Post #5171 M: Memorial Day; Woods on Whether Dems Are Best For the Economy; Woods on the Experts in Charge; Ron Paul on Our Recent Military Interventionism

 Quote of the Day

If I have seen farther than others, 

it is because I was standing 

on the shoulder of giants.

Isaac Newton  

Woods on Whether Dems Are Best For the Economy

Woods on the Experts in Charge

Ron Paul on Our Recent Military Interventionism

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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Pat Cross via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Paper Lace, "The Night Chicago Died"

Post #5170 M: Stossel on NJ Corruption; Ron Paul on Texas' Success on Ending the COVID-19 Shutdown; Lingering Effects of the Prohibition Era

Quote of the Day

The Golden Rule of networking is simply this... 

All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to

 those people they know, like and trust. 

Bob Burg  

Stossel on NJ Corruption

Ron Paul on Texas' Success on Ending the COVID-19 Shutdown

Lingering Effects of the Prohibition Era

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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Tom Stiglich via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Roberta Flack, "Feel Like Makin' Love"

Post #5169 M: Tom Woods on Capitalism and its Foes; Woods on Malice and Market Anarchism; Kibbe on the Violence in Jerusalem

 Quote of the Day

The price of greatness is responsibility.

Sir Winston Churchill  

Tom Woods on Capitalism and its Foes

Woods on Malice and Market Anarchism

Kibbe on the Violence in Jerusalem

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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Steve Kelley at Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

John Denver, ''Annie's Song". Probably my favorite Denver hit.

Post #5168 J

 Shutdown Diary

The latest from Washpo:

In the past week in the U.S. ...

New daily reported cases fell 23% 

New daily reported deaths fell 9.1% 

Covid-related hospitalizations fell 10.5% Read more

Among reported tests, the positivity rate was 2.5%.

The number of tests reported fell 19.3%

At least 165.1 million people have received one or both doses of the vaccine in the U.S.

This includes more than 131.9 million people who have been fully vaccinated.

So roughly 40% are fully vaccinated and about half are at least partially vaccinated. We'll probably move over 50% this holiday weekend  The daily case count is now in the lower 20K range. No doubt  much of it is the virus attack surface since the vaccinated are less likely to be infected or transmit the disease, although the warmer weather and more time outside also have a seasonal effect on virus spread.

Well, I did go to Lidl's (grocery store) last week, the first time not wearing a facemask in over a year (well, it was pulled down just in case I ran into a mask fetishist). I had gotten an email from the chain earlier saying it was easing mask policy where allowed. When I got to the store, no word at the entrance--just a reminder to practice social distancing. But on entering the store (we're talking dozens vs. hundreds of shoppers), all employees were masked as well of the vast majority of shoppers. I think I ran across two older (middle-aged) couples unmasked. I did overhear one female shopper behind me bitched about me or others being unmasked. I did wear my mask to Home Depot and to the barbershop over the weekend, mostly because I didn't know about any policy changes. It turns out Home Depot has relaxed its policy as well in accordance with local policies. As to the barbershop, I go every several weeks or so. I didn't see a note on face coverings but there doesn't seem to be a requirement for an  advance appointment or to sign in with contact information.

In terms of work, I attended a remote townhall where some government employees went unmasked in a similar CDC-compatible guideline (vaccinated, mask optional). They won't mandate you get vaccinated, but if you are unmasked, they can inquire if you are vaccinated.  Bottom line, it's an honor system. My work schedule hasn't changed yet but it seems they intend to have most people on-site vs. teleworking by end of summer. To those of us who prefer teleworking, there's sentiment for better supervision on site and a concern about fairness to employees who have had to work on site during the pandemic. (I worked a partial period of time on site before Maryland's surge of COVID-19 cases last fall.) They distinguish between telework and remote work. I know my Mom suggested me working remotely at her Texas home, and I told her policy wouldn't allow that. I have to be able to commute to work on little notice.

A few points I wanted to make in this segment. First, one of my little sisters has a newborn granddaughter. When I said I didn't know her son and daughter-in-law were expecting, she referenced a text she sent during my exchange on family vaccinations, saying her daughter-in-law was pregnant. (I don't recall that text, but that's not the point.) I did a query on the point (I think I was at a Johns Hopkins site), and I don't think I saw specific study references, but a few points: it turns out Pfizer didn't know at the time but up to a couple dozen or so pregnant women had been included in the trials with no reported issues; also, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines don't include live viruses; finally, you have to look at the unintended consequences of not vaccinating, including the possibility of mother and child getting infected to COVID-19.

Second, there are discussions of vaccine breakthroughs, in other words, you get COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. Some salient points: no vaccine is 100% effective, but there are only a few thousand infections over hundreds of millions of administered doses; generally most such infections are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, not requiring hospitalization

Finally, more skepticism over government incompetence in vaccine distribution; Tyler Cowen of Marginal Revolution points to a Gray Lady piece showing thousands of doses vulnerable to expiring unused in Africa and Canada, as, among other things, politicians or bureaucrats debate rare side effects, like blood clotting. (Many people needlessly die from the disease in the interim.)

