Republicans is split for the nation's benefit

Republican is in danger of losing the senate. This does not come as a surprise considering President Trump's mismanagement of the pandemic, his failure to address police brutality, and his overall debasement of the presidency. 

Some Republicans openly say they will vote for Joe Biden; running ads to convince other Republicans to dump Trump. This act is the noble thing to do even if the Republican party is split in the process but the nation is saved in the process.

AOCs' amazing speech

Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez delivered her response to Representative Ted Yoho of Florida in a speech that elevates her message that attacks on women are a cultural issue. She managed not only to respond to Yoho's attack but also to point out the behavior of both the Florida Governor and President Trump who also attacked her views; a pattern of behavior that seems to be accepted by society. 

The speech turned a personal attack into a broader view that powerful men are used to insulting women with impunity, further tarnishing De Santis whose state has now had an explosion of Covid  - 19 due to his blind obedience to President Trump.

100 days left

The Senate now looks headed for change, with voters dissatisfied with the performance of the administration on the pandemic. President Trump is back delivering short updates but without the medical experts. It's a strange move since his performance resulted in a plunge in the first place. It would be better if he was absent in these sessions and instead had experts provide the briefing. But Trump believes he is the hero in this drama so he holds the briefing that further digs himself into a hole.

How Trump's campaign team would think that putting him in front of the press would help is beyond any rational thought.  He got himself into this mess with his lies, conspiracy theories, and incoherence and to think that letting him talk alone in the briefing room is madness. Perhaps he is thinking that Project Legend, unleashing Federal troops in Portland to face the protest would give him a sheen of authority, and hide his failure in handling the pandemic with the rise of infections. His experience as a real estate developer, reality TV show and entertainer would never give him any experience and knowledge to handle any crisis.  

Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS)

I am officially afflicted with TDS that I can't seem to do any real work, constantly obsessing on the political situation, surfing the internet on the latest news. A recent newscast on the radio talked about 'doomsday' surfing where one is constantly looking at his phone in the early hours while still in bed. I am guilty of this habit as well. All these distractions have made me feel deranged including my constant conversation on this topic with my friends. Is it because the president has some special power that he weaves out into the country and entrapped people's attention.?

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-men/201901/is-trump-derangement-syndrome-real-mental-condition?page=1

I have decided to write about this obsession and extinguish this illness by bringing it out into the open, letting go of these churning thoughts. It is the madness that he projects at least in my mind that angers me, to see the wrong that he expresses so blatantly that his behavior is now accepted that one is eighter in the left or in the right. Hence one now thinks he is deranged by not seeing what is real. The pandemic is adding to this surreal atmosphere as if Trump had laid out the virus to further his aims.

Working from home

Due to the pandemic, I have been working from home since mid-March. However, since June, I have been going to the office twice a week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. In the early days, I enjoyed working from home and seem to be more productive though I am more conscious when I am procrastinating; sitting on our couch and surfing the internet with my phone. I find myself more distracted these days with surfing the net during office time; jumping from headline to headline; devouring the latest news.

So I decided to go to the office at least part of the week to get back into the rhythm of normal work; even if I could do most of the tasks at home. The emptiness of the office is soothing with the empty cubicles and the quietness of the near-empty office. My mind works in a more driven mode when the usual anxiety of office work comes back to me even when no one is around. I am the only one in my section when I am in the office.

One reason I go to the office is to continue Tuesday noonday walks with my French friend who is also going to the office. We walk around the parking lot for about 30 minutes talking about the politics of the day and about the pandemic. This is the new normal where people work from home, go to the office wearing masks, practice social distance when around people and try to act normal while searching around one's surroundings for possible infection by the virus if one comes close to passersby without a mask, or a desk not swabbed clean with disinfectant. 

I often fear the worst, listening to headlines and wonder if we will all make it; if the economy will rebound as people go back to work but the parking lot is less than a quarter full and people are still afraid especially as the number of infections started to rise again. Making everything worse is the confusion in the media, in politics in the government and the authorities from top to bottom who seem not to care but just allow people to go about their business for those brave enough to venture out from their homes and face the virus as if their eagerness is making them invincible. 

Virus Layoffs

Yesterday we had our first layoff in our contractor's team. This is the first job-related victim of the shut down due to the coronavirus. It's been building for some time where companies are pressured to handle the bottom line while the economy shuts down. The contractor - R from India said he was informed that his last day is in April - what a sad April's fool joke though it would have been good if it was.

I was working from home like most of the country, watching the news, listening to 'The Daily' and fretting about the future. Watching the news is terrible where no one seems to be in charge. The state governors in New York, California, Illinois are stepping up and shutting down their state. I just read this morning that the Trump Organization is closing Mar Lago so finally some decisiveness but I suspect that Trump Team is preparing to claim federal bailout once the Senate passes their bill.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8136571/Trumps-company-CLOSES-Mar-Lago-fires-staff-shutters-golf-courses.html

The internet is stepping up by keeping everyone connected, with tools and apps uniting people who are locked down and isolated into a virtual community.  Chefs are opening their restaurants to help laid-off workers with food and support. This is the true spirit of a community rising to the occasion while government debates on what is the role of the state in helping its citizens. The trend like in 2008 is heading toward the bailout of giant corporations like airlines. The former South Carolina governor just resigned her seat in Boeing in disagreement with this type of payment. At least citizens will receive about $ 1,200 or so once the Senate bill passes.

Last week, the UK government started its goal of 'herd immunity' perhaps realizing that it's already too late for a lockdown. It's the less aggressive action with  PM candid enough to say that some will die because of the virus. Such is the life that one must serve the Darwinian goal to build immunity or perish. You must not stay home but get out and expose yourself so that your body will become stronger against future outbreaks. Such a brave and magnificent front the British people are known for, perhaps Winston Churchill would have given a brilliant speech if he was alive today and drunk with Scotch.