#144 WHY I TOOK THE VACCINE

So, I am on my way to the city a couple of days ago to get some seafood.  I was working all day and didn't eat lunch so I stopped at Burger King on the way and got two Whopper Jrs with cheese and an order of Cheesy Tots.  As ill-advised as it is I was going to eat that on the 35-minute ride on the 6 train.  I get on the train at Pelham Bay Park (the last/first stop)  and it was late afternoon rush hour and most commuters will be coming in as opposed to going out.

I got upstairs and a train was already about to depart, but there were a lot of people on it. Apparently, there was a train delay and this particular train was late so there were more riders.  I decided to wait for the next train so I could get an emptier car since I would have to lower my mask in order to eat my burgers.  As luck would have it, the next train left less than five minutes later and I had the entire car to myself.  Only one person got on the train in the next five minutes.  I was almost finished when we pulled into Parkchester Station.  I saw a handful of people ready to board, so I wrapped up the last small bite and pulled my mask up.  I understand it is not the safest to eat on the train, but with nobody on it, the risks were as low as eating in the park alone.

The train pulled into Parkchester and the doors opened.  About eight people ran into the car.  Now, I was sitting in the corner four seats, next to the door leading to the next car.   To my right was the rest of the train, which included two long benches on my side and the opposite side.  On my side the benches were empty.  So why did this lady run into the car and sit next to me?  Well almost right next to me.  There were three short seats separating us. Barely enough arm's distance between us.   And she had no mask on.  All that room she ignored to sit next to me maskless in the middle of a pandemic..  And she had the nerve to grab her purse and hold it close to her.  So I grabbed my knapsack and did the same.  I saw her through my peripheral vision giving me a dirty look..  I just snickered and held the bag tighter.

She ate ice cream during the trip (honest) and I could not understand why she would choose to sit next to somebody on a subway to do that.  

This is why I got the vaccine.  I wear my mask whenever I am near someone outside.  I keep away from other people as best as I can.  Almost nobody visits me and I don't really go out.  But...when I do I have to worry about idiots completely ignoring the rules so in addition to hoping the mask offers some protection, I took the vaccine for a little more security.  No, I still don't fully believe in this, but if something breaks through my mask defenses, then hopefully the vaccine will keep me from getting extremely sick or dying.

#143 VACCINE

 I got my vaccine shot mid-Sunday morning. Around Tuesday or Wednesday last week I looked up the locations where I could get an appointment.  There was nothing too close to my apartment except for Montefiore Hospital.  I figured they were a good site, so I applied. I found with them that they asked a lot of questions, only to find out that only had a waiting list.  They wanted my State ID and my insurance pictures.  a day later I went back to check on other places and I found A. Phillip Randolph High School in Harlem.  They had spots for about half a week, so I reserved Sunday.

Remarkably, everything was well run and organized.  Every employee was prepared to accept you from the previous one and to get you to the next step.  There was no drama and I was in and out of the school in 20 minutes.

So, how do I feel?

I should feel relieved, but instead, I feel a small part, relieved and a large part, angry.    Angry, because the actions of a few ignorant and selfish people have possibly extended the life of this virus and because they refuse to social distance or mask up, I have to take a vaccine I don't trust as extra security.  The small portion of relief I feel is knowing that even though I mask up and social distance if anything goes wrong or if I am exposed to the rebels, I may catch Covid-19, but it should be on a lesser scale.  I intend on wearing a mask and social distancing until this tie next year.  At least now though, I can travel a little more, using my precautions.

As for the side-effects, I so far, just have the sore-spot-by-the-injection pain.  I did feel tired yesterday afternoon and evening and I did sleep late today but I otherwise feel fine.

I am not going to recommend or not recommend taking the vaccine. I have heard both sides of the issue, however, the anti-vaccine folks have yet to instruct me on how to protect myself if I don't vaccinate, so I chose to take it.

#142 RATING THE CANDIDATES

As I write this, I don't want anyone to think I am being irresponsible by saying that I am not voting for anyone this year for mayor.  In fact, I may go vote for the other categories, like councilman, judge, etc.  However, as of now, nobody is getting my vote for mayor.

I gave the link to an article published by Curbed. In the February 3 article, they listed about 13 candidates for the 2021 mayoral election.  Interestingly, the Democratic primaries are in June, and since New York City is a mostly Democratic city, the person who wins the primary will more than likely officially become the mayor in November.  More than likely.  Though it is doubtful that a republican will win here, it is not impossible.  I can see a few scenarios, but I won't get into them in this entry.  Instead, I will look at eight of the candidates Curbed listed, what they are about, and my verdict, which is how I rate them on a scale of 1-10.

