“Lord, Protect My Child…”

   This phrase,” Lord, protect my child” was taken from an obscure Bob DYLAN composition It will become my newest prayer/mantra as today I feel pain for two families. Over the last few years we, my bride of 50 years and I, have been fortunate enough to retire. Before leaving our jobs we purchased a “second/vacation” home. There, at the idyllic place, over the course of many visits we became acquainted to other couples who enjoy the same benefits of getting away for the home base for a little while. Over time we became closer to these folks. 

   Within the last 12 hours I received two separate texts from/about each of those two families. Both families separately lost a son, sons who were grown men with families. The circumstances are vague to me at this moment but regardless I feel pain, not the pain they are experienced but pain nonetheless. My boys are both men, each strong and healthy in his own rite but I do go to sleep at night, every night praying…”Lord, protect my child” and I extend that to every one’s child. And to those who lost child, I pray for you.

   Usually, I am not at a loss for words when I see these couples, it is light banter thrown in with a few comments about how we look, are aging or about our favorite team beating their’s. Yet I know this time it will be very difficult to express my emotions to those whose heart actually breaks.

The whole world is asleep

You can look at it and weep

Few things you find are worthwhile

And though I don’t ask for much

No material things to touch

Lord, protect my child

(1983:BOB DYLAN)

 IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE: 1977

DECEMBER 30: THE PATTI SMITH GROUP with RICHARD HELL and THE VOID OIDS/THE ERASERS at the newly re-named “CBGB’s Theatre” on Second Avenue, the old Anderson Theatre. My brother and I, with a growing angry crowd, spent a very cold night outside waiting to get in. I had my usual pack of Marlboro Reds and we shared a bottle or two of wine. After an unusual delay the doors finally opened to find the theatre had limited if any heat, poor(no )plumbing and limited services, none. The usher led us to a nasty looking broken seat but it was close to the stage on the right. WE, my brother and I were primed and ready to go. The ERASERS a band we saw a few times at CBGB’s and MAX’s opened and did not disappoint. Funny note: you could see frost coming from the singers mouth, it was so cold in this freaking dirt hole. Then RICHARD HELL and The V.O’s hit the stage with “Blank Generation”. This is going great, but I’m still freezing. Then the PATTI SMITH GROUP ripped it up opening with The Velvet’s “We’Re Gonna Have A Real Good Time Together”, “Ask The Angels’,”Kimberly”(my bro’s fav), “We Three”. “Till Victory”, we are rocking now, this place is nuts. Then, a Ronette’s cover, “Be My Baby”,”Pumping My Heart”,Patti slows the pace with “Ghost Dance” and I’m getting so excited knowing this is going to be a blast as we get closer to the end except for all the NYPD officers and NYFD uniforms suddenly walking about the place. Patti addresses the crowd talking about a new song she recorded and then she introduces BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN who joins the band to perform “Because The Night”. This is followed by “25th Floor” and then the crowd, we, collectively sing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our host, Patti Smith. But something is amiss as the NYPD and NYFD are now on the stage, not joining in the chorus. As we conclude the birthday song the NYFD closed the place down by announcing the numerous fire code violations. Patti, the diplomat, beseeched the courtesy of one more song, really two “Radio Ethiopia’ and "RnR N” if everyone promised to leave in an orderly fashion, which we did, slowly. She invited everyone to meet her over to CBGB’s to continue the party which was a mob scene so we headed home as my brother had a doctor’s appointment the next day.

December 31: We, my brother, his date, my wife, and I had tickets for NEW YEAR’s EVE at My Father’s Place in Roslyn featuring ROBERT GORDON. Earlier in the day my brother had a procedure in North Shore Hospital. At about 6pm he called me to tell me he had cancer and had to stay for testing.

In the blink of an eye…everything changes…

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 THE TRANSITION DIARY:

November 12, 2020: 69 Days To Go.

