Votes for Everyone - 10 March 2022 - Plague Journal Day 728

Micah 6:8
Matthew 20:25-26
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

On 10 March 1971 the US Senate approved an amendment lowering the voting age to 18. I remember that change, and I remember thinking that - even though I was one of its "beneficiaries" - it sounded like a bad idea. I still think it might have been a foolish move.

I understand the idea that "if they're old enough to be in the Army, they're old enough to vote," but when we dump kids at 18 into the Army, we don't ask them what they want, we tell them what to do and teach them how to do it. Does anyone really think it's a good idea to have folks with limited education (especially these days) and essentially no actual life experience decide how the rest of us should live and behave?

I have enough trouble accepting the current ruling class (who tend to match that description above, now that I think about it) and their whims and pronouncements. I think I'll go grab a spare $60k and buy a Tesla so I don't have to worry about gas prices. What idiocy.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Hypocrisy, thy name is Bezos - 08 February 2021 - Plague Journal Day 333

Micah 6:8
Isaiah 58:2-4
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

 Jeff, Jeff, Jeff:

• Mail-in voting for a Presidential election is great! It makes sure the most people can participate!
  Go America!
• Mail-in voting for unionization is bad! In-person voting makes sure the most people can participate!
  Go Amazon!

Anyone see a problem here? It all comes down to whose Ox is being Gored (or Bidened, I suppose).

As if I needed any more reasons to dislike Amazon and its kleptocratic overlords.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

28 September 2020 - Plague Journal Day 199

Micah 6:8
Romans 14:12-14
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

A quick mostly-non-political question for your consideration:
It seems that we're all desperately worried that the huge volume of absentee votes will overwhelm the mostly volunteer cadre of folks who have to count them. I think that's a realistic worry, and it seems to me that it would go a long way toward preventing any problems if those of us who don't actually have to vote absentee would simply vote in person. If you can go to Kroger, you can go to the polls. You know they're going to be enforcing masks and distancing as well as they can, so if you can, please vote in person.
The vote you cast may be your own.

OK, back to our regularly scheduled blog:

Today is Read A Child A Book You Like Day. That sounds like a hoot, really. I mean, almost all of us have at least one book they remember fondly from childhood. Why not find a copy of that book, find a child, and give this day a go? It's interesting, because I was just thinking of what to read next, and thought I might pull out The Wind in the Willows. I haven't read it in ages, but it's one of those books that works regardless of the reader's age. What's your book you'd like to read to a child?

Oh, and today is also National Drink Beer Day, so on top of that,you could drink a beer while reading to a child. That sounds like a prescription for things to go very right in an interesting way, no? Try doing voices for each character - and see if the child catches you when you use the wrong voice for one of them.

This should be fun!

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

21 September 2020 - Plague Journal Day 192

Micah 6:8
Genesis 41:39-45
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is the 83rd anniversary of the first publication of JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit." It's a fun book to read, and doesn't take nearly as long to read as it does to watch the bloated trilogy that was created from the book (along with extra story lines to help fill the extra time), and who knows? you may even discover parts the movies missed.
I highly recommend reading the book if you have a chance (and I'm pretty sure it won't be hard to find).

A quick closing political aside: Early voting. That sounds like a convenience, but is it? Suppose something happens after your early vote to make you want to change your mind. That shouldn't be inconceivable, right? I mean, if there's nothing that can make you change your mind, you probably are just voting out of reflex rather than reflection.
Voting before the candidates even meet for a debate? That sounds downright insane. Please think before you vote, and vote responsibly.


Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.