Morning! Pretty birds up there this morning!
The guys headed off to the shooting range this morning, daughter will be heading into work and I will have the house to myself for a couple hours…oh the joy! I’ll be cleaning since no one will be underfoot!! 😂
I am often up early, but I have my bible reading/prayer time before I go on any devices. Yesterday the alarm was set wrong so I had no time for reading or prayer before church. I also had no time for coffee since I have to wait because of a medication I take. I really enjoyed a cup this morning.
We are in extreme fire danger here now. Lawns are all turning brown. I do not think I have ever seen it so dry.
We have a new pastor, who officially started yesterday. There was no ceremony for having him and it is supposed to be a six month deal, but I am doubtful. We seem to be run by people’s feelings more than our constitution or careful thought. We have a loose association and that does not even seem to be considered anymore. Many have left already. So many churches seem to be in the same situation. 😦
Good morning. The rain will be with us for a few days. I need to do some catching up on my Bible study before we meet tomorrow. Our next topic in the study guide about Becoming a Woman of Excellence is on obedience.
Lovely tree swallows, AJ. My husband and I took a quick outing this morning, and I got photos of a green heron from the car window. The field we planned to cross was flooded, and he was hunting in it. 🙂 We ended up going to a different spot, and we saw a great blue heron and a kingfisher. Unfortunately the kingfisher arrived before I got my tripod set up–it’s one of the species for which I got a “tripod camera” since you can never ever get close to a kingfisher–and I don’t know if I got any good shots handheld.
Thanks for identifying those birds up there Cheryl…the one appears to be blue on it’s back…do they come in different colors? I don’t believe I have ever seen one before.
Kathaleena I do pray your area gets relief soon with moisture…the drying out happens oh so quickly.
Many churches in our area are in a flux and we found ourselves in the situation. Several families left for differing reasons but from what I understand mostly due to a mishandling and secrecy involving a lead pastor. 😞
I attended a church with daughter yesterday as she is on a search for a younger congregation more her age than what our church provides. She longs for Christian friendship with her peers but it seems nothing ever gels for her. The Lord knows….
Chas -You mentioned first responders getting shot. Is this the one you heard about?
TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — A shooting incident Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus called “horrific” left multiple people injured, including an ambulance crew, two people dead and several children missing Sunday evening.
The incident took place over three locations and involved a Tucson Fire crew, Tucson Police officers, an ambulance crew and neighbors near the original fire scene.
According to Magnus, it started at around 3:45 p.m. when TFD received a call of a house fire on the 2100 block of East Irene Vista. At the same time, an AMR ambulance was at Quincie Douglas Park, a few miles north.
Not long after the EMTs arrived at the scene, a man approached in a silver SUV and fired several shots at the driver side of the ambulance, striking the driver in the head and the passenger in the arm and chest. One of the EMTs was able to call for emergency assistance and gave a description of the suspect vehicle. The 20-year-old EMT struck in the head is currently in critical condition and the other — a 21-year-old woman — is stable, Magnus said.
Back at the house fire on Irene Vista, multiple TFD trucks had arrived and several neighbors were trying to help. Then, the same silver SUV arrived at the fire and began shooting at firefighters and neighbors at the scene. A fire captain was hit in the arm and is in good condition, but a neighbor — a 44-year-old man — was shot in the head and killed. Another neighbor’s head was grazed by a bullet, but is in good condition. Another person died in the house fire but investigators weren’t able to determine the victim’s age or gender.
Magnus says “either two or three” children associated with the home that caught fire are now missing, and police are reaching out to friends, family and neighbors that may have taken them in.
Soon after shots rang out at the house fire, an officer responded to an emergency call from TFD and was headed to the scene when he came upon the suspect SUV near the intersection of Campbell Avenue and Irene Vista. There, the suspect tried to ram his vehicle into the officer and the two exchanged gunfire. The 35-year-old suspect was hit and is said to be in critical condition.
Magnus says the officer who fired the shots is an 8-year veteran of the Tucson Police Department.
Peter. I’m sorry, but these 91 year old eyes can’t read all of that., but what little I could read does not seem to be the same that I was referring to.
The blue one is the male. The female is on the same branch above him, the brown one. The third is the fledgling, which given the long pointed wings (always more distinct on the males) I’m guessing is a male.
Nancy Jill, adult tree swallows are blue, but juveniles aren’t blue and first-year females sometimes aren’t blue yet. One of the trails near us has nest boxes and in a few cases one adult is blue and one isn’t, but in most of them both partners are blue. But the blue ones are really beautiful birds and such fun to watch in the air.
