I hope you and your families are well and doing what needs to be done to protect yourself and protect those that come come close to you.

 I also hope the Police, and society in general learns that us vs them will never work. it 'll still be hatred. It has to come from acceptance of others, without judgement. Issues need to be worked out through conversation, not by force of arms. There will be plenty of those situations on their own. Equal rights is easy to say, but racism is a mind eating sickness. 

Be well everyone, I don't want to be the one to turn off the lights.

PS. Read about the battle of Moore's Crossing during the Revolution. If you like a little bit of history google it. It was a part of the English Southern Campaign. around 1779. 

It' a hoot.

Vic

Welcome, Vic.  
It's good to know you're well, and doing what needs to be done to protect yourself and those around you.

You are right: we need to work out issues through conversation.  
It's sad to have lost the Message Forum, we need to hear one another's voices; I am so happy to hear yours. 

Thanks for the recommendation. I will google the battle of Moore's Crossing.

I echo: "Be well everyone. Let's keep the lights on."

All the best,    
Janis

P.S. Your granddaughter is beautiful.

As for the virus:

"Wisconsin is Frazzled by Surging Virus Cases and Growing Campaign Frenzy"  -- Julie Bosman, NYTimes, October 2, 2020

"Wisconsin is home to nearly half the places with the worst (covid-19) outbreaks now.

Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis. is #1 at the top of the metro or micro area list

Wisconsin is also #3, #4, #11, #12, #15, #19, #20 for the entire United States.

The President and First Lady of the United States both tested positive for covid-19. Masks are recommended in the White House, but not required.

Be well everyone. Wear a mask and social distance. Protect yourself and those who are near you.

Can we simultaneously send best wishes to Donald and Melania AND be angry with Trump and his administration for their cavalier attitude about the coronavirus?    
No level of humility is yet apparent from Trump or his administration: they continue to show their disregard for public health. Mitch McConnell will move heaven and earth to confirm judges to destroy the Affordable Care Act, but will not lift a finger to assist Americans during the covid-19 pandemic.

Does everyone lie and prevaricate for Trump?  
Why are medical doctors playing politics about Trump's medical condition?

There is no honor system in the White House. No one who was near Donald and/or Melania was informed by the White House that they had been exposed to the virus when both Trumps tested positive for covid-19.

We do not yet know when the President and First Lady first tested positive for covid-19.

How many Americans receive individual care at home and at Walter Reed Hospital by a team of physicians?

Trump's callous and reckless behavior does not instill confidence in his leadership.

I want Trump and Melania to get well,
AND I want America to have the chance to be well too.

Trump says he's learned a lot about the coronavirus [been on an "undercover" job (so to speak)].
Apparently he's not learned enough.    
This afternoon he had secret service agents take him out for a joyride photo op to wave at his supporters from a hermetically sealed vehicle.

The man has no inkling of the people around him or the pain Americans have suffered. 

Trump highly recommends catching the coronavirus... tells us not to be afraid of COVID...
says he feels better than he did 20 years ago!
There are 7,445,897 covid cases in the U.S. and 210,013 deaths from covid in the U.S.    
How absolutely disrespectful of the American President when families are grieving and Americans' lives have been forever changed by covid-19.

He will leave Walter Reed Hospital on Marine One to return to the White House over the 6:00 PM news hour.  
He receives 24 hour medical care at the White House.

Trump's physician, who has a fine reputation as a medical doctor, is losing credibility as a reputable human being. ["Everything Trump Touches Dies"]

Why will no one tell us when Trump last tested negative for covid-19?    
WSJ reports Trump had a positive Covid-19 rapid test on Thursday which he did not disclose before he traveled to a fundraiser in Bedminster, NJ.

Why isn't Mike Pence quarantining?  
He knows the drill.    
He chairs the President's Coronavirus Task Force.

Marine One delivered Trump back to the White House; he climbed the stairs for a dramatic "sign off" at a lighted flag draped entrance, took off his mask, gave two thumbs up, a long salute, preened for the camera, gave another salute, turned and entered the White House without a mask.

