Seven Months Under the Heel of T***p -- July 31, 2025

The first seven months of 2025 have been miserable. We have both been sick, either one at a time or both together for the whole summer. We may have had Covid, but didn't test for until it was too late.

The day he was sworn into office, T***p started disgorging a massive number of executive orders dedicated to things like revoking birthright citizenship, removing the US from the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Accords and wiping out all traces of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He has made savage attacks against LGBTQ people, especially those who are trans. 

His drunken Secretary of Defense has dismissed women, a general and admiral, who commanded West Point an Annapolis. 

He wants National Parks and Monuments to remove anything from their historical markers which might hurt the feelings of white people. 

ICE is scooping up people with brown skin and deporting many of them to other countries, where they have no connections. There is no due process, and the cowardly ICE goons wear masks and hide their badges or other ids.

The drunken Secretary of Defense participated in a call discussing an upcoming military operation on Signal, which is not allowed for calls with sensitive information; the call included a reporter who got invited by mistake. 

T***p turned the levers of government and access to all its information to Elon Musk and a gang of young people of college age or less.  The so-called Department of Government Efficiency fired thousands of Federal workers, many of whom were veterans. They shut down critical agencies like USAID. They consolidated all the data they could get, probably so they could create a database of citizens. T***p and Musk eventually broke up, but not before they crippled large parts of the government.

Oligarchy and fascism seem to be the goal, as set out in Project 2025.

I've been depressed. Fortunately, the courts have struck down some of his idiocies and people are resisting. On top of all that, T***p is showing signs of growing senility.

"According to Jane Taylor, 'the central character is notorious for his infantile engagement with his world. Ubu inhabits a domain of greedy self-gratification'. Jarry's metaphor for the modern man, he is an antihero—fat, ugly, vulgar, gluttonous, grandiose, dishonest, stupid, jejune, voracious, greedy, cruel, cowardly and evil..." -- Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubu_Roi

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- August 31, 2024

cdc.gov

The FDA has approved new vaccines for the latest variants of COVID-19. 

School is back in session. Not many people are wearing masks. The power went out after lunch recess on Thursday, so I just talked to the kindergarten class. 

The Democratic National Convention was fun. There was a lot of positive energy. I like Governor Tim Walz. 

The Giants are having trouble scoring runs. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- July 31, 2024

cdc.gov

COVID-19 statistics have been going up. 

We had an insane month, with an awful debate between President Joe Biden and convicted felon Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention, President Biden withdrew in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. 

We seem to have a stalemate in Ukraine. 

The Paris Olympics started with an entertaining opening ceremony.

Bivens -- Wow -- July 6, 2024

Sunday we went to our first Giants game since COVID-19. There was a full house because we were playing the Dodgers and the first 15,000 fans received Giants caps with mouse ears. The kindergartners should like them when I do yard duty. 

Spencer Bivens made his first start and went five scoreless innings. As you can see from the image above, the Giants scored in each of the first four innings. He left with a 5-0 lead. We saw Shohei Ohtani for the first time in person. Bivens struck him out twice. Things got a little close in the last innings, but the Giants won. BART and Muni were crowded coming and going because of the game and the Pride Parade. 

The weather was warm and sunny. 

Tributes to Willie Mays surround his statue.

The scoreboard displayed this animation after Matt Chapman's home run. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- June 30, 2024

kp.org

"Respiratory illnesses are on the rise, so it's important to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine now." We haven't gotten our update yet. 

Willie Mays died. That same week, the Giants and Cardinals played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham in a tribute to Willie Mays and the Negro Leagues. The ceremonies were nice, but the Giants lost. The Giants came home on the 24th, appropriately, and all the players wore the number 24. The Giants beat the Cubs on a walk-off walk. 

Later in the month, Orlando Cepeda also died. 

We finished the 2023-2024 school year. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- May 31, 2024

cdc.gov

Covid-19 trends are rising slightly because of a new strain. 

