Stuff My Brain Says #86

The big question of late (or, more accurately, as of this writing) is why hasn't President Donald Trump conceded the election to Former Vice President Joe Biden? After all, according to every media outlet, Joe Biden has won enough electoral votes to be "crowned" President Elect. And that should settle it, right?

On December 14, 2020, the Electors in each state will cast their votes. (Monday after the second Wednesday in December of presidential election years is set [3 U.S.C. §7] as the date on which the electors meet and vote.) 

(As an aside, I recommend the following: "The Electoral College: A 2020 Presidential Election Timeline".)

G.K. Chesterton once said that before you remove a fence, you should first determine why it was set up in the first place. 

If the Electoral College does not actually vote until December 14, why is there all of this angst over Donald Trump not calling Joe Biden "President Elect"? From what I can tell, the media is NOT the final arbiter of the election: the Electoral College is. And since the Electoral College does not ACTUALLY vote until December 14, Joe Biden isn't OFFICIALLY the President Elect - no matter which media outlet anoints him.

I understand the value of transition time. I have friends who have told me that I'm standing against over a hundred years of tradition (that the media declares the winner). Am I a Trump supporter? No. Do I think his grandstanding is a bit childish? Based on the lack of credible evidence to election tampering, yes. But do I think that the law should be circumvented for tradition? NO!

To quote the linked document above: "January 6, 2021: Joint Session of Congress to Count Electoral Votes and Declare Election Results Meets On January 6, or another date set by law, the Senate and House of Representatives assemble at 1:00 p.m. in a joint session at the Capitol, in the House chamber, to count the electoral votes and declare the results (3 U.S.C. §15). The Vice President presides as President of the Senate. The Vice President opens the certificates and presents them to four tellers, two from each chamber. The tellers read and make a list of the returns. When the votes have been ascertained and counted, the tellers transmit them to the Vice President. If one of the tickets has received a majority of 270 or more electoral votes, the Vice President announces the results, which 'shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons, if any, elected President and Vice President.'"

Maybe we should ask why all the (apparently) "pomp and circumstance" of an Electoral College voting process, when all we need is for the Associated Press to declare the winner.

©Emittravel 2020

Russian Roulette Anyone?

I'm angry. Frustrated. Head-ready-to-explode, over-the-border vexed. Can you relate?

Here in Ohio we have a color-coded chart showing all of the counties and the level of Covid-19 cases. You have no color (no virus, but hey - there aren't any counties at that level), yellow, orange, red, and purple. As of this writing, only two are yellow, some orange, and the majority red. Many of the red counties have an "H" on them to indicate really high levels - borderline purple.

Now, this sounds like helpful information. You know, maybe we should change our behavior based on the level in our county. 

Yeah. No. 

Shortly after Governor DeWine started having weekly press conferences, he told us of a plan to start reopening the economy based on a tiered structure: if we go 14 days with no or decreasing levels, we would open certain things up. After another 14 days with no or decreasing levels, we would open more things up. If the numbers went up, we would shut things back down.

Good plan? Yeah. No.

This plan was ignored. As a matter of fact, it's not even mentioned anymore. Each time the level has gone up in the state, Governor DeWine tells us that now is the time to get serious; wear your masks and practice social distancing. Each time. So, what will he say when we go purple?!? "Now is the time to get serious; wear your masks and practice social distancing. I REALLY REALLY mean it this time."

My wife and I went to the church recently, where I have the wonderful opportunity to play in the worship team. It's a smaller church that has gone out of its way to make it as safe an environment it can according to recommended guidelines. They've moved the "pews" (chairs) to expand the distance between people. They've added high-filtration filters and have all of the ceiling fans on to move the air. They've added hand sanitizer stations and have someone to check temperatures as people come in. The worship team itself is spread out more, with fewer individuals on the platform. Me? I'm in my favorite spot: the back corner of the platform. 

From my spot I can pretty much see the entire congregation. What I saw added to the frustration I mentioned at the beginning. People came in wearing masks. Yet, some individuals decided to take them off once they got to their seats. It was really noticeable when everyone was singing. 

Now, I understand it is difficult to sing while wearing a mask. As a harmonica player I find it very difficult (that's a joke: I do take my mask off in order to play - but I play mostly with cupped hand and directly into a microphone). Yet, there is another name for singers: "super spreaders". When you sing you not only project more, but you have more, sustained air flow OUT of your mouth than normal breathing/talking.

Come on, people! God can hear you through your mask!

Needless to say, even though pre-pandemic my visits were about once a month, we are seriously reconsidering going back - especially since the county is in the red.