Life's Little Problems

For the familiar reader of this segment, WD finally sent a replacement to my defective easyStore 4-TB, which developed some power connection issue.  (I was halfway tempted to try to extract the drive and try to mount it in a new USB drive enclosure, but these drives are enclosed in a near seamless black shell.) I can't tell if the replacement is new or reconditioned, but it's a different model (Passport), same capacity. This one doesn't come with a warranty, but it is functional.

I mentioned I have ongoing problems with external keyboards. My few months-old Bluetooth keyboard, which I really like, is toast. Not sure why, but some of the keys are sticky, e.g., I might have to type 'a' 10 times to get it to print on the screen. When I substituted one of my spare wired ones, one of the keys was missing. It may be that keyboards have warranties but I consider them consummables like car tires. I don't even want to think about finding a box to return a keyboard.  Now you can spend a lot of money on a keyboard (north of $50), but you can find a functional one in the $15-30 range with wired ones cheaper. It's a thing I can readily buy at Walmart, but if I want selection (for example, more recently I've been into rechargeable (by USB) wireless/Bluebooth keyboards), I can find a wide selection at Amazon.

Speaking of USB power, I have a ton of power banks, electric plug/converters, and the like. I have an extension cord collection, like my keyboard collection, and various plugs--for

:Post #5167 M: Bear for California Governor; Unions vs. Property Rights

 Quote of the Day

Patience has its limits. 

Take it too far, 

and it's cowardice.

George Jackson  

Bear for California Governor

Unions vs. Property Rights

Abbeville Institute This Week

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Pat Cross via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

George McCrae, "Rock Your Baby"

Post #5166 M: Busting Myths of American Decline; McClanahan on the Lincolnian Myth of American History; Pro-Choice?

 Quote of the Day

Patience has its limits. 

Take it too far, 

and it's cowardice.

George Jackson 

Busting Myths About American Decline

McClanahan on the Lincolnian Myth of American History

Choose Life

I just found out I have a newborn grandniece; praise God for such a blessing!

Political Cartoon

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Hues Corporation, "Rock the Boat"

Post #5165 M: Alternatives to College; McClanahan on All Your Base Are Belong to Us; Tom Woods on Pro-Liberty Iowa Rep. Shipley

 Quote of the Day

I hear and I forget. 

I see and I remember. 

I do and I understand. 

Confucius

Alternatives to College

 

McClanahan on All Your Base Are Belong to Us

Brion really, really doesn't like renaming Army bases named after Confederates.

Tom Woods on Pro-Liberty Iowa Rep. Shipley

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Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Al Goodwyn via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Gordon Lightfoot, "Sundown"

Post #5164 M: Unreliable Senior Entitlements; A $100K Parking Fine?; McClanahan on SCOTUS' Selective Precedent

 Quote of the Day

Use what talents you possess: 

the woods would be very silent 

if no birds sang there 

except those that sang best.

Henry Van Dyk  

Unreliable Senior Entitlements

A $100K Parking Fine?

McClanahan on SCOTUS' Selective Precedent

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Tom Stiglich via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods, "Billy, Don't Be a Hero"

Post #5163 Social Media Digest

 Facebook

[I have a nephew engineer who works at SpaceX. Now in a weird way we have a connection in that I've worked at 2 NASA locations (Clear Lake City and GSFC) as an IT contractor. We have not discussed his work, and I've been publicly critical of CEO Elon Musk as a crony capitalist in my blog and on Twitter. (I don't even think I've discussed it directly with him; I don't even know if he is aware of my opinion.

The context of the following comment is his proud dad, my brother-in-law, frequently posts on the latest successful SpaceX mission. His latest NASA/SpaceX joint mission success came with a jingoist chant 'USA #1! USA #1!' I think in my salad days I might have joined in. These days my eyes roll, and I wrote the following:]

What's impressive is what the private market can do--faster, cheaper, better, more efficiently--without government interference.

Twitter

I've never shopped at Costco, and their mask policy is unreasonable. Don't get me started on the legality of the People's Republic of California's hypocritical dictator's mandates. Conventional masks do next to nothing to stop bioaerosols. Mr. Schroeder is not infected.

"Costco"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 17, 2021

Hell, no. Church/state independence is guaranteed by our Constitution. Churches are considered (not for profit) charities. But all clergy income is subject to income taxes. What Osteen does with his after-tax income is none of your damn business. Envy is a vice, not a virtue.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 17, 2021

What kind of stupidity is this? Dude, there was no one from Wall Street giving lawmakers stock tips. The market was richly valued before the correction. It's not like he knew those economically illiterate Dem governors would crash state economies.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 17, 2021

Why should I be surprised that a descendant of the British crown takes a dim view of American rights? British royalty have been irrelevant since George III.

