Gregg Wilson

The United States response to the coronavirus has gotten completely out of control. "Experts" have commanded that we stop all business, go to our homes, sit still and be quiet. There is no hard evidence that staying in an enclosed space stops the virus spread - quite the opposite. Going outside and walking around in fresh air does stop the spread of the virus.

Politicians have become power mad. They issue numerous decrees about what you must not do and promote your being arrested if you violate them. The country is becoming a police state -Nazi.

The economy is being destroyed. A high majority of persons are having their livelyhood destroyed

The Bill of Rights has been violated and almost destroyed by many power mad governors. If you protest, what legimate law have you violated? Speaking? Moving? Going to work at something?

There is way too much hysteria brought on by the politicians. Apparently, the number of citizens who have had the virus is vastly beyond the official number. The actual death rate is probably below 0.1%

Persons have died of various causes but it is all labelled as coronavirus death. The joke is, if you were run over by a bulldozer - you died of the coronavirus.

We can go back to life: our jobs, etc.

Al Peffley

On a more serious note:

Be safe out there! Some of the retail store tactics (been to "Safe"way recently?) and shoppers (those angry people who won't distance from you) are becoming worse than the pandemic threat (and corrupt politicians who spent our tax money on stupid UN programs before COVID-19 came back to bite us in the economic butt.) The UofW's pandemic model must have been based upon incorrect baseline assumptions and obviously some faulty inputs. The University Medicine test kit culture tubes that were bought for Washington State COVID-19 testing were contaminated, and all kits were recalled (made in China, or some fly by night foreign vendor?). We find out after this all started that the US NIH was grant-funding SARS derivatives virology research AT Wuhan well before its 2019 release in China (is Dr. Fauci intimately involved?) What else can a bunch of taxpayer-funded, egotistical health research scientists and governors screw up? We are being manipulated by state and federal political factions that know what they are doing to our culture, individual rights, and economy. These social justice warriors and identity politics practitioners use public safety excuses and fear as psyops tools to control public activities. They are hoping to influence the 2020 federal and state elections. My County Sheriff and Board of Commissioners are preparing to release a Resolution to push back against Inslee's lop-sided view of "essential businesses and activities" and unequal lock-down rules. Not good!

Tom Chavez

Mahabharata — Drona and Drupad Settle

Drona, beholding Drupada thus brought under complete control–humiliated and deprived of wealth–addressing him said, “Your kingdom and capital have been laid waste by me. But fear not for your life, though it depends now on the will of your foe. Do you now desire to revive your friendship with me?” Drupad remained silent, looking down.

Drona again said, “Fear not for your life, brave king! We Brahmanas, are ever forgiving. O tiger among kshatriyas, my affection and love for you have remained with me since our childhood. Therefore, O king, I ask for your friendship again. And as a gift, I will return to you half the kingdom.”

“You told me before that only a king could be a king's friend. Therefore, I will retain half your kingdom. You be the king of the territory south of the Bhagirathi River, while I become king of to the north of that river. O Drupad, if it pleases you, know me hence as your friend.”

Drupada answered diplomatically, “You are a noble soul with great prowess. Therefore, O Brahmana, I am not surprised by your behavior. I am very much gratified with you, and I desire your eternal friendship.”

Drona released the king of Panchala, and cheerfully bestowed upon him half the kingdom. Drupad began to reside sorrowfully in the city of Kampilya, his warrior pride pained by humiliation. A brahmana’s strength is his power of forgiveness. A ksatriya’s killer instinct ever seeks destruction of his foe.

After his defeat by Drona, Drupada ruled southern Panchal, fully aware that he could not, by kshatriya might alone, defeat Drona, being very much his inferior in brahminical (spiritual) power. He therefore began to search out the means to obtain a son who could destroy his brahmana foe. 

Meanwhile, Drona resided in the territory won and bestowed upon him by Arjuna.

