World Views

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/the- ... index.html

Suggests a future (but different) Mile High Club ...
for joggin' high above the tall buildings.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/289 ... o-olympics

"International Olympic Committee released guidelines for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
that included a ban on 'gestures of a political nature, like a hand gesture or kneeling.' "

Apparently, the one-knee and similar symbolism do not have worldwide acceptance
and are considered political statements - not religious or social righteousness.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/jef ... 00459.html

"Bezos used the opportunity to educate the shopper and others.
'Black lives matter' doesn't mean other lives don't matter"

Bezos can afford to lose customers, unlike smaller businesses that
require management to keep their personal protests less confrontive
... when their many disagreeing customers can shop elsewhere.

Interestingly, it might be a good time to start a rival to Amazon.
Musk is ready to help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoi0DbqT2Og

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... -toll.html

"22 states where COVID-19 is on RISE: Worrying new figures show uptick in infections across mainly southern states -
and impact of mass protests has YET to be seen"

After months of good control the trend is reversing, hinting that people prefer a new mantra:
"Just get it and survive ... or not! Life goes on ... for most people!"

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aust ... SKBN23H0WM

"The world’s largest population of nesting green turtles is nearly twice as big as previously thought,
scientists said on Wednesday, after drones enabled better surveys of the animals."

Interesting use of drones to improve a study. But number of people sunbathing naked on a rooftop
(or in their back yard) probably depends on satellites since there are so many rooftops and yards
(and computers can do the counting using AI technology).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/wearing ... 54769.html

"couples will have to decide what they’re comfortable doing behind closed doors."

So, what else is new?! Even individuals have to decide this ...
like eating a pint of ice cream with nuts and whipped cream
... then eating supper.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/289 ... -privilege

"Mark Cuban: White People Must Have Uncomfortable Talks About White Privilege"

Yes, a thorough discussion of "privilege" is needed because the ultimate elimination of privilege
may be communism: "Society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid
according to their abilities and needs."

Such discussion is likely to remain complex because, for example, well-paid gifted black athletes
would be considered privileged over second string white athletes. Distinguished black professors
would be considered privileged over non-tenured Asian college instructors.

Disregarding the impractical goal of near-term communism, such discussion should identify
what it means to have privilege and present achievable plans for sharing that identified as "privilege".
However, even within race, economic class distinction will be difficult to eliminate short-term.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/avia ... 01603.html

"Shipping Pigs to China in 747 Jumbo Jets"

“Previously, more than half of all aviation cargoes were carried in the luggage compartments of passenger planes."

Say what?!" Luggage compartments were sometimes stuffed, from pigs to pineapples?

Rod

[Sandy]

"Mark Cuban: White People Must Have Uncomfortable Talks About White Privilege"

Rod wrote:

Yes, a thorough discussion of "privilege" is needed because the ultimate elimination of privilege
may be communism: "Society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid
according to their abilities and needs."

Such discussion is likely to remain complex because, for example, well-paid gifted black athletes
would be considered privileged over second string white athletes. Distinguished black professors
would be considered privileged over non-tenured Asian college instructors.

Disregarding the impractical goal of near-term communism, such discussion should identify
what it means to have privilege and present achievable plans for sharing that identified as "privilege".
However, even within race, economic class distinction will be difficult to eliminate short-term.

Disregarding the impractical goal of near-term communism, such discussion should identify
what it means to have privilege and present achievable plans for sharing that identified as "privilege".
However, even within race, economic class distinction will be difficult to eliminate short-term.

Rod,
I have two grown boys with families of their own. After the initial fear of teaching them to drive as teenagers and worries over them doing something wrong. I didn't worry that they wouldn't come home after a jaunt to the store to pick up some milk. Many black mothers do not have that luxury. I do not think it is possible for me to completely know what that feels like.

