Breach

Posted on by Thor

A former 51 year old Capitol Police Chief who was on duty the day of the Capitol riot was reported to have died by suicide. Howard Liebengood was assigned to the Senate division and was with the department since 2005.

The Capitol Police are a 2000 strong force tasked with protecting the capitol complex. They were under staffed and officers didn’t have any riot gear. The huge crowd was able to push right through the flimsy security fencing.

For weeks online sites had been warning of possible violence. Yet the department of homeland security and capitol police ignored the warning signs. There was an intelligent failure. The Pentagon had offered additional National Guard troops but the offer was refused. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser put out signage that “Under federal law, it is illegal to possess firearms on the US Capitol grounds and on National Park Service areas, such as Freedom Plaza, the Ellipse, and the National Mall.”  There were clear indications that January 6, 2021 would be as Trump put it in his invitation, “Wild.” Bullet holes have been found coming from outside the Capitol through windows.

Trump was upset that the mob looked “low class.” Rioters came to the Capitol with lead pipes and pepper spray. One had several hand guns and an assault rifle and ammunition his vehicle. Some rioters had on bullet proof vests and carried zip ties to restrain the limbs of legislators. These more militarized rioters knew the layout of the Capitol building and quickly found the Senate and Congress chambers and the office of Nancy Peloci and others. The plan was to hang Mike Pence and others. An investigation will likely show that these insurrectionists were given inside information. Legislators had to cower behind closed doors hoping for help that didn’t come for hours. Video shows some Capitol police posing for selfies and letting protestors into the building.

The Department of Justice offered federal law enforcement help to the Capitol Police as the situation deteriorated, but the Capitol force was slow to accept the offer. As many as 60 Capitol Police officers were injured, including 15 who were hospitalized and one officer, Brian D. Sicknick, was murdered by a terrorist who struck him with a fire extinguisher.

A former Department of Homeland Security official said that a reserve force should have been staged out of sight, to be able to respond if the situation spiraled out of the police’s control. Once the rioters moved on the building, “They should have had a very visible presence, with cops in riot gear,” the official said. “You use overwhelming force. You declare it an unlawful assembly. And you immediately begin implementing crowd control techniques. None of that was done.  Which stands in stark contrast to how Black Lives Matter Protestors were tear gassed and beaten for a photo op by Trump in front of a church.

One rioter was shot by a Capitol Police officer as she forced her way into the building toward the House Chamber where Members of Congress were sheltering in place. The rioters were close to smashing open a door and she leaped up through an open window and was immediately shot. Three other rioters died. Police identified them as Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania; Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama; and Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Georgia. There are many ways to get injured in an insurrection.

In America over 4,000 people are now dying every day due to COVID-19. Flags throughout D.C. are at half mast for those lost in the Capitol riot. Only the flag above the White House, where Trump is hiding, is not at half mast. Trump invited the insurrection and needs to be removed from office immediately. Another attack by emboldened rioters is being planned later this week in D.C. Perhaps the treat will be considered seriously this time.

Coward’s Coup

Posted on by Thor

Donald Trump called followers to Washington D.C. for a “Wild” time. He had been feeding then lies about how his election had been stolen for weeks. When Trump incited his protestors at the White House, he claimed he would walk beside then to the Capitol where ballots were being counted and confirmed. However when he go off the stage he slipped away to watch the protest unfold on TV fro the comfort of the White House.

Trump likely considers the seditious coup attempt as a win. He celebrated the unfolding violence like a football fan cheering on his team. His cult followers succeeded in forcing their way into the capitol and they all walked away to brag about their exploits in various D.C. hotel lobbies. Few protestors were arrested in the capitol the few arrests that did happen came afterwards because of a curfew instated by the mayor of D.C. Muriel Bowser.

Senators and congressmen were whisked away just moments before the cambers were breached. On congressman knew the head of the National Guard in Maryland and he called for help. Help would not come until approval was granted from higher up, namely the presidential office. Hours passes with no such approval but Mike Pence finally stepped in to get troops on the ground. Violent insurrection works, and Trump and his followers will try again. Protestors are only concerned that they didn’t do more damage to the democracy. Rumors circulated that they wanted to hang Mike Pence and a noose was hung from a gallows outside the capitol building. Terrorists had zip ties to restrain any legislators they found. It is pure luck that legislators escaped a far worse fate. Trump was hoping for authoritarian control of the government but the cult followers didn’t know what to do once they got inside the capitol. The anarchy had no focus, much like the POTUS’s own disjointed approach to everything.

Some Capitol police simply invited the terrorists into the Capitol while others held their ground at all costs. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund said late Thursday January 14, 2021 that he would resign, hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for him to be fired for the extraordinary security failure. Senate Sergeant at Arms, Michael Stenger, and House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, will leave his position as well. But what about the instigator in chief? Will Pence invoke the 25th Amendment that would remove the POTUS from office? Pence might want to run for president in 2024 so he needs the support of the lunatic fringe. Peloci want to impeach again but can that happen in 12 days? I doubt it. Many Republicans still back the big lie that the election was not fair. Even after facing possible murder by an angry mob, they hold tight to the lie that caused the sedition.