Tom Chavez

Al and Gregg, your views of America seem depressingly dystsopian. Our scientific, educational and political leaders are not interested in helping people, they are just power hungry fiends. CDC screwed up the tests but let’s blame it on China, the WHO, or Dr. Fauci, right? It’s someone else’s fault, certainly not ours. We are perfect and innocent and much more intelligent than others. We demand our rights and our jobs.

Well, very soon we will lose our jobs and so-called rights at the time of death. This temporary epidemic is just a dry run. Soon, no one will remember my name, and in a few hundred thousand years no one will remember the name of my beloved country. In a few billion years my beloved Earth will be destroyed. My existence here is just a blip in time.

Why be paranoid, argumentative, cranky and accusative about a blip in time? Why waste my precious life quarreling and criticizing? I want to elevate my consciousness above the passing storms and stresses of material existence. I will cooperate and help the best I can, but I’m just a temporary visitor here in this body and on this planet. I am a tiny conscious spark of soul on an eternal spiritual journey. Let me not lose sight of that.

Al Peffley

I am trying to communicate, as a freeman, about OUR life events in OUR nation today, Tom. I am not replicating the Holy Bible on this website to attempt to convert readers to my religious beliefs. Gregg is as frustrated as I am about the abuse of power and draconian "guidance" being enforced at all levels of government control authority (especially at the state and local levels.) People are calling police because someone crossed "the line" at Safeway, or are open and not on the "essential business" list. Fear of death is a terrible master for people to deal with who have a poor self image or moral compass (excepting what they are told by authortarian extremists.) China is liable and so are some politically-motivated US Government "experts" advising the President and Congress - get over it. You can close your eyes and ignore the issues, or address them directly with a little common sense, personal sanitation measures, and responsible social distancing until this most recent virus threat passes. This pandemic does not nullify the US Constitution.

It is interesting how dependent society is on tourism, sports, and eating out at restaurants. We are bigger consumers than we are producers. Poorly established and run socialist medical systems governed by lobbying insurance companies and central government agency committees are disasterous during a serious pandemic. The person who does not prepare for natural or man-made disasters is foolish. The government should work for us, not the other way around.

I blew the dust off of my three old HHS annuals and reviewed them to find several people I had not thought of in half a century or ever communicated with over the years. This pandemic lock-down has renewed some old high school era friendships that had gone by the wayside many years ago due to us going on our separate life journeys. It was touching to see the comments written inside those old documents from friends who are no longer with us on the big blue marble. It brought back some good memories. People are what matter in life. I miss weekly coffee and breakfast meetings with my friends. I am blessed to have some lifetime friends that resurfaced because I sought them out for a personal visit or a cyber discussion session over the last year.

Thank you for making this website message forum available for our use as Pirate retirees. I am not a Facebook or Twitter fan and probably never will be a member of those socially "risky" venues.

I like our old school logo better than the new sailing ship, but I guess the Highline Pirate is no longer politically correct or non-controversal in a global, identity-conscious culture era. Treasure your Pirates' bounty of old friends and the good days of our youth (in times and liberties that we often took for granted as we went our separate ways.) Be safe, and love your neighbor as you would want to be treated and respected in trying times.

Cheers,

Al

Al Peffley

I wish this guy was teaching when many of us took biology and zoology courses in high school and college:

https://youtu.be/wnj7dt7Jt7A

It is a good review of bacteria and virus pathogens scientific research up to the beginning of the 21st century. The discussion and presentation pace is fast, but I found this video quite interesting and very informative. Life is what happens in spite of our incomplete perceptions, beliefs, rules, and plans.

Tom Chavez

I am trying to communicate about OUR lives in OUR human civilization, Al. I am sharing stories that have been passed down through millenia because they give insight into the truth of human reality. I am not trying to convert, you can believe as you like. I am looking for the truth at the heart of human endeavors. I am concerned with truth and evidence, not blind faith.

