Is there any stopping 5g?

"Maybe it is time to start wearing tin foil hats. Or, maybe it is time to squeeze the government for true facts on how safe 5g really is."

5g. Is it a miracle, or is it potentially deadly? Or both? According to many technologists, 5g is the big "shebang". It is the advancement in digital technology which will change everything. The advancement which will take latency times down to just about zip. Now, there are many technical reasons on why this next "g" past 4, is such a big deal. Way above my paygrade to understand, much less try to explain. But I do know a wee bit about this upcoming wave of newness.

Reading the latest edition of Lifewire, updated as of yesterday, the entire world is marching towards 5g - it is not just for the USA. In fact, I was amazed to read about the number of different countries and companies which have just rolled out, are rolling out this month, or are rolling out in the upcoming months. I mean, this is YUGE! But - (and this is a big but), what about the electro-magnetic radiation? Are we going to slow cook our brains, just to have shorter latency speeds?

Our cell company (T-Mobile) has already rolled out their 5g phones. The T - Mobile branch we go to (in our area), sits a couple blocks away from a huge new 5g tower. To ignore the fact that 5g is not yet here, would be a fool's errand. And true confessions? I have been tempted to trade my phone in for a 5g phone. To see what the big buzz is all about. But then I have that nagging thought in the back of my head - how safe is this technology? Why are there still articles being written to warn the public about using this thing? How much has the FCC tested 5g to give it the stamp of approval? Finally, should we just snub 5g and put all our eggs in the basket of Elon Musk's Starlink program?

Meanwhile, time marches on. 5g continues to be rolled out globally at lightening speed, and Musk continues to launch Starlink satellites in batches of sixty at a time. Many new innovations are built around these new latency speeds offered by 5g. My question is this - has the train already left the station? Even if 5g is proven not to be safe, are still going to use it? Right now, it appears we have no choice. 

Maybe it is time to start wearing tin foil hats. Or, maybe it is time to squeeze the government for true facts on how safe 5g really is. I mean, like I brought up earlier, this is global, not national. If we ditched 5g, with the rest of the world using it, what does that mean for us? A global disadvantage?

Right now, there is no stopping 5g. It is coming at us at the speed of light, with very little latency. Safe or not, it is already here. 

  

Covid, and becoming Hikikomori

"Because most in our society are social and relational, to be sequestered in or around your house last summer - sucked."

Always on the lookout for new and exciting words to spice up my lexicon, this weekend I came upon a doozie. It is a word of Japanese origin called hikikomori. What is it, you might wonder? I could simplify things by saying hikikomori is becoming a super hermit. Living in a way which shuns going out and/or being with others. Sound familiar? Sounds like what happened to many of us last summer. 

Here is how I see it. I have talked to many folks who want to have one of the three available vaccines. Not only want them, are anxious to get the shot(s) over with. Why? Many are (or were) very social people who all of sudden in March of 2020, became hermits. Became immersed in kind of a hikikomori daze.

It first started in March, when we found out the China virus had made it all the way to Minnesota. It grew teeth with the "stay at home" order the Governor issued shortly thereafter. All we knew of this brand new virus, was it could make you very sick, or even kill you. The Governor's "stay at home" order confirmed that to many. Masks, Lysol wipes, safe distances, hand washing and so forth, had a bunch of formally normal people acting anything but normal.

Because most in our society are social and relational, to be sequestered in or around your house last summer - sucked. Some ignored the government imposed caution, and came out of last summer just fine. Some got infected with Covid, and it was like a mild dose of the flu. Others became infected and ended up being "long haulers", spending weeks or months in the hospital, or home bed rest. And yes, some even died.

Forgetting the politics of getting vaccinated or not, what is it which causes people to drive hundreds of miles (outstate), to get a shot which has many who receive it - feeling lousy? My answer - it's the social thing. The grandparent thing. The family thing. The not want to be even close to the hikikomori thing. Not even close to living like a hermit, ever again. 

Get a shot, don't get a shot. We all need to be practicing Libertarians on this issue. I never have, nor ever will, chide anyone for getting vaccinated, or not getting vaccinated. Not my business. My wife and I had to make our own decisions, as did our two adult daughters. What drove our decision? We wanted no more Hikikomori, as well as other factors. It really is as simple as that. 

Our own Boris Yeltsin

"The joke after his inauguration, was that Biden would not make it until Christmas. Heck, I will be amazed if he makes it until Easter. The problem is, the backstop to Biden is even worse." 

Having Slo Joe as our President, brings back memories of the old days. The days in the Russian regime when the Ruskies had a nutball as their leader. Boris Yeltsin did not have dementia like Slo Joe has, but he was not a stranger to very early vodka cocktail hours. Many times, some in our government wondered who was pulling the strings in Russia. Just like today, I am sure many in Russia are wondering who is pulling the stings in America. 

