Lost the plot

News blues…

Recycled outrage. Current news isn’t new. That’s my conclusion about the current state of news reporting. US news anchors repeatedly express, 1) outrage about Trump’s latest gambit to accept reality, 2) outrage about the Trump administration’s inaction to address the unprecedented surge in Covid infections, and 3) routrage about the most recent Republican election shenanigans. That’s about sums up “new” news.
While ordinary (thinking) people, grapple with understandably high levels of fear and anxiety associated with an out-of-control pandemic, US media increases the levels of anxiety and fear, but does not address it. Is fear un-American?
One solution? Replace the 24-hour news cycle with hour-long news shows each morning, noon, and evening. For the other nine hours, present shows on, say, how beautiful and beautifully complex is our planet - or show cartoons. 

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John Heilemann sums it up: Maximum moment of vulnerability…  (3:14 mins)

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Meidas Touch: They lie, you die  (1:00 mins)
Don Caron: Fifty ways to leave the White House  (3:00 mins)
Randy Rainbow: Don't Tell Donald He's NOT RE-ELECTED TODAY! (3:55 mins)

Healthy futures, anyone?

Got fleas?

Highly toxic insecticides used on cats and dogs to kill fleas are poisoning rivers…. The discovery is “extremely concerning” for water insects, and the fish and birds that depend on them – scientists… expect significant environmental damage is being done.
Research found fipronil in 99% of samples from 20 rivers and the average level of one particularly toxic breakdown product of the pesticide was 38 times above the safety limit. Fipronil and another nerve agent called imidacloprid that was found in the rivers have been banned from use on farms for some years. 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

Blogging each morning has, until now, provided a structured way to attend to the world’s goings-on, and to express my quirky point of view. I find, however, that I’m increasingly falling into a “oh, what’s the use,” state of mind. This is unconstructive… and it adds to my inherent anxiety.
Yesterday, I awoke with the dreadful feeling that I must find a way to fill in surplus time. This feeling is unfamiliar and further anxiety-provoking; seldom have I experienced time as heavy on my hands.
Today, I awoke with the same dreadful feeling.
I need a new direction that engages head, heart, and hands….