I may be wrong, but I feel that you have a partial political agenda with your accusations and complaints. I go out almost daily to the park, post office, UPS store, grocery store, etc. I have not observed the “draconian abuses of power by authoritarian extremists” you claim to be frustrated with. I find people who are cheerful, steady in going about their duties, and respectful and empathetic to others.

The pandemic has nothing to do with the US Constitution. The constitution is a political document, designed for the benefit of the founding fathers. It has been amended many time in attempts to improve it. The coronavirus does not respect the Constitution nor do the laws of nature.  There is much more to life than politics, as necessary as politics may be. Inasmuch as politics is based upon reality, rather than selfish ideology, it will be successful.

I am also thankful for this website, which has helped me reconnect with classmates and old friends. Of course, we may also have friends from other high schools and other countries. These friendships give different perspectives on life. My conclusion is that we can live in peace and harmony if we respectfully center on evidenced-based truth, not on ideology and belief. 

I also do not use Twitter and Facebook for two reasons. In the first place, I found Facebook too time-consuming. And, second, both are blocked by the Great Firewall of China, where I spend much time and have many friends. I prefer WeChat. And that is why I object to China bashing, like the theme on this forum that things from China are inferior. 

China is rising because, in large part, the people of China are very industrious, patient, reliable and respectful. The whole world is doing business there because the people are good. We are not forced to go there. Every country, like every high school, has good and bad aspects. I appreciate friends wherever I find them, regardless of high school or country. They are precious few and far between.

Take care, and stay healthy.

Tom Chavez

Hydroxychloroquine not looking good

Hydroxychloroquine showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported.

With 368 patients, it’s the largest look so far of hydroxychloroquine with or without the antibiotic azithromycin for COVID-19. The study was posted online. Grants from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia paid for the work.

About 28% who were given hydroxychloroquine plus usual care died, versus 11% of those getting routine care alone. 

Hydroxychloroquine made no difference in the need for a breathing machine. Researchers noted a hint that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. 

The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway. 

Perhaps we should listen to authorities like Dr. Fauci, rather than ideologues and politicians.

Tom Chavez

Coronavirus Kills More Americans in One Month Than the Flu Kills in One Year

On March 20, the death toll in the United States was 225. By April 20, the coronavirus had killed more than 42,000 Americans.

On Fox News last week, Bill Bennett said that “we’re going to have fewer fatalities from this than from the flu.” He pointed to the IMHE model that COVID-19 would most likely kill about 60,000 Americans and that the seasonal flu killed 61,000 Americans in 2017–18, a particularly bad flu season.

But as Rich Lowry pointed out, “if we are going to have 60,000 deaths with people not leaving their homes for more than a month, the number of deaths obviously would have been higher — much higher — if everyone had gone about business as usual.” 

The seasonal flu kills 0.1 percent of people infected, but the new coronavirus has already killed 0.1 percent of the entire population of the state of New York. Imagine the entire country getting hit as badly: 0.1 percent of the U.S. population is 330,000 people. 

The Wall Street Journal reported that confirmed coronavirus cases in the Italian province of Bergamo (population 1.1 million) had killed 0.2 percent of the entire population in one month. The true percentage may be higher.

Almost all conservatives are skeptical of Communist China’s official coronavirus death toll. Why, then, do some think that the coronavirus is not much more deadly than the flu? Did Communist China shut down much of its economy for a couple of months because of a bad flu? 

Or did Communist leaders fear that without the costly shutdown the virus would inflict much greater harm on their nation and threaten their grip on power?

You don’t have to have a Ph.D. in epidemiology to answer those questions.

Excerpted from National Review

I suggest that we listen to the epidemiological authorities and quit griping about steps taken by the authorities to mitigate potential disaster.

Bill Engelhardt

Tom Chavez

Alexander the Great became king of Macedonia at the age of 19, ruling for 13 years until his death in 323 B.C. During his time of leadership he created an empire from Egypt, to Greece, Babylon (Iraq), the Persian Empire (Iran) and all the way to the Punjab of northwest India.

