GOODBYE 2020

 WELL, HERE WHERE I RESIDE, IT IS JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE NEW YEAR IS USHERED IN. GOODBYE 2020, HELLO 2021.

Will there really be a noticeable difference between December 31,2020 and January 1, 2021. I rather doubt it.  When we retire on new years eve we will still be wearing masks in public and social distancing. When we arise new years day we will still be wearing masks in public and social distancing. The only difference will be the onset of the covid vaccine. A few hundred thousand people have received the vaccine so far and several thousand more are in line to get it as they become available.  More vaccine will be coming on line as time progresses, so perhaps by the time we say goodbye to 2021, this pandemic will be tamed.  And, time alone will tell. We can only pray that those working on these solutions are heeding the spiritual guidance that they are receiving, even though they may not be asking for that guidance. There are those of us that pray for that guidance in any case. 

Speaking of the vaccine.  If you are offered the chance to get a shot, will you take it?  I have heard many responses to that question from definitely not, to definitely will, to those who are undecided at this time.  For myself, I was on the fence of indecision, but have just recently decided that I probably will. For any one who may read this and don't know, I am on dialysis and the parent company of the dialysis clinic I attend has ordered vaccine shots for those on dialysis. So when ever these arrive, I will probably accept it. I get a flu shot at the clinic and have seen so many dialysis patients refuse a flu shot. And several of them have said definitely not to the covid shot.

Well, I digress.  As we say goodbye to 2020, we need to look back at the positive things that have happened during this year. If you are reading this, then you either haven't contracted covid or have survived it. We survived a presidential election the likes that most of us have never seen. Regardless of your opinion of the outcome, we survived. How is your health?  Good?  Then that is a good thing. Are you able to travel, even in a limited basis? Are you still able to contact family and friends, even if it is via zoom, phone or social media? Can you still go outside and take a walk? Can you take a camera and go find a picture to take? Even with the dine in restaurants closed for the most part, can you still go and get a take out at your favorite restaurant? There are many things that you can do that still gives you a certain amount of freedom until the covid is tamed.  The national economy didn't tank it had been predicted it would. Businesses found novel ways to stay afloat, and they will be there when things loosen up.

As we say hello to 2021, we can look forward to a better year. We can look forward to more and more vaccine shots becoming available to the general public, and then the loosening of the current restrictions by the various government agency's. Unemployment is high, but as governments loosen restrictions and people begin to return to work, the economy will rebound, depending on the rules of the incoming administration. That is something that people will be watching closely. I hope that any one who manages to read this far will have a positive outlook for the coming year of 2021 and will do their part to make it a part of unity, but watch for freedoms that may be lost and speak out against any injustices.   I hope you all have a great next year.

AND REMEMBER THAT NEXT YEAR HIND SIGHT WILL BE 2020.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

THE ELECTION IS OVER

THE ELECTION IS OVER, THE RESULTS ARE KNOWN, THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE, IS CLEARLY SHOWN.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING LINES OF A POEM THAT I LEARNED WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER BACK IN THE 1950'S.

It seems like that line and the resulting lines would apply equally today. However, I have a few opinions on the election and the coming four years.

Joe Biden has been declared the winner by most states. While he is being referred to as the President Elect, one news cast I saw said that was actually a misnomer. He is not the President Elect until the electoral collage meets and actually declares him the President Elect. Splitting hairs, I guess, but found that news report interesting.

So a couple of items regarding Bidens comments.  1. He said he would not raise taxes on any one making less than $400,000 a year.  So, most of us say, OK, that won't affect me.  Wrong.  No matter how much or how little you make, it will affect you. For instance.  How much money does the grocery store where you shop make.  Over $400,000?  Then they will raise the price of groceries. Want a new car? Does the dealer make too much money. Price of the car goes up. Have a mortgage? Is it a fixed rate? If not, the finance institution makes over $400,000 their taxes go up and so does your mortgage. I could go on and on, but I think you will get the picture.

2. Any one that owns a gun will be in peril of losing it. Think not. Think you are protected by the second amendment?  Biden and Harris have been vocal for years against that amendment and they want to put in gun controls that will just get tighter and tighter until it will be nearly impossible to own a gun. For an purpose. Even if you are a Biden supporter, you should be concerned about this one.

3. Are you a religious person? States and eventually the government are cracking down on religious institutions already. Only a narrow defeat by the Supreme Court on a law suit in New York allows Religious institutions to stay open during this current pandemic.  religious institutions have been a target of many politicians for a while now.  OK   just a couple more comments.

4. Surprise! Barack Obama recently blasted OAC and the political people that are part of her group for fracturing the democratic party.  Getting bad when Mr. Obama can even see the destruction they are doing and speaks out against them.

5. This is in the speculation category. Many people are concerned about the mental capacity of Joe Biden. Many are speculating that with in a year he will be declared incompetent under the 25th amendment and Kamala Harris will be declared President.  Heaven forbid if that actually happens.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR, PART 2

 WELL, TODAY'S THE DAY. ELECTION DAY 2020. THIS IS A TIME THAT THE COUNTRY WOLL TURN RED OR BLUE. I have to wonder, where the heck did this red or BLUE designation come from.  Is there a GREEN party? Oh right, there is and I can kinda understand where that came from. But by this time tomorrow, or the next day or next week we will know who is leading this country for the next 4 years.  Well, on to other things.

Did you hear about the student that was suspended from school in Louisiana? For bringing a gun to school. You didn't. Well it was on the news. Kinda.  The thing is it was a B B gun and it was in his room. He was in virtual school or whatever they call it and someone saw this B B gun in his room as he was on the computer doing school work. A little extreme I think, even for anti gun people.