Only . . . the nest boxes are really close to the trail, and the birds don’t like people walking so close to their nests. They soon learn that they can make people “keep moving” by dive bombing them. I probably get more of the treatment than most other people, since most other people on the trail are moving at a continuous speed. Me, I walk till I find something interesting to photograph, and I tend to go about one mile in an hour. So I will have a female dive bomb me and do a little click as she gets to within a foot or two of my head, and she’ll keep doing it every few seconds until I leave. A couple of weeks ago I was trying to photograph a dragonfly species I don’t see very often. My back was to her nest box and I was a few yards away from it, but in her mind I was too close, so she kept bombing me. Not only was it distracting, but twice she got close enough to the dragonfly that it flew, so I wasn’t getting my photos anyway, and I finally left. I’ve tried to get photos of her as she zooms toward me, but never manage it. I’m guessing she is deliberately aiming somewhere else than the area with the camera. I imagine it could make some fascinating photos for someone else standing nearby with a camera, though. And I guess I wouldn’t like it if she ever decided just to go for my camera. 🙂
I was just sitting here, thinking about some things.
Then it occurred to me, “Does the God of all creation care about this??
Then the answer came back.
He does
Well, I slept. Went out and did some of my chores, husband did a lot of them. Then took a nap for an hour or so. Not as achy today, throat still hurts, and very tired.
Last night I dreamed things were odd — for one, a female politician I’ve covered through the years adopted a little girl but was “swapping” her out due to an eye defect. Who does that, I thought?
I eventually found out we had somehow been transported to a couple thousand years into the future and that’s what people did.
My driveway is stacked end-to-end with a van, a CRV and my Jeep to abide by the “Tow-Away Zone” signs posted all along our curb, including one hanging off of Charlie Brown, by the city. They are supposed to start road work today on our block, but nothing yet. It’ll be off and on through the week and on at least one day they’ve warned us we won’t be able to drive on the street at all. I’m just hoping I can get out to go to the Valley tomorrow to visit my friend; if not we’ll have to push it maybe until Saturday, her only other available day.
The weather is getting warmer as we head toward August. It continues to be dry.
Our church is in the process of taking on 5-6 new elders as several have stepped down, most by way of “leaves” that could be temporary, so they’re still in our church — but the covid period took its toll on those guys who had to navigate the church through some very rough, emotional and divided waters.
And now covid appears to be making an encore among more church members who have fallen ill just lately, I suppose it’s the Delta variety mostly hitting the unvaccinated. I realize that some folks just brush all of this off, but covid simply isn’t a virus one wants to get. Complicating matters potentially now is that we just got back to one, combined worship service, largely unmasked.
Daughter who is helping down in Buhl and was half vaccinated apparently got it, tested positive. Daughter who was fully vaccinated did not but her husband, also fully vaccinated, did. As did the four children. All doing better.
I see on TV that “Stocks drip because of covid resergence”
I doubt that. But they always have to have a reason for some TV announcement.
It may not amount to anything. But it’s something.
Michelle mentioned the Olympics on the news thread. I see where eldest son is in Japan to work the Olympics. He is on a three week quarantine (he is fully vaccinated) and there is not a food venue on the Olympic grounds so he is eating from a local convenience store. He who is very careful about what he eats though is willing to try anything in whatever country he finds himself.
Vaccines don’t prevent infections necessarily, just the more serious aspects of the disease. You have a 95+% chance of not being hospitalized with an infection if you’re vaccinated.
What’s tricky is that it then still spreads from the vaccinated to others who may not be vaccinated and become more seriously ill.
So I’m reluctantly understanding the move back toward everyone wearing masks indoors. The few weeks of freedom we had did, indeed (and apparently many unvaccinated folks also had shed their masks), “bite back.”
It’s a dilemma — temporary in the grand scheme of things, but a dilemma.
Peter, I saw that story on the news we watch before Art leaves for work. It was a sad reprieve from all the horrible Atlanta crime news. I find myself shaking my head almost in disbelief through the twenty minutes or so of tv news each morning.
Most recently there was a child, I assume he was black, who had the word GAY shaved into his hair. There were three adults from his household (who were black) who were arrested for verbal and physical abuse related to his sexual identity. It was based on a video that went viral, but the news chose not show it. The news man said it was even hard for the investigators to watch.
