Blessings Darlings!
The governor finally closed the state, kinda sorta. Hardware stores still count as vital businesses, somehow, tho.
The Chubby Hubby has nasal drip, and is freaking out. He's in bed with a glass of Tang right now.
Due to rain, I didn't haul any manure today, but I did take a walk and harvest a lot of creasy greens (wintercress). Probably won't cook them for dinner, will make something the CH will be more at home with. Didn't do laundry, either, since line drying was out.
In this time of uncertainty - I wanted an egg substitute in the house that I could use for baking with. Since no one in my house has issues with soy, my go-to for this is soy flour. Two oz by volume each of soy flour and water equals one egg. Of course, for the past three weeks the local stores have been out of both soy flour and soy beans, and I didn't want to drive to Frederick MD to get either of them. So I went to order them online. And Bob's Red Mill was totally out. I had to buy soy flour from a vendor I knew nothing about. The First World Horror! At any rate - they said they'd be here between 3/25 and 4/1, but it arrived today. I'm happy.
I should take a pic of the cherry tree - it's in full bloom and lovely. Maybe tomorrow.
Frondly, Fern
Monday, March 23, 2020
Witching Away Covid 19
Blessings Darlings!
We're living in interesting times. Latest thing is the Covid 19 pandemic. I am one of the folks who thinks it's serious - but that's not what this post is about.
This post is about some of the magical responses to it, the 'let's get all the witches together and do magic to stop it!" approaches. There was one done last week. There was one done Saturday night. There's a call to do one this coming Sunday.
I understand the appeal of doing this. Times are scary and it feels good to try to heal the world. There's a lot of virtue signalling to it. There's the illusion of unity to it.
There's the illusion that this time it will be different - this one will actually work.
All the evidence is that all these group 'spell events' to solve problems don't work. The rate of increase of COVID spread hasn't slowed at all - showing that the one done last week didn't work. It's too early to evaluate if any changes in rate of spread has come from the one last Saturday, about 45 hours ago.
Let's throw in the data from the other big 'let's witch away the problem' spell things over the past year, to see if they worked.
* Did magic stop the fires in the Amazon? Nope - same amount of rain came, and the rate of arson there wasn't touched.
* Did magic stop the fires in Australia? Nope - again, a little rain occurred, but not enough to dent the drought (and if folks want to take 'credit' for the rain, do you think that they are going to accept the blame for the flooding that hard rain on burnt ground caused? I've not seen them do that, have you?)
Here's a map of the fires TODAY in Australia https://myfirewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au/map.html:
They aren't in the news anymore, and no one seems to be working to stop 'em any more - did the folks so concerned with them get bored? At any rate - they continue. Big time. The drought continues - big time. Record heat continues - big time.
WHY DOESN'T THIS STUFF WORK?
I'm so glad that you asked. There are several different IMPORTANT things at play here.
First - the aim is too broad. The Amazon valley is HUGE, as is Australia - as is the spread of the virus. Focus on a smaller area that is affected, even if that mean 'some gets left out'. Had folks worked on, say, ONE state, or part of a state, in Australia or the Amazon ... that would have helped a lot. AND been very visible to give them positive feedback. Magic may not exactly become 'diluted' over a larger area, but ... focus matters.
Second - no focus on stopping humans increasing the issues. With the Amazon fires, no work to stop the arson, so if fires went out there were immediately reset. In Covid 19, no work to keep people at home (other than 'oh, let's call for rain!) or to shelter the homeless. Nothing to get all the governors to shut down states, to help folks who need to pay bills, to get the US and other country leaders to shut down countries and give monetary help to individuals.
Third - ALL OF THEM ARE SET UP AS ONE-OFFS. That you will do the ritual once, and that's all it will take. The fires and Covid 19 have this huge amount of momentum, and folks have this illusion that they get take 3 minutes (literally three minutes for at least one of the 'group magics) and that will both stop the momentum and reverse the problem.
That's not how it works folks. And this is why I asked earlier if the folks working on the Australian fires had just gotten bored. Things like this need longer workings. In the case of Covid 19, it's reasonable that you'd need to do daily workings for at least the 15 days they say is minimum for quarantine. Better would be a full moon cycle.
Those are things that get ignored when doing big workings like this. Oh, there are other things, too, like unifying the group mind and such, but those are skill related, not approach related.
Frondly, Fern
We're living in interesting times. Latest thing is the Covid 19 pandemic. I am one of the folks who thinks it's serious - but that's not what this post is about.
This post is about some of the magical responses to it, the 'let's get all the witches together and do magic to stop it!" approaches. There was one done last week. There was one done Saturday night. There's a call to do one this coming Sunday.
I understand the appeal of doing this. Times are scary and it feels good to try to heal the world. There's a lot of virtue signalling to it. There's the illusion of unity to it.
