News blues…
The first case of South Africa's Covid-19 variant has been discovered in the US.The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control explained that two cases of the B.1.351 South African variant have been detected. Dr Anthony Fauci has expressed his concerns about the UK and South African strains reaching American shores and becoming a complicating factor.
But, fear not: Clinical results from the Novavax vaccine trials in South Africa and the United Kingdom have shown the vaccine to be effective against the SA and UK variants of the coronavirus.
Except… a domestic worker reports “Zulu radio station” in KZN tells listeners “Corona is over”, that is, no more Covid-19, that the pandemic is “over.”
It’s not just Republicans. Democrats are also on the take from corporate donors. It is, after all, how the US system of so-called “democracy” works.
You suggest We the People do away with this All-American system of paying off politicians?
How? It’s locked in, now, and for the foreseeable future.
Financial contributions, aka money, have become the way of influence. Elections are quickly becoming obsolete – in the way. The problem has been exacerbated by the US Supreme Court decision on Citizens United in 2009/2010.
This year I’m suffering the effects of my mother’s impending death and the social effects of the infection and deaths of millions of people from Covid-19. Plus, lack of sleep due to stress. And a flooded garden because, after 2 years, the department that’s supposed to take care of roads and public property won’t do its job.
Today, I’m awaiting a call from a local politician with the reputation of getting this done. Perhaps he can shift this stuck process?
Monday sees the end of the 3-months-long sole mandate for the sale of the house. Not a single person was interested in seeing the house.
I’ve two realtors from two different real estate companies interested in the business.
Alas, the garden is a mess due to copious summer rainfall (70mm in 15 hours this week) and fecund grass and weeds tower. With our gardener sick with Covid and his recovery expected to be slow, I’ve hired the neighbor’s gardener to mow the lawns.
It’s not easy to focus on the house and garden when my mother is shrinking day-by-day.
I’m aware that I must settle on something creative to do that will change the channel in my head from my dying mother, selling her house, and the incompetence of public officials. I’m pondering how to buy clay to build/sculpt “something.” Choices are limited:
Call the person who offers (offered?) class twice a week. Perhaps the most practical solution as he has a fully equipped studio albeit the hours are limited. That is if he still offers classes amid the pandemic. (Problem? During a creative spell, a creator needs uninterrupted work time. A schedule of 3 hours twice a week kills inspiration. No one creates fulling according to an externally imposed timetable. When inspired, I rise at dawn and work through the day, taking short breaks as needed, but always returning to the work-in-progress until it is finished.) Find some clay and build something I hold no hopes/intention of firing. This will offer the joy of working clay/gestating a sculpture, but never seeing it come to fruition.
Build my own studio in my new home. I’ve not clay, no tools, no slips/glazes, no equipment. Besides turning my small living space into a clay-dusty studio, this choice would also require a trip to Durban – 50 kms away during a pandemic – spending lots of money … and continuing to spend lots of money in the future (clay, slips and glazes, kiln, firing, etc.). A few months ago, I explored the possibilities of experimenting with a substitute for clay. (Perhaps one that did not require firing, etc.?) It didn’t work. The joy of clay is inherent in the substance, the ability to knead, easily mold and manipulate, and clay’s feel and texture.
The search continues….
***
Wondering why American style of uber-capitalist government is in such trouble? Well, it has become heavily dependent on financial donors to prop up amoral politicians. “Senators who backed Trump's election challenge may rethink their stance on impeachment after losing corporate funding, experts say” It’s not just Republicans. Democrats are also on the take from corporate donors. It is, after all, how the US system of so-called “democracy” works.
You suggest We the People do away with this All-American system of paying off politicians?
How? It’s locked in, now, and for the foreseeable future.
Financial contributions, aka money, have become the way of influence. Elections are quickly becoming obsolete – in the way. The problem has been exacerbated by the US Supreme Court decision on Citizens United in 2009/2010.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
This time last year I was suffering the effects of jet lag: interrupted schedule, lack of sleep, disorientation, and a big change in weather (from cold, wet, and dark winter in California to hot, humid, wet, and bright summer in KZN).But family and friends in California were well. Plans were agreed upon to safeguard my houseboat in the marina. I would return 21 May.This year I’m suffering the effects of my mother’s impending death and the social effects of the infection and deaths of millions of people from Covid-19. Plus, lack of sleep due to stress. And a flooded garden because, after 2 years, the department that’s supposed to take care of roads and public property won’t do its job.
Today, I’m awaiting a call from a local politician with the reputation of getting this done. Perhaps he can shift this stuck process?
Monday sees the end of the 3-months-long sole mandate for the sale of the house. Not a single person was interested in seeing the house.
I’ve two realtors from two different real estate companies interested in the business.
Alas, the garden is a mess due to copious summer rainfall (70mm in 15 hours this week) and fecund grass and weeds tower. With our gardener sick with Covid and his recovery expected to be slow, I’ve hired the neighbor’s gardener to mow the lawns.
It’s not easy to focus on the house and garden when my mother is shrinking day-by-day.
I’m aware that I must settle on something creative to do that will change the channel in my head from my dying mother, selling her house, and the incompetence of public officials. I’m pondering how to buy clay to build/sculpt “something.” Choices are limited:
Call the person who offers (offered?) class twice a week. Perhaps the most practical solution as he has a fully equipped studio albeit the hours are limited. That is if he still offers classes amid the pandemic. (Problem? During a creative spell, a creator needs uninterrupted work time. A schedule of 3 hours twice a week kills inspiration. No one creates fulling according to an externally imposed timetable. When inspired, I rise at dawn and work through the day, taking short breaks as needed, but always returning to the work-in-progress until it is finished.) Find some clay and build something I hold no hopes/intention of firing. This will offer the joy of working clay/gestating a sculpture, but never seeing it come to fruition.
Build my own studio in my new home. I’ve not clay, no tools, no slips/glazes, no equipment. Besides turning my small living space into a clay-dusty studio, this choice would also require a trip to Durban – 50 kms away during a pandemic – spending lots of money … and continuing to spend lots of money in the future (clay, slips and glazes, kiln, firing, etc.). A few months ago, I explored the possibilities of experimenting with a substitute for clay. (Perhaps one that did not require firing, etc.?) It didn’t work. The joy of clay is inherent in the substance, the ability to knead, easily mold and manipulate, and clay’s feel and texture.
The search continues….
