I've been on -- if not actually a deadline, then -- a sort of self-imposed schedule. And I've enjoyed the work, diving back into my screenplay project as a result of some discussions with the producer and conversations he's had. And I tend to lose track of time in those conditions, and so the last few days I've been working until around 1 AM. (It's 1:04 AM as I type this...) And then the next day, I jump back in to it. As a result, I know some of the postings here the last few days have been more somewhat random-ish or uncommon than usual. So, I'm sorry about that, though "uncommon" is sometimes good, but hopefully they've been fine, and we'll get back around to normal sometime soon.
But that means -- since it's now 1:07 AM -- that I will not be waxing especially eloquent and detailed at the moment. But I can't let the Texas disaster go without mention. It's especially been on my mind -- not because of Ted Cruz -- but because a good friend lives there, and I've been getting regular updates from him. Or as regular as one can get from someone with limited electricity. Fortunately, he planned ahead with food and water, but it's still been hellish. I can only imagine who horribly worse it is for others. I was a little concerned about him losing food because of defrosting, but he said that no, that hasn't been a problem. I guess when your home is at refrigerator level indoors, things defrost much slower than in other climates.... I felt good that he had a portable power station I'd recommended a while back when he was concerned with the hurricanes they'd been getting, a Yeti 150 from GoalZero. It's their low-end model but still heavy duty. Unfortunately I felt bad that -- now that he needed the device during an emergency disaster -- it was defective and he wasn't getting the benefits he needed. Fortunately, it seems that it's working okay-ish, but it's not displaying the charge left very consistently, going from 90% left, to 20% left to fully-charged without doing much. It's supposed to let you charge a phone up to about 12 times, or fully charge a laptop twice, or run a lamp for 50 hours, and things like that -- but after one charge it was showing that he'd almost drained the power station. But then later, it would be okay. Anyway, when things return to normal, I expect he'll contact the company which has an excellent reputation, and he just got a semi-dud. On the better news front, he personally has gotten his power back, and just keeps his fingers crossed that it holds. And that the warm front does come in this weekend. What he has also said is how livid people are about Gov. Abbott, and that not only did no one serious believe Abbott's initial story to blame the non-existent Green New Deal for the problems, but that they'd angry he'd even try that. He says that everyone knows that it's the fault of the governor, state legislature and power industry that has created a grid with limited controls for protecting against something like this. And Abbott and them all are being vilified. And then Ted Cruz got added into the mix. And it's been really terrible for Cruz -- and deservedly so, skipping out of town during the emergency, and then not only coming up with a lamebrain excuse but blaming it on his daughter. Only to later have his travel manifests uncovered, and now his wife's emails about the trip to Cancun. Personally, I think the level of hypocrisies here with Cruz are impressive even by GOP standards. How he had slammed California during the wildfires for not being to provide the most basic services like electricity to the people. And slamming the mayor of Auston for taking a trip to Cabo during the pandemic. And then toss in his infamous one-person filibuster trying to block the Affordable Care Act by reading from Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. A great thing to be reminded of during a pandemic when you've skipped town for Cancun. And then to top it all, his involvement in helping incite the insurrection. It couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. And as much as I wish this disaster emergency didn't occur, since it's heart-wrenching, I can only add that since it did occur, I'm not losing much sleep that it was Texas that got hit. I'm deeply sorry for all the the people there -- and with special attention to my friend who's dealing with it all -- but Texas caused the problem for itself by being arrogant and irresponsible about its power grid, keeping it in state control only without participating in the national grid. And Texas is the state that often tries to swagger about seceding from the union. And here they are, in dire need of national assistance -- and, because Joe Biden is not Trump, they're getting that assistance. And should get it, and thankfully are. And I hope this ends so, and people can get past the aftermath, as well, which will be extremely tough. But maybe this will get Texas on the national grid and understanding of the benefits of federal participation and an acknowledgement that science and Climate Change are a real thing and things to embrace and learn from for the betterment of society and not blame as a personal excuse for head-in-the-sand irresponsibility. Though I doubt it. Because, y'know, yee-ha and all that. Anyway, I think that's enough for now. It's around 1:45 AM, and I'm just hoping that enough words here have been spelled right. If so, then I consider this a win-win all around...
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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