One day his soldiers caught a thief in their tents. Arresting the thief, the soldiers brought him to their commanding officer, who took him before Alexander, telling him, “We have caught this thief, pilfering the men’s tents.”

Alexander addressed the thief, “What should I do with you?”

The thief replied, “You should let me go.”

“And why should I let you go?” Alexander asked.

“I am like you,” the thief, said, “except that I am a small thief and you are a big thief.”

Alexander laughed and told his men, “Let him go.”

Tom Chavez

It is not ordinary flu.

Tom Chavez

Alexander the Great Meets Death

After conquering and looting many rich countries, Alexander relaxed in Babylon, partying and carousing, when he suddenly fell ill. Historians are unsure what it was. Coronavirus? Eleven days later, he was gone. JFK was gone in a moment.

Alexander called his generals to his deathbed. "I will leave this world soon. I have three final desires. Please fulfill them without fail." 

"My first desire," Alexander said, "is that my physicians alone will carry my coffin to my grave." 

"My second desire is that the path to my grave be strewn with the gold, silver, and precious stones in my treasury." 

"My last wish," said Alexander, "is that my hands be kept dangling out of the coffin." 

Alexander's top general stepped forward and kissed his hand (picture). 

"Dear Emporer," he said, "We assure you that your final desires will be fulfilled. But please explain these strange instructions." 

Alexander said, "I would like the world to know three lessons I have learned in life.”

"I want my physicians to carry my coffin," said Alexander, "because people should realize that no one can protect us from inevitable death. Life should never be taken for granted.” 

"Having my treasury strewn on the path to my grave will show that we cannot take anything with us at death. People should realize that chasing after wealth is futile.”

"And having my hands dangling from the coffin will show that we come into this world empty handed and leave empty handed." 

"Bury my body, do not build a monument to me, and, again, keep my hands outside my coffin so everyone may know that the man who won the world died with nothing in his hands."

Bill Engelhardt

Tim Jones (Jones)

This morning I watched the documentary Planet of the Humans, put up on YouTube for free on Earth Day. This one hour forty minute film on the takeover of the green energy movement by big business was directed by Jeff Gibbs and executive producer Michael Moore which I guess means Michael put up the money to produce it.  

The film asks the question is humanity on a sustainable path, is green energy such as solar, wind and biomass really green and is human population currently at 7.5 billion sustainable? Not long ago I was talking to my daughter about the American lifestyle, the river of steel we call the freeway, 3000, 4000, 5000 square foot homes, huge vehicles, a wasteful food production and distribution system.  The question, is all this sustainable? My answer was (is) No! 

We're in the middle of this pandic now that has highlighted some of our nation and the world's vulnerabilities.  When I see the thousands of commercial jet aircaft sitting on the ground, "parked" one gets the magnitude of our modern transportation system which can transport anyone, anywhere on the planet in twelve hours or a lot less and the impact of people moving around on that level and how it has created and exacerbated the current virus crisis. 

This film asks the question, is human life sustainable at it current level and demands on the planet for resources?  Is the human animal just a genetic flash-in-the-pan, and/or will it end up next to the dinosaurs in the cockroach museum?  If you weren't sufficiently depressed by current world affairs, this documentary will get you there...  If you have children and grand children, it will make you think.

It's got some harsh scenes. Watch at you own discretion. 

Tom Chavez

The Chinese curse is, “May you live in interesting times.”

Times now are interesting, indeed. Even before the coronavirus, Russia and Saudi Arabia were in an oil price war, exacerbated by record high US oil production. This past week the price of Texas tea, black gold (West Texas Intermediate oil) went negative, the first time ever, because storage capacity is running out. Sellers were paying buyers to take the damn stuff because they had no place to store it!

