OMG - reading before breakfast - a quick comment about the FOOD, then I gotta go grab some!!! Anything w/ poached egg, smoked salmon, fruit... Then I saw Hanoi choices - YUM!!!
bye for now, to fix my avocado on toast w/ fresh kiwi
Totally agree about hotel breakfasts, they can really set the tone of your stay.
Our all time favorite was last October when we went to Italy. In Venice, we stayed at the St Regis and had a wonderful breakfast every morning at Gio's Terrace on the Grand Canal! Highly recommend this splurge!
Seriously, Canada? Cancel culture's hounding even Gretzky. He doesn't owe anyone a political declaration. Let his legacy stand on his skill, not forced opinions.
“In late December, before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, Trump posted on his social media network, Truth Social, that he had visited Gretzky and urged him to run for prime minister, "soon to be known as the Governor of Canada."
Wow… hmmm…
I wonder how “we” would feel if one of our revered athletes (think Michael Jordan, Dale Earnhardt, Tiger Woods, Hank Aaron or Tom Brady for example) did something similar?
I don't follow the logic in villainizing Gretzky for what Trump did. Likewise, he doesn't owe anybody a political statement because of what Trump did either.
"How would ‘we’ feel if one of our most revered athletes—think Michael Jordan, Dale Earnhardt, Tiger Woods, Hank Aaron, or Tom Brady—did something similar?"
As for me, I don’t hold individuals socially or personally accountable for someone else’s actions, no matter their fame or status.
If by "we" you mean those in the U.S. who use social pressure, boycotts, and public shaming to enforce conformity—I’ve never been part of that group. I believe their approach contradicts the ideals this country stands for.
Bulletproof buses? How far will the fallout take us? And of course, no one who perpetrated the lockdowns will ever be charged, or have to compensate us for the lives lost and time stolen. It's a damn shame.
The rise in mental health issues and gun violence since 2020 is no coincidence. With prolonged isolation due to the pandemic, it's no surprise that both physical and mental health have suffered. Isolation has long been recognized as a significant factor in increasing stress, anxiety, and even aggression.
The rise in gun violence has been trending up for at least the past 20 years. The use of social media has been following a similar trend for the past 20 years.
The lock down caused incalculable damage to humanity. It stole years in development from every child. We will be seeing that damage play out for years.
Covid caused the damage; trump’s refusal to acknowledge the pandemic exacerbated the problem, as did so many refusing to get vaccinated for political reasons. We don’t know how much worse it could have been without lockdowns. No one will ever know. We also weren’t the only country to feel lockdowns were the right move at the time.
Hindsight is 20/20. Drink bleach, take ivermectin… lies, lies and more lies. Trump was president during the lockdowns so by your logic he should be held accountable.
Pinning down who’s to blame for the damage caused by pandemic lockdowns is like trying to untangle a knot with no end—there’s no single culprit, just a messy mix of decisions, unknowns, and consequences. The damage—economic collapse, mental health crises, disrupted education, and delayed medical care—stems from a global response to an unprecedented virus, not one person or entity. Let’s break it down.
First, governments and health officials set the stage. In the U.S., the CDC and NIH, led by figures like Anthony Fauci, pushed early lockdown recommendations based on modeling—like the Imperial College London projections (March 2020)—predicting millions of deaths without drastic action. These models assumed worst-case scenarios, and leaders, from Trump federally to governors like Newsom and Cuomo at the state level, acted on them. States had the real power under federalism—California locked down hard, Florida less so—and outcomes varied (e.g., Florida’s age-adjusted death rate was lower than California’s per CDC 2022 data). Globally, the WHO endorsed lockdowns, and countries like Italy and China set precedents others followed. Were they wrong? Hard to say—data from Sweden (light restrictions, similar per-capita deaths to some locked-down nations per Johns Hopkins 2022) suggests lockdowns weren’t the only path, but in 2020, fear of overflowing hospitals drove the call.
Second, Trump and the federal response get scrutiny. He declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020, unlocking funds, but left states to tailor lockdowns—some say he dodged leadership, others argue he respected constitutional limits. Operation Warp Speed was a win, speeding vaccines to market, yet his mixed messaging (downplaying masks, musing about disinfectants) muddied trust. Still, he didn’t mandate lockdowns—governors did. Blaming him alone ignores the decentralized reality and the fact that Biden, taking office in 2021, kept many restrictions going.
