Tom Chavez

Alexander the Great Meets Death

After conquering and looting many rich countries, Alexander relaxed in Babylon, partying and carousing, when he suddenly fell ill. Historians are unsure what it was. Coronavirus? Eleven days later, he was gone. JFK was gone in a moment.

Alexander called his generals to his deathbed. "I will leave this world soon. I have three final desires. Please fulfill them without fail." 

"My first desire," Alexander said, "is that my physicians alone will carry my coffin to my grave." 

"My second desire is that the path to my grave be strewn with the gold, silver, and precious stones in my treasury." 

"My last wish," said Alexander, "is that my hands be kept dangling out of the coffin." 

Alexander's top general stepped forward and kissed his hand (picture). 

"Dear Emporer," he said, "We assure you that your final desires will be fulfilled. But please explain these strange instructions." 

Alexander said, "I would like the world to know three lessons I have learned in life.”

"I want my physicians to carry my coffin," said Alexander, "because people should realize that no one can protect us from inevitable death. Life should never be taken for granted.” 

"Having my treasury strewn on the path to my grave will show that we cannot take anything with us at death. People should realize that chasing after wealth is futile.”

"And having my hands dangling from the coffin will show that we come into this world empty handed and leave empty handed." 

"Bury my body, do not build a monument to me, and, again, keep my hands outside my coffin so everyone may know that the man who won the world died with nothing in his hands."

Bill Engelhardt

Tim Jones (Jones)

This morning I watched the documentary Planet of the Humans, put up on YouTube for free on Earth Day. This one hour forty minute film on the takeover of the green energy movement by big business was directed by Jeff Gibbs and executive producer Michael Moore which I guess means Michael put up the money to produce it.  

The film asks the question is humanity on a sustainable path, is green energy such as solar, wind and biomass really green and is human population currently at 7.5 billion sustainable? Not long ago I was talking to my daughter about the American lifestyle, the river of steel we call the freeway, 3000, 4000, 5000 square foot homes, huge vehicles, a wasteful food production and distribution system.  The question, is all this sustainable? My answer was (is) No! 

We're in the middle of this pandic now that has highlighted some of our nation and the world's vulnerabilities.  When I see the thousands of commercial jet aircaft sitting on the ground, "parked" one gets the magnitude of our modern transportation system which can transport anyone, anywhere on the planet in twelve hours or a lot less and the impact of people moving around on that level and how it has created and exacerbated the current virus crisis. 

This film asks the question, is human life sustainable at it current level and demands on the planet for resources?  Is the human animal just a genetic flash-in-the-pan, and/or will it end up next to the dinosaurs in the cockroach museum?  If you weren't sufficiently depressed by current world affairs, this documentary will get you there...  If you have children and grand children, it will make you think.

It's got some harsh scenes. Watch at you own discretion. 

Tom Chavez

The Chinese curse is, “May you live in interesting times.”

Times now are interesting, indeed. Even before the coronavirus, Russia and Saudi Arabia were in an oil price war, exacerbated by record high US oil production. This past week the price of Texas tea, black gold (West Texas Intermediate oil) went negative, the first time ever, because storage capacity is running out. Sellers were paying buyers to take the damn stuff because they had no place to store it!

Tim, I agree with you. We have an artificial civilization which is bound to follow the trajectory of previous materialistic empires. The multiple shocks of the oil crisis, the epidemic crisis, climate change and the financial crisis will likely reshape our world. 

I’ve been seeing articles from western historians about the end of the bronze age around 1177 BC. There was a large, semi-global, civilization, about the size of Alexander’s empire at its maximum. Bronze was produced  around the Mediterranean with local copper and tin from Afghanistan. It seems a huge drought occurred, and ‘uncivilized’ hordes attacked the various cities. Most of the cities disappeared, tin was no longer available, and the 'bronze' civilization collapsed.

Today we see the central US government at odds with various state governments. During Obama’s time state politicians here in Texas talked about succession from the union. Now, other states are forming smaller groups tending independent from federal authority. It reminds me of how the Roman empire, once stretching with highways all the way to Britain, gradually disintegrated into fiefdoms run by different warlords.

People are responding to the epidemic by purchasing weapons in record quantities. Unless there is a radical change of consciousness, society will gradually devolve from rule of law to rule of force. 