Whereas Boris Yeltsin for the most part, was a harmless old coot, Slo Joe is anything but harmless. Not that Biden is malevolent, it is just that he is nothing but a conduit. A conduit which allows every nut ball idea from the loony left to surface without being vetted. Half the time, Joe just stares into the distance, while his handlers try to explain why we need to do things. Like, open our southern border, and get rid of gasoline. What would Joe say about those two issues if asked? Don't know - his handlers refuse to allow him to have a presser.

As soon as the mega-pork stimulus bill finishes reconciliation between the House and Senate, some of Joe's handlers will prop him up so he can sign it into law. Never mind he will not have a clue as to what is in it, and if all of it is necessary. This bill could make Cuba our 51st state, and Slo Joe would still sign it. Why? When it comes to being a viable President, Joe "put a cap on it" right after the November election. He is just "there" - taking up space.

I would trade a guy like Biden in for a guy like Yeltsin any day of the week. Yeltsin may have been a drunk, but he was a fun drunk. Biden is anything BUT fun. He is dour and sour, and his attention span is less than an hour. 

The joke after his inauguration, was that Biden would not make it until Christmas. Heck, I will be amazed if he makes it until Easter. The problem is, the backstop to Biden is even worse. # 2 in line is Commie Harris, and # 3 in line is Ms. Nancy. That is enough to scare even the bravest of us. 

All I can say, is that we are in one hell of a mess right now. Our ship of state is drifting badly, and we have NO captain who can put her back on course. How we will get out of this is beyond me. Other than an asteroid hitting WDC and we get a total "do over", methinks we are sunk. I would like to offer a better solution, but I have none...

   

Extra credit for bad behavior

"As for us out here in the hinter land, we are getting used to bending over and grabbing our ankles. Taxation without representation? That concept died a long time ago. The socialists only represent three people - me, myself and I. The rest of us can just stuff it." 

I am going to say I have a kid named Junior. A somewhat good kid, but a terrible manager of money. I have bailed him out before, and that helped him for a short while. Now he is back begging for more money. Will giving him more money help? Not a bit, as his spending habits have not changed. In fact, they have gotten worse. I was so aggravated with him last time he asked for more funding, I told him money does not grow on trees. He looked at me with a quizzical look and responded, "Are you sure?"

Okay. The above story is false, but the analogy to "Junior" acting like certain blue governors and mayors is true. They are back at the trough (again), looking for Uncle Sugar (I mean the rest of us), to give them some more money. So, what happened to the $150B which was in the Cares Act, signed by President Trump? Either not spent, or blown on a good time. In any event, these crybaby mayors and governors have cowed the blue lawmakers in Washington enough, so they will bloat the already bloated stimulus bill.

Here is the deal. The MUST HAVE stimulus (or American Rescue Bill), has only 9% of the total going for Covid type matters. Let that sink in for a minute. Over 25% is going to bail out (again), blue cities and states. The rest of the bill is a hodge podge of crapola. As in the past, Democrats use emergency funding to throw in the everything but (or including) the kitchen sink. Single subject bills died during the Civil War, so in Washington, everything is now omnibus, all the time.

Where does that leave us? Heading 100 mph towards $30T in national debt. It is as if the Democrats have seen Apophis hitting Earth eight years from now, and the party is on. I mean, if the asteroid is going to be a ELE, we might has well consume ourselves in wine, parties and song. The bill will never come due. However, should Apophis miss us in eight years, we have a whole lot of explaining to do with the future generations.

Last night, the Senate pulled an "all-nighter" in trying to get this thing passed. I think that was a waste of time and electricity in keeping the lights on. This pig is Fait Accompli. Might as well have Slo Joe sign it, and then get on to the next country wrecking bill the Democrats put together. 

As for us out here in the hinter land, we are getting used to bending over and grabbing our ankles. Taxation without representation? That concept died a long time ago. The socialists only represent three people - me, myself and I. The rest of us can just stuff it. 

 

The Brothers Grim

"The Brothers Grim. That is the kindest name I could come up with for these two guys. Just like the Kennedy clan has slowly faded into history, it is time for the Cuomo clan to fade away also." 

Anybody besides me sick to death of the Cuomo brothers yet? If so, raise your hands. On second thought - don't. I can't see them anyhow. In any event, they sure remind me of their dad. He was way too smug for many of us. Arrogant. Entitled. And the apple(s) do not fall far from the tree. The "Cuomo family" is one of those DNC entitled families. Kind of like the Kennedy clan. These are people that have received the DNC imprimatur of specialness. Makes me want to puke.

They are precious few of us who are shedding a tear right now, seeing Andrew crash and burn. Hit with a double scandal! Wow! It takes a special skill and effort to screw up that bad. And the irony of this issue (I love irony), is he was fudging the numbers of his Covid related nursing home deaths, because he did not want the President at that time (Donald Trump), to make political hay on how bad New York was doing. Governor Cuomo did everything to hide his missteps, including blaming Europe (instead of China) for giving New York the virus. Everything was everyone's fault except his. 

Meanwhile, the truth has been leaking out on not only how bad Andrew bungled Covid in the nursing homes, but also his numerous attempted dalliance's. Who can blame him however? He had been divorced for years from his wife (Gasp! A Kennedy!), and you know, an old man can get lonely. So, here is a guy in his mid-60's, looking for some honeypot in her mid twenties. He is a piece of work, for sure.

