COVID Conspiracy

Posted on by Thor

Steven Brandenburg a pharmacist in Wisconsin was arrested for intentionally leaving out 57 vials of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine from cold storage.  The viles were left them out for 12 hours, possibly rendering them useless. Each vial contained 10 doses; in total, the material was worth $8,550 to $11,400, according to a probable cause statement by Grafton police Detective Sargent Eric Sutherland.

In a probable cause statement obtained by CNN affiliate WTMJ, authorities say the pharmacist admitted to investigators he believed in conspiracy theories and believed “the COVID-19 vaccine was not safe for people and could harm them and change their DNA.”

People were given shots with the doses that had been sabotaged by the pharmacist. It is believed they will have no ill side effects from being injected with the damaged vaccine but they are likely not protected from the virus. Tests need to be done on the doses to determine if they are indeed ineffective after being removed from cold storage. The pharmacist was fired from the Advocate Aurora Health hospital system

50 Legislators Infected

Posted on by Thor

As of December 30, 2020, Ballotpedia identified 50 United States politicians, candidates, and government officials at the federal level who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. One Federal Politician, 7 state politicians and 4 local politicians have died from COVID-19.

Seven members of the U.S. Senate have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as have 33 members of Congress. Four members of Congress have died from the virus.

Luke Letlow, a representative of Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District died December 20, 2020 and Stephen F. Williams of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit died August 7, 2020, Virginia State Senator Ben Chafin died on January 1, 2021 due to COVID-19.

Mike Pence swore in 6 new Senators on January 3, 2021, “Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic?” he asked each in turn. Senators who would typically be gathered in full on the Senate floor were spaced, and many were not in attendance due to COVID-19.

As Americans continue to die at a rate of several thousand every day, the POTUS is only obsessed with a seditious attempt to overthrow the election results. He has pledged to fight when Congress meets on January 6, 2021 to formally count the votes of the Electoral College. Several GOP lawmakers signed a letter pledging to object to the results unless Congress investigates the election before they counted. The effort is sure to fail in the Democratic-controlled House and likely in the Senate, where several Republicans led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have warned colleagues not to challenge the Electoral College vote. A group of nearly a dozen Senators announced they would join the effort unless an “emergency 10-day audit” of the election returns in the “disputed states” is completed.

This waste of time by seditious Senators and Congressmen is likely just an attempt to build a name for themselves as they think ahead to future elections. The nations capitol is bracing for violence as MAGA marchers gather to disrupt the city. Posts on the new far right social media site Parler, indicate that January 6 is in line with the QAnon conspiracy pseudo-religion that thinks President Trump is building a “storm” that will wash away his enemies. It’s seen as a “final stand” for many of Trump’s supporters. Trump who is encouraging protestors to DC said the day “will be wild.” Rep Gomer Pile (R) Texas, said that a court’s refusal to force Mike Pence to overturn the presidential election results essentially served as a call to Americans to incite violence in the streets. Signs are being erected in DC stating that open carry of guns is illegal in the capital. The time for racist groups and militias to “Stand back and stand by” has expired.

Crealde Urban Sketching Class

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My Crealde School of Art, Urban Sketching Class had three students on this Sunday. It was raining so we couldn’t sketch outside the studio. I decided that if each student has their own table then there should be about six feet between them. I also decided to leave the studio door open for a cross breeze.

We focused on sketching the studio itself by using the perspective lessons I has taught and also to capture as many fellow students as we could. I did this quick sketch as a sample. You might notice a straight line across the image, I put that in to demonstrate that each students eyes were about the same height above the floor and therefor straight across the page.

This sketch was also done to demonstrate the idea of pools of light. I darkened the walls as they receded into the corner of the room and added a spot light effect to add a center of interest. The room was lit with florescent lights so this effect was not very pronounced but I pushed it in my sketch.

I have one more class to teach this Sunday January 20, 2020. All of my students have been really talented and they take my premise for each class and make it there own. Classes will resume again starting Sunday January 24, 2020.