"Prince Harry"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 17, 2021

The West Coast left-fascists refuse to follow the science. Costco nationally is no longer mandating mask usage. It's the fascist government of the People's Republic of California or local governance violating the rights of residents.https://t.co/yiR1Wn51Bn

"Scott Baio"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 17, 2021

We don't need the dubiously constitutional rubbish of campaign finance laws to explain an incumbent's likely reelection. It's like Dems have already forgotten how Bloomberg's wealth helped him in last year's Democratic primary.

"Susan Collins"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 19, 2021

Trump has a history of throwing people under the bus. He didn't put his company into bankruptcy; he was the victim of loan sharks. He wants all the power but none of the responsibility.

"Michael Cohen"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 20, 2021

The Democrats are spending nextgen's money to protect themselves from nextgen's wrath.

"1.9 Billion"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 20, 2021

This project is academic rubbish. I'm sure some "progressive" university finds value in rubbish and will hire her. Ask me how many fellow conservatives I met in academia. I left academia before ever going up for tenure, but at least I didn't publish rubbish.

"1619 Project"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 20, 2021

You might think the terrorist supporters on Twitter might acknowledge their hypocrisy over attacks on Israelis.

"Fox News' Geraldo Rivera says US is 'complicit in an ongoing crime against humanity' for supplying 'many of the weapons Israel is using to kill Palestinian civilians"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 20, 2021

This is beyond typical left-fascist bullshit. It's disingenuous partisan rubbish. Fascist Dotard-in-Chief Biden is redefining "infrastructure" to justify a multi-trillion boondoggle, spending nextgen tax dollars for political corruption.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

This tweet is nothing short of left-partisan grandstanding. The last I heard there have been over 400 charged with federal crimes over Jan. 6 events. I don't see the need for a commission.https://t.co/ehkHRT6Mqk

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

This is Soft Rock America. Am I the only one who looks back at this 1982 hit when I read Mar-a-Lago? https://t.co/2onNz8TLb2

"Mar-a-Lago"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

Some left-fascists are still rerunning those slimy ads portraying Ryan as dumping grandma over the cliff on senior entitlement reform. At the same time, they accuse him of being a Trump loyalist as a Fox board member. Apparently Ryan didn't get the memo on Kinzinger

"Paul Ryan"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

Hell no. That money should go to paying down the deficit/debt and/or the overburdened taxpayer, not to morally hazardous, counterproductive, ineffectual, politically corrupt social welfare.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

Space aliens don't need to destroy the US. Biden and his corrupt political allies don't need any help in doing that. They are putting generation next in chains over politically corrupt, obscene overspending and overregulation.

"The Pentagon"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

I wonder if you spend as much time listening to lunatic leftists like Comrade Bernie and AOC.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

Funny. I don't recall reading about Jews terrorizing German citizens with rockets. https://t.co/Py5wvG4wNl

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

So the Trumpkin running against Liz Cheney's reelection once got a 14-year-old girl pregnant? How the hell did "family values" Republicans vote Trump and his protégé into office in the first place? How will Cheney ever defeat a pig for reelection?

"Romeo and Juliet"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 22, 2021

This may be the most succinct expose of the perverse Statist dogma of progressivism I've seen. Recommended.https://t.co/znKQoi8ft2

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 23, 2021

It has become politically incorrect to make any comparison to the Holocaust (unless you are progressive). Greene is an idiot; don't give her the attention she's looking for. Conventional masking has always been bad public policy, ineffective against bioaerosols.

"Nazi Germany"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 23, 2021

Well, travel for Congressmen has been a risk factor for infection. And anyone not protecting himself by vaccine is risking his health and life. But Pelosi's unconstitutional violations of members' rights "for their own good" is un-American. https://t.co/QIMeFPJHEH

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 23, 2021

The issue is that Naziism/fascism subordinated individual rights to the State. The Kabuki dance of mask wearing has more to do with the arbitrary exercise of State power over individual rights than the science of bioaerosols.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 23, 2021

Remember Niemöller's "First they came..."? Ignore Greene's inarticulate provocative rubbish. The issue has been American indifference to the violations of their liberties under the political exploitation of the pandemic for the State.

"Nazi Germany"https://t.co/spO4NRzv90...

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 23, 2021

Apparently Rand Paul is not aware of the fact some COVID-19 reinfections occur, although relatively rare (less than 1%). There's a lot we don't know about the nature, extent, and duration of related protection and ability to respond to variants. https://t.co/YIp4yGExzF https://t.co/ETtr8vZSgK

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

Thank God Notre Dame will not award Catholic-in-Name-Only Biden an honorary gold. Biden sold out the Church's unambiguous, consistent rejection of elective abortion since the Didache for 30 pieces of political silver. https://t.co/bYh0Iib2YT

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

Well, Greene is an idiot, but I love her ability to yank leftists' chains. Still, it takes chutzpah to single out Greene for her insensitivity on the Holocaust when you have anti-Israeli lunatics like Ilhan Omar on the Dem side of the ledger.