Another note on the green theme.  There is so much being said about going green and getting away from fossil fuel. AKA coal and oil.  Well, ain't gonna happen without a lot of pain. 1 case in point.  The city of Albuquerque made a deal with the Jicarilla Apache tribe to put a 500 acre solar farm on their reservation. This 500 acre's will provide enough electrical power to power half of Albuquerque's government buildings. NOT half of Albuquerque but half of their government buildings. Can you imagine the amount of acreage it will take to provide the power to supply the whole of the United States with this kind of technology? Not to mention all the wind mill farms that will continue to spring up. At least the land under these windmills can still be used for something else. Like cattle grazing.

To continue the above theme. I don't think those pushing this getting rid of fossil fuel and going with wind and solar have any idea of the amount of mining that will be needed to fuel these programs. Products need to be mined from the earth in order to get material to produce all the batteries for the electricity. Plus batteries for all those "clean" cars and copper for all the electric wires in said cars and to bring electricity from the solar and wind farms to the public and on and on. And when these batteries and windmills wear out, as they will, they can't be recycled, so they have to be buried in special landfills, of which there is only three in the United States at this time. Don't seem like a very Green solution to me.

And finally, Biden claims Trump ruined the economy. Really he didn't. The country had a strong economy until the covid hit. And Trump didn't shut down the economy. Governors of states did that. But Biden, who has never created a job in his life, claims he will shut down the country, make every one wear a mask on penalty of law and then claims that he will bring back a string economy. Well, no he won't. In over 40 years in government he hasn't done that and he wants us to believe he will do it now.  Not a chance. 

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR

 In response to the virus spreading around the world, officials ban public gatherings and implement quarantines. Schools close, ecclesiastical leaders cancel church meetings, and those who venture outside are required to wear face masks for protection. The year is 1919, and the raging influenza pandemic that began the year before will claim tens of millions of lives.

Since that time a vaccine has been developed and it changes or is updated every year since the flu mutates or changes every year also.  Now, with the current pandemic upon us, we are facing similar situations.  A vaccine will be developed, many lives will be saved but the Covid may be with us for years to come, in some form or another. And we have been ask to wear masks by medical offices for decades if we go to the Dr. and we feel bad.  Well, why else do we go to the Dr.?

I've been putting off writing this blog because of all the nastiness going around.  And no, I'm not talking about the Covid.  I'm talking about the political situation. Local, State and National. It almost, I say Almost, makes a person want to just go hibernate somewhere without a radio or TV. Or news paper, for that matter. That being said, I will make a few comments and then go do something else.

I heard on the news this morning that Trump and Biden are campaigning hard in THE seven battle ground states.  THE ELECTION WILL BE DECIDED BY HOW THOSE STATES VOTE. Hmmm, if that is the case, then those of us in the rest of the states need not even go to the polls and just let the people in those seven states go vote and decide for us.   UH! Nope, I guess not.

Amy Barrett was sustained to serve on the supreme court.  Good for her. I watched a little of the hearings. I felt that of the three people Trump has nominated for the court, she was the most qualified. She was calm and answered the questions in a very forth right manner. I did get a little irritated at Diane Feinstein and the questions she was asking. She kept pressing for an opinion on a question that Amy Barrett had not been presented with. Mrs. Barrett kept explaining how the supreme court works. Lawsuits have to be filed in lower courts and IF they make it to the supreme court, then a decision will be made.  I think Diane understands that, but she pressed on this cause she just has a hatred for the President. Now she has been sworn in and Schumer is in a snit and acting like a two year old who didn't get his favorite sucker. Nuff said.

I have been against the political process since the 1960's. I was hired to do a job by a county commissioner in the county where I lived at the time. I was ( and still am) a republican and the commissioner was a democrat. I did the job and was never late or absent. The job was kind of a plum job for the time and the county. And the democratic party got kinda upset with that commissioner for hiring a republican. Even though I held the job for over a year, he finally succumbed to the pressure and told me he had to let me go so he could hire a democrat. Fortunately for me, I knew the job was eventually coming to an end any way and had obtained some education for another job, which I got a few days after he terminated me. 

And things has went downhill ever since, regardless of the party in power.  And now those in Washington, of the D.C. do nothing but argue and quarrel worse than siblings and nothing gets done.

Part two in a few days.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BBANK

ON THINGS LIKE THEY USED TO BE

AND SOME LIKE THEY ARE NOW.

I have a multitude of thoughts running through my mind.  I try to write them down when I think of them, cause if I don't they run right out of my mind and I forget to post about them. So, I will post a couple of thoughts today of some things I remembered to write down.  I'll even number them.

1. BLM.  I was raised in a farming and ranching community.  When I see or hear these letters I automatically think  Bureau of Land Management.  And I always will..... that means period...

2. TV reporters.  I was around when TV reporters reported the news. Just the news.  If you wanted commentary, you went somewhere else. Reporters like Walter Cronkite on CBS, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on NBC.  I liked them and viewed them regularly. I actually met David Brinkley once, back in the 1960's.  Even though our paths crossed, he was not there to interview me so it was a brief moment in time and then gone. I remember that now these many decades later. He probably forgot I even existed moments after the meeting was over.  Still, I liked his style, second to Walters.

3. Do you ever watch those shows on TV where they are remodeling houses.  It seems to me there are two styles.  Ultra modern, whatever that means, or southwest design.  And it seems to me that there is a lot of southwest design going around. Can't say that I blame them, I like southwest design also.  Course, I was born and raised and live here.  Lucky me.

