Did Scientific Method in the Bible Come Up Short?

 December 26, 2020

 

I was looking at various instances of scientific method in the Bible (like Jacob’s selective breeding program, shown to him in a vision by the Lord), to counteract the snarky people who say that the Lord, not science, will protect them from the coronavirus. Because the Lord seemed to have a pretty good handle on science, so maybe people could reconcile the two.

I read Leviticus 13, which talks about isolating lepers. “Aha!” I thought. “Isolation. That’s the ticket. Let the anti-scientists gripe about isolating NOW!” 

But then I read modern articles that say that leprosy is most likely transmitted by coughing and sneezing, and is not really that contagious after all. (Although, in a crowded camp, things may have been dicier.) So why didn’t the Lord say, “Make them wear masks!” instead of making them outcasts?

Now it’s starting to really bug me.

 

Dressing Down

 

December 27, 2020

 

Since it’s the weekend, I’m staying in my pajamas today,

Because wearing sweats seemed too much like dressing for work.

 

Did She Fail Those Classes?

December 26, 2020

 

An article about how holiday travel may spread the virus mentions a young woman from Missouri who traveled to Texas over the holiday to help her cousin, who is getting married next November, choose a wedding dress.

That would be bad enough.

But this young woman is a nursing student.

If the school doesn’t kick her out outright, because she clearly doesn’t understand basic science and nursing concepts of disease transmission,

 

I hope that they make her retake some classes until the concepts sink in.

Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda? Don't Kid Yourself.

 December 23, 2020

 

If you needed further proof that “The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley” (Burns), or “Man proposes, but God disposes” (Thomas a Kempis), consider the following story.

I have a friend who shares my love of exploring parks. Unfortunately, she likes parks that are closer to her, and I, with my horrible experiences with St. Louis traffic, would rather not go there every time.

So the other day, I chose a park near me: 15-minute drive, NO highway time, almost no traffic.

And got rear-ended while I was sitting at the stop sign waiting to leave the park.

So the next time you say, “I should have planned it better…”

 

Forget it. You never had a chance.

 

Christmas Wishes

 

December 24, 2020

Christmas Blessings to All. May you get whatever you need, and little extra.

 

The Receivers Gave Back

 

December 23, 2020

 

Residents of a St. Louis neighborhood surprised a UPS driver with a check for her new roof.

The driver is a favorite, because she goes above and beyond for the neighbors, like bringing groceries to a person whose arm was broken.

When she mentioned that she was going to get a new roof in the spring, neighbors got an estimate and set up a GoFundMe account, and several thousand dollars were raised in two days.

They faked a service call to bring her back to the neighborhood, and the neighbors presented her with the check.

It wasn’t just the neighbors who showed their appreciation. Some co-workers covered her shift during the event, and some came to watch the presentation.

 

I love a feel-good story.

His Pep Talk Needs Work

 

December 21, 2020

 

More than 340 schoolboys were abducted in Nigeria because Boko Haram rebels believed that the Western education they were receiving was anti-Islam. After a week of forced marching with minimal food and water, and death threats if they returned to the school, the boys were released.

After their release, they met with the Nigerian president. Apparently not wanting the boys’ lives to be stopped in their tracks as a result of the abduction, the president told the boys that they should not be deterred in life by “this little difficulty.”

It’s nice that he had such faith in their ability to overcome obstacles.

 

But as a motivational speech, it left something to be desired. 

I'm Not Cut Out For Dealing With Stupidity

 

December 21, 2020

 

I just attended a virtual job fair through the DOL website. First, I had to determine which state Zone I live in. The website’s information booth gave me no help, so I called the local job center. The first woman had no idea, and referred me to another one, who was able to help.

I visited several sites and I found a job that sounded promising, so I uploaded my resume, as required, and started to fill out the application. I was doing well until they asked for my job history.

I typed in “See Resume,” and filled out the rest of the application. The “See Resume” section requested a phone number, dates, etc. In other words, they wanted me to type in exactly what was on the resume that they had had me upload.

I was also intrigued to know that “voluntary” information of gender and race was marked with an asterisk, meaning the field must be filled in.

 

I am NOT cut out for this nonsense.

 

 

Hope Springs Eternal

 

December 17, 2020

 

Apparently, people are looking forward to having a lot more to do in 2021.

 

The dollar store is already out of calendars.

He's Got Skin in the Game

 

December 17, 2020

 

Some officials and restaurant owners in San Diego County are confused by a judge’s ruling that strip clubs are exempt from rules closing restaurants due to COVID-19.

Two strip clubs sued the county and state about the restrictions, and the judge ruled in their favor.

One restaurant owner asked if the ruling meant that restaurants could open, as long as someone was stripping. If so, he was willing to go the extra mile to keep his place open.

 

 

How Many Syllables?

 

December 16, 2020

 

Does anybody else get tickled by the irony of the word “Monosyllabic”?