THE TRANSITION: Yesterday, PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN picked his Chief of Staff,RON KLAIN, an experienced White House member having served as Chief of Staff under VP Joe Biden and VP AL GORE. President-Elect Biden also got a slight nod from GOP Governor MIKE DeWINE of Ohio. Senate Oversight Committee member JAMES LANKFORD (R) suggested he expected BIDEN to receive the presidential briefing which are granted to incoming presidents by FRIDAY, otherwise he would need to step in. Meanwhile, except for a brief VETERAN’S DAY showing, President Trump is nowhere to be found. 

HEALTH CARE:Speaking of nowhere to be found, President Trump has not taken any direct action nor commented on the record number of new COVID-19 cases. Yesterday, a new record high of 142,856 cases occurred with 1431 deaths. That’s a total of 10.5 million cases in the US since the outbreak and 242,000 deaths.

GLOBAL ALLIANCES:Yesterday, President-Elect Biden spoke individually with the leaders from AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, and SOUTH KOREA in an attempt to strengthen our global alliances. He specifically addressed with Japan his and their concerns regarding the aggressive stance recently taken by CHINA.

WALL STREET: (November 11) DOW 29,397.63 and NASDAQ was 11,786.43

The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 THE TRANSITION DIARY:

November 11, 2020: VETERAN’S DAY: 70 Days To Go

It’s a week and one day (Nov 10) since ELECTION DAY and by all calls JOE BIDEN is the President Elect. The lame duck president (#45) DONALD J. TRUMP continues his quest to find inaccuracies, improprieties, and have the election  or at least thousands of votes tossed out. As much as I have a hard time agreeing with #45, I do think he has the right to check the results of those close races. Recounts should and in some states are taking place. Biden’s leads in Pennsylvania by 45,000;Arizona 17,000;Georgia,12,000 and Michigan 147,000 votes. However…no matter what the outcomes President Elect Biden will have more than the needed 270 electoral votes, probably 306.

THE TRANSITION is in gear, not high gear but definitely rolling along. It continues to be obvious that #45 will do everything at his disposal to make President Biden’s first few months if not first few years difficult to govern. Some (NYT) claim Trump’s departure akin to a “scorch and burn” approach. The GOP is full steam ahead in preparing a budget (under Trump), and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed on November 10 that he anticipates a “smooth transition to a second Trump administration”.

HEALTH CARE: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 aka OBAMACARE has reached the SUPREME COURT for the third time. TRUMP’S promise to “repeal and replace” the ACA will probably again reach a dead end as Justices Roberts and Kavunaugh have alluded to  skepticism regarding any unconstitutionality of the act. The hearing will continue.

GLOBAL ALLIANCES: There looms an uncertainty regarding #45’s last ten weeks in office and what he will do internationally.His “legacy of chaos” may continue. Biden, on the other hand will have a major task at hand, Day 1, in repairing broken alliances, undoing damages done, and in general trying to put the USA in a better place world wide. Biden plans to rejoin the PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT, revisit the IRAN NUCLEAR deal, remain in the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, commit to NATO, end the tariff trade war with CHINA, and attempt to mend the fence with our “very dishonest and weak” (Trump quote regarding PM Trudeau) CANADA. In my opinion, the China deal would best be served by the US revising, with the assistance of many countries, our tariffs in general.

The TRUMP ADMINISTRATION approved a $23 billion weapons package for the UAE (United Arab Emirates). However, this notification was sent to Congress on what is a 30 day period in which Congress can block the sale. Let’s see what happens.

WALL STREET: (November 10) DOW 29,420.92 and NASDAQ was 11,553.96

The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 November 10, 2020:  71 Days To Go

The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

THE TRANSITION:Six days after the election, Joe Biden has won the electoral vote and overwhelmingly took the (aggregate)popular vote despite the unfounded claims of voter fraud and the unsubstantiated claims of improprieties in specific states made by Donald Trump. Trump refusing to accept his new role as lame duck president will not gracefully concede the election AND will not offer any assistance for a smooth transition despite the fact that his reign is basically over. Last night, Monday, November 9, 2020, President Trump fired DEFENSE SECRETARY MARK ESPER, a curious move to say the least. Most lame duck presidents leave key officials in place to help with a smooth transition of power.ESPER on numerous occasions received Trump’s wrath for not ordering troops in to areas with domestic uprising during the summer months.