Imagine, if you will, that every time you leave you are playing a round of Russian Roulette. You know, you take a gun, particularly one of those Colt Single Action Revolvers - commonly called a "six-shooter", put a bullet into one chamber, spin the cylinder, point the gun to your head, and pull the trigger. Now, with one bullet, you have a 1-6 chance of blowing your brains out. Why would anyone play this? Because they see a ONLY a 1-6 chance of blowing their brains out. 

Okay, now add a bullet for every level of the virus. No color: one bullet. Yellow: two bullets. Orange: three bullets. Red: four bullets. Purple: five bullets. At what color would you refuse to pick up the gun?

"But J.P., I do wear a mask when I go out. I even make sure to cover my nose with it. So, I'm good, right?"

Let's change the game a little bit. You aren't holding the gun. Imagine that every person you are in contact with NOT wearing a mask (or, wearing it incorrectly) is holding the gun to YOUR head. At what color would you stop feeling comfortable going out in public?

I understand that the economy is important. I understand the virus is important. What I don't understand is why do our "leaders" think it is wise to not just "play footsy" with this pandemic, but "Russian Roulette"?

Remember, every ASSHOLE out there NOT wearing a mask and keeping their distance is holding the revolver to YOUR head. 

Want to play a game?

©Emittravel 2020

Check Your Theology At The Door

Have you ever wondered whether or not you should take the whole Bible literally? There are many schools of thought. I can't tell you which is correct (though I'm sure some of you think you could), but I can give you something to think about. 

Long after Charlton Heston told Yul Brynner to "let my people go", God gave the people (through Moses) what has been titled "The Ten Commandments" (NOW do you get the joke?). Another name for The Ten Commandments is "The Great Shalt Nots":

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image . . . Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain . . . Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy . . . Honour thy father and thy mother . . . Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness . . . Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's (stuff) . . ." (Exodus 20:3-17 [KJV])

Now, Jesus came along and gave us a more positive spin on the list: "'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, '"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'" (Matthew 22:36-40 [NKJV])

Being that the religious are never satisfied, He was asked, "'. . . And who is my neighbor?' Then Jesus answered and said: 'A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, "Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you." So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among thieves?' And he said, 'He who showed mercy on him.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'" (Luke 10:29b-37 [NKJV])

Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? The Samaritan (a person who was despised by the Jews) showed compassion on what appears to be a Jew (being the person was travelling FROM Jerusalem at the time), where other Jews, even a priest and a Levite (one of the 12 tribes of Israel - who happen to be the line of the priesthood) didn't want to become "unclean" by becoming involved.

What does Jesus say? "Go and do likewise." Be the neighbor. Realize, this follows the whole, "What is the greatest commandment?" conversation. Or, more accurately, it ties directly into the "What is the greatest commandment?" conversation.

Now I ask you: what if the man who fell among thieves was a known homosexual?

"But, J.P., he wasn't."

Wasn't he? There is no information about the man outside of where he was travelling from and travelling to. Was he an outstanding member of his church? Did he tithe? Was he homosexual? We don't know. Why? Because, apparently to Jesus, it didn't matter. 

Now, I know many who will say that homosexuality is an abomination, and they will quote the Bible to prove it. Here is where the theological rubber meets the road: How do those verses line up with what Jesus HIMSELF told us were the two greatest commandments?

Okay, I lied. I CAN tell you whether or not you can take the whole Bible literally. Ready? 

Whenever you read something that lines up with the two greatest commandments, that is big "B" Bible. If it doesn't, it is small "b" bible. 

"What about what Paul wrote in the epistles regarding homosexuality being an abomination?"

Small "b" bible. 

Nowhere in the two greatest commandments or the "Ten Shalt Nots" do you read anything about homosexuality. For God, it is simply not an issue. For (religious, hyper-controlling) people? You get the idea.

©Emittravel 2020

Stuff My Brain Says #85

Pander: (v) To provide gratification for others' desires (merriam-webster.com)

Placate: (v) To soothe or mollify, especially by concessions; to appease (merriam-webster.com)

At this year's Home Opener (July 24, 2020), the Cleveland Indians wore one of their road jerseys instead of the traditional white or red jerseys. It's a beautiful jersey, with CLEVELAND emblazoned across the front. They did this to make a statement: "We care."

The club has been in talks concerning renaming the team from the "Indians" to something "less offensive". (Last year was the first year their uniforms did not display the Chief Wahoo mascot.) Along with the Washington Redskins (who are also changing their name), the owners of the Indians are looking to do the "right thing".

I've written about the name change before in reference to the removal of Chief Wahoo. You can browse my blog (or simply search "Wahoo" and "My Humble But Accurate Opinion" in your favorite browser) to read in more detail how I feel about THAT.