There's the illusion that this time it will be different - this one will actually work.
All the evidence is that all these group 'spell events' to solve problems don't work. The rate of increase of COVID spread hasn't slowed at all - showing that the one done last week didn't work. It's too early to evaluate if any changes in rate of spread has come from the one last Saturday, about 45 hours ago.
Let's throw in the data from the other big 'let's witch away the problem' spell things over the past year, to see if they worked.
* Did magic stop the fires in the Amazon? Nope - same amount of rain came, and the rate of arson there wasn't touched.
* Did magic stop the fires in Australia? Nope - again, a little rain occurred, but not enough to dent the drought (and if folks want to take 'credit' for the rain, do you think that they are going to accept the blame for the flooding that hard rain on burnt ground caused? I've not seen them do that, have you?)
Here's a map of the fires TODAY in Australia https://myfirewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au/map.html:
They aren't in the news anymore, and no one seems to be working to stop 'em any more - did the folks so concerned with them get bored? At any rate - they continue. Big time. The drought continues - big time. Record heat continues - big time.
WHY DOESN'T THIS STUFF WORK?
I'm so glad that you asked. There are several different IMPORTANT things at play here.
First - the aim is too broad. The Amazon valley is HUGE, as is Australia - as is the spread of the virus. Focus on a smaller area that is affected, even if that mean 'some gets left out'. Had folks worked on, say, ONE state, or part of a state, in Australia or the Amazon ... that would have helped a lot. AND been very visible to give them positive feedback. Magic may not exactly become 'diluted' over a larger area, but ... focus matters.
Second - no focus on stopping humans increasing the issues. With the Amazon fires, no work to stop the arson, so if fires went out there were immediately reset. In Covid 19, no work to keep people at home (other than 'oh, let's call for rain!) or to shelter the homeless. Nothing to get all the governors to shut down states, to help folks who need to pay bills, to get the US and other country leaders to shut down countries and give monetary help to individuals.
Third - ALL OF THEM ARE SET UP AS ONE-OFFS. That you will do the ritual once, and that's all it will take. The fires and Covid 19 have this huge amount of momentum, and folks have this illusion that they get take 3 minutes (literally three minutes for at least one of the 'group magics) and that will both stop the momentum and reverse the problem.
That's not how it works folks. And this is why I asked earlier if the folks working on the Australian fires had just gotten bored. Things like this need longer workings. In the case of Covid 19, it's reasonable that you'd need to do daily workings for at least the 15 days they say is minimum for quarantine. Better would be a full moon cycle.
Those are things that get ignored when doing big workings like this. Oh, there are other things, too, like unifying the group mind and such, but those are skill related, not approach related.
Frondly, Fern
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Old Projects Day
Blessings Darlings!
On top of the usual cleaning and hauling manure - today I finally put together a cheap garden composter that I bought like 4+ years ago. Had to send the spawn to the storage locker to find it there before putting it together. It's REALLY cheap, but was REALLY easy to put together, now that I finally had the time and will.
I weeded the obvious junk mail out of the mail that the CH had thrown on the dining room table, and got some other stuff off of there. Might finish that tomorrow. Might not.
Maybe tomorrow I'll put the equally cheap 'greenhouse' together!
The purple dead nettles I wildcrafted yesterday cooked down to about a cup and a half total, even with the addition of wild garlic. I added half of it to my scrambled eggs to get one of my servings of veggies today. Tasted good, thank the Gods.
If it's not too rainy tomorrow, I hope to harvest wintercress from down the road from us.
Stock futures have opened - looks like it's going to be another bumpy day tomorrow. Buckle those seatbelts!
Frondly, Fern
On top of the usual cleaning and hauling manure - today I finally put together a cheap garden composter that I bought like 4+ years ago. Had to send the spawn to the storage locker to find it there before putting it together. It's REALLY cheap, but was REALLY easy to put together, now that I finally had the time and will.
I weeded the obvious junk mail out of the mail that the CH had thrown on the dining room table, and got some other stuff off of there. Might finish that tomorrow. Might not.
Maybe tomorrow I'll put the equally cheap 'greenhouse' together!
The purple dead nettles I wildcrafted yesterday cooked down to about a cup and a half total, even with the addition of wild garlic. I added half of it to my scrambled eggs to get one of my servings of veggies today. Tasted good, thank the Gods.
If it's not too rainy tomorrow, I hope to harvest wintercress from down the road from us.
Stock futures have opened - looks like it's going to be another bumpy day tomorrow. Buckle those seatbelts!
Frondly, Fern
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Haul manure, bake bread (but wash up well between those actions)
Blessings Darlings!
Still working on hauling manure to the garden. I expect that this will take a month of work, since I'm out of shape and not hauling much per day. Garden will be very happy ... eventually. Until then, my tendonitis will be whiny.
