it is true that no private citizen need possess a weapon of war such as an AR-15, what are you to do about those who would find other methods of mass destruction such as home made bombs or the automobile or truck driven into a crowd of people.  As they say, if there is a will there is a way.  What this country needs is to do is modify the First Amendment, stand up to the NRA and get weapons of war out of the hands of private citizens.  We must also put much more money into mental health care in all its  myriad forms from simple clinics to state hospitals.  This country needs to get serious about the problem and finding politicians with the guts to do what is right before we all get mowed down in churches, synagogues, movie theaters, schools, night clubs, and rock concerts.

Time for removal from office.

Today Trump has given "aid and comfort" to the enemy (Russia) by his outrageous statements in Finland and needs to be removed from office ASAP.  He can no longer be allowed to embarrass this country and weaken it.  Congress needs to do its duty and take up the 25th Amendment or Impeachment proceedings.

Money, money, money
15 July 2018

Wish I had more but that is not why I am writing this.  I am concerned about US coinage.  There have been several attempts at creating a usable silver dollar. The earliest, in Nevada, had wide spread use for a while and having spent some of my earliest days in Reno, I had use of those silver dollars, also known as “cartwheels” since there were so big. In fact, I used to carry around so many of them that there were constantly wearing holes in the pockets of my jeans.

Fast forward a few years now to the abortive attempt at a smaller coin.  Unfortunately, it was almost as small as a quarter and people kept getting them confused.  Next up – the Golden Dollar.  Same size but the gold color, or so it was thought, would do the trick and people would not get confused.  Unfortunately, in this country people seem to get confused easily and wouldn’t really look at the coin(s) they were using to pay for something.  So, while they are still minted, they are difficult to come by.  I prefer the coin to the paper dollar, so I have a suggestion.  The fifty-cent peace is now even a rarer coin, so I would suggest to the mint that if they are still minting them that they stop and create a new dollar coin the size of the old fifty-cent piece.  There shouldn’t be any more confusion about coin size or denomination.  There might be one other problem however.  The cash registers that merchants use may only have slots for pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters.  If there is a fifth slot they probably utilize it for the coin denomination most frequently used.

This is so silly. The constant printing of paper dollars costs the US Mint more than it would to mint longer lasting dollar coins. As for merchants, well, there is probably no hope there although merchants of old did handle fifty-cent pieces on a regular basis so why can’t they do it now?

Life on a failing planet

14 July 2018

Oh, what a messed-up country and world we live in.  Our man-child insulter of all President is doing the opposite of what he said he would do during his campaign: MAKE AMERICA GREAT.  To which I have always asked, why, what’s wrong with it now?  Of course, nothing, however he is making such a mess of it now that the next person running for that office will have to say, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.  The Donald has taken his realty TV shows to a whole new bargain basement level and put down anyone and everyone who disagrees with him and gets in his way, not only in this country, but internationally also. And why, does he cozy up to such people is Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, and Rodrigo Duterte.  I am surprised he does not have a swastika flag hanging somewhere in the White House or perhaps he does but just in his personal closet.

Listening to and watching the news on TV used to be one of my favorite activities as I have always been interested in current events and also find history to be of interest. These days however, it depresses me too much and I can OD very quickly on what I see and hear.  So I stick with local news and am sometimes amused by what happens in Silly Hall as Chronicle columnist Herb Caen used to call City Hall here in San Francisco.

When parents abuse, or even worse, kill their children, words fail me as to how I feel.  One such incident fairly recently were the parents in Arizona I believe who kept their children locked in the house, chained to beds and other objects, starved them,  and committed other unspeakable acts until one courageous girl escaped and sought help.  What is wrong with people?   Are they all on drugs?  The many outrageous acts puzzle me.  

Gun violence is another abhorrent act in this country and the NRA is getting away with murder, literally.   What is wrong with them?  Why do they continually misinterpret the First Amendment?  We have a well-regulated militia and it is known as the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force.  The militia supported by the NRA is unregulated and this sort of makes me wonder if they have declared war on the USA and hope there will be another Civil War. They certainly believe that some people have declared war on them and want to take away their guns. I don’t but why the hell does a private citizen need an AR-15 assault rifle anyway.  Certainly not to hunt unless you are intent on creating lead infused ground beef.

I can only hope that everyone who can vote will get out this November and do so.  Our country and our world depend on it.

BFN

What can I write in the era of Trumpism

I knew that it had been awhile since spouting off about this or that, but I had not realized that it had been so long.  Now the Donald gives me a lot to grieve about but I am not sure whre to begin.
[Well, at the begining of course.]

So, here goes.