Tim, I agree with you. We have an artificial civilization which is bound to follow the trajectory of previous materialistic empires. The multiple shocks of the oil crisis, the epidemic crisis, climate change and the financial crisis will likely reshape our world. 

I’ve been seeing articles from western historians about the end of the bronze age around 1177 BC. There was a large, semi-global, civilization, about the size of Alexander’s empire at its maximum. Bronze was produced  around the Mediterranean with local copper and tin from Afghanistan. It seems a huge drought occurred, and ‘uncivilized’ hordes attacked the various cities. Most of the cities disappeared, tin was no longer available, and the 'bronze' civilization collapsed.

Today we see the central US government at odds with various state governments. During Obama’s time state politicians here in Texas talked about succession from the union. Now, other states are forming smaller groups tending independent from federal authority. It reminds me of how the Roman empire, once stretching with highways all the way to Britain, gradually disintegrated into fiefdoms run by different warlords.

People are responding to the epidemic by purchasing weapons in record quantities. Unless there is a radical change of consciousness, society will gradually devolve from rule of law to rule of force. 

Therefore, intelligent perceptive people are forming self-sufficient rural communities of like-minded individuals, getting back to simple agrarian lifestyle which has proven sustainable through thousands of years of human history. Some of those communities are listed here: http://centers.iskcondesiretree.com/farm-and-rural-communities

Tim Jones (Jones)

This thing we call civilization is a thin verneer on top of our 'survival of the fittest' reptillian brain.  Cities are especially vulnerable to any disruption of services since pretty much everything that is consumed in the cities come from somewhere else. 

Back in the 70's I think it was, there was rioting and looting in New York city due to a garbage strike.  A few years after that, there was more rioting and looting due to a failure of the electrical grid resulting in 'brownouts'. So the net effect of the virus plague on big cities is going to be a pressure cooker about to blow. Things could get ugly, fast.

Listening to Noam Chomsky on current events, he says, this virus thing will pass, but looming in the background are other big elephants in the room; climate change and the threat of nuclear war. We need good leadership now like no other time in human history.

"Humankind is challenged, as it has never been challenged before, to prove its maturity and its mastery.....not of nature, but of itself."  

                                                                               Rachael Carson    1962

Al Peffley

Another view that fits right in with Tim's last post:

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/04/the_wuhan_virus_pandemic_has_exposed_the_american_ruling_class.html

I think we should not go forth, as AOC is recommending, and bycott our culture by not going to work when Comrad Inslee releases us from our "safe" places as defined by him. Oh, that's right, we are retired. I forgot.

Those "moving steel" convoys on our freeways bring the stuff that you consume to the grocery stores you buy vegetables at, supply the farmer that grows your produce, and brings commodities (made mostly in China) to the hardware store where you buy your supplies to maintain your residence (unless you rent, and then you expect someone else to take care of all of your shelter needs.) Thank you truckers! Truckers are having problems just finding places to use bathroom facilities and take care of basic hygene requirments in some poorly-maintained states like Washington. The rest stops in cities (the one on I-5 in Federal Way at the south end of King County comes to mind) were made trashed and filthy by mobil homeless drug addicts and traveling mentally ill people before the pandemic started. Maybe Washington State and King County will begin to take care of freeway rest stops like Oregon still does? I won't hold my breath! Truckers are human beings also with basic living needs just like the wealthy celebrity ungratefuls that interstate truckers serve 24/7.

Keep drinking the NWO Kool Aid and "take one for the team" by not using health services so the privilaged can live like little fifedom lords and preach to us about killing people for their social justice warrior cause. Be thankful to God for what you have and let Him run the world, in spite of the dooms day UN Agenda 21 cult.

Our American culture is already at a negative population growth point, except for the invasions of illegal immigrants infiltrating our southern border who procreate at an increased rate. You are preaching to the wrong audience, guys. We already have bowed to the pro-eugenics crowd and eliminate millions of souls per year because it's healthy and a woman's choice. I am glad my mother chose life for me and my brother, God rest his soul.