4. I keep hearing the talking heads on TV now mention the A listers or the Elite.  Just how did these people become elite? They have a profession for the most part playing someone that may or may not exist. A good movie or play is essential for most of us to escape the rigors and cares of the world for a short time. And those that can entertain us in that manner and do so in a good manner are essential. Just like a Dr. or lawyer or someone of any other profession such as a welder or plumber or truck driver or school teacher. Just pick a profession. All should be A Listers or elite, not just some one that feels they are superior to the rest of us, just because they can play act like fake people.

5. And of course I have to end on a political note.  The news is full of stories of President Trump calling veterans losers. But the news also quotes an unnamed source. Just have to wonder who that would be.  There is miles of footage of the President saying things that are considered by many to be inappropriate.  I can almost, and I said almost, be sure that he did not say this since there is no one who filmed or recorded this. If it was recorded or filmed, then put it out there in front of the public for people to see, in full context.  It is well known his feelings about John McCain and some have made reference to this.  I know the President says a lot of things that he shouldn't say, I just have skeptical feelings about this one. And Michael Cowen. Is he to be believed. He admitted in an interview that he had lied about a lot of things, but he was not lying now. And why was he not lying?  he was ask.  Well, because they threatened his wife if he didn't tell the truth.  So, is he telling the truth, or is he lying to save his wife? Or a combination of both. Time will tell. We can always hope.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

DOES ANY ONE REALLY CARE

 THERE IS A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.  NO, NOT AT MY HOUSE, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS IT HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, BUT OUT IN THE WORLD. SO I AM GOING TO COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF THINGS AND THEN HAVE TO WONDER OF ANY ONE REALLY CARES. 

1. This election coming up in a few weeks staring Trump vs. Biden and a few lesser players. If some of the lesser players could get the funds and the media attention that the two main opponents have, maybe neither one of them would win and the presidency and the results would be a shock heard around the world.  No one really cares about them, but one can dream, any way.

2.  I saw a TV spot that was a quote from I think Joe Biden. Correct me if I am wrong, but he was commenting on how the country would be if he won the presidency as opposed to Trump. He called it Joe Bidens world as opposed to Donald Trumps world.  My thought at the time and still is, is this is not either one of their worlds, but the people's world. Your world and mine and it is up to us to make it so, regardless of who is in Washington.

3. I'm really getting tired of police officers being called to something criminal going on and when they tell the perpetrator to stop and put up his hands or what ever they tell him and he refuses to obey but continues to do what ever he wanted to do and then he gets shot and then the people "protest" and make the police the victim and then they burn and loot and destroy the city and then they are heralded as heroes because they protested for racial justice. Did it never occur to any one that if the victim had just obeyed the police order they would not have been shot in the first place. Have the police been out of line?  Sure, on occasion. Are some of them racially motivated. Again, I am sure some of them are. But still, if you are not breaking the law, the police officers would not be called in the first place.  Think about that, a minute. 

4. Pro Sports.  The players in pro sports have cancelled some of their games in protest of a police shooting.  While I have my opinion about a cop shooting, I really don't care about the pro sports people protesting. If they feel that refusing to play a game because of that, then cut their pay for that game. And all subsequent games that they refuse to play.  Actually, they are like a lot of the politicians and the hollywood fake people, the populace of this country are just trying to get by, and really don't care how they feel. Most of them are so wealthy they have no clue about how the rest of us live any way. At least I don't care about them and their concerns. They don't affect me in any way.

5.I will end this rant with a quote I saw and liked.   There is not enough room in your mind for both worry and faith. You must decide which one gets to live there.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

SOME ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS

 I'M GETTING OLD, AND I'M OK WITH THAT.  BUT PART OF GETTING OLD, OR MAYBE PART OF ME GETTING OLD, IS THAT THINGS CHANGE AND I DON'T LIKE CHANGE SO MUCH.   Like this blog post. I went on blogger this afternoon to find the format has been "updated". I'm not in favor so much of the update. So, I was told I could change back to the old format, but that was going away on September 1, so why bother.  Just learn to use the new format, or quit blogging.  I assume that the few people who manage to read my drivel would just as soon that I do quit.  But then again, they don't have to read it so I guess I won't.  But I don't like change.

Well, except for one kind of change. You know the kind. The one that jingles in your pocket. And that seems to be going away.  Why? Well that was the initial purpose of this post, until I got on and found the format had changed.  A couple of things about money.  Other than there is never enough, whether you are on welfare or a millionaire. In a  car wash we like to use, in a city not so far away, a few weeks past wouldn't take our money. Nope, they had to have a credit card or a debit card. Cash was not acceptable. When ask why? they said, and I quote,  By order of the governor.  Nope, not true. Well it is true what they told us but not true that the governor made that order. So we had them open the gate and we drove out in a dirty vehicle.  Then a few weeks later ( notice how every thing is a few weeks, another sign of aging) we went to a gas station we use in a city a little closer than the car wash city and was met with a sign on the door, correct change only. When ask why, they said there is a coin shortage. We have since seen a similar sign on a local burger joint that we patronize from time to time.  We also have heard news items about a coin shortage and an abundance of reasons of why.  Some of those reasons;  The federal mint is not minting as many coins as they used to do; Banks are not giving them out because people are buying online and using plastic at local stores; the covid-19 crisis has created a shortage of hard cash flow; and people are hoarding them and they are not in circulation like they should be.  Well, OK, what ever the reason, I'll just save mine for a future time when they may be acceptable again.  Mean while, I'll continue to pay cash, or by on line or whatever is convenient at the time.  Maybe I'm part of the problem.