Then there was a large dump type truck that somehow had its back end turned up when it attempted to go under a bridge on I-16 that goes down to Savannah. The bridge was moved off its buttresses so it had to be demolished. I hope there will not be any copy cat incidents. They said it was a miracle no one got hurt and were thankful it did not happen during rush hour
I keep getting pressed to get the Covid vaccine. I have my heels dug in waiting for the Novavax. I have already heard that the Pfizer vax that Art got is not too effective against the Delta variation. I have never stopped wearing a mask in this area where we live when I go to any public place.
mumsee, agreed, some medically should not be vaccinated. The vaccines aren’t readily available in some areas, but that’s mostly a problem in poorer nations that are really suffering from those effects. There seem to be quite a number in the U.S. who are choosing to forego it.
We’re just over 50% vaccinated in LA; but 80% of those over 65 have now been fully vaccinated, which is encouraging as they’re most at risk.
Great progress IS being made and we’ll get there, despite all the screaming and arguing. But by the time we cross that finish line, this will probably have been close to a 2-year battle. We’re all weary and too-often agitated.
The existing vaccines are actually very effective at preventing infections but especially preventing serious impacts of the disease, including the newer variants. I believe it’s something like 99% of those hospitalized now had not been vaccinated which gives us some information.
Additional vaccines are good — we should have a decent arsenal in another few months(?) (not sure what the timeline is on Novovax). But I was grateful for the quick turnaround we had with Pfizer and Moderna which (I believe) likely saved a number of lives and kept misery at bay for others, including businesses that began feeling easier about reopening as well as their employees on the front lines with the public every day.
My personal take is that we really are blessed to I’ve in an age of modern medicine and in a nation that can provide that kind of preventative medical care on a pretty large scale — and efficiently, though there were some hiccups.
Son in law just gave notice that he will not be getting the vaccination. The hospital where he works is requiring it as of Sept 1 so sounds like he will be job hunting. Daughter also works there but will get a deferment for trying to have a baby in the next year. Seems like he could get the same deferment. This is America after all.
My K friend at one point said I should do it for humanities sake. Of crouse if I don’t get it, I will automatically become the point at which the virus evolves into some new more horrible variant. She just can’t fathom my not getting it. The saving of the world hinges on me getting the vax right now. She later apologized and said it is my choice. I did not bother her about her choice.
DJ is correct; nothing is 100% guaranteed, but a vaccine does reduce the chances of getting a serious case of the disease.
Both experts in my household warn that it is far more dangerous for the unvaccinated now than it has been since the COVID restrictions came down 16 months ago.
The Delta variation is easier to catch, particularly now.
If you elect not to get vaccinated, be especially diligent and careful.
The rain had stopped but now seems like a monsoon. I had earlier walked or slogged through the yard. We are saturated. I prayed earlier per a friend’s request for Mumbai that is experiencing so much rain and collapsing buildings causing deaths. I again give God thanks for our solid roof.
Looks like the street resurfacing vehicles are beginning to amass.
I’m off to the vet with Cowboy for a back treatment. Looking forward to cranking the car’s A/C up full blast. It’s not miserably hot here, just in the lower 80s, but humidity seems higher than we’re used to here (around 50%).
DJ – Our humidity has been in the 80+ and 90+ percentage range for at least a few days. Even with the ac on, I can still feel some of it, especially when I am busy doing things and moving around. Even when the temperature dips into the 70s, the humidity still makes it feel uncomfortable.
Yesterday, a small tornado (EF0) went through the next town over for almost two miles. No one was hurt, and no homes were destroyed, but there was a bunch of property damage, and some downed trees. One family had a tree come down and crush both of their vehicles.
But what caught my attention, watching a video online from a newscast, was recognizing the house where Chickadee and the McKs live, as it was mentioned that it had some of its gutters torn off from the wind. Probably the only reason that that was mentioned was because the downstairs of the large house is a business. But what a surprise to see that house in the video.
I texted Chickadee about seeing that, and asked if it was scary. She replied that they were out to dinner when it happened, so they didn’t experience any fright.
(I was pleased that she replied. But I couldn’t help wonder why she can go out with them but can’t come over to visit. 😦 )
I’ve only been on the east coast in winter and spring but I do remember the Iowa / Midwest humidity, awful. I think the saving grace in those areas is that summer tends to be short, it comes, it goes, it’s cool come September, is that about right? Last time I was in Iowa it was in September and it was jacket weather.
We, on the other hand, have summer lasting through September/October so it’s always hard to get into the fall mood.
So glad at least Chickadee responded, maybe that’ll help break the ice in communication?
Glad everyone was OK. We get water spouts out in the ocean off our coast sometimes, and I think there have been little tornados in past years, but nothing like it is farther east.
okay, I changed my newsletter and sent it off again. The checker I used wanted more white space and fewer pictures. To me that is just personal preference. We will see…
Do you all looks for more white space?? I can see that it would help Chas.