 

 

The Good Parts of 2020

 

December 15, 2020

OK, I admit it! I enjoyed 2020.

I enjoyed not having to commute to work every day. I enjoyed not having to work with the 2 people who stressed me out so much; since we all took turns going into the office, I saw them much less, and enjoyed every minute of not seeing them.

I enjoyed not having to worry about my family commuting, since they worked from home.

I enjoyed being able to visit places without having to wait for weekends and deal with crowds. I visited new parks, and took pictures, and was able to take walks in the middle of the day, or nap if I needed to. 

I took virtual trips and enjoyed virtual culture. I even took two virtual yoga classes.

Prior to the lockdown, I had met some new people and I was going places with them, so my social life was starting to look up. I was sad that that changed, but…

Since there was no place to go after the lockdown, I didn’t get as frustrated with my family for not going out and doing things; I didn’t feel resentful about only being able to spend time with them if I stayed home, or about having to go to fun places alone. Kind of a weird thing to be positive about, but there it is.

I actually saw my distant family members much more this year because we got so used to chatting virtually. (Although, to be honest, we had already planned and started doing that before the pandemic hit, so that’s kind of a null value.)

I polished my book, known variously as CEOing for Dummies, The Corporate Culture and Other Business Blunders, and, ultimately, The Troubleshooter’s Handbook for CEOs. Thanks to online library programs, I learned more about what it takes to find an agent and publish a book. (I have done neither of those things, although I have tried.)

I attended a virtual networking event—much nicer than standing around looking awkward, trying to make conversation.

In fact, in the week before Thanksgiving, I actually told someone that I had Survivor’s Guilt, because my family hadn’t been struggling.

The next day I was told that I had four more days at my job, then it was over. So that was kind of a bummer.

And my husband’s salary took a hit, too.

So now, like a lot of people, I walk around with that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, hoping that I can turn things around financially. 

I’m also hoping that, since the rest of the year was so good, the job loss just means that something better, job-wise, is coming.

I know that 2020 was hard on millions of people. But I’d be lying if I said that I hated it. Because I didn’t.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Wanna Be Like These Kids

 

December 13, 2020

 

The latest child philanthropist/entrepreneur is a 7-year-old who has raised nearly $20,000 for protective gear for a children’s hospital.

Hayley Orlinsky isn’t the first child to raise money for a good cause; nor is she the first child to start her own business. In fact, there are many kids all over the world who have had the imagination, the drive, and the generosity to create something, make it pay, and use the proceeds for good.

I wanna be like them.

 

 

We Can ALL Be John Doe

 

December 13, 2020

 

I just watched “Meet John Doe”, a 1941 movie.

 

If you’re feeling discouraged about life, or people, watch the speech John gives about 50 minutes in. It really highlights how much ordinary people contribute to making the world work, and will make you feel good about your role in life.

 

I've Got Class, and I Can Prove It

 

December 9, 2020

 

I have frequently been self-conscious that I don’t exactly ooze class. I look respectable, but nobody would ever take me for a member of the Upper Crust.

However: Since I donated to the Metropolitan Opera’s virtual fundraiser last Spring, I’ve been getting letters from them, asking for donations. (No good deed goes unpunished…) So I’m debating:

Once we start having visitors again, should I just leave an envelope from the Met lying casually on the counter? Or put that magnet they sent on the refrigerator?

Because nothing says Class like a fridge magnet, right?

 

 

Simple Solutions that Haven't Gone Viral (as far as I know)

December 7, 2020



I just saw an article where somebody was all excited to discover that it makes more sense to string your Christmas tree lights vertically than around the tree. Sometimes I would do that, when I didn’t feel like fooling around with wrapping them, but my fellow tree-decorator didn’t approve on the grounds that it was lazy. (And it is. But not annoying, which is more important.)


The thing is, we all do things out of sheer common sense, then somebody else goes viral with it, and suddenly it’s a big production. So let me tell you some other ways to make your life easier, so you don’t have to wait for somebody else to figure it out:



1. Instead of paint stirrers, use a plastic cooking spoon that’s shaped like the old-fashioned wooden spoons. They come in sets for about $2.00, so you can use whatever size works for the size of the paint can. Not only is it easier to stir the paint with them, but they clean easily and are re-usable.

2. If you’re wearing a long-sleeved shirt when you brush your teeth or wash your face, water may run down your arms and either get the sleeves wet or go under the sleeves and get your arm wet. Wear those wide hair scrunchies around your wrists to catch the water. $1.00 at the Dollar Tree.

3. If you have bushes planted in a rock garden, cleaning up the trimmings can be a nightmare. Buy a couple of cheap hairdresser capes ($2.50 each) and put them around the bushes to catch whatever falls when you trim. Then just empty the “bib” into the trash, and put it with the trimming shears for next time.