Therefore, intelligent perceptive people are forming self-sufficient rural communities of like-minded individuals, getting back to simple agrarian lifestyle which has proven sustainable through thousands of years of human history. Some of those communities are listed here: http://centers.iskcondesiretree.com/farm-and-rural-communities

Tim Jones (Jones)

This thing we call civilization is a thin verneer on top of our 'survival of the fittest' reptillian brain.  Cities are especially vulnerable to any disruption of services since pretty much everything that is consumed in the cities come from somewhere else. 

Back in the 70's I think it was, there was rioting and looting in New York city due to a garbage strike.  A few years after that, there was more rioting and looting due to a failure of the electrical grid resulting in 'brownouts'. So the net effect of the virus plague on big cities is going to be a pressure cooker about to blow. Things could get ugly, fast.

Listening to Noam Chomsky on current events, he says, this virus thing will pass, but looming in the background are other big elephants in the room; climate change and the threat of nuclear war. We need good leadership now like no other time in human history.

"Humankind is challenged, as it has never been challenged before, to prove its maturity and its mastery.....not of nature, but of itself."  

                                                                               Rachael Carson    1962

Al Peffley

Another view that fits right in with Tim's last post:

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/04/the_wuhan_virus_pandemic_has_exposed_the_american_ruling_class.html

I think we should not go forth, as AOC is recommending, and bycott our culture by not going to work when Comrad Inslee releases us from our "safe" places as defined by him. Oh, that's right, we are retired. I forgot.

Those "moving steel" convoys on our freeways bring the stuff that you consume to the grocery stores you buy vegetables at, supply the farmer that grows your produce, and brings commodities (made mostly in China) to the hardware store where you buy your supplies to maintain your residence (unless you rent, and then you expect someone else to take care of all of your shelter needs.) Thank you truckers! Truckers are having problems just finding places to use bathroom facilities and take care of basic hygene requirments in some poorly-maintained states like Washington. The rest stops in cities (the one on I-5 in Federal Way at the south end of King County comes to mind) were made trashed and filthy by mobil homeless drug addicts and traveling mentally ill people before the pandemic started. Maybe Washington State and King County will begin to take care of freeway rest stops like Oregon still does? I won't hold my breath! Truckers are human beings also with basic living needs just like the wealthy celebrity ungratefuls that interstate truckers serve 24/7.

Keep drinking the NWO Kool Aid and "take one for the team" by not using health services so the privilaged can live like little fifedom lords and preach to us about killing people for their social justice warrior cause. Be thankful to God for what you have and let Him run the world, in spite of the dooms day UN Agenda 21 cult.

Our American culture is already at a negative population growth point, except for the invasions of illegal immigrants infiltrating our southern border who procreate at an increased rate. You are preaching to the wrong audience, guys. We already have bowed to the pro-eugenics crowd and eliminate millions of souls per year because it's healthy and a woman's choice. I am glad my mother chose life for me and my brother, God rest his soul.

The world is becoming a very dark place. The area I live in is dangerous just to go out shopping at Safeway after dark any more. I seldom see a LE officer except when a homeless person gets violent on the streets. The new door monitors restricting people the number of customers entering the stores by control freaks without socially enforceing distancing inside the stores is rediculous!

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

How are your bicycle trips going when you travel from Pacific County to operate your fancy boat made with petroleum products, Tim? I am assuming your boat hull is made from fiberglass material. Traveled by plane to a family event recently? It is easy to criticize our lifestyle when you have the time to enjoy the benefits of America on your smartphone and computer without being attacked by a neighboring tribe who wants to kill you or worrying about where your next meal will come from tomorrow. Be grateful for your blessings that others sacrificed so that you may be a freeman. Serve more, gripe less.

Tim Jones (Jones)

Well, Al, your post has a fairly pessimistic tone to it. I understand.  The world we knew in 1964 is long gone.  Those post war good times. 

Well, my fancy boat is made of GPR (glass polyester resin). Yes, it's 63 years old and a work of art, which is why I love it so much.  Only three were built....well....they didn't sell because they were simply too expensive.  Polyester resin made from crude oil was expensive even back then.  By today's standards, it a SMALL boat. It's my only luxury and I have sacrificed a lot to own it...a childhood dream.  It's getting to be a bit much for me to maintain, the moorage, insurance, maintainence. Hoping my kids will take it over. 

