Calamity News and Politics
VETERAN’S DAY SPECIAL VLOG 11/11/2020
Thoughts and thanks for my 2020 Veteran’s Day experience. A visit to a restaurant for a free meal with some Veterans reminded me of all the thanks we receive. But in return, it brought the realization how much Veterans want you to know we thank you too. Not just on Veteran’s Day but always we thank you for thanking us!
Well, our nation needs a manicure after this nail-biter election but the plus-size diva has now sung. History has been made with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. The two Dems have received a record number of votes, more than any other presidential and vice-presidential candidates in American history. We will have our first female, African-American, and South Asian Vice President.
I am shouting “President Biden!” from the rooftops – OK, I am afraid of heights, but I am shouting it in my living room and from my car window. While we dance by our lit Biden-Harris sign, car horns honk in the background, fireworks are being shot off, celebrating the end of a four-year living hell. I would run up and down the street hugging total strangers, but thanks to Trump’s incompetence in handling COVID-19, I can’t.
When ‘the Donald’ first took office, a very wise friend commented that people always had feelings of racism, “but now we know who they are”. Unfortunately, many of them we have known for a very long time, like my nephew, or the church deacon who applauded myself and my spouse when we finished RCIA (Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults) and were formally accepted as members of our faith. Our old friend, whose home we often visited and child we often babysat. Being told by those blind to the truth to “open my eyes” and change my vote, something I would not do even if I could.
We often see flags waving on porches across our country and special social media posts of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall, or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, or one of the National Cemeteries, with prayers or poems on Veterans and Memorial Day in honor of those who have served our nation. There are many restaurants that offer free meals, movie theaters offering complimentary admissions, and other giveaways to vets on November 11th, and a national hair care chain offers free haircuts as a thank you for veterans; often our former and current servicemen and women are asked to stand for a round of applause at sporting and concert events, but are these accolades enough?
How are we really taking care of those service women and men who suffer from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)? Many of our veterans return home to find they have no home. More than 40,000 of those who have served our country are homeless. And PTSD is a major factor in causing homelessness. It is estimated that as many as 33% of veterans, suffer from this debilitating illness. Mental illness is a significant factor in homelessness among veterans.
There are 3 main symptoms of this disorder. First, “arousal”: anger, difficulties with sleeping, or concentrating. Second, “reliving”: nightmares and flashbacks which can impede daily activities, and can lead to loss of employment income. Third, “avoidance”: a feeling of utter detachment from life and those around them, often leading to depression so severe it is not possible for the sufferer to function well enough to keep, a job or take care of a home.
Cognitive decline is one of the biggest hurdles facing aging adults. As we grow older, our bodies change, including mental functioning. Mental decline is not inevitable, however. Here are some tips from the experts to insure good brain health. Every day we are learning about new research into brain health. That research gives us insight into how to keep our brains sharp throughout life.
Regular exercise helps all the muscles and organs of the body, including the brain. A good workout can lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels which is good for both brain and heart. Research shows that regular exercise increases the number of tiny blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the areas of the brain that are responsible for thinking.
The MIND diet is designed to help prevent dementia and slow the loss of brain function that can happen as we age. Dieters are encouraged to consume vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, fish, beans, poultry and wine. The diet depends on frequent servings of green leafy vegetables. Kale, spinach, broccoli, collards and other greens that are packed with vitamins A and C and other nutrients. At least two servings a week can help, with memory. However, researchers found six or more servings a week provide the greatest brain benefits.
Dave’s back, only two days late. I suspect he was doing some street dancing. Anyway, welcome back. In today’s episode Dave is all about bringing the Trump supporters into the fold. I personally have my doubts, but I try not to fight with my friends. LOL. Whatever your political leanings David thinks we can work it out. In fact, I think he sounds a bit like a marriage counselor.
Joe Biden is the President-Elect. Thank Zeus, and the millions of Americans who turned out and gave Donald Trump the proverbial boot. On January 20th, 2021 Joe will be inaugurated the 46th president of the United States. I want to take a minute and reflect on this historic moment. It is a time for tears of joy and the dancing in the streets. I pray this is going to be a new chapter, a better chapter, a unifying chapter. With Joe comes Jill Biden, PhD., a working woman. What a new and beautiful 21st century image of a First Lady.
Furthermore, Kamala Harris, a half-black, half-East Indian, first generation American, Oakland born woman, has just become Vice President-Elect. This is an amazing moment. This is a big deal, folks. As a woman I am thrilled. I was seriously beginning to wonder if I would ever see a woman elected to national office before I died. For me this is a day of jubilation and celebration. This is also a moment for the next generation.