"Majorie Taylor Greene"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

It's amusing to see Schumer post a picture of himself unmasked and not practicing social distancing while the next tweet in the thread is a leftist demanding Rand Paul, who had COVID and is naturally immune, being expelled for no vaccine. https://t.co/B7g2gaI0TW

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

Let's be clear: Blunt is playing politics in opposing the Jan 6 commission, but the Democrats are playing politics in pushing it. Funny the Dems don't back an investigation of the post-Floyd riots. Over 400 participants have been charged by the Justice Department.

"Roy Blunt"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

George Will points out Biden's woke yuppie "trickle-up economics" policy. https://t.co/7j2mBEUgGK

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

One of the perverse qualities leftists admire in Joe Biden: his alleged "work ethic". Imposing the imperial Presidency is a crime; the lust for power over liberty is a vice, not a virtue. The market, not a political whore, satisfies the public's wants and needs.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

My latest commentary looks at post-Trump politics.https://t.co/Jw6CmR4piv

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 24, 2021

Unconstitutional. DeSantis is a Trumpkin whore. https://t.co/c5XOWcfS5q

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 25, 2021

As if you didn't already know partisan Dems are insane...

If you think Jan. 6 was a "coup", it was the sorriest excuse of one in world history with Trump's own VP ratifying Biden's election. The National Guard offered assistance to the Capitol Police before Jan 6. https://t.co/2LUSRick6N

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 25, 2021

Well, Tuberville has worded his objection ineptly. The partisan nature of the commission has to do with the scope of the commission, not its membership. The GOP also wanted broader context including post-Floyd urban unrest. https://t.co/IqzkZ2Bl5K

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 25, 2021

Post #5162 M: McClanahan on Secession v 2; California and Woke Mathematics; Miami As the Free Market Capital of Latin America

 Quote of the Day

That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. 

Simple can be harder than complex: 

You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. 

But it’s worth it in the end 

because once you get there, you can move mountains.

Steve Jobs  

McClanahan on Secession v 2

California and Woke Mathematics

As one with two math degrees, I'm appalled.

Miami As the Free Market Capital of Latin America

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy pf Tom Stiglich via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hit of 1974

McCartney & Wings, "Band on the Run"

Post #5161 Commentary: Thoughts on a Post-Trump Politics

 I don't have  clear vision of where the GOP goes from here, and as a NeverTrumper I doubt they would be receptive to my opinion. In many ways Trump's hostile takeover of the GOP in 2016 has forced their hand. Trump exploited his divided, politically opportunistic opposition who underestimated his celebrity and the appeal of his anti-establishment, populist candidacy. The opposition seemed convinced his novel campaign would crash and burn and sought favor with his supporters.

On paper, given the pandemic shock that shrank the US economy and a more popular, mainstream Biden facing him, Trump should have experienced a 1980-style Carter rebuke, and Biden should have had coattails, easily expanding and/or seizing control of both chambers of Congress. Instead, the GOP held parity in the Senate and gained in the House, reducing the gap to a razor-slim Dem advantage. Even though Biden won a decisive majority of votes, projections of 350+ electoral votes shrank to Trump's own 2016 total and Trump came very close in decisive states.

Trump is eying an unlikely 2024 comeback, and his sky-high approval among the base proves his relevance in upcoming elections. Now Presidents generally lose ground in mid-terms, which means the GOP is in  good position to recapture the House in 2022, and Trump wants to take full credit (although the Senate is tougher because more GOP seats are on the table). Never mind Trump lost the House, the Senate and the White House on his watch. Of course, Trump wants revenge on "disloyal" GOP officeholders (e.g., GA and AZ) who didn't deliver their states' electoral votes to him.

It's understandable why the GOP doesn't want a Jan 6 commission hanging over next year's election. Still, Big Tech's social media's timeout has had  devastating effect on media-savvy Trump's influence. His new blog ("From the Desk of Donald J. Trump/the 45th President")  has never gained the impressions of former media output. As MSN has observed, even websites like Eat This Not That have drawn more eyeballs than Trump's new website. Trump is reportedly planning a series of pep rallies and a new media social channel, but given his underwhelming success on the Internet since the election, count me a skeptic. I was never a fan of his narcissistic rally, his constant claims of victimhood, his cheap shots at opponents and critics. I think he permanently alienated the independents he would need to get reelected with his unprecedented sore loser campaign, culminating in the Jan.6 riot and overrun of the Capitol. I think that one event undermined the credibility of his law and order message.

So how does the GOP posture itself as we head into next year's election? It is clear that Biden intends to take full advantage of his narrow majorities in Congress to force through huge spending increases using budget reconciliation rules. The Dems want to posture the GOP as unprincipled obstructionists and to make Trump's hold on the GOP an issue, not to mention almost daily kerfuffles involving the likes of Trumpkin Greene (NC) and Gaetz (FL).

Well, it's hard for the GOP to argue that they are principled fiscal conservatives given the fact that Trump added nearly $8T to the national debt on his watch, controlling part or all of Congress, after paying lip service to the deficit and debt, hyping he could liquidate the debt in 2 terms. In fact, he dealt away hard-won sequesters. in his obsession with expanding the military budget.

I think most likely the GOP will counter that Biden's programs are unduly costly and unaffordable, morally hazardous, vulnerable to fraud and corrupt cronyism. Expect them to argue, like Romney in the 2012 campaign, their management of the people's money will be more efficient and effective, without the current regime's compromise impairing future economic growth. Will it work?  So far the population has seen the national debt triple in less than 15 years without ruinous inflation or a failing economy as leftist economists like Krugman whistle "Don't Worry; Be Happy".  On the other hand, we libertarians, to rephrase an old tuna commercial, don't want a government to spend more efficiently as much as a government that does less, with less money.

Post #5160 M: Woods on the Modern State; Woods and McClanahan on 9 Presidents Who Screwed Up America

 Quote of the Day

We have too many high-sounding words,

and too few actions that correspond with them. 

Abigail Adams  

Political Humor

Woods on the Modern State

Woods and McClanahan on 9 Presidents Who Screwed Up America

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Ray Stevens, "The Streak"

Post #5159 M: Woods on a Florida Anti-Lockdown Legislator; What is Progressivism?

 Quote of the Day

Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. 

The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

Abraham Lincoln 

Woods on a Florida Anti-Lockdown Legislator

Abbeville Institute in Review

What is Progressivism?

This is one of the best clips I've seen on the topic.

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Gay Varvel via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Grand Funk Railroad, "The Locomotion"

Post #5158 J

Shutdown Diary

The reader may well wonder: how long will I continue this segment series. I had similar lengthy coverage after the Fukushima nuclear accident. As I write, the rolling average of daily cases has dipped below 30K, which I think is the first time in almost 11 months. I haven't been to my local Walmat or Sam's Club since the state of Maryland made masks optional to counties, and my local county has elected to roll back the mandate. Walmart and other vendors have announced they will respond in accordance with liberalized local policies. My new favorite local grocery, Lidl's, a Germany-based chain, sent out an email suggesting masks are now optional. So I'll probably test the concept over the weekend, with my mask pulled down but ready to pull up in the event I run into a hassle. (The short answer I expect to follow this story for at least a few months;  for example, I'm still working remotely.)

As I write this, the WWE show Friday Smackdown finally announced they are weeks away from resuming on the road weekly broadcasts for both shows and PPV events (they did have a limited live audience for the recent signature Wrestlemania). Sports events, like the Kentucky Derby and the Master's, have resumed normal scheduling, and some upcoming events, like auto racing and NBA playoffs, seem to dropping limited capacity quota, and even NYC has relaxed indoor dining constraints (with some spacing between tables and resumed around the clock subway operation). (You wonder, for example, why they don't allow open seating for the vaccinated and designated seating for the unvaccinated.) Travel is apparently booming, and I've seen some airlines dropping policies of blocking off middle seats. (Being overweight, I didn't mind that policy (I've been stuck in seats next to other big people), but I haven't taken a flight since the holidays 2019.)

 

So according to the latest stats below, we are approaching 40% for the fully vaccinated and 50% of the American population being at least partially vaccinated. With the vaccinated unlikely to get seriously infected and transmit the virus to others, the primary risks are among the unvaccinated. One would expect less concentrations of bioaerosols. And some of the unvaccinated could already have been exposed and/or naturally immune. Not to mention masking poses breathing risks to some people. Let's be clear: to me, it's insane someone would turn down free vaccine shots against a disease that has killed over 500K and permanently impaired the health of many others. Granted, some people cannot physically tolerate vaccines, and there are reasons they make you wait 15 minutes after getting a shot.

My entire nuclear family is now fully vaccinated. I'm not sure about some of my 21 nephews  and nieces (and some of my grandnieces/nephews aren't eligible, being too young), but I think a majority of them are. And at least 2 nephews and a niece (separately) have been infected.

The latest stats from Wahpo:

In the past week in the U.S. ...

New daily reported cases fell 17.4% 

New daily reported deaths fell 7.9% 

Covid-related hospitalizations fell 13.1%

Among reported tests, the positivity rate was 4.6%.

The number of tests reported fell 13.3% 

161.3 million people have received one or both doses of the vaccine in the U.S.

This includes more than 127.8 million people who have been fully vaccinated.

Life's Little Problems

There are things on my wishlists that are so geeky I may have to explain. As a professional DBA, I've been in a lot of server rooms and dealt with a lot of KVM switches. Now to non-geek readers, servers are often vertically stacked in racks and monitors for each would take a lot of space and/or be difficult to view, never mind the expense. So imagine a single monitor being shared by a number of computers. A KVM switch allows you to toggle the monitor to the targeted server. I've seen different mechanisms, including physical controls and/or hotkeys. And the concept, of course, goes beyond sharing monitors; you can also share other devices, like mice, keyboards, and printers. (My current printer will wirelessly connect to my PC's, but if I want to use my integrated scanner. I need a USB connection.) (I, of course, have other gadgets, like USB cable extenders.) Let's just say with multiple PC's, a Chromebook, and tablets I have limited desk space for gadgets and peripherals.

