I woke up in a very bad mood yesterday, which is most unusual of late. Why the bad mood will be explained later and in some detail. But then everything improved – Personal Driver (PD0 arrived and we went grocery shopping – so now food for an entire week and never have to leave my apartment. I shall be safe, so safe, the safest. Spoke to the employees at the Lucky Store – a great group of people, they are so grateful for my good and cheerful mood, in marked contrast to the miserable people they regularly have to deal with. Three employees expressed their gratitude.
They: It is so good to have you here. It is a relief. You made my day.
Me; Well you made mine, with your courtesy, efficiency and good wishes! Thank you for being here!
PD and me stopped for coffee and a pastry, then he carried my groceries up to the apartment and helped me put them away. I am so spoiled, who needs or wants a husband under these conditions. As usual, had a great time together. Laughing and swearing, laughing and swearing, then discussing the Islamic faith, I learn more with each conversation,
But what is swearing? It is taking the Lord’s name in vain.
“If you say something like ‘Oh my God,’ then you’re using His name in vain, but if you’re saying something like OMG it’s not really using the Lord’s name in vain because you’re not saying ‘Oh my God. ‘ It’s more like ‘Wow.
It is a prohibition of blasphemy, specifically, the misuse or “taking in vain” of the name of the God of Israel, or using His name to commit evil, or to pretend to serve in His name while in fact, failing to do so.”It is a prohibition of blasphemy, specifically, the misuse or “taking in vain” of the name of the God of Israel, or using His name to commit evil, or to pretend to serve in His name while in fact, failing to do so. Exodus 20:7 reads:
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
— KJV”
I am going to break this to readers gently. Saying fuck is not swearing – nowhere and in no religion is God called Fuck. Shit is not swearing either because nowhere and in no religion is God called Shit. Therefore, when Personal Driver and myself swear – we do not take the Lord’s name in vain – may and do use the F word and occasionally the S word. But never take the Lord’s name in vain.
As Personal Driver was leaving my phone rang. It was Kim, my hair stylist and I have an appointment to get my hair cut on July 5, 2020 It brought me such joy. We had a great chat.
She: I miss you Alexis. It has been months.
Me: I miss you Kim. It has been months and months. But you are so good at what you do, so my hair has maintained its shape and it looks rather good.
I called Personal Driver and he can drive me to Marin for the appointment. I shall be glamorous again – need to find a man before the second wave hits. Hahaha
But back to the boring virus. There is a definitive new statistic just now in. The national numbers are still distorted by massive testing operations in just a few states. New York, California, and Washington have conducted nearly half of all tests nationwide, even though those states contain, combined, about a fifth of the country’s population. Florida and Texas—each home to more than 20 million people—have tested only about 3,000 patients each.
So it is testing that is causing the numbers, not the spread of the virus per se. Why do not the media and the public health officials realize that and release us from this inhuman shut down. The disease has to run its course – then along will come immunity and we basically will be fine. It is not lethal like the Black Plague (the bubonic plague)
Now some things are down right stupid. This news: “After a disappointment rally in Tulsa over the weekend, President Trump on Tuesday addressed a crowd of student supporters at a highly packed megachurch in Phoenix” Tightly packed crowd of supporters???? What are you thinking Trump Bassasswards? Ever hear of the coronavirus? Perhaps this man and his followers may self destruct – probably too much to ask.
But the other side of the spectrum is California Governor Newsom. This was the cause of my bad mood. He enacted an Executive Order mandating the wearing of face masks – indoors, outdoor and everywhere. That is definitely over reaction and there is no real science showing that face masks worn by the general population do anything. Those infected, yes because it halts the spread of droplets but by everyone? No science except a study done on hamsters, previously reported on this blog. What does a hamster mask look like anyway?
There is not widespread support for Newsom’s Executive Order – some saying there is no authority – he is using an Executive Order to criminalize behaviour which is not otherwise actionable. Then, in my thorough fashion, I read the two or three page Order. It is not enforceable. There are exemptions to the wearing of face masks – people with disabilities, people with medical exemptions – but these are not spelled out. So some policeman stops you and says:
He: Put on a face mask or I shall sue you.
Person: But Officer, I have a medical exemption to the wearing of a face mask.
What can the police officer do? I suppose call your doctor and ask him but is that a waste of time and money and perhaps violates doctor/patient privilege?
Another exemption is for walking or running for exercise.
Police Man: Put on a face mask or I shall sue you.
Person: But Sir, there is an exemption for walking for exercise and that is what I am doing at the moment.
Enacting legislation and laws that are not enforceable erodes the whole system of law and order, in fact, encouraging lawlessness. Dubai’s laws are rigidly enforced – so there is no theft or negligible theft at the most. The meaning of Negligible? So small or unimportant as to not worth considering; insignificant. Synonyms are: trifling, insignificant, unimportant, minor, of no account, of no consequence, of no importance, not worth bothering about, not worth mentioning, inconsequential, minimal, small, slight, tiny, minute, inappreciable, imperceptible, infinitesimal, nugatory, petty; token, nominal; paltry, inadequate, insufficient, meagre, derisory, pitiful, pathetic, miserable; minuscule, piddling, piffling, measly, mingy, poxy; nickel-and-dime.
My favourites are not worth bothering about, of no consequence, dingy and nickel -and -dime.
Speaking of nickel-and-dime, studies have been done on the spending habits of people when retail stores re-open. Rich people aren’t shopping and spending their money – the less affluent are spending away. But, unfortunately, this can not lead to long term economic grow and stability (as the less affluent will run out of money.)
I guess I can continue to rant and rave about the stupidity of various coronavirus policy makers but it is ruining my morning. I will end on a relativity high note, an email conversation between CPI and yours truly. I had spoken of my best on earth team in a prior blog.
She: Well, if not the best team on earth, certainly the most faithful and best integrated.
Me: What a sweet response and indeed you are faithful and extremely well integrated.
She May actually dine out for the first time in three months this weekend.
Me: Personal Driver told me of the restaurant dining experience of a friend. The massive use of disinfectants and chemicals made him choke and think he was dining in a urinal. So he had his food wrapped up and taken home. It is both funny and not funny.
She: Will this never end?
Me: I do not think so what with the two reactionary forces – the overly cautious like Newsom and the devil-may-cares like Trump .
What shallI do this afternoon on my stay sequestered day? Study the concept of truth in the Islamic faith. Getting most tired of the coronavirus research and people who panic.