Here's my point: Changing the name of the team, a name that has never been used to disparage, but to honor, does NOTHING to right a wrong. As the definitions above tell you, it is another example of placating; a simple gesture to hopefully show how in touch we are, and how sorry we are, for the bad things we white people have done, without actually doing anything of real value.

C'mon already. Who are you kidding? You want to do right? Forget renaming teams. GIVE THEM THEIR LAND BACK.

But hey, that would be going too far, won't it?

(This post was inspired by a tweet from @ScottJohnson: https://twitter.com/scottjohnson/status/1285803540309348352?s=19)

©Emittravel 2020

Stuff My Brain Says #84

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." - Amendment I, U.S. Constitution

This past weekend marks a sad day in American history. People all over the country got together to "petition the government for a redress of grievances." Primarily, they were protesting the death of George Floyd, who died when in the custody of the Minneapolis police. However, many of those protests shifted from "peaceably" to violent; including destruction of property and looting.

These types of protests need to stop. 

Here are a few considerations:

Every person needs to register prior to attending any protest.
Every person needs to publicly display their name on their clothing during the protest.
No wearing of black clothing and NO hoodies allowed.
Every person will go through a checkpoint prior to attending the protest.
If you fail to comply with the above you will be arrested and removed from the assembly.

Now, let me address the whys:

Many of the reports I read and videos I saw were concerning hooded individuals initiating the violence, destruction of property, and looting (what does the looting of a Target have to do with #BlackLivesMatter I have no idea). In Cleveland, over 60 people were arrested for aggravated rioting, vandalism, disorderly conduct and curfew violations. Some of those individuals were not from Cleveland. If every person is registered, publicly wearing their name, and are not hidden behind dark clothing and hoods, the chances of someone starting a riot are greatly diminished. And the checkpoints will guarantee no one is carrying a weapon or clothing they can use to disguise their identities (you have to go through checkpoints to get into Cleveland Indians games after all).

"But J.P., don't you know that we have a right to protest? It's in the 1st Amendment that you posted at the top of this article."

Read it again. It says you have the right to PEACEABLY assemble. Not riot. Not destroy property. Not bludgeon people with two-by-fours (yes, I saw that video too). PEACEABLY assemble.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." - Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

As the preamble above shows, the concept of the Constitution, and the Amendments contained therein, are based on the intention of a CIVILIZED SOCIETY. IF you choose to behave uncivilized, you LOSE that right. 

Don't agree? Go commit a felony, go to jail, serve your time, and try to vote. Why can't a felon vote? Because the act of the felony (an uncivilized act) DISQUALIFIES the person from the rights of a citizen in a civilized society. You know, part of the "domestic Tranquility".

When the violence and destruction become the news, the meaning of your protest is no longer the news. So, if you therefore have no desire for your message to be heard, you don't protest.

If you can't act like adults, you should be treated as the unruly children you are.

©Emittravel 2020

If Everything Is A Crisis . . .

What do all of these have in common?

Global Cooling
H1N1
Swine Flu
Killer Bees
Avian Flu
Y2K
SARS
Global Warming a.k.a. Man-Made Climate Change a.k.a. Climate Change a.k.a. Climate Crisis
2012 (Mayan Calendar)
MERS
Donald Trump and the 2016 Presidential Election

Ready? Oh, this is so easy that you're gonna kick yourself if you missed it: According to the media (and our political "leaders"), we were all GONNA DIE!!

That's right. The above list is just a sampling of the things that the media cried over. And to show just how intellectual the elite media are, they would use (and still use) a word coined in 1475 to label anyone who would not whole-hardheartedly agree with them: denier.

Today we are in the midst of a real pandemic. One not seen here in the United States since 1918. And it may actually be serious. Oh, I'm not being a "denier" of the coronavirus. Not in the least. But, I'm wondering HOW serious it might actually be. As of today, the stats are as follows:

The first case reported in the US: 1/22/2020
February 1: 8
March 1: 42 (2 deaths)
April 1: 212,747 (4,746 deaths)
April 18: 724,895 (34,178 deaths)

As an Ohioan, the first three cases were reported on 3/9/2020
April 1: 2,547 (65 deaths)
April 18: 10,222 (451 deaths)

Looking at the stats, things seem quite grim. The numbers are exponentially rising when it comes to confirmed cases and especially deaths. And yet, both President Trump and Governor DeWine (and I'm sure many others) are looking at slowly lifting the quarantines that have been slowing the spread of the disease. I can't talk about the impact upon the economy at an individual level, as my wife is a public school teacher working from home and I work in a company that supports the telecommunications industry (therefore, "essential"), so we are both working (thank you Lord). However, on the macro level, the impact has been substantial. Yet, after only about a month of quarantine (here in Ohio), is it really advisable to start lifting it? Can the hospitals handle the possible increase in cases? Do we have the supplies? Are people willing to keep their distance and wear masks? How serious is this?

