Anti-social Media

21:34 Thursday, 8 August 2019
Words: 1040

Well, here I am again.

This is something I considered writing on Facebook, but then I realized that it probably wasn't appropriate for Facebook. Or, better, it is appropriate for Facebook, but if I posted it on Facebook it would probably just vanish.

This is about moral courage and leadership in the face of tremendous challenge. There is a noticeable lack of moral courage on the part of many of our leaders, and it just so happens that most of them who exhibit this deficiency are Republicans. This will offend many of my friends who are Republicans, but it's not intended to offend them. It's intended to get them to think, instead of merely rationalize.

On Sunday, following the horrific shootings that occurred the day and evening before, I watched Face the Nation and had the absurd experience of seeing and hearing Republican Senator Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, be utterly oblivious to his own words. I watched, in real time, as bitter irony issued from his mouth and I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

You can watch it too. You'll find it right here. There's a commercial at the beginning, I'm sorry about that. But the statement I'm addressing begins at about 1:47 in the timeline. Senator Scott is thinking about the effort that the city of Charleston made in the wake of its mass shooting. And one of the things Senator Scott seems most proud of was this:

"We did something that I thought was incredibly important. We said to each other that, when you hear someone that looks like you say something that is out of line, or inconsistent or insensitive, make it your responsibility to respond to that individual within your own community. That really did resonate here at home; and it was very powerful and very helpful. Because, when we're looking for ways to address the challenges that our nation is seeing all over the place, one of the things that we do, we must take individual responsibility and speak up when we hear something. Silence, in and of itself, is a part of the challenge. So we must speak up when we see things that are out of place, when we hear things that's inconsistent. That's in the best interests of our nation and our community."

That took him all of 42 seconds to utter.

It struck me, because I seldom hear about Senator Tim Scott. That's not too surprising, he's from South Carolina and his colleague Lindsey Graham, gets enough face time on TV for both of them. But, surely, if Senator Scott had been speaking up about Trump's rhetoric it would have made news. So I did a quick search for it and found little. Now, I did find that Senator Scott often votes against the Republican Party line. And just about two years ago, right after the President's remarks about Charlottesville, Senator Scott did offer mild criticism of the President and his mixed messages.

Other than that, unless someone can find more examples, it's been crickets.

Now, someone might argue that Senator Scott qualified his exhortation to speak up by saying that you should speak up if you hear someone "that looks like you," and Senator Scott is black, and President Trump is orange. They don't look at all alike.

But they're ostensibly both Republicans. They're both elected officers of the federal government. They're both leaders. I'd say they're far more alike with respect to the meaning of Senator Scott's words, than they are different.

And Senator Scott, the advocate for speaking up, the advocate of taking individual responsibility, Senator Scott, who recognizes that silence in the face of speech that is "out of line," is a problem, a challenge to all of us, is silent on the matter of President Trump.

And that is a bitter, bitter irony.

The man literally knows better, but says nothing.

I'm sorry, but that's cowardice. Moral cowardice.

And he's not alone. With the exception of Justin Amash, I can't find a single elected Republican currently in office who is willing to publicly rebuke the President for his hateful rhetoric. You can't even find one who will mildly criticize him!

This legitimizes his rhetoric. It emboldens racists and bigots and misogynists and anti-Semites and every other odious belief so proudly harbored by "the deplorables." While all these things have existed in this country since its founding, Trump elevates them to the position of acceptable civil discourse because he is actively aided and enabled by the silence of his party.

So, what about social media?

Should my Republican friends be denouncing the President's rhetoric? Is Facebook just a place to come look at cute cat pictures, wish each other happy birthday and keep up on what our kids are doing? Or is it the public square of the 21st Century? I don't think we've figured that out yet. There is certainly no shortage of political speech on Facebook. Should my Republican friends be judged for not speaking out against our President? And by "speaking out," I don't mean that they have to denounce Trump with the same intensity and vitriol that I use. A mild expression of regret of his choice of words would probably be sufficient. Except it would invite trollish replies from the people who embrace Trump's rhetoric. I guess that's why they call it "courage."