The world is becoming a very dark place. The area I live in is dangerous just to go out shopping at Safeway after dark any more. I seldom see a LE officer except when a homeless person gets violent on the streets. The new door monitors restricting people the number of customers entering the stores by control freaks without socially enforceing distancing inside the stores is rediculous!

Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.

How are your bicycle trips going when you travel from Pacific County to operate your fancy boat made with petroleum products, Tim? I am assuming your boat hull is made from fiberglass material. Traveled by plane to a family event recently? It is easy to criticize our lifestyle when you have the time to enjoy the benefits of America on your smartphone and computer without being attacked by a neighboring tribe who wants to kill you or worrying about where your next meal will come from tomorrow. Be grateful for your blessings that others sacrificed so that you may be a freeman. Serve more, gripe less.

Tim Jones (Jones)

Well, Al, your post has a fairly pessimistic tone to it. I understand.  The world we knew in 1964 is long gone.  Those post war good times. 

Well, my fancy boat is made of GPR (glass polyester resin). Yes, it's 63 years old and a work of art, which is why I love it so much.  Only three were built....well....they didn't sell because they were simply too expensive.  Polyester resin made from crude oil was expensive even back then.  By today's standards, it a SMALL boat. It's my only luxury and I have sacrificed a lot to own it...a childhood dream.  It's getting to be a bit much for me to maintain, the moorage, insurance, maintainence. Hoping my kids will take it over. 

No, I haven't flown anywhere since 2005.  I did travel to California for my son's wedding last September.  I drove down (the Oregon Coast) in my 20 year old pickup, camped aong the way and took my dog along.  The wedding planner had a kitten when I showed up for rehearsal with Tito! HA HA!  We got it done.  I was a very proud papa! 

I wouldn't want to live in Seattle right now. Not looking good to me.  I live out in the boonies, which I am glad of.  Working on putting in a garden for food and maybe get some chickens.  There's going to be a lot of adjustment in our day-to-day lives from this moment on.

Last night I watched The Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins.  I felt a certain connection with his character. Inspiring movie. Two nights before I watched Dirty Rotten Scoundrels starring Steve Martin and Michael Cain.  I haven't laughted so hard in a long time!  Gee, there were some great comedy movies produced in the 1980's. 

Stay in touch and we'll weather this storm together.

Tim

Bill Engelhardt

Seattle -- 1918 -- No mask, No entry.

Tom Chavez

Today in Houston, such beautiful weather. After yesterday’s thundershowers blue blue sky, white fluffy clouds, gardenias and roses blooming, lending fragrance to the air. It’s a peaceful Sunday, birds chirping, squirrels scurrying, people and children wandering and playing, happy amidst the blessings of mother nature.

I don’t envy you your boat, Tim. We all have our blessings and curses, according to our karma. Sometimes it’s hard to tell which is which! In my days at the UW, I used to rent canoes and paddle out to the Arboretum. In the summer I’d go to Green Lake and swim all day. Many happy memories, but many painful ones, too.

I find the yoga analysis of the “modes of nature” very insightful. 

Persons in the mode of goodness develop knowledge and happiness but are conditioned by a sense of pride and superiority. 

Those in passion are strongly motivated by many material desires. Dissatisfied with what they have, always wanting more, frustrated when they can’t get what they want, they envy others and lament to lose what they once had. It is difficult for such persons to be peaceful or to develop real happiness.

And those in ignorance are bound by illusion, day dreaming, and foolishness. They find happiness in intoxication, and feel almost helpless to make progress. They may become inveterate couch potatoes or even descend into insanity and suicide.

These modes control our consciousness, according to our activities and associations, just as physical laws control our bodies. Intelligent persons exercise their free will to consciously cultivate goodness and minimize passion and ignorance. 