And finally, you know I can't post a blog without sniping at the tics a bit.  Sometimes I wish we had a good choice for president. And sometimes I wonder if we ever will again. I don't care for Biden. He's been in politics for 40 or 50 years and hasn't solved much yet, so why should we depend on him to do any thing good as president? And whoever he picks as a running mate, will not be good for the country, just good for Joe. Trump had a strong economy going before the covid hit, and he did do some good things for the country, but he has had to fight every day against those who oppose him.  If congress would work as hard for the country as they are to impeach Trump, and if Trump would keep his mouth and tweets shut, maybe we could get something accomplished.  BUT I SUPPOSE THAT IS TOO MUCH TO ASK.

AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

OBSERVATIONS AND OPINIONS

THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT IS CHANGING SO FAST THAT IT IS HARD TO KEEP UP, SO I WON'T.  BUT FROM TIME TO TIME I WILL POST A FEW THINGS THAT I NOTICE IN MY UNEDUCATED MIND. 
1. First I will open a can of worms. One called DACA.  My remembrance of this is that while president, Obama instituted the DACA program. This was scheduled to end in 2018. Early on in his Presidency, Trump called an end to DACA and pro  posed a plan for the program that would give the Dreamers a path to citizen ship. The Democrats in the house rejected that plan and that gave way to protests and so forth.  Now, President Trump has again offered a plan for the dreamers with a path to citizen ship. Nancy Pelosi and her followers have once again rejected that. They chose to trash the president for not doing any thing. One has to wonder why.
2. I didn't vote for Hillary and now I won't vote for Biden.  I was not a Trump fan in the beginning and am not really one now, and just have to wins that there was a better choice in either party.  Still, Trump as brash as he is, has tried to do some good things and has been rejected every time he tries, it seems like.   And
3. Why is congress so interested in Trump's tax returns.  It's his money. I'm more interested in what the congress does with my money than I am about Trumps money. I, like a lot of people, have to wonder how someone can go to congress and become a multi millionaire on a salary they complain is not enough. 
4. During this pandemic we are being ask to wash our hands, use sanitizer, social distance and wear a mask.  Well, I have to wonder, didn't people wash their hands before this?  And I have been using sanitizer and social distancing since I had a kidney transplant in 2001. The only thing different then form now is the wearing of a mask. So, I wear a mask when required in public.  I am back on dialysis so I wear one 5 hours a day on the day I am there. What I don't understand is someone wearing a mask, in their private car, by themselves, while driving down the highway. That I refuse to do.  And to see two people, a married couple who sleeps together, ( I suppose) who wear a mask while in a car or walking down a sidewalk, social distancing from every one else, holding hands and wearing masks.  Don't compute for me.
STAY TUNED
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

MORE OPINIONS

I'M GLAD I DON'T TRY TO WRITE A DAILY BLOG. MY LIFE IS TOO DULL TO MENTION ON A DAILY BASIS AND THE POLITICAL WORLD CHANGES SO FAST THESE DAYS THAT IT IS HARD TO KEEP UP, EVEN ON A WEEKLY BASIS, MUCH LESS A DAILY BASIS.  HOWEVER, I WILL TRY TO SAY A FEW THINGS TODAY.
1. The rule with this pandemic virus going around is to wear a mask and stay 6 feet from any one. That is called social distancing.  Staying 6 feet from people may work for distance, but there can't be any thing social about it.
2. And speaking of masks.  I have to wear one to my medical appointments three days a week for about 5 hours. it comes off when I leave.  My wife and I will wear a mask when we enter a store, because it is demanded of us, but the State government, and I guess a little common sense.  But now our governor has mandated that people will be fined $100.00 if caught not wearing a mask in public.This is not a law, but a health order.  Not sure she can just impose that fine just because she wants too.  As money hungry as she is, I'm sure she would like to collect a lot of those fines.
3. On a similar note, I refuse to live in fear. I will go where I have to go, the emphasis on HAVE to go, and do what I need to do. I refuse to live trembling in my house in fear that if I go our I may catch the virus. I will take necessary precautions, but I will not huddle down in fear.
4. OK  a couple of things of a lighter note. You have seen those facebook postings that go "Could you live here with millions of dollars ( here usually being in the country ) but you could never watch football again? Just tell me where the house is and send me the millions and watch and see.  Foot note. I don't watch football any way, so it wouldn't even be a sacrifice on my part.
5. And finally, when I was younger I used to see these old men with bushy eyebrows, nose and ear hair and I would say   I will never be like that.  Well, I don't have the bushy eyebrows, but I really have to watch the other two things and keep them trimmed.  So, if any young person is reading this drivel, never look at us old timers and say, I will never be like that.  Cause you just may be like that.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS

I'VE HAD A LOT OF RANDOM THOUGHTS ON MY MIND LATELY: SP GUESS I'LL MENTION JUST A FEW. AND BELIEVE ME THEY ARE RANDOM, AND MAYBE EVEN SCATTERED.
1.  Hillary Clinton just was on the news saying she supports Joe Biden.  Elizabeth was on the news saying she supports someone else. I forget who.  My thought, who really cares who either one of these women supports. 
2. There has been two news stories of black men being killed by the police. Both were captured on video. The first, George Floyd was wanton murder by the police officer. In the video you could watch him and he was actually enjoying what he was doing. And he was wrong and needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.  The other one was a man who was drunk and passed out in his car in a drive through lane at a Wendy's. Police were called to check on  him and they had to wake him up and get him out of the car and then he failed a sobriety test. So they were in the process of arresting him when he became violent and grabbed a taser from one of the officers and proceeded to shoot it at the officer. The officer then shot him, killing him. These cases were totally different, but the results were the same. A dead man, killed by police. And riots and looting and burning of business, that had nothing to do with the event. The second event could have been handled differently, it's true, but if that individual hadn't of got drunk and passed out in the line of traffic, officers would not have been called. He does bear some modicum of responsibility. 
3. History is being erased.  History belongs to all of us. If Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and Mrs. Butterworth, along with all other BLACK symbols of commerce are removed, only white advertising will be available. If any history or advertising symbol that people find "offensive" is removed, then there will be an uprising against the white people for not using people of other races. I just can't see an end to all this stupidity. And pulling down, defacing or otherwise destroying statues of historical figures because they represent something you disagree with, is wrong.  It is still history, Study it and learn from it and don;t return to the bad parts of it.
4. On a lighter note.  We occasionally get a gopher in our back yard. So far I have been able to catch all of them, over the years. We recently had the latest invasion of a gopher. I tried for a few days to catch this one. I finally did, after my wife saw it coming out if its hole and was able to mark the spot. I set the trap and it was in it the following morning.  Now, this little town we live in is inundated with gophers. Their mounds are every where all over the town. So, I will not be surprised to see in the news something like this;   Town falls into a large sink hole. Officials have determined that the town was undermined by gophers and this is what caused the sink hole.  It is undetermined if the town can be raised out of the hole or not, but considering the cost, it will probably just be covered over and left to the gophers."
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

A FOLLOW UP

WELL, I POSTED ABOUT THE COVID-19 ALREADY. SO THIS IS A FOLLOW UP POST.
A lot is going on around the world and a lot is going on around social media about the  
virus.  Some say it is real and we need to take strong precautions to prevent it's spread.
Some say it is a sham and we need to ignore the governing bodies edicts. 
Some business owners have protested the governors orders and some have even opened when not allowed too, saying a governors orders are not law and that it is only a suggestion.
One restaurant in our area even opened a couple of weeks in advance of the governor saying they could and put large banner type signs on the side of the restaurant building blasting the governor.  The banners are down now, for the most part, and the restaurant has been given a cease and desist order and the food service license has been suspended. 
Restaurants are allowed to open tomorrow, June 1 for in  house dining with restrictions. It will be interesting to see what happens with this restaurant. The town, for the most part, hopes the license is restored.  The owner has said that he expects he will have to pay some fines.He is prepared to do that. I just hope he is prepared well enough. 
AND MASKS.  There is a lot of controversy on the wearing of masks. Some say it helps. Some say it does not.  And helps or not, there are those that just can't wear a mask regardless of how much it helps. It is not that they don't want to, they just can't.   I went to town yesterday to fuel one of my vehicles.  I had a mask available since the governor has issued an order that ALL will wear a mask when out in public.  Here where I live, some do and some don't.  But at the gas station I pulled up to the third pump in line and at the middle pump there was three women fueling a car. One was fueling the car. One was washing the windshield. One was washing the rear window. One had on a mask. One did not. the one fueling the car had a mask. It was dangling from one ear. A study in contrast.  
As we go into grocery stores, all require a mask, but in some stores, even though the employees are wearing them, about 50 % of the customers are.  It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
AND FINALLY.  I hear that this virus is just a ploy to ruin President Trump.  Nothing else worked, so lets unleash this virus.  That is so ridiculous as to be laughable.  However, I will say this.  IF SUCH were the case, and it could be proven ( it's not and it can't) those who unleashed this virus on the world killing the economy of dozens of countries not to mention killing hundreds of thousands of people, jail time for those who did this would be too kind.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK 

THE CORONA

THE CORONA VIRUS SEEMS TO HAVE WRECKED HAVOC ON THE COUNTRY.
So I would like to offer a few thoughts on what is going on.
People are being ask to stay home and that seems to be driving some of them bonkers. Actually, we were told that one young family was in shock. Why? well cause they are home with their children.  My wife, who was always home with our children, wondered why this is so much of a problem.  My suggestion. Most fathers and mothers go to work at jobs out of the home and the kids go to school and day care. But she said, kids are out of school in the summer.  Yes, but they still go to work and the kids still go to day care. They are home with them in the evening for a while and then put them to bed and then in the morning send them to day care for the day etc. 
Now, they are not working and the kids are not going to day care and they are clueless on what to do and they are going bonkers. Or in shock.  
While I am not in favor of the covid-19 virus going around, I have to chuckle at the eye opening that has come down the pike for so many. Maybe they will be more responsible going forward, or will they soon forget and go back to their same old ways and ignore their families.  We will see.
On a more personal note, which I don't usually post here, life for my wife and I hasn't changed all that much. I am on dialysis and so I leave the house every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning to go to the dialysis center for treatment. If we have any shopping to do we do it on those days. Not so different that what we was already doing. 
Oh we did occasional make a run into town that we now don't do, like to go out to eat or run to the store for an item that we now do without until we go on a shopping trip on a necessary day out any way. 
And I do have an opinion on the businesses that are closed.
1. Walmart and Tractor Supply and Ace Hardware store are allowed to stay open in our area, as well as other big box stores in other areas. So many stores closed down.
So here is the opinion. Any item that can be purchased in a Walmart or any other store that is allowed to remain open, that is also sold in a small business owned store that is required to be closed, that small store should be allowed to remain open with the same distancing requirements that apply to the larger stores. Why enrich the bigger stores and devastate the small business owner when they can practice the same principles of just 20% occupancy and 6 foot distancing that the bigger stores can. 
While I believe the virus pandemic is real, I feel that so much that is going on is power plays by the governors of some states, and the one I live in is one of the worst ones for that.'
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