Our former so-called president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts related to election interference. He is the first former president to be convicted of a felony. He won't go to jail yet.

The Giants made a nice surge towards the end of the month.

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- April 29, 2024

cdc.gov

Covid-19 trends continue to go down. My wife and I both got some horrible virus/bacterium that was not Covid-19.

Iran launched an unprecedented attack directly on Israel. Israel has not started its final assault on the Gaza Strip. Students are at universities across the country are erecting tents and calling for divesting in Israeli companies and companies that do business in Israel. Many Jewish students feel threatened. 

Our former so-called president went on trial in New York for 34 felony counts. 

BART held a ceremonial last run of its original cars. 

The Giants are showing signs of life but are still hovering at or below .500. 

The House finally passed aid for Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- March 30, 2024

cdc.gov

Covid-19 trends seem to be going down. Many people seem to be coming down with Covid-19 again, but the cases may be milder.  

More food aid is getting to Gaza, but there is still a risk of mass starvation. Israel is preparing to enter the last city in the south of Gaza, Rafah. President Biden called on the Israelis to be more careful of innocent lives. The whole world is calling for a ceasefire. 

The House is still delaying aid to Ukraine. The Republican Party is beholden to Putin. I am sorry to have to write that. 

The Giants have had a mixed record in spring training. It has been nice to see Pablo Sandoval again. He probably made his last appearance as a Giant during the Bay Bridge Series. 

Our former so-called president had until 25-March-2024 to post a huge bond after losing his real estate fraud case. His lawyers were able to get the bond amount reduced and to get an additional ten days. 

My students are making good progress with Code Avengers. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- February 29, 2024

cdc.gov

Covid-19 trends seem to be going down. On the other hand, nearly everyone I know has some kind of a nasty virus. 

Israel has paused before attacking the southernmost part of Gaza. People all over the world are calling for a ceasefire or evacuation of civilians. A US Airman immolated himself in front of the Israeli Embassy. The US and other countries have started to airdrop humanitarian supplies in Gaza. 

moveon.org

Congress is still delaying aid to Ukraine, which is running short on ammunition. The Republican Pary appears to be beholden to Putin. 24-February-2024 marked two years since Russia invaded Ukraine. 

Spring training has started. Brandon Crawford has signed with the Cardinals. 

Trump lost a real estate fraud case and was ordered to pay $355 million. 

A bee flew into the computer lab today. The first graders wigged out. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- January 31, 2024

cdc.gov

California has updated its COVID guidelines on isolation.

covid.ca.gov

Israel has changed the intensity of its operations in Gaza. Famine is spreading in the area. 

Ukraine and Russia appear to be in a stalemate.

Dusty Baker is returning to the Giants as a special assistant. 

Trump lost another lawsuit and will pay $83.3 million.

Catholic Schools Week started at Good Shepherd. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- December 31, 2023

cdc.gov

COVID infections are rising because of holiday gatherings and a new variant, JM.1.

Israel continues to lay waste to Gaza. They are losing much sympathy.

Ukraine has destroyed a significant part of Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Russian soldiers are reported as surrendering to get away from abuse by their officers. 

The Giants signed outfielder Jung Hoo Lee from the Korean League. 

One day after it rained, I was doing yard duty with Kindergarten and most of us stood around a puddle and observed earthworms swimming. We discussed where earthworms live, what they eat and we reached a consensus that they don't wear shoes. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- November 30, 2023

cdc.gov

My wife and I have finally gotten our new COVID-19 boosters and our flu shots. I should ask my doctor if we need to get the RSV shot, too.

The Giants have been quiet. 

Congress managed to hold off a government shutdown until the new year.

The war between Israel and Hamas had a cease fire based on the exchange of prisoners. 

Ukraine is making progress with its counterattack. 
 

We finished the first trimester at Good Shepherd School and my students are doing well in technology and coding. 