I was once deeply sunk into the modes of ignorance and passion—alcohol, drugs, mundane pleasures. Somehow, I got the hint. I started hiking up into the national park around Mt. Rainier for months at a time. Practicing yoga. Vegetarian diet. Gradually, over years, I crawled up out of the depths.

You like to go out on the water. Time away in natural surroundings is conducive to the mode of goodness. We need solitude to better understand ourselves, to assimilate our experience, to gather our energies and direct them toward the peak life experiences of our true potential.

The ultimate goal is to transcend the modes of nature and liberate our consciousness from all mundane influences, to be transcendental to the world as we transit through. At least, that is my humble understanding of yoga philosophy.

Tom Chavez

Quanzhou Travelogue

I spent half of the past 5 years in Quanzhou, China, where I have an apartment. It is is a very cultural place. When you board a taxi the driver starts the meter, and a recording announces, “Welcome to Quanzhou, East Asia culture capitol. Fasten your seat belt. The meter will start now.” Those are likely the only English words you’ll hear as you travel around Quanzhou, but you hear them in every taxi.

There are many mountains around Quanzhou, and stone is a valued natural resource. Many buildings and bridges are carved from stone. Ancient cultural traditions are preserved in a variety of stone carvings all over the city.

Quanzhou’s famous landmark is the twin stone towers of the Kai Yuan Temple. They are about 1000 years old. 

Quanzhou was once the center of international maritime trade with India and the middle east. The city traditionally welcomed foreigners who built their own places of worship in the city.  Quanzhou proudly preserves the remnants of a mosque near the city center.

Traders from India also built temples in Quanzhou. Pillars in the Buddhist Kai Yuan temple were salvaged from an abandoned Indian temple. Below is a stone-carved image from such a pillar and similar on a large brass casting on Quanzhou's outer City Wall.

This image comes from a very ancient story. If there are no objections I would like to tell this story for those who are interested.

Al Peffley

Bill, I have fond memories of Green Lake. My mother would buy tickets to the Aqua Follies show that was held each year at the end of Green Lake (south end Aquatic Center, if my feeble memory serves me correctly.) The diving and synchronized swimming show was elegant and superb in the early 50's. We would take a picnic lunch and go to the zoo on other occasions. Seattle Outboard Association held a boat race each summer on Green Lake. It was like a "Mini Seafair" event, until the people living around the lake got tired of the crowds and beer cans and other trash some people left around the shore after the race. The outboard hydro and runabout races drew hundreds of spectators at the race with vendors selling food and Japanese-made trinkets. I bought a lot of bicycle equipment at Green Lake Cyclery in the 1970's. I rode (on the back roads) on my light-weight Austrian, 10-speed bicycle to work at the Boeing DC from our apartment in west Tukwila. They had the coolist and most complete bike hardware selection in Seattle at the time.

I still have the bicycle -- it's hanging up in the garage. The frame is a very light weight magnesium alloy. Imagine a high-tech European bicycle sold at.... Sears! That bike has been ridden to Sequim and around the San Juan Islands in the day. I always worried about old women in Cadillacs and construction workers in small utility trucks "dusting me off" the shoulder as I rode to work and back. I repaired a lot of flat tires.

My current boat is a Glasspar Avalon with an '82 Merc. We spent years cruizing the American San Juans in an 18-foot Bayliner v-hull with fold-down seats and a canopy. Our boating friends had a 24 foot cabin cruizer and a 30 foot sailboat that we traveled with around the islands for three summers. The kids slept in a pup tent at the parks on Jones and Sucia islands. We harvested Dungeness crabs off of Hat Island.

30-foot Catalina sail boat layout drawing -- it was an excellent sailing hull length for inner sound waves.