And really, is moral cowardice a personal failing? Can cowards help it that they're cowards? Am I exhibiting some unfair anti-coward bias here?

I can expect more from my elected leaders, but I've learned that I won't get it. Congressman John Rutherford is a moral coward who is willing to stand silently by and by his silence legitimize the hateful rhetoric of this President. Likewise, Senator Marco Rubio, who wasn't afraid of Trump in the primaries until he was bullied into silence. And Senator Rick Scott, my state's junior Senator, who is more interested in his political ambition than he is in exhibiting leadership, likewise an enabler, a facilitator of hate. And they're all Republicans.

I suppose I'm willing to give my friends a pass, but I am disappointed. But my elected leaders? I will call out their moral cowardice.

Necessary Adjustments

17:01 Monday, 8 August 2022
Current Wx: Temp: 76.12°F Pressure: 1015hPa Humidity: 92% Wind: 1.01mph
Words: 629

I seemed to sleep better in New York. I don't know why. I wasn't fond of the bed in the lake house, the mattress seemed to be concave. But I think I slept better.

Anyway, insomnia has its uses.

I've been riding my bike every morning for the last week or so, trying to get back into a routine. Previously, I'd ride after taking a walk. This meant it was later in the morning, sometime between 0730 and 0800. There's a lot of traffic at that hour.

So I started riding the bike first, about 0530. That gets me back in time to start my walk before the sun is up. It's been working well. I saw an Atlas rocket launch last week just as I was about to get home, that was pretty cool. And I can get an idea of what the sunrise might look like, so I put the drone up a couple of times before I went for walk.

But every time I rode, I'd remember that I needed to adjust the handlebars. And every time I finished riding, I'd forget about it. Mostly because I was soaked with sweat, and interested in getting in the house to cool off a bit and have some water.

Well, lying awake this morning, I figured I'd get up and go out in the garage and just adjust the damn handlebars. So I did. Adjusted the seat too. I think I'll be more comfortable this morning.

The garage is fricking hot in the summer. I had the door open and two fans going and I was still sweating like crazy. That shouldn't be the case much longer. I've gone ahead and contracted to have the garage air conditioned.

I insulated the door last summer, and it's helped a bit. I need to insulate the ceiling, but I figured I'd wait until after they'd installed the AC unit so the electrician wouldn't be crawling through all that fiberglass or whatever. I'll take care of that after they finish.

The guy on the architectural review committee that approved our application said he'd done his. He said the only thing he didn't like was that his car windows fogged up every morning when he pulled out.

Well, that won't be a problem for me! He's cooling the garage too much, below the dew point. That may cause a problem for his tools eventually, because every time he opens the door all the cold air slides out and the very humid air replaces it, causing condensation on everything it touches.

I don't want to expend too much energy on cooling a space that we don't live in. I just need to make it less hot. So I'll probably set the thermostat for 80°F at first and see how that feels and how much energy it takes. Adjust upward from there, if necessary. The house thermostat is at 77°F, and I don't need the garage as cool as the house.

If I'm working in the garage, like this morning, I'll keep the door shut and turn the AC down a bit. I can work out on the elliptical/stair stepper thing I've got in there too. It was 86°F in the garage, 76°F outside and even with the door open and two fans running, the garage only cooled down to 85°F while I was out there. And then stepping back into the house actually felt cold. As I'm writing this, the ceiling fan is on.

Which brings me to just about the time I need to roll out. So I'll post this, turn off the fan and go for a ride. Weather suggests chance of drizzle. We'll see.

Thanks for dropping by. Hope you have a good day!

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Like a Rolling Stone

07:26 Thursday, 8 August 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 77.5°F Pressure: 1005hPa Humidity: 91% Wind: 9.22mph
Words: 233

Beware, the stench of "old man" angst lingers.

Browsing Apple News after my walk, I read a piece on Creedence Clearwater Revival that made me smile and visit the iTunes Music Store, something I haven't done in a long time.

