Dangerous Times
Nov. 29th, 2020 08:13 amYay! Buffalo made the Big Boy Paper!
But not for its culture or creativity or (stop laughing) a sporting victory, but for its recent setbacks in fighting off COVID. And highlighting how much of it is being caused by the pure stupidity of deniers who insist on continuing "life as usual" despite the science and the risks. The New York Times reporter mentions the "Night of the Long TRX Straps" protest at the gym in OP, but not the subsequent protest at a local politician's home where protesters were encouraged to dress up as slaves or in Auschwitz gear.
Making it even more surreal? One of our next door neighbors is quoted in the Times piece- one of the couple we had a falling out with over the summer. She "was furloughed in the spring, and has yet to return to permanent, full-time work. 'I’ve applied for a bazillion jobs... [and] now this is just causing more uncertainty.' She said her family has had to use credit cards to pay off some bills, a situation that can’t be sustained indefinitely."
Even more personal than that, though, is this quote: "transmission at this point is so widespread in the county that irresponsible behavior is not required to get sick, said Dr. Thomas A. Russo, the chief of infectious disease at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo." But he's just an epidemiologist and not a pillow salesman, so what does HE know?
We try. We turtled for the holiday. We haven't been east of Rochester or anywhere in any other direction in eight months. We haven't been in a restaurant together in that time, either- me, less than a half dozen, always alone, distanced and masked except when actually consuming. We mask in public places, inside and out as required, and distance, and get yelled at when we bring it up to others.
We need to do better. And the fucking so-called "liberators" can die on a ventilator.
Sorry to be so negative. Have a cute kitty picture. More with the dog, and the rest of life, later.

But not for its culture or creativity or (stop laughing) a sporting victory, but for its recent setbacks in fighting off COVID. And highlighting how much of it is being caused by the pure stupidity of deniers who insist on continuing "life as usual" despite the science and the risks. The New York Times reporter mentions the "Night of the Long TRX Straps" protest at the gym in OP, but not the subsequent protest at a local politician's home where protesters were encouraged to dress up as slaves or in Auschwitz gear.
Making it even more surreal? One of our next door neighbors is quoted in the Times piece- one of the couple we had a falling out with over the summer. She "was furloughed in the spring, and has yet to return to permanent, full-time work. 'I’ve applied for a bazillion jobs... [and] now this is just causing more uncertainty.' She said her family has had to use credit cards to pay off some bills, a situation that can’t be sustained indefinitely."
Even more personal than that, though, is this quote: "transmission at this point is so widespread in the county that irresponsible behavior is not required to get sick, said Dr. Thomas A. Russo, the chief of infectious disease at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo." But he's just an epidemiologist and not a pillow salesman, so what does HE know?
We try. We turtled for the holiday. We haven't been east of Rochester or anywhere in any other direction in eight months. We haven't been in a restaurant together in that time, either- me, less than a half dozen, always alone, distanced and masked except when actually consuming. We mask in public places, inside and out as required, and distance, and get yelled at when we bring it up to others.
We need to do better. And the fucking so-called "liberators" can die on a ventilator.
Sorry to be so negative. Have a cute kitty picture. More with the dog, and the rest of life, later.