The adults enjoyed boating trips around the islands, Vashon sandpit & Bainbridge outings, and South Sound excursions, but our children soon became bored with the quiet and peacefulness of it all as they grew up. Box waves and huge ocean freighters traversing in the fog in the Straits were white knuckle time boating events that could be perilous (if not deadly.) I always trailered our boats so I have never paid moorage fees. I have hand-scraped and painted a few hulls in my time at a marina on Lake Union. My father was a boatwright during WWII in Olympia at Long Boat Works. LBW built double-ended, lapstraight surf rescue boats for the "shallow water" sailor teams (USCG). My dad served as a Merchant Marine in the late 1920's. We built several wood row boats together. Boating and boat building is "in my genes". Here is the 8-foot pram we built for my mother in the early 1950's that I restored recently (our Glaspar runabout is in the background). I completely glassed the hull with thin cloth and West Systems. It will be the third rebuild (and my last rebuild.) I had to replace the transom. Marine grade hardwood plywood is getting harder to find...

Last August was its "christening" voyage on Lake Wallowa, Oregon. I finished the restoration in May, 2019.

Al Peffley

This nationally recognized economist has some valid points about the extreme pandemic responses that some governors have imposed on their constituents (I can't believe the length of this website's hyperlink address! - LOL):

https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/04/22/examining-costs-vs-benefits-and-covid-19/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=examining-costs-vs-benefits-and-covid-19?utm_source=TDS_Email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MorningBell&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWlRjell6STVNakZqWldVMyIsInQiOiJPZDlzaUNuN1F5UzRwWm5MMCtVNEJkOVA4TjM0UUptK3lORjNpQ0RjeWdmYTVZeisrMHhyU2NLand3WkpiV1NLYU12dGhMVTdKaWRGdmNLK0hrdCt3OCt1Q2JnOXIwNTVmUW15WUNyeEx1WGFCR29UZVFDaENlRDljVEVCaXV1YSJ9

I see that the Snohomish County Sheriff and two other Washington State elected sheriff's around April 25th have broken their silent obedience to Governor Inslee's open-ended and extended emergency response proclamations. These sheriffs think that it is past time to reveal the entire reopening "Plan" of the Left Coast "PAC". Every sheriff in the 39 counties of Washington State is answerable to his or her constituents and is also the head Emergency Management (EM) authority in their county (all county EM directors report to the County Sheriff in Washington State.) Constitutionally, by both state and federal law, no elected sheriff reports to the Governor of Washington State in a critical incident emergency state of operations. Elected sheriffs are powerful people.

If enough Washington State sheriffs align together and demand that Governor Inslee make and publicize a definitive plan to reopen state businesses and public parks/beaches (with sensible distancing, gathering size measures, and sanitation guidelines), then he must comply or be in violation of both state and federal constitutions.

Remember this poor emergency response result in the November 2020 election for the Washington State Governor's office. We are not children to be restricted indefinitely by Marshall Law "lockdown" proclamations currently being used for political strategy programs or personal career gain. Our Cowlitz County Sheriff and Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution to put pressure on Inslee to ease up on his unfair (and politically-biased) "non-essential business" closures. He has hamstrung the State Legislature from physical meeting sessions, but not from electronically interacting as a governing body to represent the people. It is time for the Washington State Legislature members to put pressure for relief of Governor Inslee's grip on the struggling state and county economy sectors. Small government money offerings and driving businesses further in debt with "loans" are not the solution ($1,200 does not pay one month's lease payment, let alone utilities costs and other small business expenses.) Opening up needed businesses with sensible precautions is the solution - NOW!

No open economy to produce revenue for all those new and expanded state taxes and fees, no tax base...duh!

Gregg Wilson

Al,

The governors have rejected their state constitutions and the federal constitution. Their actions kill the economy and the worst part is having the federal government bail them out. That puts every state not having to balance their budget - forever.

The lockdown, stay in your homes, prolongs the live of the coronavirus. It guarantees a second wave in the fall. Exposure of the kids and young people creates a herd immunity - the best way to stop a second wave. The fatality rate of kids and young persons is almost zero.

The ignorance of the polititians to the consequence of creating an endless stream of money is incredible. But their utter lack of business experience explains their stupidity.