No, I haven't flown anywhere since 2005.  I did travel to California for my son's wedding last September.  I drove down (the Oregon Coast) in my 20 year old pickup, camped aong the way and took my dog along.  The wedding planner had a kitten when I showed up for rehearsal with Tito! HA HA!  We got it done.  I was a very proud papa! 

I wouldn't want to live in Seattle right now. Not looking good to me.  I live out in the boonies, which I am glad of.  Working on putting in a garden for food and maybe get some chickens.  There's going to be a lot of adjustment in our day-to-day lives from this moment on.

Last night I watched The Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins.  I felt a certain connection with his character. Inspiring movie. Two nights before I watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Steve Martin and Michael Cain.  I haven't laughted so hard in a long time!  Gee, there were some great comedy movies produced in the 1980's. 

Stay in touch and we'll weather this storm together.

Tim

Bill Engelhardt

Seattle -- 1918 -- No mask, No entry.

Tom Chavez

Today in Houston, such beautiful weather. After yesterday’s thundershowers blue blue sky, white fluffy clouds, gardenias and roses blooming, lending fragrance to the air. It’s a peaceful Sunday, birds chirping, squirrels scurrying, people and children wandering and playing, happy amidst the blessings of mother nature.

I don’t envy you your boat, Tim. We all have our blessings and curses, according to our karma. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which! In my days at the UW, I used to rent canoes and paddle out to the Arboretum. In the summer I’d go to Green Lake and swim all day. Many happy memories, but many painful ones, too.

I find the yoga analysis of the “modes of nature” very insightful. 

Persons in the mode of goodness develop knowledge and happiness but are conditioned by a sense of pride and superiority. 

Those in passion are strongly motivated by many material desires. Dissatisfied with what they have, always wanting more, frustrated when they can’t get what they want, they envy others and lament to lose what they once had. It is difficult for such persons to be peaceful or to develop real happiness.

And those in ignorance are bound by illusion, day dreaming, and foolishness. They find happiness in intoxication, and feel almost helpless to make progress. They may become inveterate couch potatoes or even descend into insanity and suicide.

These modes control our consciousness, according to our activities and associations, just as physical laws control our bodies. Intelligent persons exercise their free will to consciously cultivate goodness and minimize passion and ignorance. 

I was once deeply sunk into the modes of ignorance and passion—alcohol, drugs, mundane pleasures. Somehow, I got the hint. I started hiking up into the national park around Mt. Rainier for months at a time. Practicing yoga. Vegetarian diet. Gradually, over years, I crawled up out of the depths.

You like to go out on the water. Time away in natural surroundings is conducive to the mode of goodness. We need solitude to better understand ourselves, to assimilate our experience, to gather our energies and direct them toward the peak life experiences of our true potential.

The ultimate goal is to transcend the modes of nature and liberate our consciousness from all mundane influences, to be transcendental to the world as we transit through. At least, that is my humble understanding of yoga philosophy.

Tom Chavez

Quanzhou Travelogue

I spent half of the past 5 years in Quanzhou, China, where I have an apartment. It is is a very cultural place. When you board a taxi the driver starts the meter, and a recording announces, “Welcome to Quanzhou, East Asia culture capitol. Fasten your seat belt. The meter will start now.” Those are likely the only English words you’ll hear as you travel around Quanzhou, but you hear them in every taxi.

There are many mountains around Quanzhou, and stone is a valued natural resource. Many buildings and bridges are carved from stone. Ancient cultural traditions are preserved in a variety of stone carvings all over the city.

Quanzhou’s famous landmark is the twin stone towers of the Kai Yuan Temple. They are about 1000 years old. 

Quanzhou was once the center of international maritime trade with India and the middle east. The city traditionally welcomed foreigners who built their own places of worship in the city.  Quanzhou proudly preserves the remnants of a mosque near the city center.

Traders from India also built temples in Quanzhou. Pillars in the Buddhist Kai Yuan temple were salvaged from an abandoned Indian temple. Below is a stone-carved image from such a pillar and similar on a large brass casting on Quanzhou's outer City Wall.

