Armenian Genocide

Kudos to President Biden for being the first U.S. President to muster the courage to state the obvious, and refer to the Armenian genocide as a genocide.  

Between 1915 and 1922, over 50% of the Armenian population of Turkey was killed by Ottoman / Turkish forces, with most of the rest deported from their homeland.  

Until the Holocaust of European Jews in the Second World War, this was the worst wholesale ethnic slaughter in the modern western history.  Like European Jews, Armenians still carry the trauma of this crime.  Unlike European Jews, Armenians have received neither an apology, nor even an admission from Turkey that this horrible chapter occurred.  The fear of losing Turkey as an ally has pushed our nation to be complicit in this conspiracy of silence until now.  President Biden’s official acknowledgement of these crimes is way overdue, but has been welcomed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Genocide

Dorian Gray and Trump

He loved nobody but himself, but felt it was his birthright to be loved unconditionally by all.  He had no friends.  His world was inhabited only by potential prey, enemies, and by those with whom he would form temporary, revocable alliances.  

He knew that good looks were the only way to make sure people would love you, and wanted to find a way to remain beautiful.  He heard about a guy named Dorian Gray, who negotiated a deal with the devil; in return for his soul, he would never age; retaining his handsome, youthful looks forever.  No matter how corruptly he led his life, he would remain handsome, vital, and youthful; his corruption would be reflected only a painting of him, which would age, and become hideous.  

This seemed like a sweet deal – a bargain, really.  And nobody knew the art of the deal like he did.  So, he sent his best man to meet with the devil, to get him the same deal.  Rudy returned from the meeting the next day, and assured his boss that he had succeeded; no matter how corrupt a life he led, none of the dozens of portraits of himself—which he kept in every room—would ever age a single day.   

Impeachment and Jaime Herrera Beutler

In the last two elections, I have supported, and contributed to, Carolyn Long in her campaigns to unseat Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, and ‘Flip the Third’ Congressional District - and have been disappointed that neither of these efforts were a success.  

I can’t say that I will reconsider my choice next time.  It will really depend upon the qualifications of the candidates.  But I will say that today the Third Congressional District of Washington is represented by an individual who is displaying rare courage.  

This is not just political courage - though her vote to impeach may well cost her her seat.  But it’s also personal courage, a week after an insurrectionist mob invaded the Capitol, particularly targeting those Republicans they considered disloyal to the Current Occupant of the White House.  There were more troops bivouacked in the Capitol than at any time since the Civil War.  And many of these same people are targeting members at their homes.  

I just called her local office to thank her for her courage in support of our constitution.  I imagine most of the calls they are getting are less thankful than mine.  If you would care to add your voice either way, the number is (360) 695-6292.

https://www.columbian.com/news/2021/jan/12/herrera-beutler-mum-on-aftermath-of-capitol-siege-impeachment-vote/ 

Herd Immunity

 Let’s start the year off with a little knowledge bomb.  

The term ‘herd immunity’ has taken on a life of its own, and is most popular with people who don’t know what it means.  

Herd immunity is not the same as individual immunity.  The stubborn, the foolish, and the unlucky will continue to get sick and die.  Achieving some nebulous level of vaccination in our society will do nothing to save the lives of those who persist in foolish behavior like tongue-kissing strangers on the street, not wearing a mask, or maintaining distance from others.  

What ‘herd immunity’ means is that those who contract this disease have a reduced incidence of passing it on to others—and reinvigorating the global pandemic—since the majority of those whom they contact will be immunized against it.  

And societal herd immunity provides no protection to stubborn subgroups, who have lower levels of immunization, and continue to mingle without protection.  All one has to do is look at the last few years of localized outbreaks of measles and mumps among the anti-vaxxer cult community to get the point.  We have had societal herd immunity against those diseases for decades, but that does not protect fools.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTRKCXC0JFg 

Covid - Cumulative Cases by State (with partisan leanings of each state)

 I don’t like to gratuitously put things in partisan terms – though it may seem that way at times. 

The public response to the current pandemic may be one way in which this is inescapable.  This graph shows a running total of the number of cumulative COVID-19 cases by state, since June 1.  Those who made this graphic chose to identify each state by the direction and strength of its party affiliation.  The trends are clear, and likely a reflection of the leadership of each state’s government, and the national political party most influential there. 

It’s worth noting that the data set begins in June, after the situation was better understood than it was initially, and states had a chance to implement programs to address the crisis.  I assume that is why New York and Washington States are not reflected as hot spots. 

If there is reason to doubt the underlying data, I would appreciate knowing it.  If there is reason to believe this view flawed, I will pull this down. 

https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/3835611/?fbclid=IwAR12iUoA58E-VgPW7HWf6P-WER2whfPNmH_BA3b6BHdzB9Atr_zBgDz_JUI

Karen vs. Ivanka

I have a few problems with referring to rude, entitled people as 'Karens'.
- Unless somebody is 'in the know', you have to define the term for them. This has only recently become an insult. Which leads to ...
- I know lots of people named Karen - most of whom are very sweet, and have been blind-sided by this.
- There doesn't seem to be a male equivalent, so it might be considered sexist.

If we must use a first name as an insult, there is one which is much less common, and which requires no explanation at all ...
Ivanka!

And there is a perfect male equivalent ... Junior Don!

Chimpanzees and Aberrant Behavior

Nobody blames chimpanzees for their behavior when you go to the zoo. They jump toward visitors, throw feces at each other and at visitors, masturbate in front of children – along with other crude behaviors. It’s embarrassing, and sometimes disturbing, but you know what to expect going in. Over time, they get validation and reinforcement from visitors, who reward the most aberrant behaviors with laughter and enthusiasm. Whether it’s nature or nurture, you don’t blame the chimp. It’s just how chimps behave in that environment.

It would make no sense to take a chimp from an environment where their aberrant behavior was consistently reinforced and rewarded, move them to an environment where these behaviors are less accepted, then expect them to suddenly pivot, and behave more … I don’t know – presidential. The ones to blame are those who moved the chimp.