Health

“News to me”

Posted on by backuphill

Uh, excuse me?

This is national news. It has been national news for days. It’s been BIG news in WA for days.

So, the governor says it’s “news to me”? It would appear he REALLY IS AS CLUELESS as he has come across in the past.

OMG!! This guy is the epitome of stupid and his response baffles everyone.

He has already proved he doesn’t actually govern a state so much as dictate over it. His agenda has been busted wide open by his own admission. He has been wrong nearly this entire time when it has come to Covid-19 and how the state operates, and he won’t relent and open the state up for business and livelihoods to recover from his crappy leadership.

Maybe I’ll adopt his response when it comes to following the rules he set.

Wear a mask? “News to me.”

Stay home? “News to me.”

Can’t go to work? “News to me.”

Not supposed to go to certain businesses? “News to me.”

Listen, gov, your feckless leadership should result in an immediate resignation from your office. THAT news would be greeted with exultation by nearly everyone in the state. How about you make that kind of headline?

Irrational

Posted on by backuphill

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Irrational makes me irritable.

Thus, I have been irritable for quite some time.

Most days, I’d rather talk with a brick wall than engage with humans who are irrational. Mostly because their inability to be rational makes them stupid.

Some days my irritability gets to me and I can’t do anything but throw my hands in the air and shake my head. The irrational are winning and it’s disheartening.

Maybe tomorrow will be better.

Denied

Posted on by backuphill

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Again.

The goal posts keep moving. The “red line” keeps moving. The rules are changing without notification. You don’t know what you’re actually required to do until you’ve been told you can’t do it they way they told you to do it previously.

We all knew this was going to happen.

My county has been denied, for a third time in three weeks, the ability to move forward into Phase 2.

In each case, the rules changed after the application was submitted and according to the Secretary of Health (and by extension the governor), the county can’t move forward base on the criterion it applied under but only when the new criterion is met.

Talk about an agenda. Clear demonstration of such is now not even a question.

It’s time for the county to tell the state, “Thanks, but no thanks.” We have met the requirements that were initially established and we are ready to roll moving forward.  Not gonna play your game any longer.

Local government is the only government that can address the true needs of the people. The people need to say “Enough is enough” when it comes to government over-reach and control.

Backwards

Posted on by backuphill

neon signage

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Going backwards? Strange concept in the times we live, but it I think it bears asking since we have set ourselves up for it…

Given the situation with Covid-19, is the public (general population) going to accept going backwards when it comes to a “disinfected” shopping experience? Or are employees going to be OK with going back to the way it was before? Are government services going to be restored and go back to business as usual? Because germs and disease existed before this whole thing and they will continue to exist after as well.

So, some questions?

Is everyone OK with the removal of the plexi-glass cages cashiers are now in? They protect the public and the cashier, so are they going to stay?

Is everyone OK with discontinuing the disinfecting of each and every shopping cart? Again, it gives the perception that the business cares about it’s shoppers. Is that not important after the threat of Covid-19 has dissipated? What about the flu and other infectious bacteria/viruses?

Is everyone OK with going back to full capacity seating in restaurants?  More people packed into a small space is good, right?

Is everyone OK with door handles, counter-tops, and self-serve check out stands not being cleaned after each use?

Is everyone OK with standing inside of six feet of other customers, shoppers, employees, co-workers, supervisors, non-family members, etc?

I am being the devil’s advocate here because, of course, we are going to go right back to the way it was right after this whole things is over and everyone has moved through the proper “phases of reopening.” Right? Back to “normal.”

But in doing so, we basically are going to say it is OK to go back to a society that allows for thousands of deaths each year from the flu. Or, we are going back to a society that expects less of the places we frequent because, well, it isn’t practical or cost effective to keep it up.

So, dirty and contagious it is. Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it? If it was possible now, why not then. If it was possible now, why not continue it? It’s a lose-lose battle for consumers and businesses.

Happy back to normal! Eventually.

 

Shady

Posted on by backuphill

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Politicians being politicians.

Of course, this isn’t a surprise and should be a surprise to anyone, really. But it is infuriating nonetheless.

So, the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, has decided that he won’t extend the “Stay home, stay healthy” order that expired last night. But, we are still to follow the “phased opening” he and the WA Deparment of Health mapped out previously last month. As such, a full opening of the state and it’s economy isn’t likely to happen until at least mid to late August, provided everything goes perfectly.

Here’s the problem. He has done the politician thing and he is trying to wiggle off the hook for making decisions or taking responsibility for bad decisions going forward. He has put the Secretary of Health in charge of making the decisions from here on out. Essentially, he puts someone else on the hook and if they make a bad decision (like having the ability to decide which counties live or die economically or open up and then have a major outbreak again), he can fire them. Thus, it’s not his responsibility. At least he would like to think that is the case.

Now, I don’t know about you, but to me this smacks of shadiness.