This image comes from a very ancient story. If there are no objections I would like to tell this story for those who are interested.

Al Peffley

Bill, I have fond memories of Green Lake. My mother would buy tickets to the Aqua Follies show that was held each year at the end of Green Lake (south end Aquatic Center, if my feeble memory serves me correctly.) The diving and synchronized swimming show was elegant and superb in the early 50's. We would take a picnic lunch and go to the zoo on other occasions. Seattle Outboard Association held a boat race each summer on Green Lake. It was like a "Mini Seafair" event, until the people living around the lake got tired of the crowds and beer cans and other trash some people left around the shore after the race. The outboard hydro and runabout races drew hundreds of spectators at the race with vendors selling food and Japanese-made trinkets. I bought a lot of bicycle equipment at Green Lake Cyclery in the 1970's. I rode (on the back roads) on my light-weight Austrian, 10-speed bicycle to work at the Boeing DC from our apartment in west Tukwila. They had the coolist and most complete bike hardware selection in Seattle at the time.

I still have the bicycle -- it's hanging up in the garage. The frame is a very light weight magnesium alloy. Imagine a high-tech European bicycle sold at.... Sears! That bike has been ridden to Sequim and around the San Juan Islands in the day. I always worried about old women in Cadillacs and construction workers in small utility trucks "dusting me off" the shoulder as I rode to work and back. I repaired a lot of flat tires.

My current boat is a Glasspar Avalon with an '82 Merc. We spent years cruizing the American San Juans in an 18-foot Bayliner v-hull with fold-down seats and a canopy. Our boating friends had a 24 foot cabin cruizer and a 30 foot sailboat that we traveled with around the islands for three summers. The kids slept in a pup tent at the parks on Jones and Sucia islands. We harvested Dungeness crabs off of Hat Island.

30-foot Catalina sail boat layout drawing -- it was an excellent sailing hull length for inner sound waves.

The adults enjoyed boating trips around the islands, Vashon sandpit & Bainbridge outings, and South Sound excursions, but our children soon became bored with the quiet and peacefulness of it all as they grew up. Box waves and huge ocean freighters traversing in the fog in the Straits were white knuckle time boating events that could be perilous (if not deadly.) I always trailered our boats so I have never paid moorage fees. I have hand-scraped and painted a few hulls in my time at a marina on Lake Union. My father was a boatwright during WWII in Olympia at Long Boat Works. LBW built double-ended, lapstraight surf rescue boats for the "shallow water" sailor teams (USCG). My dad served as a Merchant Marine in the late 1920's. We built several wood row boats together. Boating and boat building is "in my genes". Here is the 8-foot pram we built for my mother in the early 1950's that I restored recently (our Glaspar runabout is in the background). I completely glassed the hull with thin cloth and West Systems. It will be the third rebuild (and my last rebuild.) I had to replace the transom. Marine grade hardwood plywood is getting harder to find...

Last August was its "christening" voyage on Lake Wallowa, Oregon. I finished the restoration in May, 2019.

Al Peffley

This nationally recognized economist has some valid points about the extreme pandemic responses that some governors have imposed on their constituents (I can't believe the length of this website's hyperlink address! - LOL):

https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/22/examining-costs-vs-benefits-and-covid-19/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=examining-costs-vs-benefits-and-covid-19?utm_source=TDS_Email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MorningBell&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWlRjell6STVNakZqWldVMyIsInQiOiJPZDlzaUNuN1F5UzRwWm5MMCtVNEJkOVA4TjM0UUptK3lORjNpQ0RjeWdmYTVZeisrMHhyU2NLand3WkpiV1NLYU12dGhMVTdKaWRGdmNLK0hrdCt3OCt1Q2JnOXIwNTVmUW15WUNyeEx1WGFCR29UZVFDaENlRDljVEVCaXV1YSJ9

I see that the Snohomish County Sheriff and two other Washington State elected sheriff's around April 25th have broken their silent obedience to Governor Inslee's open-ended and extended emergency response proclamations. These sheriffs think that it is past time to reveal the entire reopening "Plan" of the Left Coast "PAC". Every sheriff in the 39 counties of Washington State is answerable to his or her constituents and is also the head Emergency Management (EM) authority in their county (all county EM directors report to the County Sheriff in Washington State.) Constitutionally, by both state and federal law, no elected sheriff reports to the Governor of Washington State in a critical incident emergency state of operations. Elected sheriffs are powerful people.