I have an uncle a year older then me who has trouble with alcohol and has had bouts of drug use in his life. He could have been just like George Floyd but no probably not because he is white. Is this white privilege in our country?.. and this can go on and on...It isn't just have and have not..it is also opportunity and a host of other things many of us take for granted. Oh it all makes my head and heart hurt, and I don't know where to begin to correct it but I desperately want to.
love,
Sandy

[Amigoo]

"Crime" is one of many complexities and causing fear even before police presence!
Then police are called to sort out who are perpetrators and who are victims!

Defunding suggests that communites can solve their own problems of local crime.
Can they do this without their own "police force"? Let's see what happens!

But history suggests that other problems need to be solved before "police force"
can be eliminated. What are those other problems, the causes of local crime?
Maybe these: https://open.lib.umn.edu/socialproblems ... its-crime/

Rod

[Amigoo]

Regarding crime ...

See also: https://www.britannica.com/topic/crime- ... -offenders

"Probably the most important basic fact is that patterns of offending and patterns of victimization are quite similar.
the groups that are most likely to be crime victims are the same groups that are most likely to commit crimes.
In particular, crime victims are more likely to be male, young, part of a lower socioeconomic class,
and members of ethnic or racial minority groups."

This complexity hints that if police step away from crime prevention/arrests
the media will have to focus on the true causes of crime - not the mistakes
made by some officers in the police forces.

Rod

[Amigoo]

more about defunding the police ...

Re: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/ ... 331008002/

"Black ex-cop: I understand the anger but don't defund police. It could make things worse."

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... taken.html

"Protesters who have formed a free zone in Seattle to keep police out spent the night dancing in the street,
dining on free vegan pizza and watching movies under the watch of armed guards"

Entertaining (and instructive) extension of "free speech" protest,
obviously benefitted by "hands off" policy of police and city officials
... but seriously tempting traditional law enforcement response
(by national authority if state authority doesn't act soon).

... or maybe "free speech" has now been redefined
to permit such citizen control of public property!

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/10/stock-m ... -news.html

"Dow plunges more than 800 points on worries of second coronavirus wave"

Technically (regarding typical seasonal virus activity), the first wave has not ended -
this seems a political claim to encourage ending of lockdowns and quarantines.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/1 ... ses-313383

"Senate measure would force Pentagon to rename bases named for Confederates"

Who knew
The perfect precedent to then rename cities, etc., that originally had
names given by the country's first residents (North American Indians),
especially if those cities were conquered by the "invaders".

In fact, any name of a popular person, place, or thing
should always be replaced if that person, place, or thing
is later discredited by whatever.

Rod

[Amigoo]

While often persuaded that coronavirus deaths (not predictions) are no worse than seasonal flu, I'm perplexed that several months of coronavirus statistics are often contrasted in the media with a full year of any previous flu season. This virus has not existed long enough to fully know its eventual impact! Also, where are the past non-pandemic records that show an overwhelming number of bodies to cremate* or that show hundreds of mass graves recently dug**

* https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-coronav ... 1585929876
"Some crematory operators are handling triple the number of bodies they would on a typical day"

** https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/07/americas ... index.html
"City data shows that 2,435 people were buried in April alone, compared with 871 burials during the same month a year ago."

It seems to me, this coronavirus (not "flu virus") needs more respect than demonstrated in recent freedom from lockdown and quarantine. Of course, most believers agree that Heaven so awaits our transition that a pandemic is just a quick sneeze along this path. But don't sneeze in the direction of "at risk" people who prefer to stop and smell more roses before their departure.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/a ... ady-A.html

"Country group Lady Antebellum changes its name after 14 years to Lady A due to association with slavery in America"

"their name was inspired by the antebellum-style home where they shot their first band photos,
and it reminded them of Southern styles of music."

The association was with style of home in the South - not slavery!

How many names exist that could (should?) be changed
because of even indirect association with something now disagreeable?

Maybe all this started with the gender name changes/additions
... and suggests that "Lady" in "Lady A" is also problematic
(since there are men types in the group).