Universal at Capacity

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Universal Studios Florida and Island of Adventure reached capacity within 10 minutes on December 30, 2020. The parks have been filling up every day since December 27, 2020. It’s likely this streak of reaching capacity could continue into the beginning of 2021.

The parks are running at 35% capacity, but any notions of social distancing seem to have been thrown out the door by guests waiting to enter the parks from the parking structure. In videos I watched an occasional visitor could be seen without a mask or wearing the mask as a chin strap.

Universal actually sent out a tweet asking guests to make other plans if they are flexible… “We expect our theme parks will reach capacity very early in the day on Wednesday, December 30th. If your plans are flexible, please consider visiting another day. Before your visit, check our social channels or call the capacity hotline at 407-817-8317 for real-time updates.”

  • Guests and team members are required to wear face coverings
  • Guests and team members are required to undergo temperature checks. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater will not be able to enter Universal City Walk or the theme parks
  • Staggered parking within the parking garage to help create distance between travel groups
  • Limiting and reducing daily park attendance and attraction ridership in Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure
  • Increasing cleaning and disinfection of food locations, ride vehicles and other frequent “touch points” that go beyond our already-aggressive cleaning procedures
  • Social distancing at all locations through the parks, to include attractions, shows, restaurants and merchandise locations
  • Having Virtual Line™ experiences available for select attractions
  • Offering contact less payments and “no touch” policies where possible

Wacky Wavy New Year

Posted on by Thor

Back when I lived in New York City, I remember seeing a show with a friend which let out just moments before midnight on New Year’s Eve. We walked out on the immense crowd in Times Square. There is an energy to being in such a crowd that is hard to define. It must be experienced in person. At the stoke of midnight the ball dropped and the song, New York New York began to play. We ripped up out programs to add to the confetti of the evening.

Last night Pam and I rang in the New Year while doing family history research on the couch. I knew the ball drop would be virtual so we turned on the TV ten minutes before midnight. fireworks were gong off all night in our neighborhood and the dogs sought comfort by curling up on the couch beside us.

The images of a largely deserted Times Square were surreal. Even more surreal was the choice event sponsors made to populate the once crowded event with Wachy Wavy Inflatable Tube Men. The tube men bore advertising as did every screen in Times Square. As the clock counted down in the final moments a truck ad played below the countdown clock. It was a strange way to visually ring in the new year but we made it better with a very real cup of prosecco champagne and a kiss.

Virtual Ball Drop

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Times Square is empty on New Years Eve. As the number of coronavirus cases continues to climb across the country, event organizers will host a virtual ball-dropping celebration.

Police   have set up a perimeter around Times Square to keep spectators out. Garbage trucks and buses are parked at intersections to keep vehicular traffic out. There will be no public spectator viewing areas. Even people in local hotels are being told to stay inside.

The event will be broadcast online. The ball will be raised at approximately 6 p.m. to the top of One Times Square. There will be musical performances by Andra Day, Gloria Gaynor, Jimmie Allen, Machine Gun Kelly, the USO Show Troupe and more. Additionally, first responders, front-line and essential workers will be celebrated as special guests and heroes of 2020. They will be some of the privileged few to celebrate the new year from Times Square.

Mayor Bill de Blasio will press the button to send the Waterford Crystal ball on its one minute descent and finally the horror of 2020 will come to an end. Last year when the ball dropped, the first case of COVID-19 were just being reported.

The New Year’s Eve ball has dropped every year since 1907, except in 1942 and 1943, when the dropping was suspended because of the city black-out during World War II.Even then people gathered in the dark to celebrate. COVID-19 has created a much greater black out on social gatherings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people to stay home and celebrate virtually with friends and family. The COVID-19 death toll is projected to be as high as 419,000 by mid-January.

COVID Prayer

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A California man murdered a fellow COVID-19 patient with an oxygen tank. 37 year old, Jesse Martinez became upset when the 82-year-old man sharing his hospital room started praying, according to Los Angeles police.

Martinez allegedly grabbed an oxygen tank and bludgeoned the elderly patient.

The victim died the following day.

The police said the two men did not know each other, and they were receiving treatment for coronavirus in a two-person room in Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster in southern California.