Live pipe bombs were found outside the DNC and RNC and weapons like lead pipes and even fire arms were used. A Capitol police office died from his injuries. Thankfully these terrorists are not smart. They filmed themselves commuting their crimes with their cell phones. Dan Rather made a great point, in that it would be much harder to identify these idiots if they wore masks. Of course it was a man from Florida, Adam Christian Johnson who had his photo taken as he walked of with House Speaker’s lectern. Arrests are happening all across the country now since so many shared their crimes on social media. Trump has already invoked the punishment for destruction of Goverment property, it is a $250,000 fine and, ten years imprisonment. I hope everyone who entered the Capitol gets that sentence. Of course the largely mask less protest will become the latest super spreader event, allowing the virus to spread across the country.

In 1923 Adolph Hitler had a failed coup attempt in Germany with no major consequences. He spent 8 months behind bars, during which time he dictated Mein Kampf, his political autobiography. Ten years later he took power in Germany. If there is no consequences for Trump, insurrections like the one at the capitol will continue. Twitter shut down Trump’s account permanently but far more action is needed. Inciting violence against the government hasn’t happened since the civil war. It is not a time to turn the other cheek.

A Very Dangerous Game

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The world, especially countries like the United States, is playing a “very dangerous game” with the novel coronavirus, giving it more chances to mutate as the virus spreads, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said.

“We’re playing a very dangerous game with this virus right now,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for the coronavirus response, told CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. “What worries us is that the longer this spreads the more opportunities it has to change.”

She pointed out that some countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, have done a better job controlling the virus. “It’s completely up to us to be able to bring the virus under control,” she said. “The virus is controllable, including these variants.”

The B117 variant of the COVID-19 virus was first seen in the UK. Scientists in the U.K. estimate that the new variant is 40-70% more infectious based on analysis of affected populations in Britain. It has since been found in the United states. This variation of the virus has become more contagious. A new study ha found that 60% of cases are spread by people who show no symptoms. The new strain has been found so far in 8 states and 33 counties. Florida reported its first case Dec. 31 in a Martin County man in his 20s with no travel history. That means the virus had been spreading freely by community transmission. The CDC said it expects the variant is already spreading among communities in multiple states, according to a report from The Washington Post. Currently, there is no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness or increased risk of death. However with more people being infected the hospital systems could become overrun. In California EMTs are being told not to transport patients in the ambulance if they don’t think patients can survive.

First Come First Served

Posted on by Thor

Florida Governor Ron DeathSantis said “In the state of Florida, our priority is our senior citizens,” Anyone 65 years or older was told they could get a COVID -19 vaccine shot. However the demand is high and the supply short.

My sister in south Florida has been trying to get the vaccine ever since it was announced that it was available for senior 65 and older. She called CVS and they had no clue what was going on. She called the local hospital and was told that once front line workers and the Vets got shots it would become available for seniors. She continued her quest calling another hospital. She then called the health department and got a recording and left a message.

She then found out that the shots would be available at a local park but then discovered that appointment slots needed to be filled out online. So many people went to the online appointment site that it crashed. She found out she needed a consent form and then found out the distribution was paused until January 6, 2021. Another city had phone appointments available but the appointments filled up in minutes. She is now considering driving to another county to try and get the shot. This has become her full time job to try and find a way to get vaccinated.

Some seniors have been waiting in long lines overnight in an attempt to get the vaccine. This is now week four of the roll out of the vaccine in Florida. Though the governor claims his priority is to vaccinate Florida seniors, he has left the distribution up to each individual hospital, creating chaos and inefficiency. He seems to have learned from Trump how to take no responsibility for distribution. Assisted living facilities are still waiting for vaccines. Rather than answer reporter questions he just barks loudly.

The Capitol Under Siege

Posted on by Thor

American Democracy is under siege. January 6, 20201 the Potus called on his mask less minions to descend on Washington D.C. for a “Wild” rally. He got on stage and proceeded to claim the election had been stolen from him. He then told the crowd to go to the Capitol building.

At the Capitol, the police were unprepared for the thousands of rioters who broke through barricades and and shattered glass to get inside the building. The police had to retreat from the crowds that pressed inside. Months before peaceful protestors were tear gassed by national guard troops. There were no National Guard troops on hand to handle the ratification day rioters.

A joint session of Congress was assembled to ratify the electoral college results of the presidential election. This is a largely ceremonial session but some republican senators were contesting the results. Mitch McConnell condemned GOP efforts to overturn the electoral college results. He said, “If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral.” In the middle of the session the chamber had to be evacuated. Legislators were told to grab gas masks from under their seats.

The entrance to the chamber was barricaded from inside and policy tried to keep protestors out with their guns drawn. Rioters entered the chamber from the upper balcony and they jumped down to the chamber floor. Legislative staff had to hide behind chairs hoping not to get shot. On female protestor tried t lunge through a broken window and she was shot by a security officer. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

After dusk the protestors were driven from the capitol building and Nancy Pelosi said that the ratification process will continue well into the night. Trump made a video addressing his “very special” rioters and suggested they should go home. Facebook and Twitter had to remove the video because he then went on to make make false and misleading statements.

3963 people died from COVID-19 in America on the day of the siege. The highest single day death toll since the start of the pandemic.

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

Posted on by Thor

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

Posted on by Thor

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.