Many dollars poorer, I now own most of the catalog and some of John Fogarty's solo stuff, and this makes me happy.

But it was something else I read, trying to find a link to the CCR piece so I could post it here, about the Boss appearing for a surprise duet with some guy named Zach Bryan.

Anyway, back to the store and now I own a bunch of his stuff.

The other day, I was lying in the recliner listening to some music that was once new to me that I now realize is over 20 years old. I lamented to myself that I don't seem to find myself around the kind of people who listen to new music and recommend it to me. Hazards of "over-55" living, I guess.

Anyway, I get why this Zach Bryan guy is tearing it up. Whoa...

And that makes me happy too.

(Sorry for the Apple News links. RS is behind a paywall, but I guess I get to read it in Apple News because I'm a News+ subscriber. Gates just inconvenience honest people. Life is short, get yourself some Creedence, and abide.)

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HARRIS WALZ Camo Hat

08:54 Thursday, 8 August 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 78.73°F Pressure: 1006hPa Humidity: 91% Wind: 5.75mph
Words: 24

I ordered two from this vender on Etsy.

I have no idea what font to choose, so I picked bold.

Apparently, it's a thing.

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Buckaroo Banzai Vibes

08:57 Thursday, 8 August 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 78.85°F Pressure: 1006hPa Humidity: 91% Wind: 5.75mph
Words: 26

This video.

For reference.

Feeling better. Staying hydrated.

"Don't be mean. We don't have to be mean. Because, no matter where you go... There you are."

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Bullshit

14:39 Thursday, 8 August 2024
Current Wx: Temp: 96.22°F Pressure: 1005hPa Humidity: 59% Wind: 5.01mph
Words: 581

By now it is a matter of course that what issues from Trump's mouth and his coterie of sycophants and lickspittles seldom, if ever, resembles the truth.

I don't have any problems with the way Tim Walz described his relationship with military firearms in the context of a discussion about gun safety legislation. I didn't hear him making a claim that he served in combat, or under fire, or in a combat zone. He served on active duty, during a time of semi-declared war, the GWOT (Global War On Terror), the blank check that Congress gave to W. following 9/11. So, "in war" he carried a weapon.

The specific construction, which he uttered in extemporaneous remarks, could be construed in a way to assert that he was making that claim; but that requires a good deal of bad faith to do so. Since bad faith is the very foundation of the entire Trump campaign, it's unsurprising they're going there.

It's bullshit.

Regarding his calling himself a Command Sergeant Major, I suspect it's like when I was acting commanding officer of Fleet Training Center Mayport. I was detailed there as the executive officer, an O-5 billet. The commanding officer is an O-6 billet, and is specifically screened and selected for shore command, and gets to wear a device signifying command ashore.

I wasn't an O-6, wasn't screened and wasn't selected. So I couldn't wear the device, and I could never call myself the CO. But for two periods, each in excess of 90 days, I was, for all practical and legal purposes, the CO. I could award step increases to civil servants, or an annual merit bonus, or 59 minutes "early departure." My signature went in all the blocks that said, "Commanding Officer" on every piece of correspondence that left the command that wasn't "By direction."

If I screwed anything up that an O-6 is "specially screened and selected" for, I could go to jail just as if I had been specially screened and selected.

But since I hadn't had the benefit of the close attention and scrutiny of the selection board, I couldn't call myself the CO in any other context. Never wear the device. It doesn't even appear on my plaque.

That's ok. Them's the rules.

Sounds like Walz was the acting Command Sergeant Major, and for some time. As such, he would have been the senior enlisted man within the unit, and acted a special advisor to the CO. It's a pretty high achievement in an enlisted career, and you work closely with the CO on matters affecting the entire command. I had the benefit of a number of good Command Master Chiefs and Command Senior Chiefs. They attended the Senior Leadership Academy and were "specially screened and selected." I don't know how it works in the National Guard. Those course billets are often full, and maybe Guard members don't get as much opportunity as active duty Army. Anyway...