Jesse Martinez, was arrested and charged with murder, a hate crime enhancement and elder abuse,” a statement read. The victim has not been identified. Martinez was moved from the hospital room to a jail cell and is expected to appear in court in Antelope Valley on Monday December 28, 2020. The investigation is ongoing.

Pre-Pandemic: Auditions for Chess Match at Orlando Renaissance Festival

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I went to Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave., Orlando Florida to sketch the auditions for Chess Match at Orlando Renaissance Festival. The show, produced by Lance was a stage combat production which was the headline show in the Orlando Renaissance Festival, and was comprised of over 20 roles (both combat and non-combat oriented) that will brought the epic lore of the Grimm Brother’s Fairy-tales to life in a Living Chess Match. No experience was required. 

The rehearsal took place on a scenic lake side spot at the edge of a forest. Groups of actors were selected to go through scenes together. I got to watch various actors go through the same scenes and I fell in love with certain performances. It was a fun and inspiring morning.

Pam came with me with her two pups and walked them around the park while I worked. One actor had his pup with him as they watched the rehearsal. By the time Pam returned I was finishing up the sketch. My challenge was to catch the ever changing crowd of actors as the moved around the open field performing.

The Orlando Renaissance Festival announced that the 2020 Orlando Renaissance Festival has been cancelled. This decision was not been made lightly, and was made with the safety of guests, participants, and workers in mind. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they closely monitored the situation, and they do not believe that we would be able to operate safely this year and in full compliance with local ordinances.

They will be returning in December of 2021! They were prepared to open a second week of operation in honor of the 5th anniversary, and they do plan to move forward with that in 2021. Our dates for 2021 are December 4-5, 10-12, 2021.

This year, (2020) they plan to premiere a virtual event on Zoom and Facebook Live on  December 5-6, 2020.  The event is free of charge to participants and patrons, and is their way of offering an opportunity for  all to come together and experience the magic of the festival.

 

Pre-Pandemic: HoodSTOCK-in tribute to 1969

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I went to Nora’s Sugar Shack to witness HoodSTOCK, In tribute to 1969!The event happened mostly behind the Sugar Shakc in partnership with Mills 50 and the Ivanhoe Village Community.

The events over the course of four days were to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Woodstock. Local creatives were showcased from Orlando through music, art, performance, spoken word, film, dance, and more.

Attendees could obtain special discount offerings on food, drink, services, and products. Also, Hoodstock was opening the conversation about establishing a permanent location for street performers, and buskers to perform in the future.

I went hoping to sketch one of the many musicians but I timed it wrong.  Vendors were just beginning to set up in the parking lot and attendance was light. My assumption is that it might have gotten much more crowded as the evening wore on. I miss these innocent days of documenting local gatherings. Hopefully after vaccines, life will slowly return to normal.

The POTUS has announced that he intends to hold a Woodstock style rally right here in Florida on the same day Joe Biden is inaugurated. Prepare for the super spreader event of the century! They are bound to have mind altering drugs!

Not a Creature was Stirring

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Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. – Clement Clarke Moore.

Crede Baily, a top White House security employee who contracted the coronavirus has lost his right foot and lower leg in his three-month battle against COVID-19. Crede who is in charge of the White House security office, was the most severely ill among dozens of coronavirus cases known to be connected to the White House, Bloomberg News reported.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  invited 900 people for a mid-December holiday party to be held indoors at the State Department. Only 75 mindless souls sent back RSVPs. The State Department canceled its holiday party on December 16, 2020 after Pompeo was forced to go into quarantine after exposure to someone with the coronavirus.

The formerly infected POTUS arranged 20 indoor holiday parties at the White House despite the CDC saying such events pose a great risk of COVID-19 transmission. Videos and photos taken at these parties show many guests not wearing masks. Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis, who posted a photo of herself at a party December 4, 2020, has tested positive. It is unclear whether Ellis posed a risk when she attended. She did not wear a mask. If she was infectious then the White House hosted yet another superspreader. Ellis likely caught the virus from Rudy Giuliani in Lansing, Michigan at an Election Integrity Hearing.