Updated my phone. I had one a few generations old (an iPhone 8 which is starting to get glitchy) and am trading that in for a current iPhone 12. Monthly bill is hardly going up at all, which was great. But it is now a 3-year contract.
I appreciate white space, bullet points, and simple photos. Add bolder and larger print. Best to consider the age of the majority of the newsletter readers to decide what is best.
DJ – September here starts off summery and gradually turns towards fall weather as the month progresses. But it is generally a more pleasant month than July or August.
Yes, I am hoping that Chickadee’s response was indicative of some more communication, but I am trying to not get my hopes up too high. After her reply to my initial text, I then replied that I was glad it wasn’t worse. She replied to that with a heart emoji. So now I am wondering if that was her deciding to reply with an emoji like I had suggested she do last week (so that I know she read my message) or if it was only specific to this particular time. Guess I’ll find out next week when I send my next weekly text.
I love it when a news story I’m writing lends itself to bullet points — an easy and clear way to provide information without a lot of clutter that readers may not bother to wade through in paragraph form.
It’s cooling off nicely tonight. I don’t know why 81-82 degrees feels so hot right now, unless it’s just that we haven’t had much in the way of serious heat waves (yet). I guess we’ve been in the 70s for so long that 82 just seems a lot “hotter.”
DJ, we are watching something on PBS about the newspaper industry with a lot about the Denver Post. I wonder if you’ve seen the program? Now they are talking about the competitor, the Rocky Mountain News. The program is making me think back over all youse have been through with so many layoffs.
The book I’ve been working on for church is going to have an audience that is everywhere from six or eight up to ninety-something, and I tried to include something for everyone. It has chapters on church history, some of them fairly meaty, but it also has lots of photos. It has maps and timelines for those who do best with visuals.
I also scattered multiple screenshots of “news” items from our church magazine up through the 1980s (when that particular magazine ceased publication). Some of it was serious, such as obituaries, but we also found interesting trivia, like a write-up on the first wedding in our current church building. My hunch is that at least some of the children will be searching the book for those little bits of trivia to read them aloud to their families.
When we were discussing chapter ideas, I had one that with met with a “meh” by the committee, but I pursued it anyway–and it was the one my two reviewers in the church said made them laugh, and that they really seemed to like.
It was perfectly suited for bullet points.
I decided to look at how different our world (especially our country and our state) were 200 years ago, so I looked up a whole bunch of factual information for 1821, 1921, and 2021. How many states were in the USA, who was president, the population of the state and the country, that sort of information. But I added such tidbits as Abraham Lincoln wasn’t yet a teenager in 1821 or how many years you had to wait if you wanted to buy a typewriter–random but interesting facts. I kept it all fairly brief, but enough information to see that yes, life was much different then. It helped that I had a map of Indiana from the 1820s . . . a map with a very different feel to it than today’s. Most of the state was Indian country.
Janice, I haven’t seen that — but Denver Post is in our national chain, that’s now where most of our corporate functions are (HR, payroll, etc.). They’ve taken big hits. It’s all been hard.
This is from a couple years ago. Lots of drama around that editorial, we all read it and shared it; but it ultimately didn’t change anything.
MEDIA
As hedge funds overtake media, the Denver Post leads a vocal revolt against ‘vulture capitalists’
PUBLISHED SAT, JUN 16 2018
… The Denver Post has become the face of this struggle, due to an editorial published in its own pages lashing out against owners, New York-based hedge fund Alden Global Capital.
Coordinated by editor Chuck Plunkett, the editorial labeled Alden “vulture capitalists” and protested a strategy the staff said reduced “the amount and quality of its offerings, while steadily increasing its subscription rates.” It accused Alden of hiding behind the “narrative that adequately staffed newsrooms and newspapers can no longer survive in the digital marketplace.”
The editorial followed a particularly brutal round of layoffs in April that cut the staff by one third, down 30 from about 100. The Post has cut its staff about 70 percent since Alden and its founder Randall Smith took control in 2011, according to data from the Denver Newspaper Guild.
“Everybody has to do more for less and there are some things we’ve just had to let go,” said Noelle Phillips, law enforcement and public safety reporter for the Denver Post. “There is no room to be innovative with digital or online. You are so busy staying afloat you can’t do something like that.” …
Cheryl, that book sounds fascinating, written to make history colorful, not just black and white. I’m sure it will be enjoyed and treasured, a unique gift to that church body.
Morning, Chas. Enjoy your cheerios. I will be having steel cut oats for mine. I cook them ahead and just reheat. But first I add a cut up quarter of an apple, which cooks while i am heating the oatmeal. Of course, I must have honey on top for some sweetening.
