MIAMI

Grew up there.  Left there after high school graduation.  It has been on my mind as the tension and violence ripples through the large cities of America.  With fake ID's, we used to head to the "CND" and its night clubs. Back then, now more than 50 years ago, we would go to the "Central Negro District" to listen to James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, and others.  I am not trying to establish some credibility here.  I am trying to say that Miami is on my mind as the confluence of the virus and the violence erupts around me.  This quote from Chief Headley in 1967 (I was already physically gone):  "When the looting starts, the shooting starts" has set me off on this nostalgia trip. A quote appropriated by POTUS and used in reference to the protesters he called "thugs".  Already felt helpless and immobilized by the virus--now feeling doubly so as protest turns into violent chaos--to steal a phrase used by the mayor of Atlanta. I feel as if the 60's changed everything and nothing.  The guys with automatic weapons walked into the capital of Michigan and there was no collective outrage.  Were we/you/us serious?

Some other items:
--POTUS claims he is taking hydroxychlorine (I don't even believe that) based on no science and no medical facts.  Wonder how many of his supporters have followed suit.  Supplies of it have run low and people who really need it are having trouble getting it.
--Lebron produced a one hour commencement show for 2020 HS grads.  At the very end, Obama spoke and epitomized what being a leader is all about.  No one could imagine POTUS reading those words let alone saying them.
--Renee Graham in the Globe of 5/20:  "we are the home of white fragility"..and that was before we saw the ugly videos of a white police officer with his knee on the neck of a handcuffed black man.
--And where is Rudy anyway?
--Twitter, his favorite mode of communicating, sets some mild limits on his lies.  His response is to escalate the fight with social media and attempt to limit their power.  All of which has me more sure of never ever posting a word on Facebook,  Mark Z. is a grandiose power hungry robot.
--John Roberts just sided with the 4 liberals to rule that churches/houses of worship can be closed during the virus.  And, I think, some people thought Kavanaugh would be a moderate?  Not likely.
--Not missing sports as much as I thought I would.  Am loving German soccer--the Bundesliga.
--Please do not hold up Dr. Birx as an exemplar of someone moderating POTUS.  She is just an exemplar of scarf selection.

Two less intense thoughts:
--Amy Shumer has a cooking show with her chef husband that is just hysterical and yummy.  Monday nights.
--Watched a You Tube concert with the Dropkick Murphys.  Guesting was Mr. Bruce from Asbury Park.  Played in an empty Fenway Park.  I played it as loud as possible and forgot many of my troubles.

shalom

I'M NOT ON YOUR TEAM AND I'M DAMN SURE NOT PART OF YOUR FAMILY

I have been watching way too much tv.  John Prine once sang about"blowing up his tv".  I am more surprised that my tv has not just sat down in the room and decided he/she had had enough with how much he/she is being used.  The first ever sit down strike of a tv. I try to watch commercial free channels.  But sometimes, just sometimes, I watch a channel with commercials.  Every company, with the bucks to pay for ads, tells me I am on their team during this pandemic.  We are all in this together just like "health care professionals".  Or, we are all part of the same family.  No and no.  We are not on Team Toyota and, even if we were, the ER team is a real team working collaboratively.  The softer ads telling me that I am in their family are truly worse. Buying a new house from a specific realty company does not make me that company's nephew.  In both of these instances, and others, I am not on the team and have a real family.

--There is a thread (see:  I know electronic threads) that links the protesters carrying automatic weapons to the anti-vaxers to the anti-semites. Someone smarter than me needs to write something about it.  Meanwhile, I believe in its existence. Angry about any attempt to assert authority in order to address the better good. Let me bring that AK 47 into the State House.  And while I do that, I want my unvaccinated child to attend school.  But make sure there are no homosexuals or Jews in that building.  I am not paranoid bu I am scared.
--Saw a bit on the 538 website about all the polls that show Biden ahead (these are the same people who predicted a Clinton victory).  But people in those polls still say the Trumpster will win.  I believe both those things are true.  I am trying not to believe any of the polls and am deeply worried about November.
--BTW, these people hate us for all the usual reasons plus we live on the coast.
--When RBG was hospitalized last week, I needed to immediately get under the covers.
--The two main topics of conversation around here are what is for dinner in the next week and what is on tv tonight.  I think I forgot how to read.
--Saw Joe on some msnbc show.  He appeared with Stacy Abrams.  My final take on that was she should run for President.  Joe has trouble connecting sentences into a coherent thought.  I shutter to imagine Joe debating POTUS.
--I have come to like my Governor a lot.  His daily news briefings are terrific except for some of the most stupid media questions.  Hot topic this week (even as we prepare to re-open):  when will the golf courses open up?  Really?  It is not enough that you cannot pray at your house of worship. you also want to play golf? Pathetic.
--On 5/5, the Boston Pops zoomed a song written by John Williams.  He played the piano and Keith Lockhart led the virtual orchestra. I loved it.
--A Native American tribe in South Dakota (I believe they are a branch of the Cheyenne River Sioux) are blocking a state highway which goes through their reservation.  The Gov is upset,  The same
governor who did nothing in the face of the pandemic and its impact on employees at meat packing plants. Its all a hoax perpetrated by the deep state and the medica.
--Speaking of science, Deborah Brix seems to have an unlimited supply of scarves.  Her career is in serious jeopardy after sh explained how hair salons in Georgia could work with customers from a 6 foot distance. Only Edward Scissorhands could do that.
--The White House rejected the first draft of the CDC report which focused on how states can safely re-open. Science denial is also on their agenda unless it affects them personally.  All government is bad unless I need something like a bailout.
--Did anyone see Rand Paul try to to outsmart Fauci?  He did not succeed but oh my--Rand is a physician who does not believe in science.
--A reminder to Mitch:  There was a nearly 70 page report left by the Obama administration.  So you lied.

--A remembrance.  DP would not play cards with me until I stopped cheating.  I will never forget that.  Seems like a minor issue but it has stuck with me.  RIP.

Shalom

OPEN THE CAR WASHES

Just got back from Georgia.  Flew down with a friend from Kindergarten.  We first got massages (done by masseuses without gloves) and then went next door and got tattoos.  I got one like Ben Affleck covering my whole back.  A bit painful on the flight home but I had a whole row to myself.  Couldn't figure out where the other passengers were.  Steven Miller is now affixed in ink on my back.  Forever. My tattoo confirms the theory that:  "Just because you are paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you." 

--In hindsight, why didn't the Georgia governor open up car washes which seem much safer than massage parlors and tattoo shops.

--If you, dear reader, have been reading this screed faithfully, you know I was worried that Steve Miller was going to use this pandemic as a way to further limit immigration.  And guess what, he succeeded.  Our borders are now officially closed except for some minimal exceptions.  He acknowledged his success in some conservative media interview. 

--Gotta give a shout out to Governor Whitmer of Michigan.  She extended the stay at home order despite seeing white thugs with assault rifles in the Michigan state house.  They want the state open and who cares about people of color who live in Detroit anyhow--and you know we would never go to Detroit because it is not safe.

--Can someone please tell Dr. Brix to ditch the scarves and, while she is at it, perhaps ditch the Prez.  I'm thinking her career is over. Once she tried to explain how barbers/hair stylists could maintain 6 feet of distance, she was done.

--I will not worry about the oil companies as they wring their hands about the drop in oil prices.  Fuck 'em.

--Ditto for the big banks.  Nik Paumgarten in the New Yorker said the following so try it out:  "Bank higher ups get paid like geniuses but every 10 years, they need a bail out".  Oh yeah.

--According to Jared (now that he has stabilized the Middle East), our government's covid 19 efforts will be a success during the month of June.

--And yet each day brings more deaths and more cases.

--An aside:  During this crisis the Globe decided to explain what we could learn from mother bears in terms of daily activities for our children.

--That bright shining light Pence defends his mask-less visit to the Mayo clinic as an effort to normalize.  Bet the Medical staff could tell him how not normal things are not.

--When I hear politicians or advertisers (kind of similar, no?) tell me I am part of the team or we treat you like family, I want to puke.  I'm on my own team and know who my real family is.  EEK!

--John Prine died way too soon.  You need to listen to one of his latest songs in light of his death.  It's called "When I Get to Heaven".

--Cuomo and Baker are not perfect but boy have they come through for their respective states.

--I immediately demand that the new White House press secretary rid herself of that gold chain with a big cross.  No need to remind us that God is on her side.

--Nada on the sports front.

HOPE EACH OF YOU IS SAFE AND HEALTHY.  SHALOM.