A FEW MORE THOUGHTS

I DON'T INTEND THIS TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THE PREVIOUS POST, BUT IT MAY TURN OUT TO BE JUST THAT.  SO, LET'S CONTINUE AND SEE IF THAT IS THE WAY IT TURNS OUT.  
1. With the continuation of  the covid-19 virus and all that is going on I have a few thoughts about what is going on.
2. Businesses and people are finally getting the message and starting to take this serious. So many didn't for so long.
3. It caught stores kinda by surprise. As things progressed though, they began to manage their stores in a more manageable manner. Using limits on how many shoppers could be in a store at a time; making time in the early morning hours for senior shoppers and those with handicaps etc.  Marking social distance lines. 
4. People began wearing masks in public, social distancing and no more hugs or shaking hands. People being more conscious of their personal hygiene. 
5. While I don't intend this post to get into government things, the governments of the U.S. and most States are aware of what is going on and are doing what they can to alleviate the situation for businesses and individual's and families.
6. Wrap up.  When this is over what will be different than it was before.  A few thoughts. People will be more aware of others for a while then slip back into old methods.  There will be fewer hugs and handshakes for some, more for others.  There will be some businesses that will be forever lost and others that will gradually come back. In any case, the business scene sill be forever changed.
People will flock to their church of choice for a while and then as things settle back to a more normal state, they will once again begin to fall away from church and seek out the forest or lakes.
WHILE THIS IS ONLY AN OPINION IT IS THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

AMID ALL THE CHAOS

AMID ALL THE CHAOS CAN WE FIND PEACE?
Well, before I get to the answer for that, I want to comment a bit on what is going on around the world, literally.  Some time a few months ago, a virus got it's foothold on someone in China and they then passed one of the feet to someone else and so on and so until eventually the whole world was infected to some degree or another.  Panic buying set in and people pushed and shoved to get hold of ( of all things) toilet paper.  That resulted in empty shelves and then more panic buying. Eventually the markets got a handle on the chaos and brought a little calm into the storm.  Now, shelves are getting a little more stocked. Not much and only with certain items, but still some calm.  And so the government got involved.  And finally passed a stimulus package to assist the poor and the rich.  As always they found a way to get their sticky hands on some tax payer money and then give some of it back to said taxpayers.  So, here is what I have determined from my little knowledge of what it taking place.  Each individual that makes less than $75,000.00 a year will get $1200.00 and families with children will get an additional $500 per child.  This is a one time payment.  In addition to that, it is tax free.  Also, small businesses will be compensated for having to cut back or close down and large businesses will also be compensated to some degree. Landlords can't evict someone for non payment of rent and financial institutions can't foreclose because of nonpayment of mortgage payments and utility companies can't cut off your utilities and late payments will be waived.  OK. That's all well and good, but also included in that stimulus package was something for the pig pen, also known as PORK.  And here is what the news has reported. I'll list it with out a lot of the commentary that was in the news article. This package that started out as a 250 page article wound up to be 883 pages. Nancy Pelosi and her team ramped this up to 1,404 pages and 2.5 Trillion dollars. That was eventually cut back to 2.2 Trillion dollars. So, in addition to the stimulus to the people the Senate bill gave $25 million to the John F. Kennedy for the performing arts. The house version upped that to $35 million. The Senate bill gave $75 million to the Corporation for public broadcasting. The house bill upped that to $300 million. $1.2 billion of the house bill requires airlines to purchase expensive "renewable" jet fuel. The Senate bill eliminated this item. The house bill allocated $1.1 billion to the Institute of Museum and Library services. The Senate bill awarded them $200 million. The senate bill gave $400 million to the federal Election Assistance Commission to assist States with "election security grants" This is down from the $4 billion the house bill provided.
This is just a sampling of many of the things that is included in the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill. 
During the past three years Republicans and Democrats have helped drain the U.S. Treasury from Left and Right.  Our national debt increased from $10 Trillion in 2008 (end of Bush Presidency) to $19.6 Trillion in 2016 ( end of Obama Presidency) to $23.6 Trillion in 2020. The current virus and the aforementioned package plus the loss of tax revenue will drive it even higher.  This is just a sampling of the article that came out.  There was more.
Now, for the calm in the storm.  The Lord is in charge and always has been. He knows what is going on and will take care of this in his own way.  We, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have been admonished for decades to be prepared. Get out of debt. Stay out of debt. Have a years supply of the necessities where possible. If we have been following that admonition we have no need to fear, but can like the man in the old story, rest well at night, because we were prepared for the storm.  President Nelson, President of the LDS Church, recently ask that members of the world join this past Sunday for a world wide fast to end this virus.  We must have faith in the fast and that the Lord will honor that fast if we as a people will turn to Him as He has ask us too.
And so that is the reason I can feel a measure of peace and calm during this current storm and chaos.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