While the possbility of war on the Korean peninsula worries me greatly, I hope it can be avoided but closer to home is the desire of some Republicans to cut back on the Medicare budget is more worrisome.  I would resent that greatly.  Having paid into the fund for so many years that it is appaling that the government has, according to some, raided the Medicare funds for other uses over the years, and now wants to cut back on even more.  It is especially appaling as these jerk in D.C. have got the best healthcare in the country but spend a few dollars more on us poor folks?  NO, they can't have that.

As for Trump, it is so sickening that he supports a judge who has had unlawful sexual relations with a minor but won't fess up to doing things to woman that he should not have.  He calls it "locker room trash talk", or some such thing.  Well, maybe it was but he said he did it but won't confess that those were unspeakable actions and he supports people like Judge Moor and others but wants to rid of people don't support him.

And then there is the matter of former FBI Director Comey.  Why did he fire him?  What was the real reason.

I used to be a news junkie but now I shy away from the news a lot especially when that mealy mouthed SOB in Washington is on.  At the very least I hit the mute button on the TV and I may leave the room too as I can't even stand the sight of his face.

And now a meaningless press conference.  Arghhhhhh......

There must be a subject here somewhere...

What can I say?  What will Trump and Co. mean for the USA and the world?  Who will suffer?  Who will be satisfied?   Questions, questions, questions...

At times I feel that he is just a big pussycat whose growl is greater than his bite.  Then at other times I don't think that and fear, at the very least, what his team and advisors might do.  Especially iffy is the way the Trump/Pence will deal with minorities especially Muslims and gay men and women.

I know we have heard it all since the election but I just hope that most Americans will accept him and give him a chance to govern.  If things do not go well there are lawful ways to make changes so rioting in the streets will accomplish absoluately nothing.

There are days I feel depressed and hold out little hope for this country.  I especially worry about the Supreme Court where Trump will set this country back a number of years with conservative appointments.  Then how is he going to deal with heads of other governments?  Will he observe standard protocols or will he make a fool of himself in their presence.

In closing I will put my full support behind the elimination of the Electoral College.  Trump was right that the election was rigged but not in the way he expected.  In recent years Al Gore and now Hillary Clinton had more popular votes than Electoral and should have been elected but that rigged way of doing things did them in.

Fall Back

Why oh why do we need Daylight Standard Time and Daylight Savings Time anymore.  It is such a botthersome thing or so it seems to me.  Let's have one or the other all year - period.

Mental Health

Just wondering if I will survive the next eight days mentally and emotionally.  Then, on the day after the election, will it be a great sigh of relief or complete and utter dispare?

Election and other crap

Eee gods and litle fishes , as one of my relatives used to say, but has it been almost a year since posting here?  What is the matter with me?  Actually, one thing that bothers me greatly and I have not wanted to harp on this issue all year and that is the presidential election coming up in 11 days.

Just now however I have learned that the FBI Director has reopened the investigation into one or more of Hillary Clinton's e-mails which he said may be pertinent to their investigation.  Coming so close to the election makes me highly suspicious of what is going on.

The Trump has been calling her "Crooked Hillary" all year but I think Trump is the crooked one and I greatly fear what could happen to this country and to the world should he win the election.  In fact, I think Trump and Philippine President Duterte should both find some small island to rule as Dictators and be gone from the scene and Trump could even build another hotel there.

I will watch the election results on TV as I usually do but with lots of G&Ts standing by to celebrate her win or drown my sorrows should he win.  Ahrrrrgggg.......

Two of  the biggest things that worry me about Trump is his idea to build a wall on the border with Mexico and have them pay for it.  Well, the president of Mexico has already said they would not pay for such a wall.  Then there is Trump's idea that he can get rid of ISIS.  How?  That I would like to see however I fear he might even makes things worse.

Well, 11 days to go.  Wish I could sleep through 10 of those days so we could get this thing over, one way or the other.  This campaign is driving me crazy.

Peace

Guns, guns, and more guns

Some people are once again urging that everyone who is legally allowed to have guns, carry them.  This would presumably, prevent mass shootings.  Well, this presumes two things.  One, that gun owners are clairvoyant and thus would know when the next outbreak of violence would occur, and two, that the legal gun owner, would be such a good shot that he could hit the perps and not cause more casualties.

Such a simple solution to a complex problem is not a good idea in my mind.

The holidays approach but terrorism is already here

I find it interesting that the authorities are hesitant to label what happened in San Bernardino as terror.  It is true that we do not know if the perps were home grown or recently radicalized. but mass shootings are terror, no ifs, ands, or buts.   Actually, any murder can be labeled as terror for the victim.

What bothers me now is the renewed cry for more gun control.  Yes there may be holes in our current laws but lets fact it folks, the barn doors have been open for quite a while and all the horses stolen.  So given access to guns if one really wants one, they can be obtained.  I don't think any amount of new laws is going to prevent that.

