Posts Tagged ‘datechguy's magnificent seven’

I’m beginning so suspect that it is not possible for those on the opposite ends of the political spectrum to communicate with each other

Posted: September 17, 2020 by Jon Fournier in Uncategorized
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I spend a lot of time on Facebook debating liberals.  I don’t intend to at all.  I just post the stuff I want to and my liberal friends declare all out war on just about everything I post.   I never return the favor..  I have a live and let live policy. I enjoy debate but I loathe all out war.

It is not an enjoyable experience.  Both sides often end up angry and it is tedious because we keep repeating the same points over and over again with neither adopting the other’s positions on any issue.  I’m absolutely fine if my liberal friends never adopt any of my positions or beliefs.  I firmly believe every individual is entitled to their own opinions, positions, and beliefs   It appears to me that those declaring war on me when I share my beliefs find it unacceptable that I hold and share beliefs that contradict the liberal orthodoxy.  I’ve been told on a few occasions that the reason for the all out war on my posts is because they do not accept by views and beliefs.  They are bullying me into abandoning my beliefs and taking on theirs. Forcing others to accept my beliefs and views has never entered my mind when I post on social media.  I post on social media to inform which cannot be construed as forcing my views on others.  I never badger those who post items contrary to my beliefs, or who post items I find offensive, or know to be inaccurate. I just scroll past.

Even though I am usually calm and laid back I’ve lost my temper far too many times during these debate sessions.  False accusations of bigotry and nonstop personal attacks will cause anyone to lose their temper.   They bother me immensely.  Did you know that right wing opposition to professional sports embracing Black Lives Matters is based on bigotry?  That is news to us right wingers who know that we are angry because Black Lives Matter is a Marxist organization who’s members have killed many police officers, rioted and burned buildings, and openly called for violence against police officers.  I am sick to death of being called a racist because I respect and honor the Constitution and also respect and honor the founding fathers and principles of this great nation.

It is not much fun when individuals demand I prove every statement I make regardless how innocent it is then constantly reject my proof because it is from right wing, accurate, hard journalism sources such as Breitbart, Townhall, American Thinker, The Federalist Papers, and Federalist.ORG.   I’ve tried educating my friends about the history and culture behind left wing fake news and how right wing sources are accurate journalism sites only colored by right wing window dressing.  There is only so many times you can experience the same conversation with out it becoming extremely tedious.

I’ve come to the conclusion through these debate sessions that real communication  between those on the political right and those on the political left is not possible because both sides view the universe at large so differently.  We no longer share the same reality.  Those on the political left too often live in a bubble dominated by liberal orthodoxy.  If it is not on MSNBC, CNN, or NPR it is not true to them.  Cultural Marxism has warped the reality of the political left too much. 

I’m a Libertarian who a few decades ago was a left wing socialist.  My journey from one political side to the other was brought about through an enormous amount of research, study, and soul searching .  I’ve lived in both political universes and I know the political left is the insulated side that exists almost devoid of reality. 

Leftism is one of those harmful cult like religions that demand unthinking obedience to a rigid dogma. Any posts and comments against one of the many sects of the leftist religion is viewed as the worst kind of heresy. I admit that Libertarianism, the original interpretation of the Constitution, and the founding principles of this country are a kind of religion to me. It is a religion I embrace through an overwhelming amount of study and research. I am perfectly fine with others not embracing or following my personal religion. Every individual is free to believe whatever they want to.

Report from Louisiana: Phase 3

Posted: September 14, 2020 by Pat Austin in Uncategorized
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By:  Pat Austin

SHREVEPORT – Governor John Bel Edwards moved Louisiana into Phase 3 last week, but not everyone is happy about that, and with good reason.

In some ways, Phase 3 is stricter than Phase 2. For example, in Phase 2, bars are closed to on-site consumption, unless they are also serving food.  Restaurants were able to open and serve alcohol at 50% capacity.

Under Phase 3, the capacity for restaurants moves up to 75%, however now all alcohol must be served only at tables; so, if you’re a restaurant with a bar area where people eat at the bar, nope. You have to sit at a table.

And under Phase 3, bars can now open to 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is smaller, but no alcohol can be sold in either bars or restaurants after 10 p.m., and all establishments must be clear of patrons by 11 p.m.

Live music and dancing are forbidden.

Now, local mayors can go back to a previous phase if it is stricter than the one currently in place, so perhaps local mayors should consider going back to Phase 2 where bars and restaurants could serve alcohol after ten.

High Schools are going ahead with football games beginning in a couple of weeks with “social distancing encouraged” in the stands. In New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell is keeping her city in Phase 2, and has disallowed all alcohol consumption in bars. There will also be no prep football in New Orleans in Phase 2.