So I browsed at Amazon; obviously these things can get more expensive for more PC connections and/or ports, but I was mostly looking at a device looking at two HDMI connections, which roughly range in the $30-75 range, but likely cheaper than buying a second external monitor. (I had bought one a while back when one of my laptop screens developed what I jokingly refer to as my Northern Lights problem)

I bought one with other products. I was annoyed the switch was shipped separately days apart although shown in stock. And in a rare disappointment from Amazon, it's like the package disappeared off their radar; I don't think I had ever seen a package probably lost screen from Amazon; they said if I didn't get it the next day, I could apply for a refund (they said, without giving a reason, they couldn't ship aa replacement although the item appeared in stock). There would be no point to the story if I got the item, so then I applied for a refund. In probably the worst timing in Amazon history, the vendor reached out to me thanking me for my purchase soon after I canceled the transaction, thanking me, etc. He probably had no idea the item was in the Twilight Zone probably with my Mom's birthday package lost by USPS. Amazon usually doesn't screw up. While I was in Arizona, they once sent me a wrong item (I don't remember if it was a low-carb mix I had originally ordered, but they sent me an item not even close to what I ordered. They paid the postage to return the item and get credit, but it was still  a hassle to return.)

I had mentioned in a recent post about losing a wireless earbud somewhere in my car while adjusting my facemask. Now to be honest, they weren't one of those $100+ Apple pairs, just like I refuse to pay hundreds of dollars to get the latest cellphone when I can buy a full-featured budget phone for under $100. Similarly you can buy reasonably decent rechargeable pairs in the $10-25 range. They've occasionally popped out, e.g., walking through the Walmart parking lot. So in the interim I had found  a pair on  Amazon that come with attached ear loops. Now it's SUPPOSED to come with a USB charge cable, but I didn't find it in the packaging. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of those with common type USB-B connectors (for the device port). I've got a lot of those (among others, I had bought aa multi-pack from Amazon some time back). Some devices like my Garmin devices require a more trapezoidal vs elliptical connector. The new earbud charge case required  a type-C connector, sometimes found on USB 3.0 devices. I don't think I have a spare one of those. I groaned--I really didn't want to go through the hassle of  returning the airbuds to Amazon over a stupid charge cable or buying new cables just to charge my airbuds. And then I suddenly remembered. After I bought my first notebook computer with a USB 3.0 port, I had bought a set of Type-C adapters from Amazon--which basically meant I could convert one of my spare USB charge cables for the new airbuds. Problem solved!

Entertainment

I primarily use Amazon Prime and Peacock as my streaming services. As familiar readers may know, I was one of the early Netflix subscribers. I went off cable for years and really didn't see the logic of spending stiff monthly fee for a movie I could probably rent at a Blockbuster. But I also loathed going to a video store and find titles I wanted out of stock. Netflix made it easy; I could browse a huge selection and build watchlists. I think you could check out about 4 concurrently; they came in red envelopes with an attached postage-paid return sleeve. So the process was relatively painless, obviously not  as convenient as a moue click on an Internet connection, and it worked well in Silicon Valley. But when I moved back to the Chicago area, I don't think their logistics  worked as well with my returns (and follow-up shipments) taking forever. I eventually decided to end my subscription, and they did not take it well, threatening to charge me list price for any unreturned elections (I had already returned them but they claimed they hadn't received them yet). It took weeks before they finally acknowledged receipt, but  their lack of grace in handling the situation permanently alienated me. As I write this, I'm rewatching the Law and Order Criminal Intent series on Peacock.. I'm not a mystery or crime show fan, but I love the brainy, quirky Robert Goren character.

On cable I continue to watch PosiTV and there are a couple of movies on rotation I recommend:

• The Lamp. This is in the fantasy genre (like in the "rub the lamp, and the genie grants you 3 wishes" type), but the human drama is what makes the story compelling. A married couple is struggling in the aftermath of their young son's fatal bike accident. The husband encounters a tomboyish baseball-playing orphan girl with an attitude who lives in a nearby foster home. You can guess the outcome from the setup, but the story is how you get there. One of the key scenes is when she comes across and admires the late son's baseball glove, and the grieving father explodes at her.
• The Encounter. Also from the early 2010's. Remember Joan Osborne's signature hit "One of Us"? "What if God was one of us, just a slob like one of us...." I have an unpublished short story with an entirely different context similar to this. A handful of motorists stop into a diner as the detour road they are following is blocked. And the diner is managed and staffed by someone claiming to be "the" Jesus. (Among the characters emerging late in the story is a police officer going by the surname of "DeVille": get it? Nudge, nudge.) One of the key characters in the story is Nick, played by pro wrestling icon Sting (Steve Borden), who to my irritation has this distinct goatee stemming from under his lower lip. Jesus knows all their dark secrets. His hardest case is Nick, self-made successful businessman following a successful pro football career. Nick wasn't buying anything Jesus was saying, even after Jesus serves him a piece of pie just like his beloved grandmother used to bake especially for him. Again, you can guess the outcome from the setup, but how you get there is the story.