Yesterday's temperature hit 81F here, and beautifully sunny but windy. Today it is only 49F, and cloudy, but at least the wind is calm. Life seems less surreal with the cloudiness, somehow.
Went to the store to pick up my meds refills. Virtually out of all meat and frozen foods. Out of head lettuce, but did have leaf lettuce. Almost out of paper towels and toilet paper, probably rationing them but I didn't check. Staff there said mornings are still totally crazy.
On the way home I stopped at a park and walked around for a while, then hit the empty area where they hope to build a new library and harvested some purple dead nettles. I think I'll make crepes filled with them soon.
Today's cleaning project was our bedroom. Got all of it done, which makes me happy. Also did one load of laundry and line dried it. Tomorrow - more work on the kitchen or dining room, along with manure hauling. Maybe put together the composter or the cheapie greenhouse.
Started re-reading Byron Ballard's "Earth Works: Ceremonies in Tower Time". She did an online Ostara ritual today, which I missed.
Sorry I'm not doing Thoreau-level blogging, folks. Not inspired to do that at this time. Feel I should be doing SOMETHING, but this is kinda it.
Frondly, Fern
Still working on hauling manure to the garden. I expect that this will take a month of work, since I'm out of shape and not hauling much per day. Garden will be very happy ... eventually. Until then, my tendonitis will be whiny.
Yesterday's temperature hit 81F here, and beautifully sunny but windy. Today it is only 49F, and cloudy, but at least the wind is calm. Life seems less surreal with the cloudiness, somehow.
Went to the store to pick up my meds refills. Virtually out of all meat and frozen foods. Out of head lettuce, but did have leaf lettuce. Almost out of paper towels and toilet paper, probably rationing them but I didn't check. Staff there said mornings are still totally crazy.
On the way home I stopped at a park and walked around for a while, then hit the empty area where they hope to build a new library and harvested some purple dead nettles. I think I'll make crepes filled with them soon.
Today's cleaning project was our bedroom. Got all of it done, which makes me happy. Also did one load of laundry and line dried it. Tomorrow - more work on the kitchen or dining room, along with manure hauling. Maybe put together the composter or the cheapie greenhouse.
Started re-reading Byron Ballard's "Earth Works: Ceremonies in Tower Time". She did an online Ostara ritual today, which I missed.
Sorry I'm not doing Thoreau-level blogging, folks. Not inspired to do that at this time. Feel I should be doing SOMETHING, but this is kinda it.
Frondly, Fern
Friday, March 20, 2020
Unemployment Fail
Blessings Darlings!
Morning update:
The online filing for unemployment site is failing due to so many folks using it. Will try later today again. Spawn got thru' earlier this week, he's set up and will get the debit card in a few weeks.
Didn't get thru' all the To Do list yesterday, but got SOME done on everything. Might go back to manure hauling today, but the mud IS intimidating. So doing housework. DAMN that shower stall is clean!
Got more stressed about the whole thing late yesterday, enough so that it made it hard to sleep. If that happens again tonight, and if I still haven't gotten thru' the unemployment site - I'll do it at 2 am. And probably clean more.
Morning update:
The online filing for unemployment site is failing due to so many folks using it. Will try later today again. Spawn got thru' earlier this week, he's set up and will get the debit card in a few weeks.
Didn't get thru' all the To Do list yesterday, but got SOME done on everything. Might go back to manure hauling today, but the mud IS intimidating. So doing housework. DAMN that shower stall is clean!
Got more stressed about the whole thing late yesterday, enough so that it made it hard to sleep. If that happens again tonight, and if I still haven't gotten thru' the unemployment site - I'll do it at 2 am. And probably clean more.
Husband just asked "What will we do about filling the cars? Pushing those buttons, using that HANDLE?"
Breath.
1 - we're not going anywhere.
2 - the cars have gas
3 - here are wipes I bought years ago - add some water to the package and use them. BTW -
4 - Here are wipes I made with paper towels and alcohol
5 - here are more of the gloves YOU USED YESTERDAY.
Afternoon update:
Them senators who sold stocks instead of warning and preparing the US need to get prosecuted.
Dinner tonight is chicken and dumplings, with leftover chicken and wild garlic greens. Used a drop biscuit recipe for the dumplings and also made my first batch of drop biscuits with half the recipe. Successful attempt!
Again - did a lot today, but never as much as I'd hoped to get done. Bored during this at home time? Oh hell no.
Frondly, Fern
Them senators who sold stocks instead of warning and preparing the US need to get prosecuted.
Dinner tonight is chicken and dumplings, with leftover chicken and wild garlic greens. Used a drop biscuit recipe for the dumplings and also made my first batch of drop biscuits with half the recipe. Successful attempt!
Again - did a lot today, but never as much as I'd hoped to get done. Bored during this at home time? Oh hell no.
Frondly, Fern
Thursday, March 19, 2020
As If
Blessings, Darlings!