If enough Washington State sheriffs align together and demand that Governor Inslee make and publicize a definitive plan to reopen state businesses and public parks/beaches (with sensible distancing, gathering size measures, and sanitation guidelines), then he must comply or be in violation of both state and federal constitutions.

Remember this poor emergency response result in the November 2020 election for the Washington State Governor's office. We are not children to be restricted indefinitely by Marshall Law "lockdown" proclamations currently being used for political strategy programs or personal career gain. Our Cowlitz County Sheriff and Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution to put pressure on Inslee to ease up on his unfair (and politically-biased) "non-essential business" closures. He has hamstrung the State Legislature from physical meeting sessions, but not from electronically interacting as a governing body to represent the people. It is time for the Washington State Legislature members to put pressure for relief of Governor Inslee's grip on the struggling state and county economy sectors. Small government money offerings and driving businesses further in debt with "loans" are not the solution ($1,200 does not pay one month's lease payment, let alone utilities costs and other small business expenses.) Opening up needed businesses with sensible precautions is the solution - NOW!

No open economy to produce revenue for all those new and expanded state taxes and fees, no tax base...duh!

Gregg Wilson

Al,

The governors have rejected their state constitutions and the federal constitution. Their actions kill the economy and the worst part is having the federal government bail them out. That puts every state not having to balance their budget - forever.

The lockdown, stay in your homes, prolongs the live of the coronavirus. It guarantees a second wave in the fall. Exposure of the kids and young people creates a herd immunity - the best way to stop a second wave. The fatality rate of kids and young persons is almost zero.

The ignorance of the polititians to the consequence of creating an endless stream of money is incredible. But their utter lack of business experience explains their stupidity.

Tom Chavez

Tom Chavez

Introduction: The Story of Narasimha 

Climate change and coronavirus are creating a fuss, but it’s nothing like an ice age. The glaciers which scooped out the great lakes were several miles thick during the last Glacial Maximum, between 26,000 and 13,000 years ago, completely covering Canada and much of what is now the US, Europe and Asia. The accumulation of water into ice lowered sea levels about 500 feet below today’s levels.

During warm interglacial periods such as the Eemian, there was little or no ice, Antarctica was a jungle, and oceans were much higher than today.

Human civilizations are almost completely destroyed by such extreme global changes. Rare fragmental remnants of ancient civilizations are found worldwide, going back millions of years, but mostly just legends and myths remain, like stories of Atlantis or Lemuria. Most of us think that modern humans have evolved from primitive ancestors, and that we have developed the most advanced scientific civilization ever. 

A different picture is given in the ancient Sanskrit writings of India, the Vedic literatures. The Vedas describe a human civilization in which we had an advanced subtle technology of mind and intelligence, in which yoga, paranormal abilities and contacts with extraterrestrial beings were highly developed.

Most of what we learn is from authorities. For example, there is a country in Asia called Bhutan, in which the government rejects the concept of GNP (Gross National Product) in favor of GNH or Gross National Happiness. I’ve not been to Bhutan, but a reliable friend has. Based upon his authority, I know about Bhutan.

I don’t request you to blindly believe this story, but take it with an open mind, with the theoretical view that perhaps the Vedic account is authoritative. It will seem fantastic, and it is difficult to translate into modern language and culture. I can give only the briefest synopsis here. There’s much more, if you want to follow up.

This story is from an historical Sanskrit text (purana) called Srimad Bhagavatam. The story is extremely ancient, and perhaps not even from this planet.

Vedic culture and civilization did not believe in gradual evolution as we know it today. Our current civilization is not a product of chance evolution, but of applied intelligent effort. Society requires intelligent management to maintain supplies of water, electricity, food and so on. Similarly, Vedic culture taught that from the very beginning the universe was guided and developed by intelligent supervision.

The very first living being in the universe had a body made of pure intelligence and was tasked with creating planets, dimensions and ecological niches for a vast variety of living entities from angels, to humans to demons and all kinds of beings in between. His name was Brahma and he had four heads. This story is about what happened when Brahma ran into a big problem.