His younger brother is not quite as bad as his older bro. Just as entitled, and can be a huge arrogant butt. But besides that, better than Andrew. That being said, I know of few people who would like to play golf with this hothead, or have him over for a beer. He is (for some reason), still married, and still has his gig on CNN. I have watched him a time or two, and I will say this - good thing he is employed by CNN. I can't think of any other channel which would hire him - except maybe the Syfy channel.

The bottom line is this. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. There is no way that Cuomo is going to make it out of this one. Just one of these scandals would sink him. But two at once? He should not only be fired from being Governor, but maybe prosecuted if he was proven responsible for any unnecessary deaths of older folks in nursing homes. 

The Brothers Grim. That is the kindest name I could come up with for these two guys. Just like the Kennedy clan has slowly faded into history, it is time for the Cuomo clan to fade away also. 

  

Ideas for America's pastime...

"It is time to reclaim our nation joy. We can do that by starting with our national pastime. Time to Play ball!"  

Yesterday, as the Texas decision to fully open up was being considered by many in our country, I had an interesting thought. Unlike Slo Joe, who thought opening up (now that the curve was basically flat), was "Neanderthal thinking". However, I had a different take on it.

Texas has two major league baseball clubs. I am assuming if Texas is wide open on everything, that would include the ball games to be played by those two clubs. Gasp! You mean "super spreader" events??? Maybe not.

This part is going to tie in with what I just wrote - trust me. The other recent big news, is that Johnson and Johnson is going to get an assist by a competitor - Merck. Together, they are going to accelerate the distribution of the third vaccine. So? Here is the "so" - by summer, this country is going to be awash in vaccines. Hundreds of millions of doses. Anyone who chooses to have one, will be able to. Now, back to my main point.

I think Major League Baseball should take the lead in getting our sports lives back to normal. I know the spring training events are allowing a certain number of spectators to watch. When the regular season kicks off next month, here is my proposal. In April, every stadium allows for 50% capacity in every game. In May, when herd immunity should be setting in, 75%. Then from June until the end of the season, 100%. 

This would be the start to the return of some kind of normalcy. Having the state fair in August would be another. People could wear masks if they wanted to, but hopefully by that time, masks would not be necessary. Even our own Dr. Osterholm said when two people are fully vaccinated, they could be together, mask-less, and close. 

Someone recently asked the question, "When can we return to normal"? My answer - whenever we allow ourselves. We can listen to Taxing Timmy and Slo Joe and continue to play duck and cover - or, we can return to normal this spring and summer. Normal work, normal school, normal recreation.

It is time to reclaim our nation joy. We can do that by starting with our national pastime. Time to Play ball!  

Texas - the Patton of States

"Here are the facts that most agree on. Covid - 19 is not going away. It just won't control our lives anymore." 

Whoa! Governor Abbott just became the "General Patton" of the Governors. How so? One of Patton's most famous lines when he was notified of his next promotion was this - "Congress has their time lime, and I have mine." He said that as even though he knew he was going to be promoted, Congress still needed to ratify it. But - in Patton's mind, he was ready, and Congress was not. Congress was just a "detail". That is the way Texas is thinking right now. Even though a very small percentage of people in Texas have been vaccinated, Governor Abbott thought the curve had been flattened enough. Ergo - Texas is now 100% open.

"Wait just a minute!", some on Fauci's staff sputtered. "You can't do that! We are not ready yet!" Well - they did. And they think they are ready. State's rights baby! And don't look now, but Mississippi is right behind Texas.

I have no idea how the numbers in Texas or Mississippi look, but every day I read the stats in Minnesota. Truthfully - our numbers are starting to look awesome, compared to how they have looked in the past. If any state is ready to open up, it is ours. Our curve in pretty flat. So, how good are our numbers? How much has our "curve been flattened?" One day last week, both our fatalities and new hospitalizations were in the single digits. Been a LONG time since that has happened!

The pandemic may not yet be over, but it is in the minds of many citizens. The year long "duck and cover" game, of hiding from this invisible enemy, has gone on way too long. Not in everyone's minds, but in many. Whereas last summer, the word "vacation" was almost forbidden, this year a mad dash is starting for families to go ANYWHERE. By the time May rolls around, and in Minnesota the snow finally melts, there will be enough vaccine to "stick" anyone who wants it. In the mind of many infectious disease experts, that is herd immunity. Time to move on from this sad episode in our history.

Here are the facts that most agree on. Covid - 19 is not going away. It just won't control our lives anymore. We will likely be offered a "booster" shot every year (to take care of derivatives) like we get for the common flu. Or as one doctor said last week on the news, even those who don't get vaccinated, many will develop a natural immunity towards Covid. 

Once again, Texas steps out in front to lead the nation in freedom. Now that it is March, the weather is very nice down south. Lots of outside time. Lots of sunshine. Time to live again folks. Plan you summer vacations. Time to have fun.