As if there is anything ELSE to do when unemployed due to the Corona virus pandemic, I suppose I might start blogging again.
Or get my garden well started, even if it's a bit early.
We're financially privileged enough that we'll get thru' my being unemployed (especially since I'll be applying for unemployment with in the next 12 hours) - the Chubby Hubby is over 70, and now on Social Security. But as you might have noticed from his (and my) age, we are in at risk ages. And the Spawn has asthma. So I'm happy that the Spawn and I are now home (we worked in the same restaurant.)
Oh - we live in the first town in West Virginia to officially have a case of Covid 19. I'm sure I'll blog about that 'officially' thing sometime.
But first I have a cake in the oven, and seeds to start, and I really need to set up a new schedule for myself now that I'm not working nights. I might choose to start getting up earlier, now that I don't get home at 11 pm and want to eat and otherwise transition after getting home.
At any rate - I'm likely to blog more, but it's likely to be boring stuff like what I did in the garden and what I cooked. With occasional rants on 'why did folks clean out the dry beans from the stores, but not buy any spices to use on them?' and such.
As if there is anything ELSE to do when unemployed due to the Corona virus pandemic, I suppose I might start blogging again.
Or get my garden well started, even if it's a bit early.
We're financially privileged enough that we'll get thru' my being unemployed (especially since I'll be applying for unemployment with in the next 12 hours) - the Chubby Hubby is over 70, and now on Social Security. But as you might have noticed from his (and my) age, we are in at risk ages. And the Spawn has asthma. So I'm happy that the Spawn and I are now home (we worked in the same restaurant.)
Oh - we live in the first town in West Virginia to officially have a case of Covid 19. I'm sure I'll blog about that 'officially' thing sometime.
But first I have a cake in the oven, and seeds to start, and I really need to set up a new schedule for myself now that I'm not working nights. I might choose to start getting up earlier, now that I don't get home at 11 pm and want to eat and otherwise transition after getting home.
At any rate - I'm likely to blog more, but it's likely to be boring stuff like what I did in the garden and what I cooked. With occasional rants on 'why did folks clean out the dry beans from the stores, but not buy any spices to use on them?' and such.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
AGAIN - COMPETENCE TRUMPS INTENT
Blessings Darlings!
I know that I keep harping on this fact - but your 'intent' doesn't mean a dang thing if you are too incompetent to formulate a working plan to pull it off. In fact, it is likely to totally backfire on you.
Last night I watched another prime example on why magical or mundane 'intent' is always - ALWAYS - trumped by magical or mundane COMPETENCE.
It was especially entertaining since it was aimed at me.
I know that I keep harping on this fact - but your 'intent' doesn't mean a dang thing if you are too incompetent to formulate a working plan to pull it off. In fact, it is likely to totally backfire on you.
Last night I watched another prime example on why magical or mundane 'intent' is always - ALWAYS - trumped by magical or mundane COMPETENCE.
It was especially entertaining since it was aimed at me.
Someone I had been "energetically disagreeing with" in one group
followed me to another group, and stated in her first post in the second
group that her intent was to get me booted from it. Now, that was a
GREAT statement of intent. Clear and measurable. Props for that
statement of intent.
She then proceeded to make a fool of herself in the second group, repeatedly violating the rules of that group, and pissing off one of the admins. Thus she got booted.
The thing about measurable intent is that it also makes it easy to measure failure. In a very short time, she was booted by the admins, rather than me being booted by the admins. Her white knight, who had been stirring shit, was also booted - by a different admin (blocking admins in that group is a bootable action, and she blocked him.)
She was incompetent in her actions. Accusing me of doing something that was not against the rules off either the FB group or of FB is NOT going to work at getting someone booted. Or, at least so far, getting me even 'suspended' from FB (OF COURSE it helps that I don't fit the demographics of folks that FB tends to suspend. I have a pretty high level of privilege).
Let me repeat the lesson: COMPETENCE TRUMPS INTENT. Every day of every week.
Frondly, Fern
She then proceeded to make a fool of herself in the second group, repeatedly violating the rules of that group, and pissing off one of the admins. Thus she got booted.
The thing about measurable intent is that it also makes it easy to measure failure. In a very short time, she was booted by the admins, rather than me being booted by the admins. Her white knight, who had been stirring shit, was also booted - by a different admin (blocking admins in that group is a bootable action, and she blocked him.)
She was incompetent in her actions. Accusing me of doing something that was not against the rules off either the FB group or of FB is NOT going to work at getting someone booted. Or, at least so far, getting me even 'suspended' from FB (OF COURSE it helps that I don't fit the demographics of folks that FB tends to suspend. I have a pretty high level of privilege).
Let me repeat the lesson: COMPETENCE TRUMPS INTENT. Every day of every week.
Frondly, Fern
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