4. Thread a string or ribbon through the spring in a clothespin and tie it to your oven door. You can hang dishtowels from the clothespins.

5. Put a magnetic chip clip on your dishwasher, and write “Clean” on one side of a piece of paper and “Dirty” on the other; switch sides as needed. (I make my signs seasonal: Christmas tree, spring flower, etc.) Or

    5a. Put the dishwashing pill into the detergent compartment and close it. If the compartment is still closed, the dishes are dirty. If it’s opened, the dishwasher has been run. (This one came from my sister-in-law.)

6. If you like good artwork, check out the stamps at the post office. There are mini-frames that you can use to display them. Perfect for your desk. (Tip: Most of the stamps look better against the yellow envelopes than the white ones.)

7. Cardboard boxes make great standing desks; they’re inexpensive, and easy to set up on your regular desk top. Just take the box off the desk when you’re ready to sit down again.

8. When I was pregnant, it got to be hard to see my feet, or bend over to get shoes from the closet floor. So I put a tall cardboard box in the closet and put my shoes on it. No more bending over to grab the shoes.

9. I hate taping for painting, so for small jobs I grab a flat piece of cardboard and hold it at an angle to protect the wall or floor while I paint baseboards.

10. Decorate the Christmas tree from the bottom up. It’s easier to keep ornaments out of each other’s way.

11. Practicing martial arts kicks is easier when you have something to connect with. Our old friend the tall cardboard box is great for this.

 

 

Wanted: People Who Can Fill Out Job-Site Surveys

 December 1, 2020

I spent the morning looking at various career websites, and filling out skills surveys.

I was amused to note that, while one determined that I had only 9 of the 18 skills necessary to be a file clerk, another thought that I might have a future in nuclear medicine, as I scored 10 out of 16 in that field. (I texted my niece, who actually is in nuclear medicine, and she laughed and said that perhaps I should consider a career change.) 

After I joined the St. Louis Networking group (through LinkedIn), I was matched for a job as a psychologist for the FBI. That would be a heck of stretch, 

but maybe I could apply for a job as a file clerk there.

 

Keep That Common Sense Coming!

 

December 6, 2020

 

I read today that airlines are taking some common-sense measures to reduce the risk of infection during the pandemic. One of the changes is to board the planes starting with the back seats, to limit exposure from people continually passing the front-end passengers who are already seated.

In “A Shrewd Move” (August 14, 2012) I wrote,

I asked “Why don’t you [the flight attendants] let the people who don’t tie up traffic by using the overhead bins off the plane first?”

 The gate attendants just smiled and said, “Oh, we can’t do that.”

 

I hereby renew my plea to the airlines to let people with NO carry-on luggage deplane first, to limit the amount of time standing in the aisles, waiting for people to get their luggage out of the overhead bins.

 

 

Have They Tried Dropping Leaflets?

 

December 2, 2020

 

I was intrigued when an article in the Post-Dispatch ("In rural Missouri, doctors treat friends and family" Dec. 2, 2020) quoted a man in rural Missouri who had contracted COVID-19 and was still suffering the effects of it. He said that he hadn't been overly cautious about not contracting the virus. He said, “I really wasn’t aware of the fact that it could get ahold of you and not let go.”

Health officials have warned in print, on TV, on radio, and online about the risks associated with contracting COVID.

Short of hog-tying people and making them watch any one of the numerous cautionary videos made by people who have contracted the disease, 

WHAT ELSE CAN THE HEALTH OFFICIALS DO TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS?

Venues Come and Go, But Ticketing Fees Are Forever

 

December 2, 2020

 

I just got notified of a series of virtual concerts.

The prices are the same as if we were going to see the event live. Even better,

 

Even though we wouldn’t be setting foot near the place, there are still ticketing fees.

I remember writing several years ago about having to pay $2 extra per ticket if I had them printed at a local outlet instead of picking them up or having them mailed to me.

Sad to know that some things remain constant.

 

(And yes, I know that the agency that handles the ticketing still has its costs to cover; but there’s no printing, no shipping, no handling…No nothin’. Come on! Cut people some slack.)

They've Got It COVID

 

November 30, 2020

 

The Missouri legislature was supposed to have a special legislative session dealing in part with limiting lawsuits related to COVID-19.

The plans got derailed when several members tested positive for the virus after a retreat near Branson. According to a picture, most of the Senate GOP caucus members weren’t masked.

Well, this should give them some special insight into the matter.

At any rate, the legislative bus tour, which was going to feature one “mask-optional” bus, has been postponed.

 

 

 

Rediscover the Joy

 

November 29, 2020

 

I think that for Christmas this year, I’ll just have my family look around the house for something I haven’t read or listened to or watched or worn for a while,

And wrap it up

And put it under the tree for me.

Chances are I can rediscover the pleasure I had in it before.

 

And it won’t cost nothin’.