Moneypox part 2

 There's more discussion of "moneypox" on Reddit. The biological reservoir seems to be in African rats, and one person wondered if it might get into the American rat population then we'd have a real problem. Another one pointed out that Rattus norvegicus doesn't seem to catch or carry it well, as has been researched. Let's say it gets into rats here though. That would mean lots of vaccinations, more being careful about fomites (surfaces, shared bedding and clothing, places rats go like basements and pantries) and a further culling of the population. Another million out of a population north of 300 million isn't much, and the US economy has shows its (the oligarchs') willingness to put up with it, and the US response would largely be "let it rip" and it would be up to the individual to get  vaccinated or not.

That may be paid by the taxpayer as covid vaccines have been so far, or may be on a pay-as-you-go basis as covid shots probably will be soon. I can pay $30 or even $100 for a covid shot since I'm a good saver, but a lot of people can't. I'd expect this to kick in if the "rethuglicans" win in 2024 and perhaps be phased in if they gain ground later this year. 

The "rethuglicans" are doing a pretty good job of shitting their own bed, though. Their plans to end Roe v. Wade and by extension, punish all pregnancies including instances like ectopic which without care will kill the mother, as felonies deserving long prison sentences or the death penalty, are out in the open now. They plan to also remove LGBT rights, track women's periods, all sorts of "Big Brother" stuff. Plus outlawing things in states they control and enabling "bounty hunters" to abduct, for pay, people who have committed those things in states they don't control. So at least in theory someone who's had an abortion here in California could be snatched off of the street by bounty hunters from Texas. 

Even a fair number of "conservatives" are against this level of extremism, but then I'm convinced there were tons of Germans who thought Nazism was great but they ought to lay off the Jews, so many of whom were patriotic Germans. They didn't get that it was all-or-nothing.

I was up late as usual then suddenly realized I was too tired to be useful, did some octave exercises, and went to bed. Then woke up around noon today. The octave exercise is getting easier and unlike earlier, I didn't have this problem where I could blow some good octaves, then "tired out" or something and could not do 'em, then after a bit of time could start to do 'em again. Now I'm homing in on being able to do "long" octave or "short" ones. I see these flutists on YouTube who can play these long passages before taking a breath, and I want to be able to do that. 

I'm constantly looking on Craig's List for decent flutes for sale, as in, older Yamahas that were made in Japan that I can learn to work on flutes on as well as have for reliable players for busking. Out of curiosity I looked in Craig's List Hawaii and a pawn shop has two flutes for $20, not sure if $20 each or $20 for both, a Gemeinhardt and a no-name, but hey, for that price, I'd pick 'em up. 

Someone on there also has a 1.6 shakuhachi for $600 which may or may not be a good flute. Assuming I'd found a place around the university area, I could hop on a bus or even bike over to Kahala to check it out. I'd put it through its paces, blow a honkyoku or two, and fork over the money if it's a good player. 

One of the many, many things I miss about Hawaii is the pawn shops. I've lived in places with decent pawn shops and I'll put Hawaii's up against anyone's. There are all sorts of treasures to be found. 

I packed a half-dozen things and left here early, and the drop-offs went fine. It was really hot out there. I actually went past the post office first and up to the Filipino store, where I got a bag of pork rinds and two cans of Diet Pepsi and that was under $5. I looked around in the liquor store that's in that strip mall, because you never know what you'll find in those, and got a 2-liter bottle of Diet 7-Up for $3.35. 

I rode back to the post office and dropped packages off, then went to the shady complex across the street and had a Diet Pepsi and half of the pork rinds. 

Then I meandered back to FedEx and dropped a couple packages off, and rode back here. I didn't find much for freebees except some weird fiber optic cables I may or may not be able to put on Ebay.