Post #5157 M: McClanahan on Biden's Predictable Start; Woods on the Mises Caucus in the LP; On Race and Gender Quotas

 Quote of the Day

The man who makes no mistakes 

does not usually make anything. 

Bishop W.C. Magee  

McClanahan on Biden's Predictable Start

Woods on the Mises Caucus in the LP

On Race and Gender Quotas

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Pat Cross via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

MFSB and the Three Degrees, "MSOP"

Post #5156 M: Reflections on the Batman; McClanahan on the Guardian's Apology for Lincoln Criticisms

 Quote of the Day

One of the strongest characteristics of genius is 

the power of lighting its own fire. 

John Foster  

Reflections on the Batman

McClanahan on the Guardian's Apology for Lincoln Criticisms

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Elton John, "Bennie and the Jets"

Post #5155 M: McClanahan on Confederate Rocks; Facebook's Suspension of Trump; Tom Woods on Florida's COVID Numbers

 Quote of the Day

It is a miracle 

that curiosity survives formal education

Albert Einstein  

McClanahan on Confederate Rocks

Here's a post on the custody case involving the mother's possession of a rock with a Confederate flag painted rock.

Facebook's Suspension of Trump

I happen to disagree on the suspension.

Tom Woods on Florida's COVID Numbers

Choose Life

Political Cartoon

Courtesy of Chip Bok via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Blue Swede, "Hooked on a Feeling"

Post #5154 M: McClanahan on Progressive Puritans; Ron Paul on Big Government and Big Inflation; Tom Woods on the Fall of the COVID Policy Regime

 Quote of the Day

He who asks a question is a fool for a minute; 

he who does not remains a fool forever.

Chinese Proverb  

McClanahan on Progressive Puritans

Ron Paul on Big Government and Big Inflation

Tom Woods on the Fall of the COVID Policy Regime

Choose Life

Political Cartoon 

Courtesy of Tom Stiglich via Townhall

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

John Denver, "Sunshine on My Shoulders"

Post #5153 M: McClanahan on Joe Biden Predictions; Woods/Malice on Woodrow Wilson and Progressivism; Ron Paul on the Fall of the COVID Wall

 Quote of the Day

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow 

will be our doubts of today.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

McClanahan on Joe Biden Predictions

Woods/Malice on Woodrow Wilson and Progressivism

Ron Paul on the Fall of the COVID Wall

Choose Life

Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 1974

Cher, "Dark Lady"

Post #5152 Social Media Digest

 Facebook

Twitter

I have no doubt at least some of the victims were unjustly convicted and rightly pardoned. But extrajudicial executions are themselves crimes, and pardoning victims doesn't seem like justice to me. https://t.co/WXlvhDiXG0

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 10, 2021

Donald Trump has read the Bible; he found one in a nightstand drawer while waiting for his extramarital date to get ready. He discovered Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, someone he could look up to for inspiration.

"The Bible"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Perhaps Dr. Paul can prescribe eyeglasses so Fauci can read the experimental studies showing most commercial/handmade masks do little if anything to filter bioaerosols.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

The Feminine Mystique

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Any of Barry Obama's autobiographies

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

The book on politics that made Comrade Bernie a millionaire

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Das Kapital

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Genocide: you use that word. It does not mean what you think it means.#YangSupportsGenocide

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Israel has the right of self-defense. The Palestinians are well-aware the Israelis will respond vigorously to unilateral attacks. If indeed there was collateral damage, Israel should compensate the victims' families.

#YangSupportsGenocide

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

I have a sister and two nieces who are registered nurses. They are blessings in my life. #ThankYouNurses

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Yang is about as thrilled about getting Miller's praise as Liz Cheney is about getting CNN's support to keep her position in the House GOP leadership.

"Stephen Miller"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Just like Trump is in a state of denial over his role on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, rioters claim "Foxitis" or "Trump made me do it" (although you can make a reasonable argument that Trump is the devil). It is time for people to take responsibility for their actions.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

I cannot speak of Tebow's ability to play another position, but his opportunity is not based on political correctness. Kaepernick did not lose his starting job because of his protest gimmick but because of his lack of productivity on the field.

"Kaepernick"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Biden's America is morally and fiscally bankrupt. His speeches are vapid; his Politics of Envy is divisive, morally corrupt and counterproductive.

"Biden's America"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Rubbish. Statism just differs in nuance between Trump and Biden. Both of them are spendthrift, believe in the growth of the imperial Presidency.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

According to Statistics, 56% of voting women voted for Biden by exit polls and 87% of blacks. You need to vet your sources.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

He abandoned you. That may be his greatest achievement.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

Dr. Pepper is delicious; Dr. Fauci is an acquired taste. https://t.co/zWbGnJAK9d

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 11, 2021

My favorite former US senator is right about the Trumpkin cult of personality. But Liz Cheney, with ACU lifetime rating of 78%, is well below Flake's 93% or so. The only thing they have in common is Trump throwing them both under the bus. https://t.co/2esft2jymx

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

I just know Trump is going to call this "fake news". For once, he would be right.