Everyone's asking when Trump will be 'out of the woods'...

Former Sec'y of Defense William Cohen asks: "When do we get 'out of the woods' Trump has us in?"

Donald vs Donald

Donald Trump tweets:      
"Don't be afraid of COVID. Don't let Covid dominate your life."

Donald Tusk, former European Council President responds:    
"Don't be afraid of COVID. Be afraid of cynical powerful people spreading lies about it. Don't let them dominate your life."

Beware: The White House is Spreading Lies and the Coronavirus.

In a rare political statement, the New England Journal of Medicine released an editorial today lambasting the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a matter of life-or-death consequences, calls on Americans to vote Trump out of office.

"Reasonable people will certainly disagree about the many political positions taken by candidates. But truth is neither liberal nor conservative. When it comes to the response to the largest public health crisis of our time, our current political leaders have demonstrated that they are dangerously incompetent. We should not abet them and enable the deaths of thousands more Americans by allowing them to keep their jobs."

This is the first time in the journal's 208-year history that the editors have ever published an editorial about elections. The editorial was collectively signed by every editor on staff, something that's only happened on four other recent occasions.

At the first presidential debate, Trump shocked many viewers when given the opportunity to condemn white supremacists, he declined; he told the Proud Boys, an alt-right hate organization, to "stand back" and "stand by."

Trump's refusal to condemn white supremacists is consistent with how he addresses hate groups: he emboldens them, inspires them, some enact violence in Trump's name.

Even when Trump initially denounces the violence, he often walks back those statements.

Trump defended a teenage supporter from Antioch, IL, who gunned down three people at a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha,WI.

Yesterday he refused to condemn the domestic terrorists who allegedly planned to violently kidnap Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer. Instead, he took the opportunity to criticize the governor.

Trump continually fails to acknowledge the hate at the core of this violence: hate that he nurtures at his rallies, and on his platform as president. This year alone, Trump made it clear that protesters demonstrating against police brutality and systemic racism should be met with force; Trump encouraged violence against American citizens, whether via the police and national guard or militia groups.

Over and over again, Trump shows he has no interest in promoting peace. Hate groups hear his words as a rallying cry. When he speaks as president, his words matter. When he stokes hate speech, he is complicit.

   He so wants to be right,  
   Our only remedy for covid
   and the civic good,    
   Is - morning and night -    
   to turn out the vote  
   for Senate and President.    
   We need Trump out of sight
   to heal in the neighborhood 
   and unite
   as is precedent.    
   Forget the economy,  
   It's the pandemic stupid.

98,583 new cases of coronavirus today.

"Smile tho' your heart is aching
Smile even tho' it's breaking  
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by"

Trump's crowds chant: "Fire Fauci!"    
To beat the virus, we have to beat Trump.

Researchers have made major progress responding to the threats of COVID.      
The Biden Coronavirus Team is serious about getting America vaccinated.    
It's a time for optimism, but not for relaxation.  
We know the drill,     
     spread joy, not germs.

"Early in the pandemic, when vaccines for the coronavirus were still just a glimmer on the horizon, the term "herd immunity" came to signify the endgame... but daily vaccination rates are slipping, and there is widespread consensus among scientists and public health experts that the herd immunity threshold is not attainable---at least not in the foreseeable future, and perhaps not ever...the virus will most likely become a manageable threat that will continue to circulate in the U.S. for years to come... "      
-- Apoorva Mandavilla, NY Times

"Herd immunity" seemed a no-brainer - to be sure, a difficult goal, but certainly reachable. Naive as it sounds, it seemed we'd quickly do our part, rise to the occasion - community spirit and all - to reach "herd immunity" to protect our country and all, the world too!

I am grateful to everyone who has chosen to do the right thing for everyone.      
If you have not yet been vaccinated, now is the time. We can - we must - do this! 

 Treat Racism Like Covid-19

  1) Assume You Have It 

  2) Listen to Experts About It  

  3) Don't Spread It    

  4) Be Willing to Change Your Life to End It