This is from 2018:

Capt. Holly Rockow, a public affairs officer for the Minnesota National Guard, said it is legitimate for Walz to say he served as a command sergeant major. She said the rank changed because Walz retired before completing coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy along with other requirements associated with his promotion.

Trump and the weirdos and lickspittles that surround him are desperate and flailing.

I just sent another $150 to VoteVets.

Ordnance downrange, on target, on time.

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Briefly

08:19 Friday, 8 August 2025
Current Wx: Temp: 65.91°F Pressure: 1025hPa Humidity: 85% Wind: 6.8mph
Words: 352

After writing about a "pause" yesterday, I went out and did a lot more work! And kind of "suffered" for the rest of the day. I'd intended to just do some raking, but you know how it goes... Mitzi helped out and we loaded a lot of the debris into the bed of the Mav and drove it over to the neighbor's house where they've said we could deposit it.

I liberated a tree from a canopy of grape vines and we can now see the road through a gap in that overgrowth.

We'll be back out there this morning.

I always enjoy Jack Baty's blogging, regardless of platform, and his photography. He's been writing a bit lately about AI, a topic that isn't especially compelling for me. After having tried that Chinese knock-off on a local model with the iMac, I've pretty much confined myself to using ChatGPT from time to time. It's been helpful and not especially misleading. I think it correctly identified a type of rock I submitted to it in a photograph (gneiss). A book I ordered seems to suggest the same thing.

As to the larger social and economic effects, I think they're less pressing than the unfolding climate catastrophe, and may actually be useful in attempting to forestall it, albeit ironically. Here in the US, we're pressing hard for leadership in AI, but we're building these massive data centers that stress an aging electric grid infrastructure, encouraging people like Elon Musk to use fossil fuels to power them.

Of the things I worry about, it's the rise of authoritarianism and the climate catastrophe that are forefront in my mind. AI might be disastrous as well, but if it is, the first two are way out in front of it. Our civilization will collapse with or without AI. If a truly intelligent, self-aware AI results at some point, assuming they don't all fight each other and kill the remnants of humanity in the process, maybe they'll keep us as pets.

The far hills are still murky, but the moon was yellowish last night, not orange.

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Another Path

10:49 Saturday, 8 August 2026

Current Wx: Temp: 75.04°F Pressure: 1015hPa Humidity: 90% Wind: 7.85mph
Words: 374

Took along the little E-PM1 on my walk this morning, this was edited in Photos.

Building a new house occupies a lot of my attention. Including in the wee hours of the morning when I should be sleeping.

Saw the doc the other day. I really like her, I was outlining some courses of action and she said, "This isn't the navy, Mr. Rogers. We don't have to plan for every contingency."

Habits of thought.

We talked about our dreams. I mentioned I dream about the navy a lot, she said she dreams about the army a lot. When she was in med school, she dreamed about being recalled to active duty, and I said, "Oh, no!"

"No," she said, "they were happy dreams because I hated med school."

Anyway, she's smart, funny and going to get me on the tirzepatide GLP-1.

Took the sleep test Thursday night. Probably failed it. Who can sleep with all that crap hanging off of them?

Saw the ophthalmologist yesterday. One eye is a candidate for cataract surgery, the other eye is less so. Wanted to know what my complaint was, and I told him about night driving and glare. Seems at least some of my problem is my "map dot dystrophy" in my left eye, and cataract surgery won't fix that. He said I should be using eye drops at least four times a day, maybe more frequently. Apparently I have "dry eyes." (Which is why they water so much?)

At least the new glasses help a bit. We're going to meet again in six weeks, see how I'm doing with eye drops.

They started landing floor trusses yesterday, then got rained out. Nothing going on today, more rain, though it's intermittent.

Got some more data on the HVAC design. Where we're going to put all this ductwork is a mystery to me. If you ever look at those photos from the interior of the International Space Station, you see a lot of duct lines. Same thing. Put humans in a sealed box without ventilation and bad things happen.

At some point it stops being exciting and interesting and becomes a source of stress and anxiety.

I am past that point.

The beat goes on...

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