COVID-19 Task force of 12 members was announced by President-Elect Joe Biden. Biden suggests a face mask mandate but will defer to the governors first. PFIZER  Corporation which despite Trump administration claims of government financial assistance, fully funded their own study and announced their vaccine could be 90% effective. ELI LILLY Corporation also announced successes with their in home I-V antibody serum used to treat mild to moderate positive cases. The drug has been authorized to use in “emergency” situations.

The EUROPEAN UNION (EU) on November 9, 2020 would impose $4 Billion in tariffs on US goods and services over the illegal aid the US gave to Boeing (against Air-Bus). This tariff as awarded by the WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO). The EU expressed hope that trade ties would improve when Donald Trump leaves office. They see BIDEN’s victory as an opportunity to take a new approach to trade relationships and to solve the trade conflict with the United States.

The DOW jumped up 2.9% (834.57) to reach 29157.97 upon the news of a possible vaccine and the determination of the election. It appears WALL ST.  embraces the idea of a moderate BIDEN presidency checked by a (possible) GOP SENATE (barring Dems sweep in Georgia runoff).

 November 11, 2020:  70 Days To Go -

THE END OF AN ERROR: Part 2

Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted”.

SLOGANS,REPETITIONS, and THE VERBIAGE of #45

Of the last 15 Presidents, over 90 years worth of speeches tested, our fearless  soon to be ex-president had the worst vocabulary of his predecessors. Using the FLESCH-KINCAID Grade Level Scale, as well as other diagnostics, #45used the fewest syllables (1.33 per word) and fewest unique words (2605) of any president since HOOVER. His own National Security Advisor  H.R. McMaster( whom #45 hired and fired along with many others) called #45 “an idiot” with the intelligence of a Kindergartener.

Politicians like to speak in a “folksy” manner, keeping phrases short and sweet. #45 is no exception. He considered himself to be a “stable genius” and enjoys communicating with the masses. But, What is a “covfefe”? I will certainly miss his down home funky style. I will miss everything he disagrees with (science/facts/etc) being a “total hoax” perpetrated by “fake news”. I will miss his “We” versus “They” innuendo. And his “complimentary” comments about others abilities, “He’s a ….. guy” (fill in the blank: great, loser, stupid) or the way everyone is “incredible” until they are not any longer needed. Hopefully, we (me) will never have to hear him say “huge” again. 

So, the Great Communicator, the Master of Superlatives and Repetition has left the arena…

The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate. 

71 Days To Go: THE END OF AN ERROR (Part 1)

 I guess it is time to post some thoughts and queries again. I haven't been here in quite some time, actually spending time writing on another avenue. However, the politics of the times made me return here. 

First this: The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

THE JAZZ BUS@gmail.com

November 10, 2020:  71 Days To Go -Part 1

THE END OF AN ERROR

Revelation 13:5: "The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months.”

Unfortunately,THE BEAST overstayed the 42 months and lasted 4 years.I say, Hallelujah, and good riddance. The persona of pride and arrogance will be forced to leave the arena and I’m sure Republicans, those who applaud justice, those that have the fear of God in their souls, and those who truly love The United States of America are happy.  Happy that The GOP can now redefine what they stand for and they will no longer need to tolerate #45 with his incendiary behavior and statements. His reign of terror,his bullying, will be over. Those who dared to stand in “his” way quickly suffered his wrath. The jockeying for control as well as for the future of the GOP can now begin. #45 dragged the party down and it may have cost those running for the Senate in Georgia their seats. In effect because of the GOP senators tolerance and/or fear of the “man in charge” they as a party could possibly lose control of the Senate.

So,again as after all elections The USA begins anew.

PS: My guess is that #45 will be the first living President not to attend #46’s inauguration, just another classless act by him. And I’m betting his wife Melania will leave him in two years time.