Third, state and local leaders owned the execution. New York’s Cuomo mandated nursing home admissions of Covid patients, linked to thousands of deaths (NY AG report, 2021), while Texas’s Abbott lifted restrictions early (March 2021) with no major spike. Lockdown severity didn’t always track with results—compare locked-down Michigan (high unemployment, 11% excess deaths) to looser Georgia (lower economic hit, similar mortality per BLS and CDC 2021). Local choices amplified or mitigated damage.
Then there’s society itself. Public compliance—or lack thereof—shaped the fallout. Some hoarded, others protested, and vaccine hesitancy (across political lines—25% of Black Americans hesitated per Kaiser 2021, not just Trump supporters) stretched the crisis. Businesses shuttered under mandates, but consumer behavior (e.g., avoiding travel) deepened the economic wound.
Finally, the virus was the wildcard. Its unpredictability—silent spread, shifting fatality rates—forced a scramble. Lockdowns bought time, but studies (e.g., NBER 2021) show their economic cost (trillions lost) often outweighed health gains in hindsight, especially for younger populations. We didn’t know enough early on—hindsight shows schools could’ve reopened sooner (AAP 2021 guidance), but fear ruled then.
So, who’s to blame? No one and everyone. Scientists misjudged models, leaders overreacted or undercorrected, and people adapted unevenly. The damage was a collective trade-off—trading lives for livelihoods, often blindly. Pointing at Trump, Fauci, or any governor misses the bigger truth: it was a global panic response to a global threat, and the scars reflect that chaos, not a single scapegoat. Data’s still debated—lockdowns’ efficacy remains murky (Lancet 2022)—so the "who" stays less clear than the "what."
Now you are lecturing me? You brought up holding people accountable for lockdowns. That was trump’s responsibility. You invoked him with your comment. Perhaps you should use more critical thinking.
I don’t want to cloud the day with negativity. It’s 53 and sunny here, so here’s some optimism—this year will be better than the last. No matter your politics, fewer lives lost in war is a win. So is AI. Don’t fear change—embrace it
I’m going to chime in here because this morning when I finally arose, it was 87° and my specialty oatmeal awaited me in my refrigerator. That’s just me though. The last time I was in a Hyatt in Panama City the hotel breakfast was nothing to write home about and rolled out to us by a robot. What’s so stupid about the whole thing though was a waiter had to take our order and walk out with the robot to put the plates on the table. My own preference is to have a good lunch or dinner trying something new then.
The Hackman story is under investigation. Seems like only one of their three dogs was affected with both of its owners. Gene was marvelous and I had no clue about his concert pianist wife. She was as talented in her musical field as he was in his.
Sure. I’d be delighted. I make a lot because it’s my main meal so my recipe is almost a 2:1 ratio water to the faster cook oatmeal. If you keep that in mind, it’s easy to make smaller batches.
8 C. water in a saucepan with 1.5 tsp. salt., any frozen fruit, 2 Tblsp. peanut butter(or butter or avocado oil), 1/4 C. cinnamon and bring to a boil. Add 3 1/2 C. oatmeal and stir in. Bring back to a boil and cut heat to low or whatever setting will give you a slow simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes uncovered. When finished add however much honey or agave or maple syrup you need for sweetening. When good and cool, add chocolate chips to make it special.
Practice first with a smaller amount, say 2c water and 1c oatmeal + 1/2 tsp salt. That’s your basic recipe and go from there. Mine will vary depending on fresh fruit availability. When I use frozen strawberries I add them first to cook them down a bit but if I have anything fresh then I add before eating. Where I am I always have bananas and blueberries so they are added before eating. The cinnamon is a must for me as is the chocolate. Play with it and experiment. That 2:1 will give you more than one serving so put it in the fridge and eat it over 2-3 more days. Heat it back up with milk or have it cold. It’s good either way. I’m in perpetual heat so I eat mine cold. Have fun and let me know how you did. My big recipe will last me a good week or so. Good luck.
Forgive me I don't remember the name of the hotel. The ultimate breakfast I had was in Germany deep in the black forest they had smoked trout caught locally, and many other fixings.
OMG - reading before breakfast - a quick comment about the FOOD, then I gotta go grab some!!! Anything w/ poached egg, smoked salmon, fruit... Then I saw Hanoi choices - YUM!!!
bye for now, to fix my avocado on toast w/ fresh kiwi
Bill, you found some links I was unfamiliar with... the bus drivers - awful! AWFUL!! Same w/ the Lincoln Heights, Ohio story!
I'll study that link about using Vibercoding - sounds fun
that convoluted $25 missing gift card is awful in another way from awful from the bus/Ohio stories. Liar/s somewhere...obviously.
Totally agree about hotel breakfasts, they can really set the tone of your stay.