1.  Scott Stringer:  He is currently the City Comptroller and according to Curbed, he has advocated for affordable housing, gun control, women's reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights and campaign reform.  According to the profile, he is anti-Bill deBlasio.
My verdict:  No mention of police reform, crime, or homelessness, so not likely no vote.  3.5

2.  Eric Adams:  Adams is older than I thought (age 60) and had a career with the New York Police department.  He co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement and is currently the Brooklyn Borough President.  According to Curbed, he is an asset to immigrant communities and small businesses.  Curbed lists him as having "nuanced views on police reform"
My verdict:   I can see Adamsaddressing police brutality, which is good, however, I don't know how tough he would actually be on crime.  I haven't really heard his voice while shootings in the city have made me think of the 1980s.  Plus, I have no real idea of how the Borough President would handle the homeless issue or the related mental health crisis.  5.8

3.  Maya Wiley:  According to Curbed, Wiley is a Senior vice-president of social justice and professor of urban policy at the New School as well as a former top counsel for Mayor Bill deBlasio.   She is also the former chair of the Civilian Complaint ReviewBoard.
Verdict:  Wiley has a nice resume.  She appears to want to combat systemic racism and police brutality as well as economic inequalities.  However,  she is going to have to deal with a growing crime issue and will need NYPD to be successful.  Unless she has a strong relationship with them as a boss as well as a partner, she will fail. If she can't come up with a hard method of dealing with senseless violent crimes it will be a wrap.   And I still need to see her (or anybody's) plan to deal with the homeless situation.  5.7

4.  Kathryn Garcia:  Currently, Garcia is the NYC Sanitary Commissioner under the current mayor and according to Curbed, is credited with big reforms to the city's sanitation system and was tasked with leading the city's efforts to abate lead paint exposure in children.
Verdict:  According to Curbed, Garcia served as the city's emergency "food czar" to combat food insecurities during the pandemic.  That leads me to think she would have the compassion to at least deal with hunger in New York.  Hopefully, they won't get shot by either a cop or a gang member while they are getting fed.  3.5

5. Ray McGuire:  According to Curbed, McGuire is a 63-year-old vice-chair of Citigroup and is one of the highest-ranking and longest-serving Black executives on Wall Street.
Verdict:  McGuire makes me think of a Black Michael Bloomberg.  After this pandemic, New York City could use someone with knowledge of how to manage money.  New York also needs someone prepared to handle social issues.  4.5

6.  Loree Sutton:  According to the Curbed profile, "she is an advocate for military veterans, with a focus on homelessness and boosting mental health services."
Verdict:  She opposes defunding the police, which I agree with, but again, nothing on how to address the duel problems with cops and crime.5.1

7.  Curtis Sliwa:  At age 66, I didn't realize he was so old. I am just realizing he was in his 20s when he founded the Guardian Angels back in 1979.
Verdict:  GTFOH.  He is too right-wing for New York (or for most places). His so-called tough-on-crime rhetoric will be nothing more than fuel to charge up racist and radical cops to be even more arrogant than some are now.  I can see more unwarranted beatings and shootings and protests with Sliwa in as the mayor.  I can easily see him backing a cop for shooting a man with no arms.  Zero.  In fact, if he was even close in the polls I would vote for anyone else ahead to ensure this potential nightmare never happens.

8.  Andrew Yang:  I thought he had a public office position before, but Curbed has him listed as an entrepreneur and a former presidential candidate in the 2020 Democratic primary.  According to the profile Yang is for Universal basic income, something that is nice but unrealistic.
Verdict:  Truthfully, I like Yang but I don't know enough about him.  And again, he (and nobody) really address the issues I value.  4

In order for me to vote for mayor, I would like to rate someone 7 and above.  There are other candidates, believe it or not, but I never heard of them and nothing written about them made me interested.  The bottom line for me, I value someone who can keep New York above water financially, but the most important criteria for me are being tough on crime and the police, dealing with the homeless situation (including keeping affordable housing options), and an ability to deal with the city during this pandemic.  

For now, I'll wait for the elections for governor

#141 CHANGE OF HEART

 After months of serious thought, I have decided to take the vaccine.  If given a choice I would rather take the Moderna vaccine, even though I would have to take two shots compared to Johnson and Johnson.

I weighed the options and it is better to take the vaccine than to wait out the virus.  Though there seem to be similarities with the flu, Covid-19 has shown itself to be more severe.  Not only are the deaths concerning, but the side effects.  People have had strokes and heart attacks after contracting the coronavirus.  I have read where people were placed in comas and some have lost limbs.

I also listened to the other side as well.  There are doctors, not necessarily right-wing nuts who feel there is no virus, who are against vaccinations and are blasting the government for withholding information on the casualties to the vaccine.  These doctors are claiming that there are less expensive and less dangerous methods of treating covid-19. Some are also claiming preventive measures that the government is ignoring, like Zinc, Vitamin D3, and Vitamin C..

I was taking Vitamins D3and C for years but made them a regular diet plan last year..  I just added zinc back to my plan this year.  

I also continue to use my saline solution.  People look at me crazy when I theorize it is helpful, but you have to understand the logic.  

Doctors have claimed from the beginning that covid-19 was an upper respiratory disease.  According to them the virus is airborne and is passed mainly through the nose and mouth.  This means your nasal passage is key, and probably why the protocol is to cover your face and face masks must cover the nose and mouth.

I have nad sinuses and I have always been prone to infections.  I definitely know what they feel like.  Years ago, I had one of those sinus infections, didn't properly treat it and I eventually had bronchitis.  This happened to me at least twice.  It started with the sniffles, nasal congestion, then sneezing.  The postnasal drip then irritated my throat which led to a tickle,  then a dry cough.  If left alone that would cause phlegm to collect in my chest.  I eventually learned (from my mother) to gargle with saltwater and vinegar.  I had a Carribean ENT doctor who co-signed to doing that.  The saltwater supposedly would wash the phlegm from the throat area, cutting down on the problems.  I know I haven't had a chest cold since I started doing that years ago.

The same ENT doctor along with some allergy specialists also co-signed on saline solutions.  These were used mostly to rinse out the sinus passage from allergy triggers like dust and other airborne problems.  These are things that collect in our sinuses and cause irritation.  This natural remedy is non-toxic and not only relieves stuffiness and congestion but may also rinse bacteria and viruses from the area.

I normally get a major sinus infection at least twice a year.  The last time I was sick with one was late 2019 (which was particularly bad and I could swear was covid-19).  Since then and definitely during the pandemic, I have used the saline rinse every day and I haven't caught anything.  My theory was and still is, that if you rinse at least once a day (I do a couple of squirts in the morning and a couple during the evening), not only can you avoid the pesky sinus infections, but maybe, just maybe you can catch the virus before it actually gets to your throat and your lungs.

Further proof for ME is the fact my cousin was recently diagnosed with having coronavirus and quarantined.  The odd thing was he felt fine.  In fact, the nasal swab had a positive result, but the blood test showed negative.  I don't think he uses a saline solution but there has to be some explanation for that. For me, it means that in the remote case the virus is not just spread through close contact, at least I am taking extra steps to keep myself safe.

I live by myself, have very few visitors, I wear my mask when I leave the apartment, and I social distance to a fault.I will not ride in the same area of the subway with you if you do not mask up.  Bur, I feel it is a matter of time before something catches up with me.  The vaccine may not keep me from getting covid-19, but according to everything I have heard, it should lessen the effects.

So I will add my name to the list and get my vaccine and pray my arm doesn't fall off.  

#140 The Candidates

 I decided to follow up on my earlier blog where I announced that I will not be voting for the first time in memory.  To be clear, whoever I vote for MUST satisfy me on the following:

A.  Bea mayor who is tough on crime but also tough on the police and not afraid to discipline and remove officers.  This includes not being afraid to have cops removed from the streets if they exhibit certain personality traits which may lead to them displaying unfavorable traits like abuse or racism.

B.  Have a plan to deal with the homeless situation which does not include simply incarcerating them.

C.  Have a Covid-plan which includes not being afraid to use legal action against those who violate pandemic procedures and social distancing policies.

D.  Work with the governor on a better way to deal with mental health issues.

E.  Come up with an effective plan for affordable housing.

Honestly, I would want all five of those ideas addressed before I commit to voting for anybody, however, I will settle for three out of the five.  The first idea is a must.  I am sick of hearing about a new shooting in New York City every day.  The city is starting to feel the way it did during the 1980s.  and while I want a more effective police department, I need one I can trust and not one that will shoot someone unarmed and get away with it.

Having said that, check out these links to the candidates for this year.  While I am looking for certain qualities I encourage you to find out what rocks your boat and to vote or not vote accordingly.

This link connects to an article listing the candidates and their individual sites:
https://www.thecity.nyc/22233474/the-race-for-nyc-mayor-whos-running-to-run-this-town-in-2021

This link to the Patch offers a list of the 38 candidates and a line or two regarding their platform:
https://patch.com/new-york/new-york-city/meet-30-candidates-nycs-2021-mayoral-race

This last link from Curbed offers the latest list so far (as of this month) and an easy to find and  slightly more detailed list of the candidates' platforms:
https://www.curbed.com/article/everyone-running-for-new-york-city-mayor.html