Again, this isn’t much of a surprise considering its Jay Inslee. But, it also concerns the heck outta me! He has put an unelected official, but one he appointed, in charge of making some pretty important decisions. You read that right – unelected. The only individual this person has to report to is the governor himself.

Now, if that doesn’t raise some hackles you might want to check your pulse.

The governor put in charge someone that only answers to the governor and the people have no recourse against. The governor is trying to hid behind the decisions of another person while trying to demonstrate that he is “leading.” And, if things don’t go well from here, well, he can just fire the guy.

Shady, and I don’t mean like a tree.

Just plain shady.

 

 

Pantry

Posted on by backuphill

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Working from home has created some issues…

The pantry is taunting me.

Like, seriously, it yells my name EVERY DAY and it wants me to constantly visit with it. Like I mean, it wants to snuggle and stuff. It’s weird, I know, but I can’t explain it any other way.

I try not to listen. I turn the music up. I have meetings. I blindfold myself.

But it is persistent.

It has scrumptious treats. They are salty. They are crunchy. They are sweet. They are spicy…

Resistance is nearly futile. I can’t escape it.

It calls me when I am working. It calls me when I am sleeping. It calls me when I am on the couch. It calls me even when I am out in the yard (it just yells louder…)

I have tried disconnecting my number but it still manages a way to get in touch.

It’s irritating really. But, oh so enticing too…

Wait, what?

Did you hear that? It’s calling again. I’ll go see what it wants now. If I am not back in 10 minutes, leave me alone. We’re snuggling again.

New normal

Posted on by backuphill

unrecognizable person in protective clothes walking little dog during coronavirus

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Anyone else tired of hearing this?

Sorry, but I am getting the idea that the “new normal” is going to stick in one way or another. Some of what we are seeing isn’t going to go away, and I don’t like the trends I am seeing.

Face Masks

So, it was first recommended that we not wear them in public. Then it was recommended and even “required.” Now, we are seeing businesses implementing policies, and even counties strongly suggesting that face masks be worn in public.

Are we going to do this all the time now? Flu season? Wear a mask. Allergies? Wear a mask. Cold? Wear a mask.

Who’s to say that cough is any different than the other cough? When or how are we going to know? Who makes the determination for when we should or should? Why not just wear them all the time so we make sure we’re safe under all circumstances?

Perhaps we should just make hazmat suits more fashionable and then we wouldn’t have to worry about anything when we leave home.

The future doesn’t look bright, folks…

You have choices

Posted on by backuphill

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Anyone else wanna just throw up your hands, shrug, and say “Screw it!”?

Can’t keep up with the ever changing guidelines and requirements related to your lockdown? Frustrated that you can’t get a straight answer on what you can and can’t do? Irritated by contradictions and uneven applications? Just frustrated by the whole state of affairs?

“Wave your hands in the air like you don’t care…” (thanks Cameo…) and go about life like you normally would, well, at least as much as you can.

I know that some businesses have put their own limitations on customers (you know, to appear they are doing something effective), but you have the freedom to choose where and where you won’t shop too. Consumer choice still rules when it comes to who wins and who looses in the marketplace.

Take precautions, as necessary, because you are a reasonable and rational adult (assumptions…) but don’t let the government and hysterical people dictate to you their fear.

You get to control that too. Something I think a lot of people have forgotten. You can, and should, control your fear. We all assume risk every day of our lives. If we live in fear, which so many people are doing these days, then you won’t get to live. Plain and simple.

Go, live and be free.

 

Fraud

Posted on by backuphill

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Confirmation.

Only it isn’t the kind our state needed or wanted. Yet, we now know without a doubt that the governor and the health department had an alternative agenda. Revelations like this have a pretty serious implication on the state’s economy, but literally on lives of people who never had the virus, won’t ever have the virus, but are struggling with the isolation or unemployment.

Not only is our state the victim of a massive fraud in unemployment claims, but the governor seems unwilling or unable to deal with it. Instead, he cancels his usual briefing and sends an underling to take the heat. Leadership, eh?

Now, we have confirmation on how the governor’s agenda has played out. Many people, in states all over the US, have suspected for a long time that deaths in their states were being reported as “covid deaths” even though the person died of other causes. Pad the numbers. Make it look worse than it is. Justify lockdowns and killing jobs/the economy by making a totally survivable illness more dangerous than it is. Inflate the numbers for an agenda.

Are you people paying attention to what is going on in your state? Your country? Are you taking the government at its word or are you just hunkered down in fear, waiting for when they tell you “it is safe to come out”?

Conspiracy? No. But there are definitely some who are taking advantage of you while you are living in fear and being distracted by infectious chaos. Do you still believe that all who are in government are looking out for your best interest? If you do, no matter what side of the aisle you are one, then you’re naive at best…but I fear that maybe, if you are one of those who takes everything the government and media tells you without skepticism and cynicism, that you are something worse than naive.

And that is something to fear.