Wandering Views 
Morning all. Chas is already up and at em. The rest of you will have to hustle to keep up with the 90 year old.
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A few months ago, before Elvera died. I had auxiliary power instaled in this house.
About ten minutes ago (8:00), the power went out.
But here I am.
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Morning! Pretty birds up there this morning!
The guys headed off to the shooting range this morning, daughter will be heading into work and I will have the house to myself for a couple hours…oh the joy! I’ll be cleaning since no one will be underfoot!! 😂
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If you’re ever discouraged with the way things are in America, think of the millions on the border trying to get here.
T
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I am often up early, but I have my bible reading/prayer time before I go on any devices. Yesterday the alarm was set wrong so I had no time for reading or prayer before church. I also had no time for coffee since I have to wait because of a medication I take. I really enjoyed a cup this morning.
We are in extreme fire danger here now. Lawns are all turning brown. I do not think I have ever seen it so dry.
We have a new pastor, who officially started yesterday. There was no ceremony for having him and it is supposed to be a six month deal, but I am doubtful. We seem to be run by people’s feelings more than our constitution or careful thought. We have a loose association and that does not even seem to be considered anymore. Many have left already. So many churches seem to be in the same situation. 😦
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Good morning. The rain will be with us for a few days. I need to do some catching up on my Bible study before we meet tomorrow. Our next topic in the study guide about Becoming a Woman of Excellence is on obedience.
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Lovely tree swallows, AJ. My husband and I took a quick outing this morning, and I got photos of a green heron from the car window. The field we planned to cross was flooded, and he was hunting in it. 🙂 We ended up going to a different spot, and we saw a great blue heron and a kingfisher. Unfortunately the kingfisher arrived before I got my tripod set up–it’s one of the species for which I got a “tripod camera” since you can never ever get close to a kingfisher–and I don’t know if I got any good shots handheld.
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Thanks for identifying those birds up there Cheryl…the one appears to be blue on it’s back…do they come in different colors? I don’t believe I have ever seen one before.
Kathaleena I do pray your area gets relief soon with moisture…the drying out happens oh so quickly.
Many churches in our area are in a flux and we found ourselves in the situation. Several families left for differing reasons but from what I understand mostly due to a mishandling and secrecy involving a lead pastor. 😞
I attended a church with daughter yesterday as she is on a search for a younger congregation more her age than what our church provides. She longs for Christian friendship with her peers but it seems nothing ever gels for her. The Lord knows….
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Chas -You mentioned first responders getting shot. Is this the one you heard about?
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Peter. I’m sorry, but these 91 year old eyes can’t read all of that., but what little I could read does not seem to be the same that I was referring to.
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I try to comunicate better. But this is the best I can do.
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NancyJill,
The blue one is the male. The female is on the same branch above him, the brown one. The third is the fledgling, which given the long pointed wings (always more distinct on the males) I’m guessing is a male.
They put on quite the show.
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Nancy Jill, adult tree swallows are blue, but juveniles aren’t blue and first-year females sometimes aren’t blue yet. One of the trails near us has nest boxes and in a few cases one adult is blue and one isn’t, but in most of them both partners are blue. But the blue ones are really beautiful birds and such fun to watch in the air.
Only . . . the nest boxes are really close to the trail, and the birds don’t like people walking so close to their nests. They soon learn that they can make people “keep moving” by dive bombing them. I probably get more of the treatment than most other people, since most other people on the trail are moving at a continuous speed. Me, I walk till I find something interesting to photograph, and I tend to go about one mile in an hour. So I will have a female dive bomb me and do a little click as she gets to within a foot or two of my head, and she’ll keep doing it every few seconds until I leave. A couple of weeks ago I was trying to photograph a dragonfly species I don’t see very often. My back was to her nest box and I was a few yards away from it, but in her mind I was too close, so she kept bombing me. Not only was it distracting, but twice she got close enough to the dragonfly that it flew, so I wasn’t getting my photos anyway, and I finally left. I’ve tried to get photos of her as she zooms toward me, but never manage it. I’m guessing she is deliberately aiming somewhere else than the area with the camera. I imagine it could make some fascinating photos for someone else standing nearby with a camera, though. And I guess I wouldn’t like it if she ever decided just to go for my camera. 🙂
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I was just sitting here, thinking about some things.
Then it occurred to me, “Does the God of all creation care about this??
Then the answer came back.
He does
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Well, I slept. Went out and did some of my chores, husband did a lot of them. Then took a nap for an hour or so. Not as achy today, throat still hurts, and very tired.