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/us/san-francisc ... inal-calls

"police will no longer respond to non-criminal calls as part of a major reform of the department ...
for calls that don't involve a threat to public safety, police would be replaced by trained, unarmed professionals ...
non-criminal calls will include neighbor disputes, reports on homeless people and school discipline interventions"

Best guess: "threat to public safety" occurs when someone does something - not just voice that intent,
in which case calling the paramedics first may be better than calling police (but paramedics may not come
unless they know the police will be there).

Success of this reform depends on definition of "threat to public safety

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.yahoo.com/news/mask-las-veg ... 48288.html

"Las Vegas tourists at the Cosmopolitan act like the virus is long gone"

Not to worry
"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
(but if they bring CV, they'll return with CV)

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... shows.html

"Walking to work is WORSE for environment than car sharing
because it makes you eat more leading to higher greenhouse emissions"

Well, physical activity may make you eat more (for energy),
but higher greenhouse emissions depend on what you eat ...
especially if you're fond of beans.

Rod

[Amigoo]

More about the Seattle situation ...

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/us/seattle-poli ... g-precinct

"Seattle police chief: 'Leaving the precinct was not my decision' "

"She blamed 'the city' for giving in to 'severe public pressure' for the decision to pull out of the East Precinct building."

"most city residents supported the police force – despite left-wing calls to defund departments"

Rod

[Amigoo]

Quick recap about this "coronavirus" ...

Re: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/hea ... 333309002/

"Why are states seeing a sudden increase in coronavirus cases? Experts have more than one answer"
"Not much is known about the virus’s seasonality as it has only been present for the past six months."
"It is so complicated that when people give you a simple answer to this, it’s probably not right."

"A super spreader is an infected person who can transmit the disease to a large number of people."
(may be event more than person, e.g., any asymptomatic person who transmits widely given the right conditions)


Re: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2 ... ronavirus/

"The strain that began spreading in Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei province, is related to two other coronaviruses that have caused major outbreaks in recent years: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)."

Confirms that this virus is different than seasonal flu viruses and recommends continuing caution:
"Most cases are mild, but health officials say much is still unknown about the virus"

Note: Most of the "at risk" are people over 65 and those younger with underlying health problems.
However, some younger with no underlying health problems have also been seriously infected.


Re: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/asymp ... 2020-06-12

"Asymptomatic transmission of coronavirus appears to be worse than SARS or influenza"
Note: This article calls the flu virus "influenza" - not "coronavirus".

"the trajectories of the two epidemics have veered in dramatically different directions"
"Within 8 months, SARS was controlled after SARS-CoV-1 had infected approximately 8,100 persons in limited geographic areas."

"Less than six months after the first reports of the novel coronavirus, the COVID-19 pandemic, which was first identified in Wuhan, China
in December, had infected more than 7.4 million people globally"

"This virus has very peculiar immunological secrets wrapped up inside it."
(may hint that this virus was bio-engineered in a lab)

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/12/business ... index.html

"Starbucks reverses its stance and will now let baristas wear 'Black Lives Matter' apparel"

Which hints that "All Conceived Lives Matter" (ACLM)
might be allowed next: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29722#p207510

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/12/coronav ... first.html

"New coronavirus spread isn’t the feared ‘second wave’ – it’s still the first"

And not "feared", according to behavior after lockdowns lifted.

Rod

[Amigoo]

Re: https://www.foxnews.com/us/camden-remov ... bus-statue

"The New Jersey city of Camden is in the process of removing its Christopher Columbus statue
as 'the time was right to do it with everything that is happening nationally.'

"it will 'establish a plan to reexamine these outdated symbols of racial division and injustices.' "

From historical perspective,"racial division and injustice" is more modern perception
of symbols that never had (or lost) association with "racial division and injustice".
After all, "Columbus discovered America." is what children learn and remember
... and not anything about racial division, etc.

Is the time right to rewrite history in order to attach modern perception
to all the symbols of old ... that had not such provocative symbolism

Who knew
The time is right to recolor the traditional white Santa (difficult with printed books,
but easier with electronic media). And for the white Jesus, OMG! ...
this may take another century of "racial division and injustice".

Who knew
It's not necessary to rewrite history in order to move forward!

Rod