Now, the media has been ever vigilant in their reporting of how terrible a job President Trump has done when it comes to this. Mainly, because he was a "denier" initially. To be honest, I don't blame him.

Please scroll back to the top and review that list.

Now, take a deep breath.

Let it out slowly.

I blame the media. It is their fault and they should be held responsible for every occurrence and EVERY DEATH from this pandemic. And here's why:

I'm a big fan of two Microsoft Office Suite products: OneNote and Outlook (the desktop version). When writing an email in Outlook, you can choose the priority of the message as High, Normal, and Low. All emails are Normal by default. I had a coworker that would send every email as High priority. Do you know what happens when all emails are sent as High priority? NONE of them are High priority.

That's our media. Everything is a crisis and we should pay attention to them because they are more knowledgeable than you and therefore are the arbiters of truth. Horsepuckies!

To be more accurate, they are more like the "The Boy Who Cried Wolf".

They have always been more concerned with selling advertising dollars than reporting the news. And because everything has been a crisis, nothing is a crisis. And they are surprised when people are not listening when there is a REAL "wolf"?!?

I'm no expert. This is nothing but My Humble But Accurate Opinion. And yet, maybe, just maybe, we should keep our distance for a bit longer.

And stop listening to the media when they cry, "Wolf!"

©Emittravel 2020

Kill The Goose

According to Douglas Adams, the answer to "Life, The Universe, And Everything" is "42". But, according to the MLB, 42 is also the answer to "death": as in the number of Minor League teams on the chopping block.

As I write this, my wife and I are recovering from hosting our 5th annual "Pitchers & Catchers Report Party": a celebration of the start of a new season of baseball, and a chance for family and friends to get together and gab and eat summer food on a below-freezing day. With her parents recent return to Ohio, this was a fun time for both sets of parents to hang out as well.

During the party, along with food, we had a game from September playing in the background. At one point I was called over by both dads who told me that they would be enjoying future ball games right here. They said that there was good food, great parking, and great seats to watch the game.

I think they had something there.

Have you ever heard the story of the goose that laid the golden eggs? The farmer found he had a goose that would lay one golden egg every day. Due to his greed, he cut the goose open to get all the eggs at once - effectively killing the goose.

That farmer and the MLB have something in common.

I read a recent article that made the argument that the MLB needed not only a new Commissioner of Baseball, but a new commissioner like the old commissioners. Back in 1921, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis became the first commissioner. He was brought in partially due to what become the "Black Sox Scandal", where he banned eight ballplayers from the game for life!

"Regardless of the verdict of juries, no player who throws a ballgame, no player that undertakes or promises to throw a ballgame, no player that sits in conference with a bunch of crooked players and gamblers where the ways and means of throwing a game are discussed and does not promptly tell his club about it, will ever play professional baseball."

That action, though harsh, helped keep the game respectable, and helped the game to continue to grow.

Landis' focus was for the good of the game. He balanced the interest of players, owners, and fans to the best of his ability. That was a trait that followed for commissioners after him.

Current commissioners however, especially the last two, have focused on what is best for the owners exclusively. Okay, maybe they haven't kicked the players out, but they sure have left the fans out in the rain.

One of the things that has been proposed by the current commissioner (Robert Manfred) is the elimination of 42 Minor League clubs, with the hopes of expanding the Major League clubs by two. The reason? Money, of course. And by money, I mean money for the owners of the Major League clubs.

Lest you think I'm rambling here, let me tie all these threads together.

According to our dads, access to games, good food, great seats, and easy parking all add up to a great baseball experience. You know what that sounds like to me? They aren't talking about going to a Major League park! Sounds like a Minor League experience to me! You know, where you don't have to fight traffic, all seats are good (even the "nosebleed"), the parking is easy, and you don't have to take out a loan to go! And according to Mr. Manfred, there will be 42 less places for people to enjoy that kind of baseball.

For some people, a Minor League park is the only way they can take their family to a game. Partly due to finances; partly due to inaccessibility to Major League ballparks.

In 2019, my wife and I attended four Major League games (one at home and three in Canada while on vacation). In comparison, we went to six Minor League games. I can guarantee you, we spent far less money, and had JUST as good a time, at the six Minor League games than we did at the four Major League games. And those Minor League players played the game just as hard and with just as much passion as their Major League affiliates. And that means, in 2020, we plan on going to even MORE Minor League games.

The MLB owners are so money focused that they are willing to kill 42 geese. That's a lot of golden eggs they are throwing away, all for greed.

Let's not dash the dreams of multitudes of children to one day step up to the batters' box by keeping them from enjoying the game. Especially ones they and their families can actually attend!

©Emittravel 2020