The story, recorded in Srimad Bhagavatam, was told by Brahma to Narad, an ordinary human being who perfected himself by yoga and attained a body of pure consciousness. The picture below shows Brahma instructing Narad. Narad taught Srimad Bhagavatam to the human society, and that is how the story of Narasimha became famous.

Al Peffley

Are we being controlled and conditioned for long-term, national OCD?

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/05/the_munchausen_states_experiment_with_mass_ocd.html

This author presents an interesting discussion about long-term social separation and masking psychological effects of pandemic proclamations and Marshall Law enforcement on our American culture.

Vaccines only enable herd immunity, they don't directly kill the virus. We need a prescribed and monitored treatment to eliminate the virus' ability to enter a healthy cell and reproduce in people who don't have a natural immunity response to this pathogen.

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
― Benjamin Franklin

Tom Chavez

Tom Chavez

Passion and Ignorance

President Donald Trump has stopped talking about the decades-old antimalarial drug for Covid-19. When he first began touting the drug in mid-March, a frenzy ensued as hospitals, patients and doctors raced to secure supplies. 

As quickly as pharmacies were drained of the pills, the tide has now turned against hydroxychloroquine and its chemical cousin, chloroquine. Prescriptions have plummeted back to nearly normal levels.

The president’s passionate enthusiasm has large costs even as the mania recedes. The U.S. government has agreed to spend tens of millions of dollars to assess and acquire hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.

Don’t expect apologies from those who accused Dr. Fauci and other scientists of trying to undermine the president when they warned that the scientific evidence wasn’t there. 

The same voices are now accusing those who promote safe hygiene and social distancing of wanting to “control free citizens,” “create a permanent Nanny state” and “put the economy in a coma.”

Gregg Wilson

Tom,

There are doctors on the front line who have used hydroxychloroquine and have found it to be effective in treating symptoms of the coronavirus.

Al Peffley

Tom, there are lots of medicine "tools" available to doctors for treating virus infections. No one treatment approach will work with every patient. I find it ironic that you post a cartoon on vaccines and politics, and then follow up immediately with a critical diatribe about Trump as the culprit and a weak defense of Dr. Fauci using Trump as a scapegoat. The NIH and Dr. Fauci's peers were involved in coronavirus and HIV research before the outbreak in Wuhan. The American economy has been devasted by politics and excessive spending of printed money we don't have to spend because of the world trade disruption.

We will overcome this pandemic with dedication to helping the people actually infected with COVID-19 and giving more attention and supplies to Long Term Care homes and facilities that have been neglected by greedy Mayors and Governors using PPE supplies, ventilators, bailout monies, and medicine contributions by the Federal Government elsewhere.

The U of W pandemic model has failed to estimate the true nature and trends of the virus. Who has peer-reviewed and verifed & validated the UW's pandemic model? What are the model's assumptions and data inputs? Where is the audit report on a peer review and a thorough assessment of the sample population inputs that are driving political emergency proclamations? I have seen no public-reported audit of the UW's pandemic modeling program and it is keeping our state in lockdown until June 1st. This situation is being used for political leverage in many states. Now some large hospital systems are the PPE hoarders, and they are furloughing key medical staff and simultaneously decreasing salaries of MD specialists! How stupid is that if we have a second wave of infections like the influenza of 1918? Little rural hospitals are going under and the Hollyweird lobbyists have been approved to continue scheduling plastic surgery procedures. No, it is obvious to me from the elite's access to haircuts, pot stores, and fancy clothes suppliers that "We are [not] all in this together". In Washington State we have flattened the deaths curve statistic and we are still denied certain services because the controlling authorities think they are not essential for the "little people" who can't think for themselves as adults and practice distancing/mask-wearing. The Sweden model is being ignored in Washington State and instead is being based on political fear statements, not on the rational assessment of collected pandemic statistical data and observed medical treatment progress facts.

Tom Chavez

Al, if I were properly vaccinated against politics I would not have posted that article about hydroxychloroquine. Unfortunately, I became infected by reading your posts!

Different folks have different perspectives, that’s for sure. And different beliefs. Gregg believes that doctors on the front lines have found the drug to be effective. There may be a miraculous cure with the drug, but it’s possible that the drug was coincidental. I like to see the scientific evidence. 