Third COVID-19 Booster -- November 20, 2023

coverbrowser.com

I received my third Pfizer booster shot in one arm and my pflu shot in the other. The pflu side is pfine, but the Pfizer side hurts.

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- October 30, 2023

cdc.gov

My wife and I have been beset by bad coughs, so we have not yet gotten our new COVID-19 boosters. We hope to get our flu shots at the same time.

The Giants signed Bob Melvin as their new manager. I remember when he played for the Giants. He was very good when he managed the Athletics. Working for a team that pays people in money rather than hot dogs should be even better. 

Bruce Bochy's Texas Rangers beat Dusty Baker's Houston Astros in the ALCS. Dusty Baker announced his retirement. Texas and Arizona played in the World Series. 

We went without a Speaker of the House for most of the month. The guy they chose voted against certifying the election and is a Trump cultist. 

We have been able to use the computer lab at Good Shepherd and it is working well. 

There are reports that Russian troops in Ukraine are performing acts of insubordination..

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- September 30, 2023

cdc.gov

COVID-19 is on the rise again. A new vaccine is available. I have been wearing my mask more outside of the house.

The Ukrainian offensive is making progress. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to the US to address the UN General Assembly. Many Republicans are taking Putin's side, calling for an end to aid.

The Giants struggled along to the end of the season. They remained in contention for a wildcard spot for a surprisingly long time. Manager Gabe Kaplan got fired with three games to go. 

They moved the tabernacle at Good Shepherd Church. I have been teaching at Good Shepherd School in Pacifica, but they tore the floor out of the computer lab and redid it. When that was done, they redid the walkway outside. When all of that was done, the Scholastic Book Fair took over the room for a week. 

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- July 31, 2023

cdc.gov

The Giants had a ten-game win streak and then fell apart after the All Star break. 

Reports say that COVID-19 is on the rise again in hospitals and senior housing. 

I have been preparing for the new school year. 

Much of the nation is suffering under enormous heat. 

Ukraine's offensive seems to be going slowly. Russia damaged the Orthodox cathedral in Odesa.

moveon.org

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- June 30, 2023

cdc.gov

In June the New York Times cleverly hid its covid statistics behind the paywall. I had a terrible cold but a covid test was negative.

The Giants had a ten-game win streak and reached second place in the division. They have brought up several good players.

We reached the end of the school year. The license for the software we were to use had expired. I had the kids use an implementation of TurtleGraphics written in Scratch. The principal took us to lunch at Nick's. 

Ukraine's offensive appears to be moving well. 

Cable Car Sesquicentennial Kickoff -- June 13, 2023

Today my wife was kind enough to accompany me to the Cable Car Sesquicentennial Kickoff at California and Drumm. This was just about our first time out together since COVID. 

Cable Car Big 19, originally built in 1883 as a single-ended Market Street cable car was there. Rick Laubscher of the Market Street Railway hosted. Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Aaron Peskin and Alexander S Hallidie spoke. Hallidie said scientists at Stanford had brought him back to life. The celebrites left for a ride on 19.

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- May 31, 2023

nytimes.com

In May I took some time off from blogging after my wife had an operation. She is doing well. 

The World Health Organization declared that the COVID-19 emergency was over. I still wear a mask. 

The Giants reached .500.

We changed parishes from Good Shepherd to Saint Peter's. 

Due to licensing issues, I taught kids at Good Shepherd school to use Turtle Graphics. They were very enthusiastic. A second grader told me "I'm a real coder now."

COVID-19, Vaccine, Masks, Church, Baseball and School -- April 30, 2023

nytimes.com

Covid-19 is still there but people don't seem to pay much attention anymore.

I returned to teaching technology and coding during the last week of April. This year I am also teaching fifth grade. I am happy the kids remembered things I taught them last year. 

I continue to wear a mask when I am out in public around other people. 

Russia is making no progress in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine may be preparing for a counter-offensive. Many people say that Putin is tottering on his throne. 

The Giants started with a bad stretch, but were nearing .500 by the end of April.