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Last night I dreamed things were odd — for one, a female politician I’ve covered through the years adopted a little girl but was “swapping” her out due to an eye defect. Who does that, I thought?
I eventually found out we had somehow been transported to a couple thousand years into the future and that’s what people did.
My driveway is stacked end-to-end with a van, a CRV and my Jeep to abide by the “Tow-Away Zone” signs posted all along our curb, including one hanging off of Charlie Brown, by the city. They are supposed to start road work today on our block, but nothing yet. It’ll be off and on through the week and on at least one day they’ve warned us we won’t be able to drive on the street at all. I’m just hoping I can get out to go to the Valley tomorrow to visit my friend; if not we’ll have to push it maybe until Saturday, her only other available day.
The weather is getting warmer as we head toward August. It continues to be dry.
Our church is in the process of taking on 5-6 new elders as several have stepped down, most by way of “leaves” that could be temporary, so they’re still in our church — but the covid period took its toll on those guys who had to navigate the church through some very rough, emotional and divided waters.
And now covid appears to be making an encore among more church members who have fallen ill just lately, I suppose it’s the Delta variety mostly hitting the unvaccinated. I realize that some folks just brush all of this off, but covid simply isn’t a virus one wants to get. Complicating matters potentially now is that we just got back to one, combined worship service, largely unmasked.
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“It continues to be dry.”
Why do I even mention that? haha. Dry is us.
When – if — it ever rains again, you’ll hear us shriek.
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Ah, yes, I’m dreaming of rain–any day, any time, any amount.
Maybe God is forcing you to stay home for a genuine stay-cation? 🙂
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Daughter who is helping down in Buhl and was half vaccinated apparently got it, tested positive. Daughter who was fully vaccinated did not but her husband, also fully vaccinated, did. As did the four children. All doing better.
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I see on TV that “Stocks drip because of covid resergence”
I doubt that. But they always have to have a reason for some TV announcement.
It may not amount to anything. But it’s something.
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Michelle mentioned the Olympics on the news thread. I see where eldest son is in Japan to work the Olympics. He is on a three week quarantine (he is fully vaccinated) and there is not a food venue on the Olympic grounds so he is eating from a local convenience store. He who is very careful about what he eats though is willing to try anything in whatever country he finds himself.
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Stocks dip and rise all the time, but yes, they do sort of “knee-jerk” react to world events.
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Vaccines don’t prevent infections necessarily, just the more serious aspects of the disease. You have a 95+% chance of not being hospitalized with an infection if you’re vaccinated.
What’s tricky is that it then still spreads from the vaccinated to others who may not be vaccinated and become more seriously ill.
So I’m reluctantly understanding the move back toward everyone wearing masks indoors. The few weeks of freedom we had did, indeed (and apparently many unvaccinated folks also had shed their masks), “bite back.”
It’s a dilemma — temporary in the grand scheme of things, but a dilemma.
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Stock trends and headlines often mirror each other. But stock trends are very transitory, up today, down tomorrow
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Just the same, Donna @ 2:09
I donn’t want to get suck with nothing.
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I try not to look at my already-modest 401K too often.
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Many of the non vaccinated may well have reason to be un vaccinated.
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Peter, I saw that story on the news we watch before Art leaves for work. It was a sad reprieve from all the horrible Atlanta crime news. I find myself shaking my head almost in disbelief through the twenty minutes or so of tv news each morning.
Most recently there was a child, I assume he was black, who had the word GAY shaved into his hair. There were three adults from his household (who were black) who were arrested for verbal and physical abuse related to his sexual identity. It was based on a video that went viral, but the news chose not show it. The news man said it was even hard for the investigators to watch.
Then there was a large dump type truck that somehow had its back end turned up when it attempted to go under a bridge on I-16 that goes down to Savannah. The bridge was moved off its buttresses so it had to be demolished. I hope there will not be any copy cat incidents. They said it was a miracle no one got hurt and were thankful it did not happen during rush hour
I just shake my head at all the craziness.
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I keep getting pressed to get the Covid vaccine. I have my heels dug in waiting for the Novavax. I have already heard that the Pfizer vax that Art got is not too effective against the Delta variation. I have never stopped wearing a mask in this area where we live when I go to any public place.
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mumsee, agreed, some medically should not be vaccinated. The vaccines aren’t readily available in some areas, but that’s mostly a problem in poorer nations that are really suffering from those effects. There seem to be quite a number in the U.S. who are choosing to forego it.
We’re just over 50% vaccinated in LA; but 80% of those over 65 have now been fully vaccinated, which is encouraging as they’re most at risk.
Great progress IS being made and we’ll get there, despite all the screaming and arguing. But by the time we cross that finish line, this will probably have been close to a 2-year battle. We’re all weary and too-often agitated.