In your response you criticize ‘greedy’ mayors and governors, the UW pandemic model, large hospital systems, ‘Hollyweird’ lobbyists, ‘elites’, and Washington State authorities.

You repeatedly express criticism, resentment, disdain and scorn toward a plethora of people and institutions. You gripe that your ‘sacred’ rights are being threatened and trampled, and illustrate your ire with a picture of the US Constitution on fire.

I don’t feel that way at all. I feel fortunate and blessed to live in this country. I respect the institutions, laws and people of America. Of course, we are all imperfect and don’t always live up to our ideals. But if I could, I aspire to follow this advice:

There is so much good in the worst of us

And so much bad in the best of us

That it ill behooves any of us

To find fault with the rest of us.

Tim, I went to your link, but it was already removed. What kind of subversion are you promoting, anyway?

Tim Jones (Jones)

I'm not promoting anything. I looked up Judy Mikovits on Wikipedia.  Explains something....? Curious  minds want to know!

Al Peffley

I like my freedom and liberty described in both the Washington State and US constitutions, Tom. There is nothing scientific about social control and political management of people. There is also nothing wrong about questioning authority if the authority is dictatorial or totalitarian in polices and operation. I also no longer wish to live in the Seatlle metro area and seek the rural life similar to where my parents came from and grew up. There is nothing wrong with wanting people to be freemen. You like authority or you would not have an apartment in China. I am sure there a lot of good people in China and I feel sorry for those who suffer under the heavy boot of Communism. Asking for peer review of modeling is not unreasonable and audit of a poor estimating tool is just good practice and common sense -- there is nothing political about open V&V procedures, unless there is something to hide from the public.

Yesterday was Ed Hesner's birthday. Ed and Gary Lindberg have become brothers from other mothers to me, even though we did not socialize much at HHS. Ed and I reconnected while we both worked for Boeing on classified military programs at the Developmental Center. Last night I reread his Christian testimony that he posted on his classmate page. It is both bold and full of good wisdom about our journey through life's peaks and valleys. Thank you Ed.

I read the history of Dr. Judy, the UNLV Biologocal Science Virologist. She is right about not wearing masks while distancing outside and riding inside your automoble. Restricting oxygen flow by constantly wearing a mask, especially for people with compromised or small volume capacity lungs, is not healthy. She is not a Dr. Fauci fan, but so what? She is a scientist who has dedicated her life to her biological science specialty discipline, but she is not always politically correct. We need scientists who catalyze open debate for thorough peer reviews.

It is a sunny day here in SW Washington and we are listening to the inspirational music of John Michael Talbot. I love the America I served with respect and honor in the US Navy and at Boeing on space and military technology programs. I have been to other countries where life is not as economically opportunistic and politically stable as the US had been after WWII. I can see God's influence in our constitutions. Life is good, but not perfect (never has been). If it were perfect we would be in the Biblical promised place that I hope to see, with His grace and forgiveness, after leaving this life. Many have gone home before me. If you are reading this Ed, Gary and other classmates of good will, cheers to all of you and yours. Love ya bro's and sista's of love and service to humanity in an ever changing world. Everything comes and goes, but the Creator is eternal to the faithful. Peace be with you always. God bless America and people of good will everywhere.

Gregg Wilson

Tom,

I will take the reports from front line, practicing doctors over that of a "world authority" Dr. Fauci. Fauci has done nothing to find a cure for the virus. He is simply "Doctor Gloom and Doom", who declared we should down the country for two years. He is an idiot.

Tom Chavez

Gregg, you have expressed your opinion about the drug and about Dr. Fauci without factual evidence. You say he has done nothing to find a cure, which is false. 

Dr. Fauci has given his life to solving health problems and has been recognized and honored by both governmental and scientific institutions. He continues to oversee research even now. 

Dr. Fauci was appointed Director of NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infections) in 1984. He oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat established infectious diseases including emerging diseases such as Ebola, Zika and coronavirus. NIAID also supports research on transplantation and immune-related illnesses, including autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies. 

Dr. Fauci has advised six Presidents on many domestic and global health issues. 

He is certainly not an idiot.