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Covid fringe theory was probably right, but never mind.

February 28, 2023 /

Fringe Theory of Coronavirus Origin

Fringe Theory of Coronavirus Origin

Speaking on Fox News, Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, raised the possibility that the virus had originated in a high-security biochemical lab in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the outbreak.
“We don’t have evidence that this disease originated there,” the senator said, “but because of China’s duplicity and dishonesty from the beginning, we need to at least ask the question to see what the evidence says, and China right now is not giving evidence on that question at all.”

I saw enough in Hong Kong markets to have a good idea what wet markets in China would be like.  Not hard to image diseases spreading from there.

In early 2020, we didn’t know the origins of the Coronavirus.  It’s more than fair to assume there would be incomplete information and a variety of theories.  What is unacceptable is how the WHO, CDC and Fauci dismissed any suggestion that the origin could be a Bio lab in Wuhan, China.  Worse, is how social media companies along with commercial media demonized anyone questioning the official narrative. 

Some doctors, scientists and politicians courageously questioned the official narrative and presented reasonable doubts about the natural origins of Covid-19.  Disagreement and debate is healthy with regard to scientific questions.  The shaming and dismissal of qualified medical personnel is not.  

The people who shut down discussion of the origins of Covid-19 have lost all credibility and should lose any position or standing that permits them to offer any opinion on scientific questions.

Expect commercial media will erase any evidence of their dereliction.  They will adopt a “Can’t we all just get along” approach.

 

Hello Tomorrow! is looks good, but otherwise not worth the effort. 5/10

February 28, 2023 /

I’m a big fan of retro-futurism.  In particular, how the people of the mid-20th century saw the future developing.  *Popular Science* magazine and other magazines showed us the flying cars.  I was eager for the TV show, *Hello Tomorrow!” to air on Apple TV+.  When it did, it seemed familiar.

Sixty years ago, my parents bought property in Arizona for an area that was never developed. Hello Tomorrow! is set in that era and has interesting characters and engaging dialogue. It’s like they realized the show wasn’t going anywhere, so they thought, “Let’s add all the technology that was showing up in Popular Science at the time!”

The premise is that a developer is selling land on the Moon.  It might be a sham, but the show follows the salesmen as they go city to city promoting the real estate in good faith and with plenty of enthusiasm.  Robot delivery vans and flying cars are a mundane part of the *Leave It to Beaver* communities. 

Change “Moon” to “Arizona” and remove the fantasy technology, and nothing about the show would change except it would be a period drama about traveling salesmen.  None of the retro-futurism has been relevant to the plot.

I made it to episode 4, and have relegated the show to background television.

The Sandman Slim books may be too dark for some, but I enjoyed them. 9/10

February 27, 2023 /

The Sandman Slim book series is urban fantasy, but not in a Dresden Files way.  It isn’t so much witches and magic, but in the heaven and hell way.   In Sandman Slim, there is God and heaven, along with Satan and hell, but not the way you’d think. 

Sandman Slim is a guy who is more than just human, but doesn’t know it.  The series starts with him returning from Hell where he was sent and survived as a pit fighter.  There is serious action, but the humor is witty and dark.  There are eleven books in the series, and they all move along briskly.  I enjoyed it.

TV Show “Shrinking” is worth watching.

February 26, 2023 /

Shrinking is a show worth watching.  The premise is that Jason Segal is a therapist who goes off the rails, and starts treating his patients the way he wants, rather than the way he should, rather than the way he should.   It’s mostly a comedy with some dramatic elements/
Jason Segal is the least appealing of the characters.  Harrison Ford has great comedic timing, and always owns any scene he’s in.  The rest of the actors also do a phenomenal job.  Every character is plausible, with some negative and positive traits.   They all act like people you might know, but a little overboard to make the show engaging.

Social Media hurts girls

February 26, 2023 /

Social Media is bad for girls, and it doesn’t seem to be good for anyone.  There are adults who can handle it, restricting what they read and say, but on the whole, it doesn’t seem to help.

