Goodbye 2021 - Hello 2022!

Goodbye to 2021!  Hello to 2022! 

Many of us would like to see a clean slate, with the bad stuff of 2021 done with and gone and a chance that the new year will be more to our liking.  Unfortunately, that wish is unlikely to be fulfilled.

The physical and mental debris left over from the Jan. 6 insurrection will be an ongoing issue, with the real possibility that we won't be able to get to the bottom of it.

Democracy will continue to be on trial in this country, with voting rights being eroded.

The Supreme Court is likely to continue to decide issues on the basis of politics rather than law and the constitution.

The partisan logjam in the Congress will deepen as the midterm elections come closer.

Speaking of midterms, who is willing to bet that the dems retain control of either the House or the Senate?

And how about Biden's Build Back Better agenda.  Anyone willing to bet that all or some of it gets passed?

I haven't mentioned Covid.  Wouldn't it be nice if by the end of the new year the pandemic is under control.  Possible, but it could be rough along the way.

This has been about domestic stuff.  You can figure out whether foreign affairs will look different in 2022.  Start with Russia and Ukraine.  And good luck!

Happy New Year!

Looking Back - Or Looking Ahead!

I suppose its natural on this last week of the year to look back and remember or comment on the year about to end.  I don't do much of that.

The thought of dwelling on 'the good old days' doesn't appeal to me.  Nor does looking ahead and thinking about what this next year will bring.  

So what am I left with?  Now.  The present.  The only thing I know I have for sure is this moment.  This one, right now, in all its glory.  So I fully embrace the present.

I'm not unaware of what 2021 has been, at least the part outside my bubble.  If I had to evaluate it I'd say it was a pretty shitty year.  But why bother going down that path?  I'd rather choose to be grateful for the blessings that have been bestowed on me and the ones I love.  And there have been many.

So I'll take this moment to say 'thank you.'  When it comes in a couple of days I'll be happy to say goodbye to 2021.  And when it comes in a couple of days I'll be happy to say hello to 2022.

Winter Solstice

Yesterday, December 21, was the Winter Solstice.

This shortest day of the year is a time for Celebration!  For the next six months every day will be longer.  Well, to be more accurate the amount of daylight will be longer.  Each day will continue to be 24 hours long.

The culmination of this process will be on June 21, the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.  From then on we'll head for the darkness.  But that's six months away.  No point in dwelling on the dark side.

Interestingly, the difference between sunrise and sunset is not the same every day.  For example, from Dec. 22 to March 21 sunrise is earlier a total of 71 minutes.  But sunset is later a total of 88 minutes.  Over time it evens out, but month to month and season to season they are not the same.

Why is it this way?  I have no idea.  Nor does it really matter.  There will be more light in both the morning and evening from now on.  Hooray!

Manchin Plus!

Lot of us are mad at Joe Manchin.  One guy from a small state who so far has successfully thwarted the will of the majority and opted not to support child care, climate change and a lot more.  His argument?  Spurious lamentations about inflation and taxes and the budget deficit, etc.

We're right to be disgusted by this guy.  With crocodile tears he is pandering to Republicans in West Virginia.  In other words he's trying to keep his job.  In the end it won't do him any good.  He'll be thrown out no matter what he does.

But as we chastise Manchin we're forgetting that there are 50 Senators on the other side of the aisle who will vote en masse to kill Build Back Better.  Any one of them could make the difference that Manchin is making.  They shouldn't be let off the hook.  They too are pandering, in this case to the fear that the Democrats might get credit for doing something positive for tens of millions of Americans who are in need.

Shame on them!  But this is just today's outrage.  Tomorrow there will be another one.  Our system is broken and it may be beyond repair.

What Caught My Attention Today!

As I went through the news this morning what caught my attention, deserved more than a cursory glance?

Mayor Breed declaring a State of Emergency and setting forth a strong proposal to deal with crime, drugs, homelessness, and the rest of the decay in the Tenderloin.  Its about time.

The problems with testing for Covid.  Unlike other countries we have failed to provide fast, inexpensive tests. 

And still on Covid: Health care workers have already or will soon burn out.  The system can't take much more.

The Kimberly Potter trial.  I watched her testify and was curious what others had to say about it.  Her tears aside, and accepting her assertion that she didn't mean to do it, she is guilty and should be convicted.

The Peggy Noonan column in the Journal.  I often don't agree with her, but usually find reading what she says interesting.

The Saturday Review section in the Journal.  The book reviews are well done and informative.  Like with Noonan, I often don't agree with the opinion pieces, but they're worth checking out. 

The Webb Telescope!

I'm fascinated by the James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled to be launched on Dec. 22.  It will succeed the Hubble Telescope, which has been probing deep space and providing us with amazing images for 30 years.

Webb will reach back in time to let us see what the universe was like shortly after the Big Bang.  We will be able to study the first stars and galaxies that formed.  It will be able to detect things that are ten billion times as faint as the faintest stars visible without a telescope.  This is 10 to 100 times fainter than Hubble can see.

Webb has been in the works for a very long time.  It is state-of-the-art and complicated.  Much could go wrong as it goes through the process of positioning itself at a point 1 million miles from earth, opening its giant mirrors and beginning its mission.

I'm rooting for it to succeed and furthering our relationship with the always fascinating question:  How did it all begin?

Steph!

Yesterday I watched Steph Curry break the three point record.  His talent is obvious, but it is his quality as a human being that sets him apart.  He inspires by example.  He is a role model for decency and humanity.  We are lucky to have him in our neighborhood - our world.

Speechless!

It's been a while since I've posted a comment.  Why, I wonder.  It is not because I haven't had anything to say.  There is plenty going on that could elicit an opinion.  And it's not because I've been too busy.  I've had plenty of time to write.  And it's not because I think my audience isn't interested.

So why?  The best I can come up with is that what I see in the world outside my happy and comfortable bubble is depressing, so why add to the depression by noting it.  Lending my voice to the chorus of bad news seemed like a waste of time.

Looking for the bright spots is a challenge.  I have to get past:

   The pandemic

   Inflation

   More mass shootings

   Tornados

   Ukraine

   The death of Roe v Wade

   The death of democracy as the Republicans skillfully destroy our institutions

   The likely takeover of the government by the bad guys next year

   Etc., etc., etc. . .

But giving up is not a viable option.  So I'm back.  I've just watched "14 Peaks," the story of five Nepali Sherpas who made a commitment to climb to the summits of the 14 highest mountains on earth, higher than 8000 meters, in one six-month climbing season.  They called their challenge Project Possible.  Against seemingly impossible odds they did it.  They knew that if they gave up anywhere along the way they would die.  So no, giving up is not a viable option.  Nor is being speechless!