The jukebox choice of the day is coming from Dave Shadrick. Love this song. Thanks, Dave. Enjoy!
Calamity Politics Vlog: 11/1/2020 “The Wall”
Dave is back with more paranoid environmental theories. The southern wall is actually being built to stop a new type of refugee. A caravan of misery is coming from South America to escape the consequences of climate change. The real intent of Trump’s wall is to keep the huge number of victims of climate change stopped at the southern border. But, Dave’s theory doesn’t end there. He in fact believes we are in a battle for the soul of the gas pump. Comments welcome.
30,000 NEW COVID-19 CASES LINKED TO TRUMP RALLIES
700 DEATHS FROM COVID-19 LINKED TO TRUMP RALLIES
If you are tempted to stop wearing a mask, end social distancing, or frequent hand washing just check out COVID DONNIE’S statistics and rethink that stupidity. Elbow bump.
Total COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 9 million on Friday, October 30, 2020. Close to 235,000 people are dead in America. Most states are experiencing spikes unseen since the pandemic peak back in July. CDC reported that today there were an astounding and record setting 98,580 new cases. The pandemic is rapidly expanding. This is a runaway train. The Trump terror campaign is in full swing. The U.S. has only 4.25% of the world’s population but we have nearly 20% of the worlds deaths from COVID-19.
969 Americans have died needlessly since yesterday. Brothers, sisters, mothers, husbands, sons, friends and family who are no longer with us. I said these folks had died needlessly and I meant it. If Donald Trump had taken the virus seriously in January we would not be experiencing these shocking death totals. A study from Columbia University estimates that 210,000 of those American deaths could have been avoided. Donald Trump had the power to change the dynamics. If Donald Trump hadn’t been an incompetent, ineffective, and unfit president a total of 24,000 Americans would have died from COVID-19 instead of nearly 235,000.
Trump is actually out on the campaign stump claiming one of his top achievements during his first term was “ending COVID-19.” I don’t know if Donald is hallucinating, on drugs or just a pathological liar, but I’m shocked and disgusted at his claims. The fact that his pronouncement came at a new peak of a raging pandemic should be no shock to anyone. While the pandemic gets worse in our country the toxic psychopath masquerading as a president babbles absurdities completely divorced from reality. If the pandemic is over, why is the Trump administration still desperately trying to bring out a vaccine “any day?”
Take New Zealand for example. Jacinda Ardern is the Prime Minister of New Zealand. From the beginning of the pandemic she and her government enacted a nationwide lockdown and the widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world. Despite the strict crackdown she earned the respect of her citizens. She has shown care and compassion and her actions have saved thousands of lives. As of today less than 30 of her citizens has died from coronavirus. Adjusted for population, that is the equivalent of 1,650 Americans, which is clearly even better than the Columbia University study mentioned above.
Out-of-control incompetence. It is anticipated that 150,000 to 250,000 more Americans will needlessly die between now and noon on January 20th. Hopefully that is the same day that we see Joe Biden replace Donald Trump. I think the death toll could be even greater than estimated. I hope not. All we can do is wear our masks, wash our hands religiously, social distance and avoid groups. Even with that, half the population resists these simple measures.
The primary reason for the resistance to masks is named Donald Trump. He is the poorest example of what to do during a public health emergency. I wonder if we will ever be able to track the deaths directly related to Trump’s rallies. The carnage of fifty more 9/11 deaths will occur between now and January and based on recent rally rhetoric it looks like Trump is going to blame “doctors and the nurses for making money on COVID deaths.”
We can stop this. We can step up and vote the diseased Orange Menace out of office. I truly believe this country cannot tolerate another four years of Trump and his goons. What we need to do is vote. We must make sure Trump is removed from the White House as soon as the Constitution provides. There are thousands of reasons why Donald Trump is unfit to be president of the United States, his response to the virus is one of his worst failures. The best tribute we can give to our lost loved ones is to Dump Trump.
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2020/06/21/covid-19-is-taking-a-mental-toll-14467/
"If puppies and kittens don't make you smile, you might consider therapy." D. S. Mitchell 2015.
Self-isolating has forced us to turn even more to telecommunication and social media.
The Major Cause Of Sex Trafficking Is Poverty
Many great charities, here are a couple that I support: Sierra Club, World Wildlife Fund, ACLU, and Planned Parenthood.