Celebrities seem to feel that it builds their brand, and it certainly does for some.  Many people in the public eye seem to just shoot themselves in the foot eventually. 

It doesn’t seem to be just social media that is damaging young people.  Climate change, racism, sexism and other ongoing issues give young people the idea that they don’t have a chance to live a good life, so they shouldn’t bother even trying.  With technology and our general prosperity, we could be living in the best age ever, but we keep sabotaging ourselves.

I continually reminded my students that social media isn’t social.  Most of them knew what I meant.

We shouldn’t let a vocal and aggressive small minority of activists dictate public policy.  At it’s peak, only 7% of Germans were in the Nazi Party.

College administrators are the problem

February 26, 2023 /

Administrators are responsible for far left takeover

The people in charge, deans, mayors and governors encouraged the protests and policies that are doing so much damage.

Here are two examples from my alma maters.

Occupy protest ends at Ohio State when Dean mentions consequences.

Kasey told the protesters he would not argue with them. “We simply tell you the truth and you live with your actions,” he said. When someone asked what he meant by “clear the building,” Kasey responded, “Our police officers will physically pick you up and take you to a paddy wagon.”

Nine Day sit-in ends at Clemson

“What [the sit-in] has done, I think,” said Max Allen, the university’s chief of staff, “is caused Clemson to take a solid look at itself, not only for the students involved in that protest but some faculty, staff and I’d add administrators who really had their eyes opened to what can we do as a community to make Clemson better for everyone.”

The Clemson administration supplied running water and portable generators to keep the protestors comfortable. 

 

 

Covid came from Wuhan lab

February 26, 2023 /

 

Covid came from Wuhan lab

Covid came from Wuhan lab

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Energy Department has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.

It isn’t clear why the Energy Department is investigating the Covid origin, instead of building nuclear reactors, but at least they got to the answer that the rest of us figured out a long time ago.

NPR doesn’t want a race-neutral tax code.

February 25, 2023 /

NPR finds racism in race-blind tax code

There’s a broader question about whether institutions and rules and customs that are blind with respect to race are actually neutral with respect to race, or if they reinforce preexisting disparities.

NPR can always find a way to encourage racial animosity.  Do our enemies still have to payoff these wreckers of our culture or do the Leftists just do it for sport?

We encourage equality of opportunity because a disparity of outcomes can always be found.  Do the same analysis for the tax returns of single men versus single women, tall women versus short women or any other trait.  Statistics will find a difference in outcome, and that can be used to drive a wedge between those groups.

I don’t know what minor lifestyle difference might result in this tax disparity.  Black folks can live anyway they want.  It’s none of my business.

A tax code with no institutional racism is the goal.  NPR doesn’t suggest a solution, but instead, hope’s to nurture any racial tension. 

 

 

 

 

Star Trek: Picard is finally a good show.

February 24, 2023 /

Two episodes in, and Star Trek: Picard is actually good.  Since this is the third season, I was concerned that I’d have to wade through two crappy seasons for continuity.  So far, the only character from prior seasons is a female Huggy Bear.  You remember Huggy Bear, the black junkie from Starsky and Hutch.  He was always tweaking, but aspired to be useful.

Picard and Riker go on a buddy trip to save Beverly Crush from the Hypnotoad ship.  Picard and Riker retain great chemistry, and play up the over-the-hill angle with good natured humor.

In a nice touch, it isn’t just legacy characters, but their kids who show up.

They are up against a by-the-book captain who isn’t a bad guy, just doesn’t hold with the swashbuckling ways of Picard and Riker.  Seven-of-Nine is his first officer.  She was a better character when she was struggling with her Borg nature.  Now, she’s more like everyone else.

I don’t know if Star Trek: Picard got better writers or a new show runner, but it’s actually a good show now, compared to the muddled show it started out as.

 

 

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