Locked Down. Not Asking For Much. Tracking Santa. We Can Only Do What We Can Do.
Everyone’s point of view is just that. As I stay a long way from anything politics, my take on the pandemic has just been to follow the data and science. I realize that some of us do not want to wear a face-covering or socially distance, as the post below reminds us that we are only human. My concern is the protocols put in place by Great Britain are severe and disheartening, especially considering XMAS is in five days. As many of us say “Do You” but don’t bitch and complain should we resort to these measures: If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must follow the rules below from Sunday 20 December. This means that you cannot meet other people indoors, including over the Christmas period, unless you live with them, or they are part of your existing support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household. These rules will not be relaxed for Christmas. Do any of us want to deal with that type of mandate? In two words: Hell No.
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Ten Things I Hope For In The New Year
- The vaccine’s efficacy to hold true.
- For all of us to stop using politics and religion as ‘leverage’.
- A happy and healthy granddaughter.
- A tremendous amount of laughter – anywhere, anytime.
- Strength and perseverance for all health care workers.
- Music that makes us listen, smile and dance.
- A military that is proud to protect the United States of America.
- A stock market that continues to gain momentum.
- A visit to the North Georgia mountains.
- Peace, health and happiness for all.
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The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning, aerospace control and maritime warning for North America. Aerospace warning includes the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, through mutual support arrangements with other commands. Since the tragic events of 9/11, NORAD has elevated their technology and ability to detect threats to the United States and Canada. Bunkered within Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, Colorado, the NORAD facility lies 2,000 feet under the mountain and can be sealed off by two giant blast doors made of concrete and steel, each 3½ feet thick and weighing 23 tons. General Glen VanHerck is the Commander of NORAD, and has recently stated in no uncertain way that one of the most important services and missions NORAD provides will continue this week, with COVID-19 protocols in place. The mission: since 1955, NORAD has tracked Santa on December 24, using “all available personnel and technology” to ensure that children around the world have a chance to see where Santa is in real time. In a press conference held last week, a question posed to General VanHerck challenged this week’s mission as a non-essential use of funds and personnel considering the issues with the pandemic. After a long stare down, General VanHerck told the journalist that he was “out of line and to stand down or be escorted out of the press conference.” There were no more questions for General VanHerck.
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We are only human after all. A simple statement? A cliché? As this year closes out the natural reaction is to reflect on the uncertainty, the tragedy, and the grief that 2020 brought on all of us. We hear about ‘Covid fatigue’, fights in restaurants with people not wanting to wear face covers, businesses of all types in despair, and the tragic loss of family and friends. With all of that said, we move into year-end and 2021 with a good bit of hope and a good chance of some light at the end of the tunnel. It is not time to stop taking precaution but it is time to adapt to social distancing and face covers as best we can. Though we may not experience the benefits of the Covid-19 vaccines until mid-year 2021, all of us just need to remember that we are only human. British singer and song writer Rory Charles Graham, better known as Rag’n’Bone Man, never said it better: