Tuesday, April 07, 2020

Feed

Feed is a young adult book by M.T. Anderson, read because the book challenge I'm engaged in directed a young adult book for March and this is the only one I could find free online that I hadn't already read. I got lucky and enjoyed this. It's is a strange story. You can read it online here. It begins,
We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck.

We went on a Friday, because there was shit-all to do at home. It was the beginning of spring break. Everything at home was boring. Link Arwaker was like, “I’m so null,” and Marty was all, “I’m null too, unit,” but I mean we were all pretty null, because for the last like hour we’d been playing with three uninsulated wires that were coming out of the wall. We were trying to ride shocks off them. So Marty told us that there was this fun place for lo-grav on the moon. Lo-grav can be kind of stupid, but this was supposed to be good. It was called the Ricochet Lounge. We thought we’d go for a few days with some of the girls and stay at a hotel there and go dancing.

We flew up and our feeds were burbling all sorts of things about where to stay and what to eat. It sounded pretty fun, and at first there were lots of pictures of dancing and people with romper-gills and metal wings, and I was like, This will be big, really big, but then I guess I wasn’t so skip when we were flying over the surface of the moon itself, because the moon was just like it always is, after your first few times there, when you get over being like, Whoa, unit! The moon! The goddamn moon! and instead there’s just the rockiness, and the suckiness, and the craters all being full of old broken shit, like domes nobody’s using anymore and wrappers and claws.

The thing I hate about space is that you can feel how old and empty it is. I don’t know if the others felt like I felt, about space? But I think they did, because they all got louder. They all pointed more, and squeezed close to Link’s window.

You need the noise of your friends, in space.

*******

It's getting quite nice, with sunshine and highs in the 70s, and it's perfect patio weather. Please join me for T Stands for Tuesday, and we can enjoy a cup together:


I'll show off the flowers I have right now. Pink Dogwood:


and native honeysuckle:


My little Eastern Redbud tree is beginning to leaf out:


If it weren't for my patio, and screaming into the void on Facebook, and exploring new-to-me Twitter I think I might go mad!

After Trump tweeted about how proud he was of the ratings he was getting for his briefings I quit watching them. I do watch as much as I can of Dr. Fauci and other folks who know what they're talking about, but honestly I don't want to be part of any ratings boost he's bragging about *sigh* I leave you with a couple of coronavirus images for these dark days:



Truth hurts. Maybe that's why so many people won't accept it.

40 comments:

  1. ...he can't do many things well.

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    1. Here in Memphis we had reason to despise him decades ago. He hasn't grown on me as he's lived into this presidency. I mean he promised he'd hire the best people and never play golf and release his tax returns *sigh*

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  2. Rather than read, I rather just sit and have a cup of tea out in your patio. What a beautiful oasis! The local Boston station I listen to news, doesn't carry the full task force briefings. Once he moves from information to political rally with babbling, ranting, and boasting the station goes back to local news. The entire task force briefing is carried on their free airwave station, if you want to switch over. Happy T Day

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    1. I've tried to watch once he's done with his opening bluster, but he keeps interrupting and answering questions specifically directed to the medical experts. I keep expecting to hear that Fauci's out :(

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  3. Good Morning, thanks for inviting me to your patio. Spring flowers help my mood. These are very hard times. Here in the SF Bay Area we've been sheltering in place since March 8 - a month already. Groceries are hard to get as shelves are empty, streets are empty too. I rely on my online friends for company so I'm happy to see you are posting.

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    1. Our formal order here in Memphis just ended after 2 weeks. It's been extended another 2 weeks, which is all our mayor has the authority to do at a time. I expect another extension after this 2 weeks is over.

      I'm reliant on bloggers and Facebook for companionship these days :)

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  4. Fun story. The Trump story is not fun, how can a person like this rule a great nation like the States? But your patio and fishy mugs are lovely. Happy T day, Valerie

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    1. Make America Great Again? Nice going, right? And yet the trump supporters are still planning on voting for him again :(

      The mugs were a present from The Daughter :( Perfect for warm weather, I think :)

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  5. I am avoiding all politics now it is just getting too hateful and ridiculous on facebook that if someone posts now I scroll right through-no offence
    I loved seeing all of your spring blooms on your patio, and what a wonderful spot to enjoy the outdoors. I just got back from food shopping and it was a lovely drive with all the redbuds blooming now. and soooo much green grass too
    Happy T wishes Kathy

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    1. I need to talk about it, so FB is a life-saver for me. Trump supporters are remarkably silent now. I can't help but think they're running out of defenses since liberals aren't any more critical now than we were before. It's just that now people are dying...

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  6. staying away from politics and news right now outside of my favorite news team on our local channel at 4PM. That's all I need...
    lovely garden space. I hope to get some honeysuckle or jasmine to plant in a large pot. Happy T day!

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    1. I'm a current events addict from way back ;) Jasmine would be nice :)

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  7. Hello ~ Beautiful patio and flower pictures ~ I love your fishy mugs too! ~ Blessings

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  8. Sounds like a great read and wow, your patio is looking beautiful! I love the spring flowers and it looks the perfect place to relax 😊. I'm loving those fishy mugs too, I can't decide which colour I like the best though, both colours look fabulous! Like you I find myself enjoying the warm sunny weather in my garden too - perfect! Sending you Happy T Tuesday wishes! Stay safe and well! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. The orange is my favorite :) We had rain this morning, and we lost some of the dogwood blossoms. They don't last very long.

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  9. Several Republicans are now suggesting Trump dial his rhetoric back, so you are not alone. Right now I'm concentrating on Wisconsin and the Republican forced "in person" voting today. I'm sure the state will be given money to send registered voters mail in ballots for the Nov. elections. We can hope. I worry that with Trump in charge, the curve will not even begin to bend downward until late July or early August. I remember during the debates in 2016, he said HE alone could cure problems that came up. NOW he's saying he is just a facilitator/bystander and it's up to the states to do their thing. Even his lies contain lies!!!

    Love seeing your patio. Those adorable fish mugs made me smile, as did photos of all the plants growing on your patio. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing your patio and your fish mugs of coffee with us for T this Tuesday.

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    1. "dial his rhetoric back" Isn't that a riot?! I hear Milwaukee's voting locations were reduced from 180 to 5! And the SCOTUS -ironically voting remotely- rejected the primary postponement along strictly partisan lines (I know you're shocked). The absentee ballots must be postmarked by today, but many people are saying they never received the ballot they requested. Republicans are coming out strongly against mail-in voting, with many openly admitting -on video- that increased voter turnout favors Democrats. Our state health department has issued a directive to doctors that they not prescribe Trump's snake-oil cure until there's actual evidence it'll help, especially since the hazards are well known. (Our governor and state government is solidly red, BTW.) And yet the Trump supporters are getting their "facts" from Trump himself and Fox News. It's depressing to realize how firm they remain in their support of him. I'd cuss if this weren't a family-friendly space ;)

      Stayin' at home, hopin' it'll help, wishing Trump would get a diagnosis that'd lead to effective treatment.

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    2. I have two friends who drank the Kool-aid. They tell me it's the MEDIA who are at fault and their lies are what Trump is fighting against. To me, these daily briefings replace his rallies. When he's not rallying, he's blaming, denying, and accusing. Yesterday it was the W.H.O. Didn't watch today but I know he is pushing to get the country working again by May 1, even though every medical and economic expert tells us it will be too soon.

      Our democratic governor issued a mandate several weeks ago that no more than 10 people could be together in one space, such as church or funerals. The republicans (we are a HUGE red state) passed a law stating anyone who wanted to worship in churches all over KS could do so on Easter. Gov. Kelly said she would sue every one of them. This is going to the KS Supreme Court and she hopes they will overturn the law in time for people to find alternative ways to celebrate on Sunday.

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    3. We're under an under-10 order also, and our local government sounds willing to enforce it. Churches are being creative in their use of video and live-streaming.

      Right now I'm hearing the trump supporters blaming Obama for not replenishing the supplies when he was in office. 3 years ago lol How long is the last person who held the job responsible for you not doing it once you got the job? 3 years seems a stretch ;)

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    4. Trump has had a hard on for Obama ever since Obama first took office. Trump kept saying Obama was NOT an American and his presidency was bogus. Trump has vowed to undo any and everything Obama built up while in office, including Obamacare. He even got the courts to support his decisions. The ONLY way we are going to get this jack ass out of the WH is to vote him out. Seems even impeachment went his way. Thank goodness, our DNC has told all Dems who are registered they will get mail in ballots for the primary. That was BEFORE the crisis and the lock down, so Republicans can't jump in and try to pull what they did in WI.

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    5. It's a cult, these die-hard trump fans who believe everything he says. Most of what he says is provably false, and now he's giving _medical_ advice?! I do hope he doesn't manage a second term. The mismanagement of this crisis should be enough, and yet they somehow don't see it as mismanagement :( I swear when I discuss these issues on FB they say 1) all this is somehow Obama's fault and 2) Hillary would've been worse, but 1) trump's been president for over 3 years now and you can't keep blaming the person who had the job before you that the job's still not being done and 2) we'll never know what it would've been like under Hillary. Why can't they just admit trump won that election, get over it, and move on ;)

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  10. Very cute fish mugs, D.

    Wishing you a healthy and happy T-Day! Eileen xx

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    1. They were a mothers day present from my daughter :)

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  11. I love your patio and with those flowers in bloom, it is looking great. I'll share a cup of tea and we can have a political chat about how Trump is just campaigning in these daily briefings. Just to get his face shown. And how can a man who does these briefing tell people to go vote today. Does he not get it? (Don't answer-he doesn't) Anyhow, I'll save the rest for when I come for tea on your pretty patio. Enjoy the nice weather. Hugs-Erika

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    1. Yayeee! Political talk :) I love it :) Yes, he can't have rallies anymore, so he holds "briefings" instead. And now he's decided to be the prescribing physician for America. Of course I'm sure his financial stake in that company has _nothing_ to do with his snake-oil du jour. Come over! We can sit across the patio from each other and enjoy our tea and comfort each other in these crazy times.

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  12. That´s some read you did!
    And ohhhh, I love those mugs! Trump, Merkel, Corona, I´m so sick of it all - in the sense of I can´t here it no more, luckily I´m rather healthy!
    A happy belated T-day to you!

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    1. It'll be end of summer at least before we get a vaccine, or so I hear :( I'm glad I'm healthy, too :) I hope we stay that way.

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  13. I also love your fish mugs , a happy container to cheer the day. Your patio looks a lovely area to sit out and enjoy your beautiful plants.
    Belated tea day wishes.
    Stay safe and well.
    Yvonne xx

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    1. I'm staying home with my fish mugs and trying to stay safe :) It's the least I can do. I hope you stay well though this :)

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  14. I love the fishy mugs and beautiful flowers you have, the dogwood is a pretty colour.
    Have a good day, keep safe.
    Jan x

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    1. Thanks! I chose it because my neighbor has a pink dogwood on the other side of this fence. I think they'll look pretty together when mine gets bigger :)

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  15. Your patio area looks like a nice place to have tea and enjoy the Spring weather. I like your fish mugs.

    I stopped watching any news a while ago: I got tired of the daily screaming headlines about Trump. We'll have President Biden soon enough. Now that covid-19 is raging, the local news headlines are finally no longer carrying stories about what Trump said or tweeted. After Trump's quarantine threat on March 28, one of my Senators said, "Don't listen to Trump" but I didn't need that advice, because I haven't been since covid-19 began. But to be fair, both political parties are putting politics first, not We The People. Unfortunately most Americans are so polarized they don't see it.

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    1. I watch our local PBS station almost daily, so I get the PBS News Hour and the BBC America news hour that follows it. I've found some Twitter feeds to scroll through for general news and some local sources for current case and death counts. Right now the Democrats and many Republicans aren't being partisan and are trying to put the People first, but Trump _can't_. He just doesn't know how. And our governor (a Republican) is still hating Obama so much he's allowing rural hospitals to continue to close rather than expand Medicaid. Allowing a postponement of the Wisconsin primary was defeated on strictly partisan lines, so it was Republicans sacrificing the health and safety of voters there. I hear people say both parties are corrupt, but the parties themselves aren't involved in the "management" of this mess, and in these days I think it's better to look at each situation and see (as Mr. Rogers would say) who the helpers are. It's never Trump. I watched the Trump rally-briefings regularly until he started bragging about the ratings. Now I try to listen to the governors when they offer briefings and to Dr. Fauci.

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  16. That is a strange story. I had to get used to the 'teen speak' or was it 'future speak'? If you've read Cloud Atlas, you'll know what I mean.
    Thank you for inviting me into your garden. The dogwood looks lovely. Spring is coming.
    I know America is the land of freedom, but I wish that to become president one would need a modicum of intelligence. Frightening really.
    I'm sorry I'm late but we have had some really atrocious weather, and we lose our internet with bad weather (It's radio waves))
    Have a lovely weekend and if you celebrate it:
    Happy Easter!
    Hugs,
    Lisca

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    1. It's almost another language. I read Cloud Atlas, but not in the order they intended ;)

      I agree. Trump can't or won't learn from others or from his own mistakes. It is frightening I agree. I'm glad your internet is back up.

      Happy Easter! :)

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  17. Your patio area looks a great place to relax away from all the politics that seems to surround this virus! We had some one on a daytime programme the other day full of criticism for the way things have been handled, instead of accepting that there was no other logical way to prevent complete chaos! An instant lock down would have caused so many problems without plans in place..but at least we haven't got Trump, who by the look of your post is a bit of a dreamer to say the least! Belated Happy T day! Chrisx

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  18. OOhh I loove your flowers at your beautiful patio ! It´s the best place to sit and where we don´t think too much. Love your mugs too, cute fishes. I wish you spent a lovely T-day.
    Have a nice afternoon, thanks so much for sharing this great post, and please, stay safe and well,
    Big hugs, Caty

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