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The existing vaccines are actually very effective at preventing infections but especially preventing serious impacts of the disease, including the newer variants. I believe it’s something like 99% of those hospitalized now had not been vaccinated which gives us some information.
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Additional vaccines are good — we should have a decent arsenal in another few months(?) (not sure what the timeline is on Novovax). But I was grateful for the quick turnaround we had with Pfizer and Moderna which (I believe) likely saved a number of lives and kept misery at bay for others, including businesses that began feeling easier about reopening as well as their employees on the front lines with the public every day.
My personal take is that we really are blessed to I’ve in an age of modern medicine and in a nation that can provide that kind of preventative medical care on a pretty large scale — and efficiently, though there were some hiccups.
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Seriously
When you reach 91 years of age, you don’t spend lots of time worrying about something/nothing.
You really don’.
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Son in law just gave notice that he will not be getting the vaccination. The hospital where he works is requiring it as of Sept 1 so sounds like he will be job hunting. Daughter also works there but will get a deferment for trying to have a baby in the next year. Seems like he could get the same deferment. This is America after all.
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My K friend at one point said I should do it for humanities sake. Of crouse if I don’t get it, I will automatically become the point at which the virus evolves into some new more horrible variant. She just can’t fathom my not getting it. The saving of the world hinges on me getting the vax right now. She later apologized and said it is my choice. I did not bother her about her choice.
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DJ is correct; nothing is 100% guaranteed, but a vaccine does reduce the chances of getting a serious case of the disease.
Both experts in my household warn that it is far more dangerous for the unvaccinated now than it has been since the COVID restrictions came down 16 months ago.
The Delta variation is easier to catch, particularly now.
If you elect not to get vaccinated, be especially diligent and careful.
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The rain had stopped but now seems like a monsoon. I had earlier walked or slogged through the yard. We are saturated. I prayed earlier per a friend’s request for Mumbai that is experiencing so much rain and collapsing buildings causing deaths. I again give God thanks for our solid roof.
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The heavy rain is dying down now. Thankful. Glad I got the mail during the lull.
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Looks like the street resurfacing vehicles are beginning to amass.
I’m off to the vet with Cowboy for a back treatment. Looking forward to cranking the car’s A/C up full blast. It’s not miserably hot here, just in the lower 80s, but humidity seems higher than we’re used to here (around 50%).
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DJ – Our humidity has been in the 80+ and 90+ percentage range for at least a few days. Even with the ac on, I can still feel some of it, especially when I am busy doing things and moving around. Even when the temperature dips into the 70s, the humidity still makes it feel uncomfortable.
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Yesterday, a small tornado (EF0) went through the next town over for almost two miles. No one was hurt, and no homes were destroyed, but there was a bunch of property damage, and some downed trees. One family had a tree come down and crush both of their vehicles.
But what caught my attention, watching a video online from a newscast, was recognizing the house where Chickadee and the McKs live, as it was mentioned that it had some of its gutters torn off from the wind. Probably the only reason that that was mentioned was because the downstairs of the large house is a business. But what a surprise to see that house in the video.
I texted Chickadee about seeing that, and asked if it was scary. She replied that they were out to dinner when it happened, so they didn’t experience any fright.
(I was pleased that she replied. But I couldn’t help wonder why she can go out with them but can’t come over to visit. 😦 )
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DJ – I said that the humidity has been high for at least a few days, but really, it has been like that most of this month. 😦
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I’ve only been on the east coast in winter and spring but I do remember the Iowa / Midwest humidity, awful. I think the saving grace in those areas is that summer tends to be short, it comes, it goes, it’s cool come September, is that about right? Last time I was in Iowa it was in September and it was jacket weather.
We, on the other hand, have summer lasting through September/October so it’s always hard to get into the fall mood.
So glad at least Chickadee responded, maybe that’ll help break the ice in communication?
Glad everyone was OK. We get water spouts out in the ocean off our coast sometimes, and I think there have been little tornados in past years, but nothing like it is farther east.
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okay, I changed my newsletter and sent it off again. The checker I used wanted more white space and fewer pictures. To me that is just personal preference. We will see…
Do you all looks for more white space?? I can see that it would help Chas.
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Updated my phone. I had one a few generations old (an iPhone 8 which is starting to get glitchy) and am trading that in for a current iPhone 12. Monthly bill is hardly going up at all, which was great. But it is now a 3-year contract.
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I appreciate white space, bullet points, and simple photos. Add bolder and larger print. Best to consider the age of the majority of the newsletter readers to decide what is best.