New Orleans is keeping the status quo of Phase 2 which means “bars will continue to be shuttered throughout the city and that restaurants, stores, gyms and other businesses are limited to 50% of their pre-coronavirus capacity.”

The rules in NOLA have been tougher than the rest of the state because their numbers were so high compared to other places.

At any rate, here in Shreveport anyway, bar owners are frustrated by the continued restraints on their business, and now those seem even tougher.

In Bossier Parish, where I teach, we are going back to 100% face to face instruction next week. No more A/B hybrid days. This has me concerned because this means my small classroom will again be filled to capacity with students. There are pros and cons to this: from an educational standpoint, of course it’s better because face it, the virtual model is not working well for many kids. But from a health standpoint, I’m nervous again.

There will be literally nothing I can do in my classroom as far as social distancing goes. We won’t be able to spread even three feet apart.

I don’t have the answers, but I don’t think anyone does. It’s like at this point, with restrictions easing on one end and tightening up on another, we are nowhere close to being on the same page with this virus. All I can do will be the best I can, and try to protect myself.

Life has never felt more dystopian.

Pat Austin blogs at And So it Goes in Shreveport and is the author of Cane River Bohemia: Cammie Henry and her Circle at Melrose Plantation. Follow her on Instagram @patbecker25 and Twitter @paustin110.

I long so much for the time before Coronavirus dominated all aspects of our lives

Posted: September 10, 2020 by Jon Fournier in Uncategorized
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This year will go down in history as the year that everything was either canceled or ruined.  Those that are uninformed, or have bought into the media coverage will blame the Coronavirus for the disruption of our lives and the US economy.  Those that really understand what is going on will rightly blame government overreaction to the Coronavirus as the true culprit causing so much misery.

This past weekend I would have attended the Woodstock Fair, however, like everything else fun, that was canceled.   The number of Coronavirus cases in the surrounding area is quite low along with hospitalizations and deaths.  The virus peaked way back in mid April.  The only reason virus cases show up at all is because so many asymptomatic individuals are being tested.

Life for school children has been turned completely upside down and it is all so unnecessary.  It has been reported so often that school aged children are barely affected by the virus.  Most schools will require students to wear masks full time.  Few ask whether this will be physically or mentally harmful to the children.  I fear it will be both.  Also schools will require that students maintain social distancing and not engage in any fun activities. 

Massachusetts still leads the nation in unemployment thanks to our governors disastrous business lockdown.  Restaurants can only operate at 25 percent capacity and all bars are still closed.  Wearing masks in restaurants when walking to tables and when servers are near is required.   Oh that is so much fun.

Concerts and other crowd intensive activities are still canceled in the State of Massachusetts.  Any type of gatherings in this state is limited to just 50 people,  The governor mandated that if you have ten or more in your own house or backyard everyone must wear masks.  I say bite me to that.

Even going to the library has been turned into a depressing experience.  Masks must be worn and social distancing is a must.  They take down your information for contact tracing reasons.

The only way life gets back to normal for all of us is if we stand up and say enough is enough in very loud clear voices.

Report from Louisiana: a Book Review

Posted: September 7, 2020 by Pat Austin in Uncategorized
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By: Pat Austin

SHREVEPORT — I’ve just finished reading a beautiful novel that I want to share with you. As like probably many of you, I’m an avid reader with a pretty diverse interest range. I read a lot of nonfiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, historical fiction…pretty much anything. Not a big fan of romance, but I do like a good mystery.

The End of the Day by Bill Clegg is a stunning new novel coming out September 29 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. The story takes a while to unfold — don’t get impatient. It’s worth the journey. Told from the POV of various characters, we are slowly pulled in, woven in, to this complex plot line of intersecting lives. Just how they intersect is not immediately clear.

The main characters are Jackie, Dana, and Lupita. Three women of different social class: Dana is wealthy and privileged, Jackie is middle-class, and Lupita working class. Lupita’s family works for Dana’s family who is sponsoring them for a green card; Jackie and Dana are childhood friends. The story is set in the framework of a single day yet covers sixty years and Clegg weaves this intricate plot one thread at a time.

The prose is lyrical and more than once I found myself reaching for a notebook to write down a line simply because it was so evocative and beautiful. Symbolic elements abound without being overpowering. This is the kind of novel you read slowly in order to absorb every detail and I was sorry when it ended.

This is the first Bill Blegg novel for me but now I’m going to go back and read his other work, both fiction and nonfiction: Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man, and Did you Ever Have a Family, among others.

Add this book to your reading list; if you like solid, beautiful literary fiction, this is a good one.

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