PERSPECTIVE

PERSPECTIVE. WE ALL HAVE ONE ON MOST THINGS. HERE IS ONE OF MINE ON A SUBJECT THAT IS MUCH IN THE NEWS, BUT RARELY REPORTED FROM THIS ONE.
Sustainable energy. Or should I say  renewable energy. AKA solar and wind.  Yep, we have a lot of sun and wind, especially here in the great Southwest. Plenty of sun most days and plenty of wind most every day. So, all we need to do is shut down the coal mines, and get our electricity from nature.  Easy.  Well, not really.  Yes, you can shut down the coal mines. but the more you rely on solar and wind, the more mining and oil drilling that will be needed. Um, no, you may say. Um yes, I will say. And here is why.
The materials that are needed to construct the wind chargers don't just fall from the sky like a sun beam. These materials are made from material mined from the ground.  And they use oil and grease to keep them turning in a manner that is needed to generate the electricity that we all have come to depend on.  And they have a life expectancy of around 20 years and then they need to be replaced by said materials.  And then the discarded materials wind up in a land fill or some thing like that. Maybe cut up to use for something else.  Maybe.
And solar. Same thing.  Solar panels have to be constructed from something. Again, while the sun can power them, they need material mined from the ground to construct them. And acres and acres and acres of land taken out of production for any thing else to put up these monstrosities called solar farms.  And when the solar panel's get bad, they go to a land fill, and the material that then deconstructs in the land fill is not good for the land or water table. And these solar panels and wind chargers takes banks and banks of batteries to hold and then distribute the generated electricity. And where do these batteries go when they go bad? As they will. I haven't heard that topic discussed any where, but it will be in a dumping ground somewhere.And I am not convinced that either of these methods will ever generate enough electricity to power the large cities that dot this land. Not like a coal fired power plant will.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

STORAGE

STORAGE.  WE ALL NEED SOME.  SOME OF US MORE THAN OTHERS. SO WE WATCH ADS ON THE TV OR IN THE PAPER IF YOU READ ONE, OR IN MAGAZINES WHERE THEY ADVERTISE ALL THESE NICE STORAGE IDEAS.
However, I am going to address a different kind of storage.
As you travel the highways and byways of this country, do you ever pay attention to the signs and barrels along the road. You know, those signs and barrels that indicate that road work is being done.  But no roadwork is in progress and if there was, it has been finished for a while. But the signs and barrels are still in place.  
And then one day they are gone, and if you are paying attention, you will realize that they have been picked up and moved to an active road work area. Until that job is finished and they remain in place, until they disappear, for the same reason as mentioned above. So why are they just left in place until the next job comes along.
STORAGE.  Yep, storage. It is cheaper to "store" them along the road until the next job is active. That way there is no storage fee or no need for a building or yard to store all those signs and barrels and they don't have to handle them twice or three times. Just once. Pick them up and move them to the new job.  Storage problem taken care of.
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK 

THOUGHTS FOR A CLOUDY FEBRUARY DAY

JUST TO SET THE STAGE:  Today is February 3. Yesterday was the super bowl. I really didn't care and didn't watch it. Yesterday was also ground hog day.  As usual they pulled him (her) out of whatever domain it lives in the other 364 days of the year and proclaimed that since it didn't see it's shadow winter was almost over. Or something. 
So having set that stage, I will reiterate. I didn't watch the super bowl and didn't care which one of the over paid teams won. Even the losing players were each paid more than the average person makes in a year. Just to run around a football field for a few minutes on a Sunday afternoon.  So who cares.  OH!  millions of people, I guess.  But I didn't.
And that silly ground hog.  Who ever thought up that having a ground hog predict the weather by pulling it out of a cozy house and holding it up to see if it sees it's shadow is delusional. They have no clue if it sees it's shadow or not. And even if they could tell that, they have no clue what the weather will be according to what ever it may or may not see.  But, I guess if someone wants to base their life on the supposedly prediction of a mammal, then come by and I'll sell you some Arizona ocean front property. On another thought, if that mammal is so good at predicting, maybe it can predict who will win the caucus in Iowa tomorrow.  Who ever it is, it can't be any worse than it seeing it's shadow and predicting 6 more weeks of winter. I'm not in favor of any of them, but if Warren should win, we will be in for more than a bad winter. 
The State of New Mexico had a Republican Governor for 8 years. Now we have a Democrat Governor. In and of itself that is not a bad thing. We have had Democrat Governors in the past and they have done good things. Even Bill Richardson did some good things in his first term in office, but the next term he devastated the State financially. The recent Republican governor said she would not raise taxes and she did not. When the current governor took office the first thing she did was begin to spend the surplus the former governor left the State with. Even though there is a surplus of funds from oil and gas and mining, she had decided to raise the gas tax we have to pay at the pump to triple what it is now. She wants money and lots of it and she is spending like there is no tomorrow. I have never seen the ire that she has raised among the voters with any other politician. Even Obama or Trump. And, she wants to take the guns of law abiding citizens and she is pushing the legislators to pass a legalization of marijuana bill. If we don't get rid of her soon (she's there for three more years) our State is headed down the tubes at a high rate of speed. No pun intended. Or maybe there is. 
One final rant.  There is a politician in Albuquerque who tries each legislative session to get rid of mining and oil and gas drilling. Even though the State is mostly financed by those companies, he just don't seem to understand. So I will say this about him and about environmentalists. 
Much is said about transferring to renewable energy. Getting away from fossil fuel like coal and oil and gas, and going to wind and solar. They fail to realize that the more wind farms there is and the more solar panels there are, the more mining and oil drilling that will be required. Why? Well, the material for these items just don't materialize from thin air. Those products have to come from the earth, and that is done by mining. And the oil to keep the wheels turning comes from the earth.  I would hope that the people wold understand this and call the political hacks and the environmentalists to account and make them understand that they just can't eliminate these things. Even electric cars requires batteries and copper wiring that come frmo materials mined from the earth.
OK.. Nuff Said
AND THAT'S THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK

Some thought for a cloudy January Day

Have you been watching the impeachment fiasco? I say fiasco because that is the way it appears to me. The house spent weeks interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence and then after a month of sitting on the articles of impeachment, finally sent them to the Senate. Now they want the Senate to include other witnesses and documents for further evidence. Well, nope, you had weeks to do that, you ran the evidence gathering according to your rules, and now you want to run the Senate trial also. According to your rules.  Funny it didn't happen that way when Clinton was impeached. 
Speaking of Clinton, Hillary that is, she is opening her mouth on the current political scene. While she has much to say about Trump, seems her current fight is with Bernie. I don't care that much for Bernie, but so far he is ignoring Hillary, for the most part. He did say at one point that he don't understand why she is trying to "discuss" the 2016 election. She lost and that is that.  Although the House is trying their best to overcome that verdict. They have been trying ever since before Trump was sworn in. 
On to another subject. Well, kinda.  Also in the news is the upcoming trial of Harvey Weinstein. Now, I know I have been out of the movie loop for a number of years. But if I ever saw a movie that good ol' Harvey was involved in, I have no clue what it was. And I don't really care. Even when I was younger and attending a lot of movies, I really couldn't tell you who the director was. Even then, much less now. Seems some of these "Celebrities" have to get in trouble for some of us to know who they are.
Also, in the Hollywood genre, it seems that Debra Dugan (sp) is in trouble. She is the lady who was hired to do something with the Grammy's coming up. Guess she stepped on someones toes or something cause now she is out, just days before the Grammy's air on the tube. 
HO HUM.
Now to the Royals.  I don't understand why people are so enamored with them. Actually, we dismissed them sometime around 1776. I see no reason to change that. As for Harry and Megan, Harry has threatened the paparazzi with a law suit if they don't leave him alone.  good for him.  Hope he does. And I like to use a camera as much as most, but to invade the privacy of a family is just wrong.  
And finally, a few weeks ago my wife and I stayed a night in a Hotel. It was a pet friendly Hotel. OK we were assured that we would no be in a room that allowed pets.  OK.  However, while that seemed to be the case, when we went down the following morning to get a little breakfast before leaving for an appointment, s lady with her dog on a long leash was in the breakfast room getting her food while her dog climbed over the tables and chairs and sniffing every thing, then when we went to the elevator to go up to the room to get our bags, we had to avoid a dog puddle on the floor of the elevator and then when coming down to check out, had to go around a man with two dogs waiting to get on the elevator. Lest you think I dislike dogs, let me assure you that I do not. I was raised with dogs, and my wife and I had dogs most of our married life, up until just a few years ago. But they were out side dogs, and they didn't climb over furniture and pee on the floor when other people were.  We will stay at a different hotel the next time.
AND THAT'S THE THOUGHT OF THE DAY FROM THE DITCH BANK

OBSESSIONS

NO, I'M NOT OBSESSED WITH ANY THING IN PARTICULAR. AND IF I HAVE SOME OBSESSIONS THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT I AM NOT OBSESSED WITH; NAMELY
1. I am not, and never have been obsessed with movie stars or other performers. 
2. I am not, and never have been obsessed with sports figures.
3. I am not, and never have been obsessed with politicians.
4. I am not, and never have been obsessed with British Royalty.
5. Now, having said that, I will say this. I can admire some movie stars or other performers for their talent to entertain me. Be it drama, song and dance or comedy.
6. I can admire some sports stars for their ability to play at a certain level of excellence in whatever sport they are involved in. 
7. I rarely admire any politician for much of any reason, but really can't stand most of them that are in office today. 
8. I will admit up front that I know very little of the purpose of British Royalty. Seems to me that England is governed by a Prime Minister and a Parliament and the Royalty has little to do with it. They are just there doing whatever they do and living off of the people. I'll be the first to admit that I can be very incorrect on this, but it seems that way to me. Now, Harry and Megan have decided to back out of their royal duties, whatever that may be and it has put the country in a turmoil.  Well, Megan is not royalty, ( really, who is ) but an actress from somewhere. Kate is also not royalty but seems to be fitting in quite well, since her husband will be King someday. Harry won't be King, so what difference does it make if he plays the royal game or not. Well, except for the millions he collects for be UH Well Royal.  If the Queen decides to let him be just a person, then he will have to get a job.  Maybe he can move to Hawaii and get a job flying tourists around in a Helicopter. 
9. I was trying to avoid the subject of politicians, but I feel the need to comment on this. The house found items to impeach President Trump. They spent weeks doing what they wanted and set their rules of impeachment. Now, they won't send those articles to the Senate unless the Senate plays by the rules set by the house.  UM Nancy, it don't work that way. You investigated and found evidence, now send it to the senate for a trial and let them decide. 
10. An Iranian general has been attacking American properties and ships and other tings and killing Americans for about 20 years. Why are so many Americans against President Trump because he authorized the military to take him out.  I do not want a war with Iran or any one else.   .....  But we can't just turn the other cheek every time they attack us or we will soon be out of cheeks. A little push back should be a good thing, in the long run.
11. I am much more concerned with the things that the politicians, local, county, state and federal, are doing than I am with what is happening in Iran or North Korea or even China. Friends and neighbors, lets pay attention to what is going on in our local governments and do something there. 
AND THAT IS MY THOUGHTS TO START THE NEW YEAR. IT IS 2020 SO HOPEFULLY THE VIEW FROM THE DITCH BANK WILL BE A CLEARER VISION.