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DJ – September here starts off summery and gradually turns towards fall weather as the month progresses. But it is generally a more pleasant month than July or August.
Yes, I am hoping that Chickadee’s response was indicative of some more communication, but I am trying to not get my hopes up too high. After her reply to my initial text, I then replied that I was glad it wasn’t worse. She replied to that with a heart emoji. So now I am wondering if that was her deciding to reply with an emoji like I had suggested she do last week (so that I know she read my message) or if it was only specific to this particular time. Guess I’ll find out next week when I send my next weekly text.
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I love it when a news story I’m writing lends itself to bullet points — an easy and clear way to provide information without a lot of clutter that readers may not bother to wade through in paragraph form.
It’s cooling off nicely tonight. I don’t know why 81-82 degrees feels so hot right now, unless it’s just that we haven’t had much in the way of serious heat waves (yet). I guess we’ve been in the 70s for so long that 82 just seems a lot “hotter.”
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DJ, we are watching something on PBS about the newspaper industry with a lot about the Denver Post. I wonder if you’ve seen the program? Now they are talking about the competitor, the Rocky Mountain News. The program is making me think back over all youse have been through with so many layoffs.
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Youse=You
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The book I’ve been working on for church is going to have an audience that is everywhere from six or eight up to ninety-something, and I tried to include something for everyone. It has chapters on church history, some of them fairly meaty, but it also has lots of photos. It has maps and timelines for those who do best with visuals.
I also scattered multiple screenshots of “news” items from our church magazine up through the 1980s (when that particular magazine ceased publication). Some of it was serious, such as obituaries, but we also found interesting trivia, like a write-up on the first wedding in our current church building. My hunch is that at least some of the children will be searching the book for those little bits of trivia to read them aloud to their families.
When we were discussing chapter ideas, I had one that with met with a “meh” by the committee, but I pursued it anyway–and it was the one my two reviewers in the church said made them laugh, and that they really seemed to like.
It was perfectly suited for bullet points.
I decided to look at how different our world (especially our country and our state) were 200 years ago, so I looked up a whole bunch of factual information for 1821, 1921, and 2021. How many states were in the USA, who was president, the population of the state and the country, that sort of information. But I added such tidbits as Abraham Lincoln wasn’t yet a teenager in 1821 or how many years you had to wait if you wanted to buy a typewriter–random but interesting facts. I kept it all fairly brief, but enough information to see that yes, life was much different then. It helped that I had a map of Indiana from the 1820s . . . a map with a very different feel to it than today’s. Most of the state was Indian country.
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Janice, I haven’t seen that — but Denver Post is in our national chain, that’s now where most of our corporate functions are (HR, payroll, etc.). They’ve taken big hits. It’s all been hard.
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This is from a couple years ago. Lots of drama around that editorial, we all read it and shared it; but it ultimately didn’t change anything.
MEDIA
As hedge funds overtake media, the Denver Post leads a vocal revolt against ‘vulture capitalists’
PUBLISHED SAT, JUN 16 2018
… The Denver Post has become the face of this struggle, due to an editorial published in its own pages lashing out against owners, New York-based hedge fund Alden Global Capital.
Coordinated by editor Chuck Plunkett, the editorial labeled Alden “vulture capitalists” and protested a strategy the staff said reduced “the amount and quality of its offerings, while steadily increasing its subscription rates.” It accused Alden of hiding behind the “narrative that adequately staffed newsrooms and newspapers can no longer survive in the digital marketplace.”
The editorial followed a particularly brutal round of layoffs in April that cut the staff by one third, down 30 from about 100. The Post has cut its staff about 70 percent since Alden and its founder Randall Smith took control in 2011, according to data from the Denver Newspaper Guild.
“Everybody has to do more for less and there are some things we’ve just had to let go,” said Noelle Phillips, law enforcement and public safety reporter for the Denver Post. “There is no room to be innovative with digital or online. You are so busy staying afloat you can’t do something like that.” …
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/16/denver-post-reporters-vs-vulture-capitalist-hedge-fund-alden.html
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Cheryl, that book sounds fascinating, written to make history colorful, not just black and white. I’m sure it will be enjoyed and treasured, a unique gift to that church body.
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Good evenin Jo
Goo
Good morning everyone else.
Off to breakfast.
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Morning, Chas. Enjoy your cheerios. I will be having steel cut oats for mine. I cook them ahead and just reheat. But first I add a cut up quarter of an apple, which cooks while i am heating the oatmeal. Of course, I must have honey on top for some sweetening.
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Sounds good, Go
You know that everything is going wel l in the world when the headline is Bezos blasting off into space.
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