One thing authorities need to do is provide more mental health screening and treatment, where possible.  However, since there is no guarantee of anything working, I am now a confirmed pessimist and feel that this planet is now on a slippery slope to its total doom.

ISIS continues to grow and no one seems to know what to do about that threat and now France and the U.K. are involved as their respective Air Forces are now bombing ISIS sites which will only make them angrier but do nothing to reign them in.

If anyone has any ideas what to do I and the rest of the world would like to hear them.

I need a drink.  Ha!

Well, where have I been?  And when will our unusually hot weather end?  Not sure where I am going with this but I sure have a lot to gripe about with so many flaky Republicans running for President.
Say what you want about Trump he at least he has made the race interesting.   Also, what is interesting is that Dr. Carson,  Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders are are doing to well in the polls and Biden is not even an official candidate yet.

Tonight is the night for Stephen Colbert's debut on the Late Show.  I am not really familiar with him or his style so I will check out his first show via my DVR.  I really really miss Jay Leno and really really really miss Johnny Carson.  As for David Letterman, the only thing I liked on his show was his Top Ten list and I absolutely hated Paul Shafer.

More later after it cools off.

Drought continues

Yup, February was also dry and IF we get any rain it is probably two weeks off and will probably be very light.   Guess I should start stocking up on bottled water.  The only problem with the is the fact that it is very difficult to take a shower with bottled water.  Grrr....

Missed the boys of the Choir of Men and Boys at Grace Cathedral at Evensong today.  They are either on vacation of busy getting ready for Easter although it is a little early for that.  Minus those angelic voices at Evensong I discovered that there are at least three countertenors in the choir.

Bi-polar weather

After a very dry year leading into December 2014, we had an extremely wet December but now it is back to the same old stuff as January 2015 was the driest on record.  This should have been our wettest month.  If everything were running normally, February could be very wet too but I don't think that will happen.  March anyone??

Anyone know how to do a Rain Dance?

Be careful what you wish for.

As recently as Thanksgiving people here in San Francisco and Vicinity were wondering if we were ever going to get rain.  HA!   Now people are wondering if it will ever stop.  We are now over 250% of normal and do not need anymore this year.  The Sierra snow pack is not fairing as well however it is turning colder little by little so there should be more snow and down to a lower elevation.

IF the current forecast holds, we should have a dry Christmas.  I hope so as I do not want to traipse over to Oakland for dinner in this rain.

 Had early morning appointment today at the SF Endoscopy Center and after that I had to get some groceries.  Now I am bushed.  Time for nap.

Medicare, etc.

Well, the City & Country of SF Fire Department has finally billed Medicare for that three block ambulance ride in March 2013.  I just hope they bill for the current date otherwise the claim might not be paid due to its being over one year old.  Sheila did know however to bill Medicare as my prime insurance and that they in turn will send along the claim to Anthem Blue Cross.  I am glad that I went down to City Hall last week as that act alone seemed to get the ball rolling.  Prior to that everything seemed to be stuck in neutral.

I've enjoyed the recent rain (finally) and now there is more on the way for this next weekend.  Yippee!  We will need several "normal" years however to recoup what has been lost during the recent years of the drought.

Thanksgiving Dinner this week with the "usual suspects" in Oakland.  They are like family now and this has become a tradition at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  BTW, that term has been borrowed from the movie "Casablanca".

Have a great holiday everyone.

HELP! More noise from above and other matters.

What is it with my neighbor upstairs.? I know he is tall and is not a "lightweight" however in recent weeks it sounds like he is walking on his heals, or at least stomping around on them in some fashion. If this building were constructed properly and the floors (and walls) were not so thin it probably wouldn't matter.  The most frustrating thing though, is that while I have always heard his foot steps, they sounded normal.  Now it sounds like he is deliberately trying to annoy me or he has new shoes which would make a lot of noise anywhere.  If so, maybe he should take them off while in his apartment.

Now I have more important fish to fry with the City and County of San Francisco.  On March 3, 2013, I collapsed on the street near Market and Castro.  An ambulance was called and I was taken to nearby Davies Medical center, a distance of about 3 or 4 blocks.  While the ER billed my insurance for services rendered, the ambiance company did not but it was not until recently that I knew this.  Now I am being billed $1747.00.  OUTRAGEOUS!

Medicare should have been billed and then it would roll over to Anthem Blue Cross.  While this was done by the ER why wasn't it done by the Ambulance Company?  Now, while I am looking at the Medicare Website, I learn that they will not pay claims over a year old.  Well, damn it, it was not my fault.  No wonder things here in the City and Country of San Francisco area so screwed up.

Now what will happen?  I certainly do not have the money to pay such a large bill and why is it so huge just for a three block ride????????  I think I could use a lawyer in this matter but I cannot afford that either.

Oh what to do, wtd, wtd wtd?????