Our all time favorite was last October when we went to Italy. In Venice, we stayed at the St Regis and had a wonderful breakfast every morning at Gio's Terrace on the Grand Canal! Highly recommend this splurge!
Seriously, Canada? Cancel culture's hounding even Gretzky. He doesn't owe anyone a political declaration. Let his legacy stand on his skill, not forced opinions.
“In late December, before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, Trump posted on his social media network, Truth Social, that he had visited Gretzky and urged him to run for prime minister, "soon to be known as the Governor of Canada."
Wow… hmmm…
I wonder how “we” would feel if one of our revered athletes (think Michael Jordan, Dale Earnhardt, Tiger Woods, Hank Aaron or Tom Brady for example) did something similar?
I don't follow the logic in villainizing Gretzky for what Trump did. Likewise, he doesn't owe anybody a political statement because of what Trump did either.
You sidestepped my question.
Why would we hold it against any of the athletes you mentioned if Kim jong-un asked them to run for an office in the US?
Darrell,
You've assumed I'm Musk in previous comments, a known evil entity by you.
I'm officially asking you to run for governor of your state.
Now you are being nonsensical.
Again, you side stepped my question.
This question ?
"How would ‘we’ feel if one of our most revered athletes—think Michael Jordan, Dale Earnhardt, Tiger Woods, Hank Aaron, or Tom Brady—did something similar?"
As for me, I don’t hold individuals socially or personally accountable for someone else’s actions, no matter their fame or status.
If by "we" you mean those in the U.S. who use social pressure, boycotts, and public shaming to enforce conformity—I’ve never been part of that group. I believe their approach contradicts the ideals this country stands for.
Obfuscation is unbecoming in you.
Please explain how I am blurring or blowing smoke?
Did I, or did I not answer your question?
I'm OK being wrong in your eyes.
Then be OK
Bulletproof buses? How far will the fallout take us? And of course, no one who perpetrated the lockdowns will ever be charged, or have to compensate us for the lives lost and time stolen. It's a damn shame.
What does bulletproof busses have to do with lockdowns?
The rise in mental health issues and gun violence since 2020 is no coincidence. With prolonged isolation due to the pandemic, it's no surprise that both physical and mental health have suffered. Isolation has long been recognized as a significant factor in increasing stress, anxiety, and even aggression.
The rise in gun violence has been trending up for at least the past 20 years. The use of social media has been following a similar trend for the past 20 years.
Causation or correlation?
Gun violence in both assaults and suicides greatly accelerated since 2020. Suicides accounted for more than half of the gun deaths in 2021.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/26/what-the-data-says-about-gun-deaths-in-the-u-s/
The lock down caused incalculable damage to humanity. It stole years in development from every child. We will be seeing that damage play out for years.
Covid caused the damage; trump’s refusal to acknowledge the pandemic exacerbated the problem, as did so many refusing to get vaccinated for political reasons. We don’t know how much worse it could have been without lockdowns. No one will ever know. We also weren’t the only country to feel lockdowns were the right move at the time.
Hindsight is 20/20. Drink bleach, take ivermectin… lies, lies and more lies. Trump was president during the lockdowns so by your logic he should be held accountable.
Pinning down who’s to blame for the damage caused by pandemic lockdowns is like trying to untangle a knot with no end—there’s no single culprit, just a messy mix of decisions, unknowns, and consequences. The damage—economic collapse, mental health crises, disrupted education, and delayed medical care—stems from a global response to an unprecedented virus, not one person or entity. Let’s break it down.
First, governments and health officials set the stage. In the U.S., the CDC and NIH, led by figures like Anthony Fauci, pushed early lockdown recommendations based on modeling—like the Imperial College London projections (March 2020)—predicting millions of deaths without drastic action. These models assumed worst-case scenarios, and leaders, from Trump federally to governors like Newsom and Cuomo at the state level, acted on them. States had the real power under federalism—California locked down hard, Florida less so—and outcomes varied (e.g., Florida’s age-adjusted death rate was lower than California’s per CDC 2022 data). Globally, the WHO endorsed lockdowns, and countries like Italy and China set precedents others followed. Were they wrong? Hard to say—data from Sweden (light restrictions, similar per-capita deaths to some locked-down nations per Johns Hopkins 2022) suggests lockdowns weren’t the only path, but in 2020, fear of overflowing hospitals drove the call.
Second, Trump and the federal response get scrutiny. He declared a national emergency on March 13, 2020, unlocking funds, but left states to tailor lockdowns—some say he dodged leadership, others argue he respected constitutional limits. Operation Warp Speed was a win, speeding vaccines to market, yet his mixed messaging (downplaying masks, musing about disinfectants) muddied trust. Still, he didn’t mandate lockdowns—governors did. Blaming him alone ignores the decentralized reality and the fact that Biden, taking office in 2021, kept many restrictions going.