"Students for Trump"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

Apparently the only secret they kept was from Donny Jr.

"Secret Service"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

What's amusing is how the mainstream media is making out Cheney to be a martyr based on her second impeachment vote. Never mind Cheney voted with Trump policies 93% of the time.

"Rep. Liz Cheney"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

The only fucking thing Biden has done is spend money he doesn't have--which makes him a deadbeat. The Dotard-in-Chief did nothing to develop vaccines, approved under Trump, In fact he paused J&J, which encouraged the anti-vaxxers.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

Cruz and I have one thing in common. I also do other things when Klobuchar or the Dotard-in-Chief speaks. https://t.co/7eZHDyCnoS

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

I agree. Fauci is too redundant.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

I don't give a shit about Fauci's political opinions. This isn't the Academy Awards.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

Lew Rockwell republished an older (he mentions Clinton and Dole) but good essay on his daydream of a classically liberal American government, as originally intended. https://t.co/g9cCo70rxZ

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

Donald Trump is a bitter, horrible, corrupt, contemptible waste of human life. He has no principles or morals, putting himself over the interests of our country. https://t.co/JkXCLS6S72

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

This is crackpot partisanship. Cheney's likely replacement is a NY moderate, not the wingnuts from CO, NC, and FL. https://t.co/sXH9xXIIJS

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

CNN needs fact checkers. They argued Cheney had a 93% "conservative" rating vs her likely moderate NY successor. False; she did have a 93% pro-Trump voting record. But her lifetime ACU record is well below her father's, even McCain's, noted for bipartisanship.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 12, 2021

No, "corrupt Joe Biden" looked the other way as his son took a job under a Ukrainian oligarch under the investigation of the Justice Department. No conflict of interest there, according to you left-fascists.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 13, 2021

Let's suppose for the sake of argument Burisma was a public company and I were an accountant auditing Burisma. If my theoretical wife owned any shares, we would need to sell them before I could audit the company. Why would I be subject to a higher standard than US VP Biden?

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 13, 2021

The US was looking into possible corruption of Zlochevsky, Ukraine Burisma oligarch, which made a conflict of interest issue of Joe Biden in Hunter Biden's recruitment to its board. The Trumpkin GOP never grasped the point; it had to do with US prosecutors.

"Corrupt Joe Biden"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 13, 2021

As a former conservative Dem and Republican, I am aghast that the House GOP is protecting RINO Trump and nominating a RINO Republican to replace Cheney. I have my own issues with neo-con Cheney who backed Trump 93%.

"House Republicans oust Liz Cheney from party leadership"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 13, 2021

Well, of course, local restrictions are the issue. It's not like if you're vaccinated, you have a visible V on your forehead, so states know who to target in enforcing mandates. But the health risk guidance is relevant, with or without mask mandates. https://t.co/ftWYIilQU0

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 14, 2021

Nope. There is no case that Trump is criminally culpable for inciting a riot. He didn't advocate violence in his address; he supported protesting, which is constitutional. There is a lot of evidence of preplanned agitation before the rally.

Biden has no police powers.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 14, 2021

No, it's not. Dotard-in-Chief Biden has no constitutional authority to enforce a mask mandate. Public health regulations and police powers are constitutionally enforced at the state level by the Tenth Amendment, and the private sector has a right of association. https://t.co/qRWDyue3T5

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 14, 2021

Yes. Keep in mind catching COVID will provide natural immunity of sorts but a tiny percentage will get reinfected. The same type concept here. People's immune systems differ, etc. The vaccine is most effective at minimizing extreme incidents (think ICU rooms).

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 14, 2021

A lot of people are perplexed that a vaccinated Maher got COVID, even more notably 8 players on the NY Yankees. Even people who have had COVID-19 can get reinfected. The vaccines provide protection against severe symptoms.https://t.co/CnxDjoSws4

"Bill Maher"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 14, 2021

Wow. Voting for a RINO Trumpkin doesn't make my rejoining the GOP likely anytime soon. Lecturing spendthrift Dems after Trump added over $7T to the national debt?

"Rep. Elise Stefanik chosen to replace Liz Cheney as GOP House conference chair"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 14, 2021

I'm still waiting for an Oriole to step up and say, "Bill Maher, I know Cal Ripken. He was a teammate of mine. And you are no Cal Ripken."

"Cal Ripken"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 14, 2021

"The U.S. Must Stop Being" the world's policeman.

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 15, 2021

Trump is a pathological liar. Throughout his abysmal failed President, he just made shit up. He even got impeached so he wouldn't have to face Biden in the election. Republicans don't want to admit they got swindled by an obvious con man. https://t.co/pb1GF69Lrp

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 16, 2021

You mean you're surprised that the man who married into the Trump clan didn't bring lasting peace to the Middle East?

"Kushner"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 16, 2021

Let's see--the party which has called for defunding the police wants you to believe they believe the Capitol police. Although they turned down National Guard troops offered before the rally and riot. The time for listening was BEFORE Jan. 6.

"Officer Fanone"

— raguillemette (@raguillemette) May 16, 2021