Third, state and local leaders owned the execution. New York’s Cuomo mandated nursing home admissions of Covid patients, linked to thousands of deaths (NY AG report, 2021), while Texas’s Abbott lifted restrictions early (March 2021) with no major spike. Lockdown severity didn’t always track with results—compare locked-down Michigan (high unemployment, 11% excess deaths) to looser Georgia (lower economic hit, similar mortality per BLS and CDC 2021). Local choices amplified or mitigated damage.
Then there’s society itself. Public compliance—or lack thereof—shaped the fallout. Some hoarded, others protested, and vaccine hesitancy (across political lines—25% of Black Americans hesitated per Kaiser 2021, not just Trump supporters) stretched the crisis. Businesses shuttered under mandates, but consumer behavior (e.g., avoiding travel) deepened the economic wound.
Finally, the virus was the wildcard. Its unpredictability—silent spread, shifting fatality rates—forced a scramble. Lockdowns bought time, but studies (e.g., NBER 2021) show their economic cost (trillions lost) often outweighed health gains in hindsight, especially for younger populations. We didn’t know enough early on—hindsight shows schools could’ve reopened sooner (AAP 2021 guidance), but fear ruled then.
So, who’s to blame? No one and everyone. Scientists misjudged models, leaders overreacted or undercorrected, and people adapted unevenly. The damage was a collective trade-off—trading lives for livelihoods, often blindly. Pointing at Trump, Fauci, or any governor misses the bigger truth: it was a global panic response to a global threat, and the scars reflect that chaos, not a single scapegoat. Data’s still debated—lockdowns’ efficacy remains murky (Lancet 2022)—so the "who" stays less clear than the "what."
Now you are lecturing me? You brought up holding people accountable for lockdowns. That was trump’s responsibility. You invoked him with your comment. Perhaps you should use more critical thinking.
Lecturing again
Excuse the Darrelism. SMH
SMH too
Butters come back!
Never mind I see he posted a book above.
I don’t want to cloud the day with negativity. It’s 53 and sunny here, so here’s some optimism—this year will be better than the last. No matter your politics, fewer lives lost in war is a win. So is AI. Don’t fear change—embrace it
I'll let someone else post now. :)
I’m going to chime in here because this morning when I finally arose, it was 87° and my specialty oatmeal awaited me in my refrigerator. That’s just me though. The last time I was in a Hyatt in Panama City the hotel breakfast was nothing to write home about and rolled out to us by a robot. What’s so stupid about the whole thing though was a waiter had to take our order and walk out with the robot to put the plates on the table. My own preference is to have a good lunch or dinner trying something new then.
The Hackman story is under investigation. Seems like only one of their three dogs was affected with both of its owners. Gene was marvelous and I had no clue about his concert pianist wife. She was as talented in her musical field as he was in his.
Can you share your oatmeal recipe? I've tried some over night ones that didn't turn out well but love the idea to simplify the morning.
Sure. I’d be delighted. I make a lot because it’s my main meal so my recipe is almost a 2:1 ratio water to the faster cook oatmeal. If you keep that in mind, it’s easy to make smaller batches.
8 C. water in a saucepan with 1.5 tsp. salt., any frozen fruit, 2 Tblsp. peanut butter(or butter or avocado oil), 1/4 C. cinnamon and bring to a boil. Add 3 1/2 C. oatmeal and stir in. Bring back to a boil and cut heat to low or whatever setting will give you a slow simmer and cook for 10-12 minutes uncovered. When finished add however much honey or agave or maple syrup you need for sweetening. When good and cool, add chocolate chips to make it special.
Practice first with a smaller amount, say 2c water and 1c oatmeal + 1/2 tsp salt. That’s your basic recipe and go from there. Mine will vary depending on fresh fruit availability. When I use frozen strawberries I add them first to cook them down a bit but if I have anything fresh then I add before eating. Where I am I always have bananas and blueberries so they are added before eating. The cinnamon is a must for me as is the chocolate. Play with it and experiment. That 2:1 will give you more than one serving so put it in the fridge and eat it over 2-3 more days. Heat it back up with milk or have it cold. It’s good either way. I’m in perpetual heat so I eat mine cold. Have fun and let me know how you did. My big recipe will last me a good week or so. Good luck.
Forgive me I don't remember the name of the hotel. The ultimate breakfast I had was in Germany deep in the black forest they had smoked trout caught locally, and many other fixings.